What does "civilized" mean?

[KillerMuffin]

Well? What's it mean? How do you decide who or what is civilized? In your own words. Please support your claim.

 

[freescorfr]

British - ask p_pman.

 

[CoolidgEffect]

Does this have anything to do with CV/yayati's question regarding the use of toilet paper?

 

[Never]

Well, civilized has two meanings, both of them relevant and both of them culturally defined in their details. To be civilized requires a person to be useful part of a civilization, which would be any organized group of humans having anatomy from another organization. I’d consider the US to be a civilization but not a little league team. The organization defines what is useful, however.

The second part of being civilized is being civil. That’s acting in a way dictated by the etiquette of whatever culture you’re in. When I cut someone off in traffic and flip them off I’m being uncivilized.

So, basically, civilized indicates your active participation in your culture.

 

[Never]

I’d also like to add that ‘counter-cultures’ are useful to the culture – they prevent stagnation – people who are part of one are serving their culture in a different way but they are serving their culture.

 

[Willing and Unsure]

civilized... what is accepted by the majority of the group

I've noticed that whenever something isnt exactly accepted (i.e. not having cable television), then whomever it is generally is told that they are uncivilized.

 

[VeryBadGirl]

I think civilized means that you can live in a community with others without disrespecting anybody else's rights. Hmmm.
You also obey the agreed-upon rules and help each other.

But isn't civilization in the eyes of the beholder? Some people might consider it uncivilized to do a lot of the things that are legal.

 

[binkley]

It means you get quoted on the BBC as being from a developed country.

 

[Jim_Henson]

When I'm civilized, I cease to be

You knew it was coming.

 

[takingchances42]

It means that I am being a mad, power-hungry megalomaniac, and am about to conquer the world and win another game of Civilization III.

 

[Lost Cause]

"Civilized"= Controlled.....

Domesticated, part of the herd. Allowing your life to be ruled by others, and their view of what you should be. Relinquishing your personal responsibilities to the state, and authorities. Not looking farther than your assigned position in life for fear of retribution by the others of "civilized society". Being able to rationalize any act of cowardice on your part when faced with a threat requiring your physical resistance. (You run from it, or let it happen) In short, civilized means letting others dictate your behavior, and in the end you become neurotic trying to fit in with whatever society's definition of "civilized" is!
My example is look to your left, your right, down your street, and on your tv. You might even find a "civilized" person in the mirror!


**A free society does not fit the European definition of "civilized".

 

[Never]

Lost Cause, I notice that you’re using the spelling, syntax, and punctuation dictated to us by the evil civilization. Seems you’re more domesticated than you think.

 

[lovetoread]

I've always equated civilized to mean that there are rules to follow.

 

[Calamity Jane]

Main Entry: civilized
Function: adjective
Date: 1611
: characteristic of a state of civilization ; especially : characterized by taste, refinement, or restraint

This definition sounds ok. Taste, refinement and restraint can't be bad things. All things in moderation, and all that.

What bothers me is what the dictionary spits out as synonyms... "bland, smooth, urbane"

I consider myself civilized, but not bland or urbane.

IMO, a civilized person is one who functions well and follows the generally accepted practices of their section of society.

I also think that it's defined by individuals within a societal grouping. For instance, I have friends who find foxhunting extremely distasteful, they think it's barbaric, elitist, cruel to the animals involved, and altogether uncivilized. I think it's great sport, and can't think of a way I'd rather spend my Fall and Winter mornings. My friends aren't more civilized than me, though, our opinions of civilized behavior simply vary a bit.

 

[takingchances42]

I look at civilized as being the antonym of barbarian. Some examples:

Barbarians wear furs and leather and helmets with big horns on top. Civilized people wear silly little suits with useless ties -- because everyone else does.

Barbarians eat haunches of rare meat with their hands, swill ale and fuck their women on the table. Civilized people eat salad, drink bottled water, and make appointments with sex therapists.

Barbarians pillage cities using brute force. Civilized people pillage their shareholders and employees, using crooked accountants.

Which sounds more fun to you?

 

[Never]

Actually, civilized people consume much more meat than primitive people do.
In addition, if barbarians fuck ‘their women’ on the table I’d rather be civilized. I’d rather not be property.

 

[Never]

Now that I think about it, primitive living would have all sorts of bonuses. Wearing lice infested clothing, not being able to survive without my family, having kids at the age of 15, constant exposure to the elements, never interacting with a culture other than my own, having no knowledge of the world but that which my ancestors made up, and dying early from a massive infection that could have been cured with a few shots of penicillin.
Sign me up!

 

[takingchances42]

Um, the post was meant humorously, Never. And I suspect that there are more than a few lusty wenches out there who would love to have a virile barbarian put them up on table, knocking dishes and goblets of ale aside, throw their legs over his shoulders, and take them on the spot. That neither the humor nor the image appealed to you, is just one of those things that happen on the internet...

Sigh. But I was so hoping to have the opportunity to infest you with my lice...

 

[Never]

Yes, many a lusty wench may have envisioned that but then realized they’d be the ones cleaning up the ale and broken dishes afterwards. It’d say that civilization is born from man’s desire to conquer and women’s desire to control.

What? You don’t think dying due to a lack of penicillin is funny?
Weird people you meet on Lit.

 

[Starfish]

Let me cut through the bullshit and give you a nice example...

It means that if I met you in real life, I wouldn't attack your legs and hump them, like I fantasize about when I look at your av.

I am civilized.

 

[MunchinMark]

Civilised seems to mean coming form a rich country.

What I think it should mean is that you behave in a way that is respectful of other people, and which gets repect from other people as well.

That last bit is important. I don't think that it is right to just roll over and let people do what they like because it is their 'ethnic ways', or a culture that is so different to mine that my morals cannot apply. A certain degree of morality is universal- stuff about not hurting or killing people for example.

Of course, a line has to be drawn somewhere, I know. But where, I'm not sure. Somewhere between not stealing and not being unfaithful I suppose.

 

[Unclebill]

Originally posted by Never
Now that I think about it, primitive living would have all sorts of bonuses. Wearing lice infested clothing, not being able to survive without my family, having kids at the age of 15, constant exposure to the elements, never interacting with a culture other than my own, having no knowledge of the world but that which my ancestors made up, and dying early from a massive infection that could have been cured with a few shots of penicillin.
Sign me up!

Very well said! BRAVO!!

 

[Temptress_1960]

Tea. Afternoon tea is extremely civilized. Not to mention the pastries involved.

One lump or two?

 

[freescorfr]

Tea. Afternoon tea is extremely civilized. Not to mention the pastries involved.

One lump or two?

I've watched ants a lot this summer. They are organised and civilised and very efficient - like the British used to be.

I remember a pupiul writing that "Robert the Bruce was a great King: he fought like a spider." The British were very civilised, like ants. And they respected tea times, too.

 

[70/30]

My friend Juankama the shaman knows only two words of English... “Civilization bad”.

So, Huaruni tribe=uncivilized=good

people staring at plastic and glass box all day=civilized=bad