Songsoptok
TALKING WITH PHILLIP
GENERATION GAP IN THE AGE OF GLOBALISATION
SONGSOPTOK: To which generation do you belong?
To which generations do the members of your immediate family belong?
PHILLIP: None of the above. I view each example of this construct as
arbitrary and artificial. Generations X
through Z or even the "Baby Boomer" era is merely a lens through
which maybe social scientists find useful though, I however do not and
therefore refuse it. In short, the only
generation I belong to is a mortal one and that, I'd argue is universal no
matter what year a person is born.
SONGSOPTOK: In your opinion, is generation gap
a myth or a reality? How would you define generation gap?
PHILLIP: I haven't the slightest insight as
to whether it's a myth or not. If
"gap" refers to a lack of knowledge or understanding between the
generations then I'd argue that has to do with the rate at which technology
advances; something Richard Buckminster Fuller refers to as the telescoping
increase of the science and knowledge.
Go back one thousand years, then 500, then 250 and so forth and one will
note how acutely these changes become evident.
An example being someone born in the early 1900's could theoretically
witness a telephone being installed in their home and much later, the first
rocket launch that put artificial satellites into free fall around the earth's
gravity. However, if "gap"
refers to increases or decreases in birthrates then this is a question for an
actuary. Myth or no, I'd still argue
it's an artificial construct (albeit perhaps a useful one for some people) that
helps a layman grasp all these varied differences between the various age
groups.
SONGSOPTOK: Have you personally had problems
with your previous generations? In which domains specifically? How did you
react to it then?
PHILLIP: I've never wanted to reproduce and am grateful that I
have not. And rarely would I regard any
problem as being germane to any group rather, an individual. Bear in mind though, this is an answer coming
from a misanthropic recluse.
SONGSOPTOK: Have you ever heard “You won’t
understand” from the next generation? Do you remember the specific situations
when you heard it? How do you react? And do you remember saying the same words
to your parents / elders? In what context?
PHILLIP: If someone does not understand then I attribute that
either to laziness or the inherent limitations of someone's cognitive
abilities. "Understanding" in
this context seems synonymous with the human condition and this hasn't changed
that much since the Egyptians, Greeks or Romans.
SONGSOPTOK: In a globalized world all
generations dress alike, eat alike, dream alike – is it still possible for
generation gap to exist? Or do the reasons for the famous gap lie elsewhere?
PHILLIP: Not sure I agree with the premise. I dress the way I prefer, eat what I prefer
and have no real choice about what I'll dream.
And any "gap" in any context I'm certain is, to reiterate,
attributable to something artificial and arbitrary germinating from the mindset
of the softer sciences.
SONGSOPTOK: Given that in this age of
connectivity, it is easier for parents or guardians to keep connected with
their children or wards (keep track of their activities through Face book,
Whatsap or whatever) – also make them aware of their own interests and
individualities - do you think “generation gap” still exists? If yes, why do
you feel so? If no, could you please share with our readers on the ways that
you remain connected and how does that help you overcome the gap.
PHILLIP: The only promising connectivity
between people is their willingness to invest themselves in other people's
lives and you can't force folks to generate interest in others--either it is
present or it isn't and no advancement technology (other than perhaps by way of
some kind of Huxley envisioned "enthusiasm pill") will this
happen. The only difference today
perhaps is the volume and rate at which a person can become connected if they
so choose.
SONGSOPTOK: What do you think – is generation
gap a gap between two individuals of different age groups or is it really
between two generations? In this context, what role can the parents / elders
play to bridge the gap if it exists?
PHILLIP: The only "gap" I know
that plays a pivotal role between any generation, parental or otherwise, is
indifference or interest. And as to how
one should raise their children I cannot say and am relieved that this isn't my
burden. That being said, love is the
only worthwhile thing to impart and imbue to any generation.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you ever face troubles created
by generation gap outside your family? Especially in office, educational
institutions, market etc.? How do you react to that?
PHILLIP: Not that I am aware of and if I do
or did, it'd most likely be a problem between individuals without any need for
the scaffolding provided by social scientists.
SONGSOPTOK: We feel that generation gap starts
creeping in as we age – on one side we try to acquire new things from changed
times and on the other – we try to cling to our own inheritances. Do you agree?
What would be your advice on how one can overcome this contradiction, if at
all?
PHILLIP: Uncertain if I agree or not. Other than noticing advancements in
technologies I still try to winnow and weigh what's truly important and
relevant. Something akin to adaptation
which sometimes may seem cruel when really it's just an excising ability to
evaluate, perhaps even surgically so and in truth, I care hardly at all about
any acquisitions though I do value a few objects. Ideas are the only truly valuable things in
my life and that's what lasts and is passed along to the next generation
whether they're garbed in sleek technologies or stone tablets with the Ten
Commandments chiseled into them.
SONGSOPTOK: Please leave some parting words
for the next generation, your generation and the previous generation that
reflect your thoughts on this topic.
PHILLIP: Anything possible already exists even if only as ideas
in the a priori ether. Whether one comes
to terms with this notion through Plato's forms or by way of sentient machine
intelligence that will soon burgeon into reality once the
"Singularity" becomes viable, the main thing is to know you're
neither unique nor special. In truth,
our existence is probably nothing less than a design of the holographic
universe embedded inside another and another much like Russian nesting dolls
that runs as a computer program. This
doesn't mean that our thoughts, feelings and actions aren't important rather,
some questions are so amazingly complex that it required this program to be
created and operated in the first place and we are part of that cosmic
design.
Note: what I've tried to impart in these closing statements are
evidence of my own failed distillations
from reading the works of individual's far smarter than I am, namely: Douglas
R. Hofstadter and Nick Bostrom.
We sincerely thank you for your time and hope we shall have your
continued support.
Aparajita Sen
(Editor: Songsoptok)
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