The Little People
Gnomes, elves, troglodytes, they're somewhat different than you and me. They're not dwarfs, nor actually human, but rather another, alternate species of being, a magical touch in our pedestrian world. And many believe in their existence. Seems far-fetched, but then there is an amazing number of people who believe in the existence of fairies. Not to mention those who believe in Big Foot, or the Sasquatch, and their existence is rather difficult to prove.
Still, people believe in them. In Iceland belief in the existence of little people whom Icelanders call the 'hidden ones' pervades the society. To the extent that the Public Roads Administration delays or re-routes construction to ensure no elf habitation or cursed spots are interfered with. Lest the wrath of the elves be brought down upon the interlopers so baldly lacking in respect. That they're unseen doesn't necessarily mean that they don't exist.
Besides which there are those who swear they've seen them, encountered them, had discourse with them, even invited them into the house for a chat and a cup of tea. Try that with Big Foot. There are places where Icelandic believers construct 'elf doors' to mark rocks where the population of elves is said to be particularly dense. There's likely to be more elves inhabiting the rocky, mossy, waterfalled atmosphere of Iceland than there is people.
Reykjavik, where most of Iceland's 300,000-strong population live is most definitely not an elf stronghold. Which is just as well since the elves are well known for their mischief-making, making off with items, then suddenly returning them while the frantic owners search everywhere. It's likely what happened with the fish, leaving Icelanders without their traditional source of income through fishing. Only the elves didn't return the fish.
What they did, instead, was conspire among themselves to wickedly persuade Icelanders that they could become wealthy simply by transferring worthless pieces of bank papers, back and forth between their banks and lending institutions and the people suddenly found themselves with far more wealth than they had ever imagined they could acquire through the banality of fishing for a living. And then, what did those elves do? Why, they made those promissory notes worthless, and whoosh! all that wealth disappeared.
In Ireland elves are also commonplace. But in Ireland elves' penchant for mischief is well known. So Irelanders, while respecting the elves and the gnomes and other Little People, knew far better than to trust them, and take advice from them. In Ireland wealth was found through IT start-ups. But wouldn't you know it, the elves got to them anyway, and Ireland's wealth too, dissipated into the ether.
The thing is, rational people don't believe in Little People, or Big Foot, or Sea Monsters. They need proof before they will succumb to irrational beliefs in the presence amongst them of supranatural beings. And since proof is rather elusive, since the elves and such are suspicious by nature and not given to showing themselves when they needn't, since the gullible will believe in their presence anyway, it is they who hold their presence in such esteem.
Mind, there are creatures living in our biosphere that even scientists and biologists don't realize the presence of. Intrepid scientific discoverers are always on the prowl to root out the presence of creatures whose existence we hardly suspect. In fact, in what is being termed a "lost paradise" in Papua, New Guinea in the southwestern Pacific, new species of spiders, geckos and frogs have been discovered.
These species, unlike the elves and the gnomes don't actually communicate with humans, they prefer to remain aloof and well away from those other species whose arcane activities tend to do harm to them. It's likely they've conspired with the elves to get their own back.
Still, people believe in them. In Iceland belief in the existence of little people whom Icelanders call the 'hidden ones' pervades the society. To the extent that the Public Roads Administration delays or re-routes construction to ensure no elf habitation or cursed spots are interfered with. Lest the wrath of the elves be brought down upon the interlopers so baldly lacking in respect. That they're unseen doesn't necessarily mean that they don't exist.
Besides which there are those who swear they've seen them, encountered them, had discourse with them, even invited them into the house for a chat and a cup of tea. Try that with Big Foot. There are places where Icelandic believers construct 'elf doors' to mark rocks where the population of elves is said to be particularly dense. There's likely to be more elves inhabiting the rocky, mossy, waterfalled atmosphere of Iceland than there is people.
Reykjavik, where most of Iceland's 300,000-strong population live is most definitely not an elf stronghold. Which is just as well since the elves are well known for their mischief-making, making off with items, then suddenly returning them while the frantic owners search everywhere. It's likely what happened with the fish, leaving Icelanders without their traditional source of income through fishing. Only the elves didn't return the fish.
What they did, instead, was conspire among themselves to wickedly persuade Icelanders that they could become wealthy simply by transferring worthless pieces of bank papers, back and forth between their banks and lending institutions and the people suddenly found themselves with far more wealth than they had ever imagined they could acquire through the banality of fishing for a living. And then, what did those elves do? Why, they made those promissory notes worthless, and whoosh! all that wealth disappeared.
In Ireland elves are also commonplace. But in Ireland elves' penchant for mischief is well known. So Irelanders, while respecting the elves and the gnomes and other Little People, knew far better than to trust them, and take advice from them. In Ireland wealth was found through IT start-ups. But wouldn't you know it, the elves got to them anyway, and Ireland's wealth too, dissipated into the ether.
The thing is, rational people don't believe in Little People, or Big Foot, or Sea Monsters. They need proof before they will succumb to irrational beliefs in the presence amongst them of supranatural beings. And since proof is rather elusive, since the elves and such are suspicious by nature and not given to showing themselves when they needn't, since the gullible will believe in their presence anyway, it is they who hold their presence in such esteem.
Mind, there are creatures living in our biosphere that even scientists and biologists don't realize the presence of. Intrepid scientific discoverers are always on the prowl to root out the presence of creatures whose existence we hardly suspect. In fact, in what is being termed a "lost paradise" in Papua, New Guinea in the southwestern Pacific, new species of spiders, geckos and frogs have been discovered.
These species, unlike the elves and the gnomes don't actually communicate with humans, they prefer to remain aloof and well away from those other species whose arcane activities tend to do harm to them. It's likely they've conspired with the elves to get their own back.
Labels: Social-Cultural Deviations
posted by Pieface @ 5:46 PM
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