I long ago picked up a British phrase (never learned from whence it came) that goes, “I’m alright, Jack, pull up the ladder” which captured the idea that “I’m fine and the devil can take the rest of you” reflecting the lack of concern for others in normal times or in crisis. Sad,y, it comes to mind far too often these days as I catch fragments of conversation.
I see this error (applied differently) in our culture: everyone is encouraged to affirm themselves and follow their own impulses and validate their own identities... but what this actually means in practice is being lonely, neglecting community, and buying stuff.
This is as true today as it was in 1944. We see it in the countries where people are being arrested for their memes, etc. Thought police . . .
I long ago picked up a British phrase (never learned from whence it came) that goes, “I’m alright, Jack, pull up the ladder” which captured the idea that “I’m fine and the devil can take the rest of you” reflecting the lack of concern for others in normal times or in crisis. Sad,y, it comes to mind far too often these days as I catch fragments of conversation.
Yes it’s also most appropriately used in the Pink Floyd song ‘Money’, the lyrics are changed to:
“I’m alright, Jack, take your hands off of my stack($!)…
Excellent!
"If Defoe had really lived on a desert island he could not have written Robinson Crusoe, nor would he have wanted to." Absolutely!
"even if the Gestapo had let him alone"
BIG if. A life of if.
How about this ?
Banging on the door
Banging on the gate
Banging on the drum
and
no response
except
gangbangers grifters blue lines and perverts
I see this error (applied differently) in our culture: everyone is encouraged to affirm themselves and follow their own impulses and validate their own identities... but what this actually means in practice is being lonely, neglecting community, and buying stuff.
https://jmpolemic.substack.com/p/the-primacy-of-subjectivity