I think the Facebook status update has transformed my writing. No longer can I even visit this site for over two months, even if I have something to write about, because I find my interests constantly changing.
That's an interesting idea: The constance of change in interests affects the modern human more than ever.
With access, something that used to be only for the select few but now seems only natural, we are given all the choices at once and told to decide on doing this, that or the other thing. Of course that only comes to those with access. Computers or television or radio get to be in on the information. So, I guess, the access is just different. You still have to pay for it, in some way, and you also have to know what to do with it once you have it.
I have heard it said we have "information overload." Yes, I can agree. However, we have the freedom of choice to unplug and forget about all that information. Some of us become access addicts, really. I love my news in the morning, stalking my friends and co-workers on Facebook and, generally, being "in on the know."
But I have this sinking feeling it can lead me and others to losing that which is ourselves: Who we are. Sure, it can help up have great conversations or work on helping us form opinions but, if not taken carefully, it can overcome our BS meters and force us into becoming blinded to a second side to a story.
I think a good step back, every now and again, does us good, especially considering just how things have been going.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Something actually worth writing about
So, here I am on the eve of taking an improv class. I have never taken such a thing but I can remember playing the game "freeze" in high school.
So I am going to what I believe is the best spot in town, hoping to both learn and prosper. I figure I am sometimes funny and I know a lot about the world so I guess I just need to think about confidence.
Over the past years I have had no real reason to feel confident.I am working at a job I don't want, living in an apartment I don't like and hanging out with people I really don't want to.
But this one is for me so I am looking forward to it. Credit card be damned (I will regret later saying)!
In my quest to experience life, I think this will be a good venture to see if I can interpret what I have seen. Granted, most of what I have seen is in small doses or on television...
That's it! That is why they say that people who want to write shouldn't watch so much television. It is because it is a medium that only gives you a visual glimpse into reality that is already "produced." Therefore, if you were to only watch television, these are mostly made up characters. Emulation is futile because no one would really act in such a manner.
Sorry, blog that only I read. I didn't mean to jump around. I just saw something and went for it.
Peace.
So I am going to what I believe is the best spot in town, hoping to both learn and prosper. I figure I am sometimes funny and I know a lot about the world so I guess I just need to think about confidence.
Over the past years I have had no real reason to feel confident.I am working at a job I don't want, living in an apartment I don't like and hanging out with people I really don't want to.
But this one is for me so I am looking forward to it. Credit card be damned (I will regret later saying)!
In my quest to experience life, I think this will be a good venture to see if I can interpret what I have seen. Granted, most of what I have seen is in small doses or on television...
That's it! That is why they say that people who want to write shouldn't watch so much television. It is because it is a medium that only gives you a visual glimpse into reality that is already "produced." Therefore, if you were to only watch television, these are mostly made up characters. Emulation is futile because no one would really act in such a manner.
Sorry, blog that only I read. I didn't mean to jump around. I just saw something and went for it.
Peace.
Monday, April 20, 2009
The human character
So, recently I have been thinking quite a bit about the idea of character. Having tried to be a writer, at least to myself and, more recently, putting on a play that I wrote, I have been trying to dig into what makes a character and why they do what they do.
People can either create their character or interpret the traits of other characters as a conglomeration of a bunch of things they observe.
Artists are here to do the same as well. One can either originate or interpret the work of another. They are a marriage, truly. They are necessary to the success of the other. Think about the unread book, the unseen movie, the unheard song. Without your eyes, your ears, your senses, these things exist just for themselves.
When people become conscious of who they are, of what they do, do these choose to embrace their traits or do they try to sculpt them in different ways? Example: I would like to know how to cook. After acquiring the tools of the trade, do I cook? Not really. I did make mashed potatoes and I made my version of huevos rancheros but I don't know how to cook. Ir my unplayed guitar. Good intentions but poor execution.
So, does the character, the human character, always do what is supposed to or does it try to remain an undefinable entity? I'll let you know when I figure it out.
People can either create their character or interpret the traits of other characters as a conglomeration of a bunch of things they observe.
Artists are here to do the same as well. One can either originate or interpret the work of another. They are a marriage, truly. They are necessary to the success of the other. Think about the unread book, the unseen movie, the unheard song. Without your eyes, your ears, your senses, these things exist just for themselves.
When people become conscious of who they are, of what they do, do these choose to embrace their traits or do they try to sculpt them in different ways? Example: I would like to know how to cook. After acquiring the tools of the trade, do I cook? Not really. I did make mashed potatoes and I made my version of huevos rancheros but I don't know how to cook. Ir my unplayed guitar. Good intentions but poor execution.
So, does the character, the human character, always do what is supposed to or does it try to remain an undefinable entity? I'll let you know when I figure it out.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Modern human development
A long time ago, long before the dawn of civilization, humans had basic necessities: Eat, sleep and procreate. In there they also probably sought shelter, since their skin had only a limited amount of hair and, judging by the climates we chose to inhabit, we would need to have someplace to keep us warm during the crap weather.
Eventually we created tools, like most creatures do. Our hands and feet were great for some things but not all. It was easier to dig holes or carry things with the right equipment. And clothing also helped us maintain our body temperature when were to lazy to move beyond our season-changing locations.
So, flash forward to modern times, we not only have all the basics covered but we have moved well beyond into the world of automation and motion. We can travel farther, faster and more than we could have imagined in our hides and bone tools. However, many of us are become complacent to the world and this is troubling, to say the least.
