It was a rodent and, in particular, the laboratory experiments performed on rats in the 1960s by ethologist John B. The episode concludes with Quist calling for a Royal Commission on the “roots of violence in modern society.” The factory-farmed broiler chicken was, in the early 1970s, as much a novel convenience of modern living as the concrete tower block, and feather pecking and cannibalism were real concerns.īut the most influential example of “ pathological togetherness” lifted from the animal kingdom was not a bird. On the contrary, they become so aggressive that their beaks have to be cut off “to prevent them tearing each other to pieces.” For the episode’s writer, Doctor Who veteran Louis Marks, it was only a short, logical step from aggressive poultry to antisocial people. Towards the end of the episode, head doomwatcher Dr Spencer Quist (John Paul) muses that chickens living in batteries do not become docile as expected. “… The Human Time Bomb”, which first aired in February 1971, also links concerns about high-density housing to animal behaviour. Live Christmas with purpose.Īnd they’ll know we are Christians by our love.ĭon’t miss a post! Sign up for my e-newsletter for more stories and personal insights here: Lorri’s Newsletter.“Calhoun standing above his mice laboratory in 1971” As you order gifts or bake cookies, ponder who else you might have the ability to unexpectedly bless. As you place stamps on your Christmas cards, take a moment to pray for that family. So when you’re looking at that Christmas party invite and creatively thinking of an excuse to turn it down, consider if God has a reason for you to attend. We (myself included) need to take a breath and remember God has placed these people into our lives for a reason. John Hambrick, author of Move Toward the Mess, said, “You know you’re too busy when messy people become a problem and not an opportunity.” People are not barriers, they’re not boxes to be checked, or hurdles to be jumped. We can lose the purpose of this wonderful season, and begin to see people as a task to check off our list. As Christmas approaches and the stress of buying presents, mailing out cards, and making a dish to pass for the next party overwhelms us, we can become too frazzled. I’m not worried about cannibalism becoming a problem in cities, but I’ll never forget the horror of people being trampled for a black Friday deal. In the stress of limited space, it didn’t take long before the rats became aggressive and even ate each other. They congregated together at food distribution and bred rapidly, but then overcrowding began. He provided them with food and even kept their pen at a balmy climate. Within his barn in Maryland, he constructed the ideal environment for rats to live. I’m ashamed to say it, but, I knew it was time to move back to the burbs when I began to see people as objects in my way instead of as individuals.Īnimal Behaviorist, John B Calhoun, created a utopian society for rats. I packed into a tight commuter-rail car amid a plethora of unpleasant smells.

I lugged grocery bags six blocks because it was easier to do that than to find a parking space. Although city-life was fun and exciting, I drove white-knuckled, swerving around double-parked cars, oncoming trains, and jaywalking pedestrians.

I lived in Boston for a year while in college.

Rat utopia