Better than we'd hope

Sunday I mentioned how my blogging tends to revolve around stories that I hope will help people spot patterns:

https://preparedspork.blogspot.com/2026/07/bewaring-of-pride-differently.html 

If you've been reading my posts for a while, you may have noticed. 

One reason I trust that method is that I see it working for myself as books and documentaries and articles and things come together to clarify relationships and reasons.

I am still thinking a lot about politics, elections, and dominator culture, but I am going to try and get to the current moment in a roundabout manner, referring to things that I have read. 

Currently I am reading a book about complexity, The Perfect Swarm by Len Fisher.

As the title might help you guess, a lot of what it looks at is large group movement and communication within those groups. That includes fish, birds, bees, and ants, but also humans, in pedestrian traffic and stampedes and all sorts of scenarios.

There were a couple of things that really interested me, where people come off better than you might hope.

One was an account of the deaths at the Who concert in Cincinnati in 1979. 

The media depicted the concert-goers as barbarians and drug-numbed and uncaring, but actually there were many people helping and trying to protect others. 

In this way it reminded me of the way the news reported the murder of Kitty Genovese, which I have written about previously:

https://preparedspork.blogspot.com/2023/10/aid-or-apathy.html 

News coverage is still a problem, but the point for today is that even in stressful situations we can be caring and altruistic.

Looking at other situations featured in the book (and influenced by the work of Anthony R. Mawson), it is even more noticeable when people are connected, both to places and each other.

The downside of this is that people may be reluctant to evacuate their homes when necessary, but if they do understand they need to evacuate, they are likely to locate their family members and work together as a group. 

One thing that helps soldiers maintain order is having other trusted soldiers in sight. If they know they can rely on someone around them, it is easier to do what they need to do.

I love that we love each other and want to take care of each other; that's a beautiful thing.

It worries me seeing over time how much of my social life has been dictated by my coworkers. Those attachments feel real but generally fade quickly when the job changes. 

I think we need to spend more time with families and neighbors so that proximity can be more helpful.

There's also a lot to be side for learning about emergency preparedness so that we are better able to understand when to evacuate and how to make sure everyone gets out quickly. Drills can be great.

I worry about a how a lot of people don't inspire great confidence; being in a crowd with them when things go wrong would not be ideal.

There are real problems that I can't deny, but I still love that we love and want to take care of each other. 

There is a spark there that we should nurture.