With all the advancements we have made we all begin assuming rather than knowing. We assume we are guaranteed tomorrow or guaranteed that, if we work, we will be provided with the currency to provide ourselves the means by and which we survive. Of course, in a modern world, no one has to worry too much about these fundamental things because, well, we have support structures and safety nets and, the evil of all evils, credit.
Our world is now in a false peril because of that last little bit. Once assumed that, if one puts forth an effort, one is rewarded. So we extend and extend and extend ourselves out to the point where the house of cards could crumble at any moment. I am not just talking about the small change stuff like credit cards and car loans. I am talking about loans from banks to other banks, investment loans and business loans. I am referring to companies extending themselves on the false assumption that a short-term demand (in the grander scheme of things) is enough reason to extend oneself to the brink of collapse.
Banks are a thing that I have become more and more intrigued with as of late. The headlines alone give one reason to pause because the collective money of others, and the collective debt, lead one to believe that no one knew what they were doing. We saw a collapse in the 1920s that forced the government to have to insure the deposits of the individuals. We saw the scams of the savings and loan companies of the 1980s. And now we see a scam where banks traded unpaid mortgages as a commodity rather than something solvent like a company with an actual product.
Once it all caved in, when all their excess fund dried up and were spent, all of these giants of the finance world were left with the reality that they pushed it too far, made too many mistakes and now are reigning in the funding.
Just the other day I went to apply for a refinancing of my student loans. I have not missed a payment for years, when I was in my growing pain years of my late 20s, and I have tried to maintain good credit by paying or overpaying my loans to the point at which I am comfortably having enough money. However, I was informed that my debt-to-income ration would require me to get someone to co-sign a loan. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I realize that, as far as income goes, I do not have all that much. But I also do not drown in debt every month. But I did take out student loans when I was younger and they are almost my annual income. However, my payments don't choke me all that bad, just that it will take me a good, long while to pay them off.
All I was looking for was a lower interest rate through my bank. If could do that, I could attach it to my bank account and overpay that as well. As it stands, I am paying too high an interest because, two years ago, the interest rates were godawful.
While I agree that I am a tadpole in Lake Superior, I think I deserve a shot at a lower interest rate just like AIG gets a bailout. I handle my finances better than they do. I shouldn't have to be made to feel like an ass because I have debt, should I?
I know I lost track of my point but my point is that this is the reality we face. That is our world in common. Everyone is affected by this modern era. Now if we could only get back to basics.
Eventually we created tools, like most creatures do. Our hands and feet were great for some things but not all. It was easier to dig holes or carry things with the right equipment. And clothing also helped us maintain our body temperature when were to lazy to move beyond our season-changing locations.
So, flash forward to modern times, we not only have all the basics covered but we have moved well beyond into the world of automation and motion. We can travel farther, faster and more than we could have imagined in our hides and bone tools. However, many of us are become complacent to the world and this is troubling, to say the least.
With all the advancements we have made we all begin assuming rather than knowing. We assume we are guaranteed tomorrow or guaranteed that, if we work, we will be provided with the currency to provide ourselves the means by and which we survive. Of course, in a modern world, no one has to worry too much about these fundamental things because, well, we have support structures and safety nets and, the evil of all evils, credit.
Our world is now in a false peril because of that last little bit. Once assumed that, if one puts forth an effort, one is rewarded. So we extend and extend and extend ourselves out to the point where the house of cards could crumble at any moment. I am not just talking about the small change stuff like credit cards and car loans. I am talking about loans from banks to other banks, investment loans and business loans. I am referring to companies extending themselves on the false assumption that a short-term demand (in the grander scheme of things) is enough reason to extend oneself to the brink of collapse.
Banks are a thing that I have become more and more intrigued with as of late. The headlines alone give one reason to pause because the collective money of others, and the collective debt, lead one to believe that no one knew what they were doing. We saw a collapse in the 1920s that forced the government to have to insure the deposits of the individuals. We saw the scams of the savings and loan companies of the 1980s. And now we see a scam where banks traded unpaid mortgages as a commodity rather than something solvent like a company with an actual product.
Once it all caved in, when all their excess fund dried up and were spent, all of these giants of the finance world were left with the reality that they pushed it too far, made too many mistakes and now are reigning in the funding.
Just the other day I went to apply for a refinancing of my student loans. I have not missed a payment for years, when I was in my growing pain years of my late 20s, and I have tried to maintain good credit by paying or overpaying my loans to the point at which I am comfortably having enough money. However, I was informed that my debt-to-income ration would require me to get someone to co-sign a loan. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I realize that, as far as income goes, I do not have all that much. But I also do not drown in debt every month. But I did take out student loans when I was younger and they are almost my annual income. However, my payments don't choke me all that bad, just that it will take me a good, long while to pay them off.
All I was looking for was a lower interest rate through my bank. If could do that, I could attach it to my bank account and overpay that as well. As it stands, I am paying too high an interest because, two years ago, the interest rates were godawful.
While I agree that I am a tadpole in Lake Superior, I think I deserve a shot at a lower interest rate just like AIG gets a bailout. I handle my finances better than they do. I shouldn't have to be made to feel like an ass because I have debt, should I?
I know I lost track of my point but my point is that this is the reality we face. That is our world in common. Everyone is affected by this modern era. Now if we could only get back to basics.
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