To: Electronic Telegraph <et.letters@telegraph.co.uk>

Re: : So-called civilised society

Date: Tue, 6 November 2001

 

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Dear Sir/Madam,

 

Writing to an old school friend recently, I remembered how, when I was 10 or 11 years old, I considered myself to be the "3rd  best fighter in the class". It embarrassed me confessing to having had such primitive feelings, but it set me thinking about human behaviour.

 

Before long it occurred to me that in fact very little changes as we get older. It is all a question of power and status (in the class, at work, in society at large).

 

We all know who the equivalent of the best fighter is now: Bill Gates!

 

I find it quite sobering - and frightening - to think that this kind of mentality should hold such sway in what we refer to as civilised society.