Saying goodbye has never come easy to me. In fact, I usually leave things left unresolved until the wound heals and there is nothing left to be discussed. I keep hoping with each boundary crossed is another chance to reinvent myself, but I find a static existence is all that welcomes me.
But here I am. It is 2009 now, and I can only depend of good things to come. Why? Because though things can get worse, nothing can bring my spirits any lower.
So here is to it. 2009. Ready. Set. Go.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Apocalyptic Nightmare
Since I've had an increase in my dosage of Cymbalta, I've been experiencing quite vivid dreams most nights. This is strange since normally I don't have dreams that I can actually see while I'm asleep. I have always attributed this to the fact that I am a heavy ganja rocker. But lately, and especially last night, I had a dream that was seemingly real until I awoke safe in my bed, disoriented from medication withdraw. This is a very strange feeling to describe because I can only use "tripping" as the best word to equate the feeling.
I don't know where the dream began, or where it took such a strange turn. In fact, now the only parts of it I can remember is the nuclear blast, the massive debris, and preparing for a second attack. After that, was a series of scenes in which I walked around the devastation, and the places I saw were not quite right, but I knew what I was looking at, as if they were the mental projections real places from my past and present.
Lately, I've been spending many of my waking hours contemplating the nature of evil, as well as the Biblical book of Revelation. I have not done for the sake of faith, but as a point of academic interest. Who doesn't desire to have the workings of the natural world connect in fluidity with the mystery of the cosmic universe? It is the negative capability that Keats describes that makes it possible for us to function in a world without certainty, and I have begun the habit of dismissing the unknowable to being genuine mystery. But I can't help but wonder if what I dismiss as mystery remains so only because I lack the time, ability, or motivation to seek out the answer. The phrase "seek and ye shall find" comes to mind, but at what point does seeking become obsession and lack any productive merit?
Plurality: I am a finite being living in an infinite universe. I am both god and bacteria, simple and complex--dynamic and static.. for the more things change, the more they stay the same.
I don't know where the dream began, or where it took such a strange turn. In fact, now the only parts of it I can remember is the nuclear blast, the massive debris, and preparing for a second attack. After that, was a series of scenes in which I walked around the devastation, and the places I saw were not quite right, but I knew what I was looking at, as if they were the mental projections real places from my past and present.
Lately, I've been spending many of my waking hours contemplating the nature of evil, as well as the Biblical book of Revelation. I have not done for the sake of faith, but as a point of academic interest. Who doesn't desire to have the workings of the natural world connect in fluidity with the mystery of the cosmic universe? It is the negative capability that Keats describes that makes it possible for us to function in a world without certainty, and I have begun the habit of dismissing the unknowable to being genuine mystery. But I can't help but wonder if what I dismiss as mystery remains so only because I lack the time, ability, or motivation to seek out the answer. The phrase "seek and ye shall find" comes to mind, but at what point does seeking become obsession and lack any productive merit?
Plurality: I am a finite being living in an infinite universe. I am both god and bacteria, simple and complex--dynamic and static.. for the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Friday, December 26, 2008
That's Not Fair
My earlier post is not very fair. I was not bored. I just wanted to get high. So once I went out and got high I got more involved with my family. I realize tonight that it is simply a drag that my family is a collection of non-rockers. But I still love them.
Bearing the Boredom
This hasn't been the slowest of weeks, but I still find myself longing for a routine more normal to the one I hold during the semester times. My whole family is home for the holidays, and I have to say that it is good to see them, but I get tired of being around people so quickly and retreat to a solitary place before too much time passes. What I want more than anything is for some kind of love interest to magically appear in my life so that I can end this cold streak that I've been on since September.
Speaking of cold, all of my Christmas presents were to combat the freezing winter weather, and I am very grateful that my parents took my requests for a new coat seriously. Really, I didn't want anything for Christmas because I think that it is a bullshit holiday, but I know that my parents enjoy giving me gifts, so I let them. However, in spite of all this Christmas spirit surrounding me, I feel nowhere closer to having some myself. I feel nothing for religious rituals, including the ones that I participate in to avoid disappointing my parents. I know, I subsume to social pressures, but at the same time, I am not so full of spiritual/existential angst that I can't be involved with a church function for the sake of my parents.
