The Decline of the Family Unit
With the spread of post-modernity, our concept of family has had to shift away from our previous understanding. (Those of you who have studied post-modernity may not see the correlation, but I prefer to use post-modernity as a box that almost everything fits in.) It affects us in many ways.

I know some of you are thinking, "Will, you don't live with your family, you're not married and/or raising kids, what do you care about the family unit?" Let me tell you, it does impact me. As a unit, family should be given more value. I bought groceries yesterday, including two "Family Packs" of Highliner fish and chips. For supper I ate one of those family packs. I am not a family, no matter how much post-modernity has impacted our definition. Sure I eat more than most, but should that be even possible? Fish and chips isn't a side-dish either, it's clearly the full meal. What kind of family can make due with five small pieces of fish, and half a plate of fries? Perhaps that was the lowest possible cost amount that could be justified by Highliner to attach to the "family" label, thus producing the greatest profit, but that reduction of the family unit sickens me. Let's not toss around the word family so much that it loses all value.

PS - This entry was intended to focus on the mathematical definition of unit, not the sociological definition of family. That juxtaposition was intended as my attempt at wit. Read it again, and you'll see the sociological connection is only ever inserted by the reader, not me the writer.

PPS - Highliner is a trademark of High Liner Foods Inc. All rights reserved.

   [ posted by William @ 1:19 PM ]