MINDLESS MUSINGS

Skip forward a handful of generations and some of the booming tribes will have grown into villages. They would be working out the most efficient use of their labour power and ensuring the necessary know-how gets passed along to the next generation. The better they are at this the more fruitful their harvest.

Security was always an issue, but now the burgeoning community has a lot more to lose. What a massive score all that stored provision would be for a marauding mob. “Fuck that! We worked hard for this stuff, and we figured out how to make it last.”

So now on top of protecting themselves from the nasties of nature, they now needed to protect the fruits of their labour from pests and thieves. More innovation: fortification, guards and patrols, maybe put those dogs to good use. I am sensing a new pivotal point: in addition to “us” & “them” there is now emerging “our stuff”. A sense of ownership in its most basic sense: “we grew this!”

Another trait found among almost all human groups is leadership. This concept deserves its own analysis, and it will get one later. For now, we’ll just point out the notion that throughout human history most tribes had some form of a head honcho or possibly elders who were looked up to. Depending on the needs of the time this could take the form of parental guidance, right across the spectrum to a hardcore war-chief. I believe it occurred quite organically and was passed on by tradition. The best would adapt to the prevailing circumstances.

A village, on the other hand, would have more wiggle room for usurpers. Traditions may designate a leader through bloodline or initiation rite, but the newly inflated value of this position makes a very tempting objective for the hustlers in the pack. The larger the population, if it is performing well, the more goodies to be embezzled and the more minions can be put in place to become buffers and scapegoats.

That’s enough on that conjecture. If it turns out to be spot on it was just a fluke anyway, so on with the train of thought.

Many tribes would have good and noble leaders who could defend their role against the snakes. Unfortunately, as long as the prize exists there will be those who covet it. Some sneaks may employ manipulation akin to a Shakespearean villain to slip themselves into the top spot. If this illusion can be maintained the new (wrongful) leader will prevail.

The other tactic is rather blunter. Gain control of the muscle and launch a coup. A quote I have had no luck finding which refers to such a tyrannical scheme goes something like: “pay the few to control the many”. If you know it, please tell me. This method can also be used by the conman leader if he senses his grip on control loosening.

Either way a new character has now become a permanent fixture in the story of us, and they will continue to hone their skills and pass them on just like any other advantageous lessons being shared. Many will pass the torch directly to their offspring and given enough generations in a prosperous and expanding village you end up with the precursors to aristocracy.

As ugly as it is, this is just another way humans used their big brains to gain an advantage. As a species we understand that cooperation and communication is one of our greatest assets. It essentially multiplies our effectiveness. However, if every decision had to be approved by the collective, nothing would get done and the tribe would stagnate. The larger the group the more ridiculous this idea of complete consensus becomes.

A genetic solution to this flaw seems to be that most of us are instinctively followers. We have our own ideas and desires, but for the good of the whole we will participate in following a path laid out by someone we trust (or fear in a worst-case scenario). Within the group will be all shades of characteristics: drones, thinkers, clowns, troublemakers, deadshits, workhorses, innovators etc. but the majority will just do what they need to do without much fuss.

A true leader feels responsible for the group and will seek to improve the circumstances of all involved. A weasel merely wants to be ‘the boss’ and get whatever they can with the least amount of effort. It would most definitely suck balls to be in a village where a weasel had rorted their way to the top spot.