Recently I've been thinking about a lot of things and watching the world pass by. It's interesting what you notice when you see beyond what's directly in front of you. For example, I was eating lunch with my mother earlier today and she commented on my silence. She admonished me for not speaking and asked what was on my mind. No matter how many times I said "Nothing" she didn't believe me, even though that was the truth of the matter. Have you ever had one of those blessed moments where all was quiet in the mind and spirit and you were content just to watch others live their lives? This has been happening more and more often to me and I'm not quite sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing.
People are... Have you ever heard the expression "Truth is Stranger than Fiction"? (Exchange Truth for Reality and you've come close to what I mean.) I watched and listened in on those sitting around my table: one table was filled with day laborers who were speaking quickly in Spanish, another had a young couple with their little girl who were about to go meet the girl's parents to visit, yet another table had a group of friends who hadn't seen each other in a while (I could tell by the way they spoke, testing the waters with old jokes and remembrances). There was one table that interested me most of all; a few tables down from mine there was a man who was sitting alone. It was apparent that he'd been sitting there for quite a while by the way he fidgeted and the waitress's frequent check-ins. His eyes flickered towards the entrance of the restaurant every so often, as if he was waiting for someone to arrive. After a while, he gave a sigh and placed some money on the table, paid his check and left.
A thousand scenarios filtered through my mind as to why he was there, who he was waiting on and why they never showed... but they were swept away in the face of a personal epiphany. No matter your age, gender, ethnicity or location we all want someone to be there for us when we need them. We want someone to interact with yet we're seldom willing to put ourselves out into the world to do so. When you're young it's easy to make friends; you're forced to be around a myriad of people your age for (on average) 7 hours a day for 8 months. This kind of environment forces bonds to be created and both friendships and rivalries flourish in this constant interaction. But what happens when you graduate and your friends all go off to pursue their dreams? Everyone goes on their own ways; to college, to work, to lounge... but when you're out in the world, your friends are reduced to those who stuck around where you live and those you interact with on a semi-frequent basis. For the worker, this is their coworkers and employees. For the collegiate, this is their fellow students. It is rare that we keep the same friends after such a schism.
And that's the major problem; because we know such events are on the horizon it causes us to do one of two things, both of which hasten the eventual departure. The first is that we cling hard onto them and try to keep in touch (at least) every few days and act as if nothing has changed when it is so glaringly obvious that it has. The second is that we start to drift from them, trying to lessen the eventual blow when you realize one day that several months (if not years) have passed and you can't even remember the last time you two talked, both of you thinking the same thing...
However, there are those out there who will complete you. They will make your life so wonderful and precious... the problem with this is that you need to find them. More often than not, you put yourself and your happiness on the line, only to receive a consolation prize. After so many of these 'prizes' and rejections... well, it's not hard to see why the world is so cold and bitter. But even with these detractors, there is still hope.
In the end all we want someone to hold at night; to stay with for the rest of our lives. In the immortal words of Captain Henry P. Crowe: "You will never get the Purple Heart hiding in a foxhole!" Fitting words, if you ask me.
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Friday, September 17, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Idiots, One and All
This next post is very important so I want you all to read it carefully; it'll help you out immensely in life. It is a fact of life that humans are programmed to notice flaws in others far quicker and more readily than noticing flaws within their own character. This is because humans, over a period of thousands of years, have developed in self-centered selfish little pricks who have the 'kill or be killed' instinct so ingrained that it influences every your every little decision and action. How do I know all of this? It's because I still regress into outcast-mode even though I know better.
As stated before, people are programmed to see the flaws of others first before looking inward at themselves. It is a never-ending cycle of nastiness and heartbreak that few are willing to break. We grow up learning the golden rule and believing that if we're nice to other people that they will be nice to us in return. Then that illusion is violently broken again and again due to the sheer ugliness that runs rampant in the world ranging from childhood bullies to a serial killer's rampage. So we grow up bitter and guarded, finding it easier to be rude and like everyone else than to stand out and be kind. Why put yourself through that kind of hurt over and over when you see every day just how horrible people can be to each other?
