I then noticed a phenomenon. The chicks would mill about randomly, Mother would peck and like lightning the chicks would dash to gobble whatever Mom was eating. And the cycle would repeat. Moving in random patterns depending on whatever took Mom's eye.
This started a train of thought on Cognitive Processes, Learnt Behaviour, Errors introduced during Stochastic Acquisiton and all that jazz.
Why did the chicks just not do it themselves? When I throw down chicken food they know just what to do, no help from Mom needed.
Is it just they are still learning about what is a tasty snack and what is not? Is this an Identification and Recognition cycle?
Or are they just downright lazy or do it just to bug Mom?
Eventually they get the message, get independent and grow up. But there is a lot of waste in the process.
At this point The Boss arrived with the first batch of the Day-Care Mob. All female. The boys come out later. So off I go to plug in the TV games, untangling coax, reseating recalcitrant cards and eventually retuning the set. Where are my screwdrivers when I need them.
At the end of all this, with disgusting beeps and blarps emerging from the TV, they say "Oh no, we want to use the Computer before the boys come".
Restart. Find the CD's. Plug in. Power up. And off they go, Driving the Rat like hardened Pro's.
Watching quietly from the doorway (to adjudicate any preparatory fisticuffs and other mayhem) thoughts run through my mind. Here are these tots. A few weeks ago they were running around screeching at a decibel level to awaken the dead. (Sadly, this still eventually happens!)
Then they graduated to TV games. Bleep blarp and much finger twiddling. Silent Concentration.
Now they have moved to Computer games with a vengeance. They handle Mice like they have done it all their lives. We now have the ridiculous situation where there are not enough computer resources. The alarm clock has been dragged out of the bedroom to provide Time Slots.
The girls seem to prefer Drawing with the Mouse and the gentler stuff. The boys just want Doom and Mad Dog MaGee.
What are we teaching these kids? In this case nothing of high intellectual value. Perhaps they are getting a little Democracy 101 ("We must Share!") and Negotiated Dispute Resolution ("Stop That!").
But it keeps them quiet. Is this the Ultimate Goal?
There is also a drive for "More, More". An endless striving for novelty and "New" Games. Wonderful for the Games Industry. I'll have to get a real job just so I can buy more Games.
Now like any other normal red-blooded Obsessive-Compulsive I get to thinking about all this in terms of Y2k.
The Mother Hen and The Chicks Scenario is really a reflection of the current state of Global Industry and the activities on the Y2k Lists.
In general The Chicks are in a learning process, running around randomly, not quite sure what to do, waiting for Mom to spot a tasty bug. When the bug is detected they all jump in and rip the bug to shreds. And then mill about aimlessly again. No individual action or thought.
Mom Chickens are a bit like our Y2k activists. Beginning to age visibly and getting a little desperate with all the chick shenanigans. Also they get old and die, hoping that The Great Master Planner in the Sky has got the Schedule right and the chicks will grow up in time and become independent, able to survive for themselves in the Global Chicken Run.
Some of the chicks are going to go to the dogs (and get gobbled by Rufus). Some will get squished by Muddy Boots. But many will survive the War Zone to be Dad amd Mom chickens and tell war stories to their chicks. That is Life.
Dad Chickens are a bit like CEO's. All they want is to be left alone to do a little crowing in the Rooster Bar, it's Mom's job to look after the chicks. They did their bit and now they just want to retire in peace. They forget they could get the chop and end up on the supper table if there are no more Golden Eggs.
The Computer Industry is a little like a bunch of kids playing computer games. They don't really care as long as they are getting a turn to have fun. Most are just young and don't know any better.
Desparate Moms and Pops are a little like Computer Manufacturers and Suppliers. Thanking their lucky stars for Day-Care and Computer Games and anything else that will keep the little beasts quiet.
But everybody is just surviving day to day, without any plans for the future or the potential impacts of what their current actions will be. As long as we are ok now who cares if the next generation becomes brain-dead.
The Individual has a Choice. You can be Pro-active or follow the herd. What is your choice?
The Boss has finished loading her latest batch of .44 Magnum rounds for her Ruger and has gone off to fetch the next batch of Day-Care. Oh well, I'd better go and feed the dogs. Rufus is chewing his blanket.