never honey today

The process by which a child becomes an adult involves the acquisition of skills that facilitate integration within society and culture.

The ability to defer gratification is a good example. To accept pain in the present for gain in the future is what helps make us obedient little worker-bees.

We do as they're told and don't complain about anything -- eg the lack of honey -- mainly because there's no time to do anything other than to be good little worker-bees.

Another reason why we don't complain is that tomorrow never comes (nor does the honey) so our expectations are never unfulfilled. Also, we don't complain because we accept what we've been told: that the honey is for the Queen and her courtiers, not for the average drone.

But there's a problem: successful acquisition of the skills to defer gratification is itself a source of gratification. And to defer that particular gratification would mean stopping all efforts to acquire the skills to defer gratification. So deferred gratification is inherently self-defeating.

So let's all go and get drunk and/or stoned right now, this very instant without further ado. Preferably stoned.

The title, "never honey today" is derived from Lewis Carroll's 1871 book "Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There".

Revised version of previously published post.

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