This is yet another of today's countless problems that seemingly no one wants to fix. We all say we want everyone to be friendly to each other and want to work towards a better society where kids can play in the streets again and no one is afraid to walk the streets at night... but do we ever do anything about it? No. Humanity is a selfish creature and we never want to give something if we're not sure we'll get something back in return. No one wants to be nice to everyone they meet because more likely than not, the other person will either be rude or dismissive of them. Why try if nobody is going to cooperate? The fear of rejection is just as powerful a deterrent as hostility or rudeness. When you sit back and think about how bad our society has gotten for a moment; it can almost be to much to handle.
This, personally, is why I consider humanity (as a whole) to be the stupidest creature in existence. Many would argue and say that our ability to think and feel emotion makes us smarter than any other creature found in history, but all of that is useless if we use it to destroy others of our species. Think about if for a moment, what other animal actively seeks out to destroy its own kind because the other doesn't agree with it on something? What other animal will kill another, not because it's hungry, but just because it can? What other animal has the capacity for good and evil as we do? What other animal would destroy the land around it to make itself more comfortable? What other animal would share it's food and shelter with a sick/dying animal? What other animal would risk it's life to save another of it's kind from imminent death? What other animal would come to the aid of another in a fight that did not concern it?
What other animal has the capacity for good and evil as we do? We have the ability and resources to save countless other of our kind and improve their standard of living and yet we'd rather spend it on creature comforts and frivolous things like suing one another because of minor disagreements and infractions. When the chips are down, however, we show an amazing capacity for comradeship and unity far outshining any pack bond found in nature. This is why I consider humanity a stupid creature; a stupid creature with the capacity to learn.
As stated before, people are programmed to see the flaws of others first before looking inward at themselves. It is a never-ending cycle of nastiness and heartbreak that few are willing to break. We grow up learning the golden rule and believing that if we're nice to other people that they will be nice to us in return. Then that illusion is violently broken again and again due to the sheer ugliness that runs rampant in the world ranging from childhood bullies to a serial killer's rampage. So we grow up bitter and guarded, finding it easier to be rude and like everyone else than to stand out and be kind. Why put yourself through that kind of hurt over and over when you see every day just how horrible people can be to each other?
This is yet another of today's countless problems that seemingly no one wants to fix. We all say we want everyone to be friendly to each other and want to work towards a better society where kids can play in the streets again and no one is afraid to walk the streets at night... but do we ever do anything about it? No. Humanity is a selfish creature and we never want to give something if we're not sure we'll get something back in return. No one wants to be nice to everyone they meet because more likely than not, the other person will either be rude or dismissive of them. Why try if nobody is going to cooperate? The fear of rejection is just as powerful a deterrent as hostility or rudeness. When you sit back and think about how bad our society has gotten for a moment; it can almost be to much to handle.
This, personally, is why I consider humanity (as a whole) to be the stupidest creature in existence. Many would argue and say that our ability to think and feel emotion makes us smarter than any other creature found in history, but all of that is useless if we use it to destroy others of our species. Think about if for a moment, what other animal actively seeks out to destroy its own kind because the other doesn't agree with it on something? What other animal will kill another, not because it's hungry, but just because it can? What other animal has the capacity for good and evil as we do? What other animal would destroy the land around it to make itself more comfortable? What other animal would share it's food and shelter with a sick/dying animal? What other animal would risk it's life to save another of it's kind from imminent death? What other animal would come to the aid of another in a fight that did not concern it?
What other animal has the capacity for good and evil as we do? We have the ability and resources to save countless other of our kind and improve their standard of living and yet we'd rather spend it on creature comforts and frivolous things like suing one another because of minor disagreements and infractions. When the chips are down, however, we show an amazing capacity for comradeship and unity far outshining any pack bond found in nature. This is why I consider humanity a stupid creature; a stupid creature with the capacity to learn.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Beating the System
Do you remember the days where the American Dream actually meant something? It seems that as time passes people turn more and more towards underhanded and subversive techniques in lieu of proper channels and procedures. In some cases this can be a good thing (such as cutting out bureaucracy) but most often it's the everyday person trying to beat the system... but why do it? Why devote precious time to creating a way to scam coin-machines? Why shoplift an item you can afford to buy? Why would you even consider embezzling money from a company you work for? It's because we live in a system that's designed to grind the last dime out of you if you're not smart.
