The sustainable development goals call for an end of violence. So it got me thinking, how do we do that?
The answer is long and complicated. There are many causes of violence and even more potential solutions.
I'm going to look at one cause today: boredom.
There's been studies that boredom causes unhealthy tendencies, and people may resort to self harm of violence to avoid feeling it.
Feeling bored is a big problem in our modern society. The rise of the internet has shortened our attention spans and overloaded us with the next best thing in order to make the most money possible. It's more difficult to feel entertained.
The other side of boredom, is trauma. All good, interesting stories are filled with conflict and problems. People who have experienced repeated stress and trauma can be frustrated when the dust settles and their life just isn't interesting.
The mundane life is a problem for many people. Movies show the frustration of older and middle aged people who miss the adventure of youth, despite the downsides of actually being young. Many people who cheat on their partners don't do it out of disdain for them but rather because the act of cheating is an exciting, conflict-filled double life with the allure of a secret that no one can know.
Capitalism's 9-5 can feel unfulfilling. People now switch careers relatively quickly and have multiple jobs, sometimes doing the van life because rent is too high. In the past this was a way people sought adventure, but with inflation and repeated recessions it's not a choice but a source of trauma that can make it difficult to settle, in the rare cases settling is achieved.
The struggle of boredom is shown in media. In the show Good Girls, a three average women with families turn to crime when the finances get tight. One of them, Beth, entered and stayed in the criminal life because she struggled with everyday mundanity, as shown in her attempts to be part of the school's PTA and her conversation with a hit man who turned to crime for similar reasons.
This is also shown in the show Rick and Morty. Rick is an abusive, alchoholic grandfather and mad scientist who struggled with a stable, healthy lifestyle. He justifies this struggle with his intelligence and anti-establishment rebellion, but the threapist identifies that the real struggle is that the everyday responsibilites of life are boring. This happens during a session where he has arrived as a pickle after a science experiement. Here's what she says:
"You seem to alternate between viewing your own mind as an unstoppable force and as an inescapable curse. And I think it's because the only truly unapproachable concept for you is that it's your mind within your control.
You chose to come here, you chose to talk -to belittle my vocation- just as you chose to become a pickle.
You are the master of your universe, and yet you are dripping with rat blood and feces. Your enormous mind literally vegetating by your own hand.
I have no doubt that you would be bored senseless by therapy, the same way I'm bored when I brush my teeth and wipe my ass. Because the thing about repairing, maintaining, and cleaning is it's not an adventure. There's no way to do it so wrong you might die. It's just work. And the bottom line is, each of us gets to choose."
What do you choose?
We can not avoid boredom; it is a fact of life. But there are ways we can do to spice things up! And as a society it's important we do so, because I think it's an important step of getting to a more peaceful world.
The following I call "Pickle Rick Skills"
The therapist did speak incorrectly in that there are many things you can do so wrong that you die, and can only be achieved with healthy skills.
If you do it wrong, you'll die:
Mindfulness. While DRIVING.
If you are a distracted driver, driving under the influence, or driving recklessly, you will probably end up killing yourself or someone else. If you drive wrong by not being mindful, you will die.
For those of you who drive distracted or under the influence regularly and haven't died or killed someone, it doesn't mean it won't happen. Some people crash the first and only radio channel adjustment they make while driving, some people crash after their 200th rage. Just because it hasn't happened doesn't mean it won't. Also, driving unmindfully can also get you a ticket, an arrest, or jail time.
Making and eating food.
If you leave a cooking project unattended- house fire. If you eat the same 3 foods every meal every day for months, (Looking at you, autistic peeps and ADHDers) you will get severe health issues including but not limited to: vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, uncontrollable urination, malnutrition, other not fun things!
Taking meds.
If you have severe health issues and don't take your meds, there's a good chance you're going to end up in the ER or dead. Don't do it wrong. If you have memory issues, set up a system so you don't overdose.
Getting a job/applying for services. If you don't get a job (or alternatively, apply for disability) you aren't going to have money or insurance to pay for the things you need to stay alive. Need it to be interesting? See how fast you can climb up the wealth ladder. Is it possible? Yes. Is there accessible, publicly available information on how to climb the wealth ladder? Close to none. It's a literal treasure hunt. Here are your first two clues: financial literacy and networking.
Sober Highs, Thrills, and Adventures
Is the monotony of Earth too much for you? Drugs can make it interesting, and getting sober might mean you go from snorting coke to snorting people, places and things. Make sure you snort the following in moderation and take healthy risks. The large majority of items on this list can give you severe head injuries. All items on this list, with the exception of some of the optical illusion book and performing arts things, are very dangerous to do without prior research. DO YOUR RESEARCH (Yes, some advanced meditation practices are dangerous)
Risky sports. Take up parkour, acrobatics, gymnastics, bouldering, diving, skateboarding, mountain biking, or ice skating. The first five on this list only require you and someone with experience who can tell you how to start without getting hurt.
Competitive sports. Basketball, soccer, wrestling, volleyball, rudby.
Performing arts. Open mics, stand up, rap battles, drag shows, join a band, or join a community theatre production.
Plan a day (not a work day) where you don't use a part of your body. Example: Go an entire day without using one arm. Or go a whole day with your eyes closed.
Sober Trips. Look at optical illusion books, learn to get a general high or hallucinate safely through meditation, or try it with ping pong balls.
Get into kink. Contrary to public knowlege, many kink practices are non-sexual. Practice with someone you trust and do your research.
Get into BDSM. If you didn't know, this is sexual. Practice with someone you trust and do your research. If you don't have anyone to practice with, going to a reputable dungeon event can be a great safe option.
Go to an orgy. Organize it yourself if you have friends like that, or going to a reputable, sober orgy can be a great safe option.
Go camping. Take your friends and have deep conversations an alternative to a campfire because that's illegal now. If you're in a rural area for a while, keep a bucket of water near your campsite and see what animals come to drink. Take with you that month's star map and find constellations in the night sky.
Real Talk
In most episodes Rick struggles with some pretty serious mental health problems. It's important to get treatment. There's lots of free peer support groups and online resources, but going to a therapist or psychiatrist can help a lot.
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