THE FOREARM TATTOO

I have a tattoo on my forearm, that reads "He who makes a beast of himself, gets rid of the pain of being a man". It is a quote by Samuel Johnson, and is also at the beginning of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which is a movie on Hunter S. Thompson's literary exploits. Now, before we proceed, lemme first say, I don't care if you think my tattoo looks like crap, it's more about the quote than the look. Anyway, the reason I got this tattoo, was because the quote really spoke to me in a personal way, and ended up having a dual meaning to me. I was going thru a really revealing time in my life, and I was facing some very real truths about myself and this quote was a way of reminding me of that time period. I had just finished getting a large chest tattoo, and ended up getting this tiny type tattoo on my forearm, and the tattoo artist and I laughed about the variation from large to super small. So, let's examine the meaning behind this tattoo....

"He who makes a beast of himself, gets rid of the pain of being a man", initially, it's easy to draw a meaning out of this quote, because it's pretty straightforward. Humanity comes with a fair share of pain, given our thoughts, experiences, and emotions. One way we can overcome that, is to become beast like, and become more than (or less than) human. Beasts, are devoid of, I won't say all emotion or empathy, but it does not stifle them. Beasts are beasts. Beasts, are primarily occupied with survival, and their instincts. Most of what occupies the human mind, is not found in animals, therefore, their lives could be somewhat considered less complicated. So in saying, we should become beasts, we deny the emotions and complications of human suffering, to focus on survival, or advancement in, "the pack". The pack being, the rest of humanity. To become cold and callous, to the many things that make us cold and callous, in the first place. So, in the first interpretation of this quote, we have an explanation to adjust to dealing with the more difficult side of humanity.

However, it has a dual meaning as well. It also serves as a very important warning for us, would be beasts out there. By making oneself a beast, you are forgetting all, which makes one a human in the first place. Becoming a beast, to somehow deal with the adjustment to humanities many trials and tribulations, is one thing. When, you become so much of a beast, that you begin to forget how to be human, it becomes less of a benefit and more of a setback. The interesting thing, is that we are not beasts, but, we are all human. All humans are human, not beasts. We call ourselves beasts, act like beasts, and use this as an excuse to be inhumane to each other. We act as if becoming a beast elevates us over humanity itself, however, on an evolutionary scale, its a giant step backward. Its ok, to look at beasts, or animals in general and learn something that allows you to adjust to your humanity. You are not a beast. You are human. You use this as an excuse to be cruel, and unapologetic, for your ridiculous behavior, much like saying you're an "alpha male". Humanity, isn't a choice, its who you are.

So, becoming a beast, can help one deal with the emotional side of humanity, by becoming dead to those emotions. How? Because in the animal kingdom, the only thing that matters is survival, and your only instinct, is fight or flight. When faced with that, then the volume on the rest of humanities discrepancies get turned way down. You are allowing yourself to focus on what's important, and fall apart at the seams, because you maintain control of your survival. As they say, what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. However, once the strength is restored, and the pain has subsided, then, you must find that humanity again. Beasts, only understand survival, and a sense of kill or be killed, but, that only envites an eventual demise because the beast that intends on removing you from your position, only has to be stronger and better than you. Being human is much more intricate, and has many different layers in its progression. Be human, and only be a beast when you need to be.   -  925