Modern life is constant connection and low stakes. The frontier is the opposite: hard lines, consequence, presence. A meditation on why we chase risk—and whether our fear of quick death leads to a life of slow death.
Well said. I think we fight and die for control. Then we get it and life becomes boring. So, we take risks in other ways, just to make things interesting again. It's all one big cycle. Adventure comes with a price, but we pay it gladly. The rise of technology is good when it counts but it's irritating when it doesn't. Civilization or Snivelization? Great post, Jesse.
An individual can’t destroy an ecosystem. Billions of people can, and are.
As to “part of EMT training”, be sure to watch a few episodes of ER and The Pitt and ask yourself if you really want to do this. The answer will of course be YES, but you’ll have fun anyway. Good luck with the shock of the new, Jesse!
Thank you for reading, Baird. Always appreciative of your insight.
Our destructive power is quite efficient. My moment of peak realization of this (other than reading world history) was when I become proficient with a chainsaw; in a matter of weeks, I could theoretically destroy a watershed if I also had an excavator (I did neither).
I’ve watched both those shows- exciting and terrifying!
What it means to push the physical, which pushes the mental. The frontier might be hard lines but there exists a waggle for those who are inclined. A weaving in and out, just touching, just toeing, right at the boundary. And then, the step over.
I appreciate this take, Stacy. I’ve been thinking a lot about whether there is a modern equivalent to what the European explorers of places of like N.America must have been thinking; it was literally unchartered. Mars? That seems like a horrible idea, but maybe not so much in 200 years, in retrospect.
Well said. I think we fight and die for control. Then we get it and life becomes boring. So, we take risks in other ways, just to make things interesting again. It's all one big cycle. Adventure comes with a price, but we pay it gladly. The rise of technology is good when it counts but it's irritating when it doesn't. Civilization or Snivelization? Great post, Jesse.
An individual can’t destroy an ecosystem. Billions of people can, and are.
As to “part of EMT training”, be sure to watch a few episodes of ER and The Pitt and ask yourself if you really want to do this. The answer will of course be YES, but you’ll have fun anyway. Good luck with the shock of the new, Jesse!
Thank you for reading, Baird. Always appreciative of your insight.
Our destructive power is quite efficient. My moment of peak realization of this (other than reading world history) was when I become proficient with a chainsaw; in a matter of weeks, I could theoretically destroy a watershed if I also had an excavator (I did neither).
I’ve watched both those shows- exciting and terrifying!
Well said: “A frontier is just the point where control runs out.”
Thank you, Deborah.
What it means to push the physical, which pushes the mental. The frontier might be hard lines but there exists a waggle for those who are inclined. A weaving in and out, just touching, just toeing, right at the boundary. And then, the step over.
Great essay, Jesse.
I appreciate this take, Stacy. I’ve been thinking a lot about whether there is a modern equivalent to what the European explorers of places of like N.America must have been thinking; it was literally unchartered. Mars? That seems like a horrible idea, but maybe not so much in 200 years, in retrospect.