A bit of BigMuscleBears philosophizing

[drscott]

Found in a profile:

You can see on this site how a motivated man can work his own body and image into what he wants to be; while anything done to an extreme that neglects other parts of life can be unhealthy, what I see here is a lot of art, done well. And if not all of us have the time and the motivation, at least we can enjoy what others have done and reward them with some admiration. All of us deserve a season in the sun, a time in our lives when we were the best we could be and others wanted to be near us, and those days always come to an end, by accident or old age or disease or just getting tired. I will keep on trying to make myself better until I'm just too tired to do it, and then I'll sit back to watch the kids work out how they can best be men. It should be fun....

Status-seeking is seen in the animal kingdom, where sexual display is an important component of mating success. Evolutionary biologists talk about examples like the peacock, where display has become so costly for individuals that it seems counterproductive for the species as a whole, yet each individual is driven by competition for mates to spend more and more effort attracting them. In humans these displays are more about adornment; crafting of beautiful things, purchase of expensive goods, association with the wealthy and powerful to indicate [usually to women considering their choices] that the male can provide a safe, secure, and comfortable environment for children. Gay men don't (usually) consciously consider suitability for long-term childraising in their selection of mate, yet it's clear that similar status and dominance networks are a prime motivator for much of what we do beyond basic subsistence. We are probably puppets to our genes and background heterosexual culture in this. But the results can be beautiful, and if you remember that it's all a great pageant, a show, a play...

Our revels now are ended. These our actors
As I foretold you were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air;
And like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capped tow'rs, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.

(The Tempest, IV,i,148-158)

Comments

[beastbriskett.livejournal.com]

The thing that struck me in that profile was the reference to our season in the sun, and the ease at accepting when it passes.
Wish I could be that calm.

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

I suppose I should admit that it's my profile I'm quoting from.