Feb 16 2009
To bite or not to bite
“The overwhelming majority of life is subject to this inevitable fact. Our kind is destined to rule for another million years or so…” Benny cracked up. “Shhh, Benny, can’t you see Professor Squatini Formes is describing what my life will be like in the future?” “Please, Louie, he’s a visiting professor from the Mediterranean sea. His speech is heavily accented. How do you know what he’s saying, or that what he’s saying is even correct? He’s obviously doing excellent with this crowd with his double-talk. Is he in politics also?” ”It’s not about what he’s saying, Bennym it’s that he’s saying it. The more this type of pattern and institutionalization is played out in popular forums like this, the more the ocean population absolutely believes it. It’s not about facts, it’s about what sea creatures can be made to believe.” “Nope. You just lost me”. “Since when do you not understand the golden rule, huh?” “Louie, nothing about us says golden. We’re gray/blue with some white and the rest of our sandpaper skin is mottled with scars and gashes”. “Benny, you’ve got no flair for the dramatic. Try thinking of the other sharks once in a while”. “You are chastizing me? You? The most gluttonous shark practioner I’ve ever met. The shark who goes through about 1800 Da Vinci veneers per year so that what - you look good when you bite a 25lb. chunk off a victim?” “Gosh Benny, cut me some slack. I’ve done a lot of good and helped others through some difficult times”. “Yeah, right. When’s the last time you offered up some time for sharks who’ve suffered through underwater earthquakes, or the engaged yourself in the fight against victimless crimes, or helped out those sharks that unknowingly swallowed scientific probes or were tagged with a dart and followed for 2 to 3 years by those disgusting, foul tasting creatures above the surface?” “Benny, what do you know about those creatures. Did you bite one?” Benny obviously didn’t feel like talking about it. Louie egged him on. “I was swimming in those warm currents, you know, and I thought I sensed a seal. I didn’t smell it but my sonar picked up the movements, design imprint, and speed of it. One thing lead to another and when I bite down the flesh had this rubbery feel to it. It upset me so I let it go. I came around and I bit it a second time less hard and the flesh ripped off like gift wrapping paper. I swam away scared”. “Why were you scared?” “Because, there was no blood, nor bones, nor unusual movements of trying to get away. The whole atmosphere surrounding this episode left me without a feeling of triumph. I was hungry, for sure, but that taste felt like that taffy they sell at the underwater circus, you know? So I left it alone”. “Wow, I’ve never met a shark who did anything like that”. “And you call yourself a shark with worldly instincts and experience”. “Benny, when I was in shark school we role played about those creatures above the surface and the liaiblity to the rest of the shark community when any one of us ventures into those unchartered waters. The whole group of us gets stereotyped and then we get hunted. I’m too valuable a specimen, and too valuable as a shark practioner to take risks like those. I encourage others to take those risks, then they come to me for help and I make a fortune”. “You don’t know anything, Louie.”
There is no moral imperative when fullfillment influences overpower established fundamentals. When immediate need is transferred like a painting onto a canvas the now visual existence propels the reactive impetus which drives action. Before you consult with a shark practioner for advice on a subject, ask yourself if to bite or not to bite remains the question.
