Everybody assumes they know what the social contract is, but no two people agree on it in every particular. That tends to make a mockery of the “conform or leave” arguments.
About Those “Social Contracts”
Hilarious!
Submitted by Sunni on Tue, 2008-02-26 09:51.
Typical Mencken, and hilarious to boot. Thanks for posting it.
I’d never thought of the “social contract” idea in this context before, but it does seem to be trotted out all too often these days as a sly way of trying to coerce someone or some group.
If you don't like it leave
This reminds me of the a quote I picked up from Mencken this afternoon:
"Q: If you find so much that is unworthy of reverence in the United States, then why do you live here?
A: Why do men go to zoos?"
I've encountered this "conform or leave" argument more times than I'd like to recall, and from mostly intelligent people. I think the quote above illustrates what the social contract really is, namely, "Do what I want you to do or leave." It just indicates the megalomania inherent in most people, which is born of insecurity that is sated by trying to control the uncontrollable. Reminds me of why I am a bad passenger in a car.