Fermi's Paradox

A long time ago, over half a century, in another time and place, there was a gathering of wise men. Some of the smartest minds of their time were involved in an informal discussion. One of the wise men, by the name of Enrico Fermi said “where is everybody?”

About that time , perhaps a few decades later, the children of a small town in west texas had nothing to do, so they amused themselves.

Some of the children were from fairly well to do families. Their parents bought them toys. Toys like Barracudas, Firebirds, SuperBees and other types of heavy metal. Real Automobiles...not rice burners.

Humankind is competitive by nature, especially the males of the species. They wanted to see “who’s is faster, who’s is bigger, who’s is most gnarly”, from time immemorial, so they had impromptu drag races.

Late in the evening on FM 400, out in the country far from any adult “supervision” the children had drag races. Could the superbee beat the camaro? Could the hemi outrun the Chevrolet? They had informal drag races. They had a LOT of fun.

They were having fun? Unauthorized fun? Can’t have that? Certain people (the usual suspects) viewed this activity with concern. Laws were passed, the police were notified, this horrible dangerous activity was terminated.

Think of the Children.

In that same town, the less affluent children...dragged Broadway. Some of them went fast, from stop light to the next stoplight...but most of them didn’t. In general they’d just drive. They’d drive to the end of broadway, turn around at the train depot and drive back to fifth street, turn right and drive down fifth street to the ArrowHead drive in..then circle the drive in and do it again.

They were having fun? Unauthorized fun? Can’t have that? Certain people (the usual suspects) viewed this activity with concern. Laws were passed, the police were notified, this horrible dangerous activity was terminated.

Think of the Children.

Those same children, unable to drive around town without being harassed by cops, decided on an alternate path. They’d park. They find a shopping center parking lot or that of a large grocery store...and park their cars and….just visit. They’d sit there in the parking lot until all hours of the night and into the morning...and talk. They were having fun.

They were having fun? Unauthorized fun? Can’t have that? Certain people (the usual suspects) viewed this activity with concern. Laws were passed, the police were notified, this horrible dangerous activity was terminated.

Think of the Children.

And so it went, over the years.

Boy Scouts?

Future Farmers of America Stock Shows.

Skate boards on the sidewalk.

Fireworks.

Streaking.

Rifle and pistol competition.

and hundreds more.

Texas even had a name for such restrictive legislation...Bubba Laws.

Bubba (the poor, the misspoken, the lone wolves, the rowdy and impolite) were known to drive (gasp) without wearing their seatbelts, they’d haul their children (and each other) around town in the back of pickups. They’d ride motorcycles without helmets and engage in all SORTS on politically incorrect behavior. They’d drink beer and horror of horrors they’d smoke grass. They were having fun.

They were having fun? Unauthorized fun? Can’t have that! Certain people (the usual suspects) viewed this activity with concern. Laws were passed, the police were notified, this horrible dangerous activity was terminated.

Think of the Children. Pass Bubba Laws.

And so it went.

Anything and everything is regulated. There are ten million laws. Some people need freedom. Paradoxically enough to gain that freedom they retreat into seclusion. Today it’s not uncommon for grown men in their thirties...to stay at home. They sit in their parent’s basements playing video games on their computers. They engage is extreme (make believe) violence, and virtual sexual activity, with their counterparts worldwide via the internet. Social Networks, MMOG’s and several other acronyms know only to them. They are having fun.

They were having fun? Unauthorized fun? Can’t have that? Certain people (the usual suspects) viewed this activity with concern. Laws were passed, the police were notified, this horrible dangerous activity was terminated.

Think of the Children.

Years ago, in another, much more free, time in place, the group of wise men could NOT envision such restrictions. They were sure that mankind would someday reach the stars. If mankind could do it, then why could not other races?

But they saw NO traces. Where was everybody?

Think of the Children, we need MORE laws.