What if ..............?

Question

What if ........................?

We could restart a better society by going to a desert island and starting a new community?

Now imagine with me. What would your new job be? Play to your strengths, would you be a builder, a firewood collector, a magistrate? A child bearer? No formal qualifications required, the only rule is that you can do it on the island and it must help the community.

So what would you be?

What about rules, how we treat the environment?

How would you want to live?

Marriage? on your own, in family units, in communes?

I would chose to be a childbearer, look after the community's children and cook.

It is Sunday afternoon, dream a little here with me.

Answer 1

How much cash do I need to get a cute "childbearer" like you on her back?

Answer 2

If we were to start an entirely new society, I think it would be a communal society, and everyone would do everything.  I would probably not do it in the desert though, I would do it some place with rain.  I would help build houses, which would either be tree houses or underground.  (Tree houses are just cool, while underground is energy efficient.) My society would be vegetarian like me and we would all have grow vegetables and have some fruit trees.  We could have sheep and make our own yarn.  Because it is communal, smaller family units can go on short vacations together without having fear of losing their crops.

Thanks for letting me daydream for a little bit!

Answer 3

I would want to be a teacher, to my children and others. I would also like to garden, build, cook, maybe be a healer, make music, etc etc etc.

I think that most tribal societies (and that is what we would be) work out on their own the right way to treat the environment.

I still like marriage, and would want to live in small communal groups, family or friends - groups of like-minded people naturally would form, I think.

The problem is..... I think this kind of Utopian dream has been tried and not succeeded. There are too many people like that guy who made the "on your back" remark who would not get the vision or be ready to give up the existing power structure.

I agree, though, it is a nice thought for a Sunday afternoon.

Answer 4

Well, I think I would be some one to take care of the children ...

Answer 5

Hi...

Lil' bit weird question, but it's ok  ;-p

Well, maybe i'll be a campaigner hehehe ^^

I will tell people "Hey Guys, LET'S GO GREEN (in d desert?)..  Save Water, don't spend it on something un-usefull!!"

Answer 6

So what would you be?

Well, I would LIKE to be the community sheperdess.  In charge of herding the livestock (horses, goats, sheep, cattle) to fresh graze every day, looking out for  their well being, and selecting the best of the best for mating and providing future generations.  

However I know what I would actually end up being.  (Right about now people are going to think I have a swelled head, and over inflated ego)  I would end up being THE teacher.  Not of children...of the entire community.  Frankly, I'm too valuable to "waste" being the community sheperdess.  My brain is far to STUFFED with scads of archaic knowledge.  

Know how to make a butter curn a two year old child can use?  I do.

Know how to tan a hide with brains?  I do.

Know how to do field surgery (that means not sterile, no anesthesia)?  I do.

Know how to birth a baby, human or animal that is breach or tangled somehow?  I do.

Know what plants are edible, medicinal, and toxic?  I do.

Know how to make paper or ink?  I do.

Can you start a fire with only stuff you find in nature?  I can.

I have this incredible, and vast array of knowledge, from how to find, or capture water, make fire, make shelters, find, and cook food, medical, ect.  I know all sorts of weird things that would be so bennificial to a rustic community building from the ground up.  I know, I'd end up being THE teacher.

What about rules, how we treat the environment?

Way important, but so many of the rules would depend on exactly what type of flora/fauna/climate the Island had.

Most important...do not waste the fresh water, nor strip all the plants, trees, bushes from around the fresh water source (even if it's a river).

Second most important...for every tree you cut down, plant 10 new ones.  Otherwise you end up with Easter Island, and a loss of soil, wildlife, and the abbility for the land to support the people.

Third, there needs to be some form of population control, both for the people, and the livestock, or again, you end up with Easter Island.  On Easter Island the native folks there believe it is far better to own 100 starving, nearly dead horses, than 10 well cared for, healthy, and able to work horses.  Population control for both the people, and the animals.

Manditory food storage, for times of crop failure.  Food storage of course extends to trying to have enough food for the animals/livestock also.  Starvation is NOT a pretty picture.

Manditory community service for ALL youth (handicaped or not).  They should serve for a period of two - four years.  This would be their right of passage into adulthood....something our society is sorely lacking.  Children need to learn community service, AND to have rights, and rituals which pass them into adulthood.  Handicapped would obviouly serve however it was reasonable for them too.  Community service would be everything from helping the elderly, ill, widowed, to barn raising for the newlyweds.

How would you want to live?

In my own home with my husband, and any children that might come along (via adoption).  I would desire the entire community to gather once a week, for a shared meal cooked by all (not just the women).  It would be a time to have fun, as well as share important news, ask for help, make sugestions, keep friendships strong, and pride in ones community.

I feel it is important for people to have strength, bonds and pride within their family, but also to have the same bonds, and pride in ones community.  That's why it's important for the community to stay a reasonable size (population control).

~Garnet

Homesteading/Farming over 20 years

Answer 7

I think that you are trying to create a community that only exist in your dream.

We can protect the environment, if everyone uses goods and services responsively.

We leave in the disposal society.

I like your marriage idea - on your own family units. But it will put lot of people out of business.

I think that you are in search for friend that values your dream. Good luck.

Answer 8

we could restart today.  I would be a king making people restart their life. if they refused me woo to them