There are many, many sites on the web which will teach you the more mainstreamed (and decriminalized) offenses that, if caught, won't get you more than a slap on the wrist. Things such as how to hop fences, how to pick locks and even how to make your own coupons. There is no end to the amount of instructional videos, pictures and web pages that are available to you if you know where to look. The problem is that as the world changes, these skills are needed more and more to get around redundant, outdated and inexcusably bad legislature. While I do admit that there are some very strict limits that shouldn't be crossed, the material available usually falls within 'acceptable' limits. However, as I mentioned in my first post, you can literally find anything on the internet from how to make homemade guns and explosives to a guidebook on poisons and assassination techniques. (I would post links but I'm on enough government watch lists as it is. *grins*)
Why are all of these things available online when it's known for a fact that most (if not all) of these are illegal in whatever part of the world you live in? It is because the internet is not owned by one company or one nation or even one person; it is one of the last truly lawless areas in modern society. It is a place where the everyman can go and be, do and say nearly anything he wants to without fear or reprisal; why do you think I write this blog? Do you think anyone is going to condemn me for anything I say on the internet?
Back to the point, these scams and shortcuts serve two purposes in my opinion. The first is to stay a step ahead of the system; the problem is that once you start outrunning the system you have to stay ahead of it or the consequences will be far more dire than if you stayed in step. The second reason is to fulfill that adrenaline-seeking rush that we all need, whether it's racing full speed downhill on a bicycle or taking a five finger discount on a few snacks from a convenience store. The problem with this reason is that eventually the thrill will become mundane and will need a bigger and bigger 'score' to feel the same rush; an addiction to theft runs parallel to an addiction to drugs. That's not to say that all of these things are illegal or even theft. A lot of it is restricted knowledge that not many 'normal' people would know about; the hopping fences link from earlier is a great example. Though, I can see why some people don't feel bad at all about their crimes...
There are those of us who think that the government is benign and only wish to help it's people continue to live as freely as possible. There are those who think otherwise as well. In any case, it is up to the people to decide what is right for them and how to go about their lives and for many... well, a few shortcuts never hurt.
There are many, many sites on the web which will teach you the more mainstreamed (and decriminalized) offenses that, if caught, won't get you more than a slap on the wrist. Things such as how to hop fences, how to pick locks and even how to make your own coupons. There is no end to the amount of instructional videos, pictures and web pages that are available to you if you know where to look. The problem is that as the world changes, these skills are needed more and more to get around redundant, outdated and inexcusably bad legislature. While I do admit that there are some very strict limits that shouldn't be crossed, the material available usually falls within 'acceptable' limits. However, as I mentioned in my first post, you can literally find anything on the internet from how to make homemade guns and explosives to a guidebook on poisons and assassination techniques. (I would post links but I'm on enough government watch lists as it is. *grins*)
Why are all of these things available online when it's known for a fact that most (if not all) of these are illegal in whatever part of the world you live in? It is because the internet is not owned by one company or one nation or even one person; it is one of the last truly lawless areas in modern society. It is a place where the everyman can go and be, do and say nearly anything he wants to without fear or reprisal; why do you think I write this blog? Do you think anyone is going to condemn me for anything I say on the internet?
Back to the point, these scams and shortcuts serve two purposes in my opinion. The first is to stay a step ahead of the system; the problem is that once you start outrunning the system you have to stay ahead of it or the consequences will be far more dire than if you stayed in step. The second reason is to fulfill that adrenaline-seeking rush that we all need, whether it's racing full speed downhill on a bicycle or taking a five finger discount on a few snacks from a convenience store. The problem with this reason is that eventually the thrill will become mundane and will need a bigger and bigger 'score' to feel the same rush; an addiction to theft runs parallel to an addiction to drugs. That's not to say that all of these things are illegal or even theft. A lot of it is restricted knowledge that not many 'normal' people would know about; the hopping fences link from earlier is a great example. Though, I can see why some people don't feel bad at all about their crimes...
There are those of us who think that the government is benign and only wish to help it's people continue to live as freely as possible. There are those who think otherwise as well. In any case, it is up to the people to decide what is right for them and how to go about their lives and for many... well, a few shortcuts never hurt.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)