Would you do this to your children?
Picture a fenced yard, filled with children. We draw lines on the ground, an then tell some of the children that they can cross their lines and go anywhere they want, but other children must be stuck where they are. Each area is special in its own way. Has it’s own creatures, it’s own toys and it’s own rules. Some children want the toys in someone else’s area, and will cross the line to get it. If the other child protests, there will be a fight, a fight that the other children stand around watching because they are not allowed to leave their area. Eventually some person in charge will show up and ask what’s going on. The child who crossed the line might own up to what they did, but he probably likes the toy he came for, so he claims that it was his and he just came over to fetch it. The rest of the children know that the Authority figure will not be around forever, and so are reluctant to accuse the bully, fearing later reprisals. Having no-one willing to gainsay him, the bully now begins his slow domination of the entire yard. Another child decides that he doesn’t like the rules in his neighbour’s area, so he decides to go over there and to take his rules, and everyone else who follows the same rules, with him. Power struggles will eventually break out, with some of the children forming alliances and eventually, with safety existing in numbers, several factions form throughout the yard. Some of the children build walls on their lines, to keep their neighbours out. Others form powerful groups, who move freely within the group area, but protect their outer lines. Raids begin, lies are told, individuals are hurt, spying, mudslinging, tyranny, genocide, untill there are only a few children left, and the yard is unrecognizable. The rules have all been twisted and warped along with the children. All the fascinating creatures are gone. All the toys are broken. The remaining children have grown bitter, distrusting, vengeful and desperate. What could have been a wonderful yard, has become a living hell.
All because of a few lines. Funny that.
