Two Tribes

Two Tribes

Imagine that there are two tribes, one is a tribe of inventors, and the other is a tribe of debunkers. Both live deep in the forest where there is plenty of food. One day a young brave walks up to the chief of the debunker tribe.

“I bring terrible news great chief, near the coast I saw pale men with strange clothes, they came out of a magical canoe powered by the wind and instead of bows they have thunder sticks that can kill, they ride on huge beasts and -” The chief interrupts “You are a fool!” Such things as you describe are impossible, have you been hitting the fire water?”

One warrior blows on his canoe “Look! It’s moving…” The men roar with laughter. Another picks up a stick and makes a sound like thunder and yells “Oh no! I’m dying.” More laughter erupts. One older brave says “Maybe the pale men are riding the buffalo.” At this joke the whole tribe falls down with hoots of laugher.

The chief then angrily addresses the young brave. “I have heard these wild tales of pale men from across the sea before. People cannot cross the sea because it is too big. You run out of food you FOOL! Next you will tell me that we need to arm ourselves against these pale ghost men that exist only in your fantasies. GET OUT! I don’t ever want to hear another stupid story again!”

The young brave leaves the tribe in shame.

Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, a young brave from the inventor tribe approaches his chief. “Old wise one, I have great news. I traded many furs with pale men and obtained this magical stick, See!” The brave fires the rifle. The chief says “Well done young one. Go and find out all you can about these men from across the sea – learn all you can. Our survival may depend on it. If you can, try to offer your labor on the big canoe; we need to understand what we are up against.”

The young brave goes boldly on a great adventure to a far away land.

Which tribe do you think survives?