Page 11 - The Gluckman Occasonal Number Nine

leaders began threatening each other, large and small, to remind their
own followers that only their slingshots were an effective deterrent
against others attacking them with similar weapons. Meanwhile, the
whole neighborhood was running down because of its reputation for
juvenile gang warfare. The owner of the buildings in which the kids
live decided to demolish them and build an upscale shopping mall
instead. All the people living there became homeless.
Moral: What’s being fought over isn’t what both parties will lose.

Parafable of the Ducks

“I have just learned,” said a member of the duck flock, landing with
all flaps down, “that hunters are in the area. We are in danger. We
must do something.” The others pondered. “Do they have dogs?”
asked one. “I don’t know,” said the new arrival. “Do they have
guns?” asked another. “Can’t say,” was the reply. “But we have either
to stay put or leave. If we remain, we must be very quiet; if we leave,
the best route is north, up the river.” Then they heard noises not very
far away. “Time to decide!” And some of them sat unmoving while
others took to the sky. Those who were sitting ducks were killed by
dogs; those who flew past the duck blind were killed by shotgun
blasts.
Moral: The horns of a dilemma may be equally sharp.

Parafable of the Psyche

Ego had gotten too big for its circuits, becoming megalomaniacal.
Superego, too weak as a result to reduce ego’s self-importance,
appealed to Id. But Id wanted nothing to do with reining in Ego. It
maintained its own superiority, of course: it ruled; it did not make
rules. Superego cannot appeal to reason here, as it might once have
done with Ego. It argued that since Id is responsible for providing
the raw material for Ego and Superego out of its own neurons, it had
to adjust the ratio of Pleasure Principle to Death Wish that was
keeping Ego going on its power trip. Sorry, replied Id; that’s not
under my control: it is regulated by feedback loops. But something
must be done, Superego insisted, to bring this organism to its senses
before it violated the Reality Principle! That’s your job, objected Id;
I’m down in the boiler room: you know what’s what out there in the
world. That’s the problem, explained Superego patiently; Ego has