Likes: my niece
Dislikes: mediocre movie recommendations.
Speaking of cold, all of my Christmas presents were to combat the freezing winter weather, and I am very grateful that my parents took my requests for a new coat seriously. Really, I didn't want anything for Christmas because I think that it is a bullshit holiday, but I know that my parents enjoy giving me gifts, so I let them. However, in spite of all this Christmas spirit surrounding me, I feel nowhere closer to having some myself. I feel nothing for religious rituals, including the ones that I participate in to avoid disappointing my parents. I know, I subsume to social pressures, but at the same time, I am not so full of spiritual/existential angst that I can't be involved with a church function for the sake of my parents.
Likes: my niece
Dislikes: mediocre movie recommendations.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
half-high with resin hits
dislike: home for the holidays without weed
like: resin filled bowls that allow for the ritual of smoking
The thing is that when smoking resin in desperation, the total desired effect of euphoria is nil reached. Instead, one gets "half-high," which should tie one over until a decent sack can be located. It is hard to make preparations for the holidays. The more ganj one has, the more ganj one will smoke unless he or she has developed a systematic method of discipline that rations the amount smoked and keeps that amount securely controlled.
On the up side, by the time the tide turns and the availability of ganj increases, my tolerance will lower and I will get more out of the ganj I rock when the time comes. In the meantime, I've become something of a med-head, distracting myself with other forms of chemical escapes. Once I return to my cave, I will probably resume my other forms of mind-altering activities. Until then, Merry Christmas!
like: resin filled bowls that allow for the ritual of smoking
The thing is that when smoking resin in desperation, the total desired effect of euphoria is nil reached. Instead, one gets "half-high," which should tie one over until a decent sack can be located. It is hard to make preparations for the holidays. The more ganj one has, the more ganj one will smoke unless he or she has developed a systematic method of discipline that rations the amount smoked and keeps that amount securely controlled.
On the up side, by the time the tide turns and the availability of ganj increases, my tolerance will lower and I will get more out of the ganj I rock when the time comes. In the meantime, I've become something of a med-head, distracting myself with other forms of chemical escapes. Once I return to my cave, I will probably resume my other forms of mind-altering activities. Until then, Merry Christmas!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Buying time, selling souls
The semester has ended. I am very happy that I don't have any immediate obligation for the next month. However, I do have some personal commitments that I should probably focus my attention on now. I have begun some articles that I will publish by the end of the week on Suite101.com. I need to keep up with doing that, lest I run the risk of losing my position as a freelance writer.
Other than that, I've been looking around last.fm for some new music, and by new music I mean more of the same stuff that I really enjoy listening to. Many times it is hard to find something that sounds similar and good. Usually it is similar but empty, or different and good. I want more of the classic 'futurepop' sound. That has led me to write some of my own new material, and bring a lot of attention to myself on last.fm so that people who have similar taste to me will discover the music I've written.
Other than that, I've been looking around last.fm for some new music, and by new music I mean more of the same stuff that I really enjoy listening to. Many times it is hard to find something that sounds similar and good. Usually it is similar but empty, or different and good. I want more of the classic 'futurepop' sound. That has led me to write some of my own new material, and bring a lot of attention to myself on last.fm so that people who have similar taste to me will discover the music I've written.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Distractions
We are living in a world of distractions. We must learn discipline if we ever hope to be productive, or else we will never cope with the ongoing onslaught upon our attention spans. Flick-flick, flash- flash. When will we regain control?
I sold my soul for a shot at salvation.
Not fitting in, not falling out.
all the things I can possibly be
only one thing I truly am: thas
Likes: Resolution
Dislikes: end-of-semester tension.
I sold my soul for a shot at salvation.
Not fitting in, not falling out.
all the things I can possibly be
only one thing I truly am: thas
Likes: Resolution
Dislikes: end-of-semester tension.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Speaking of Social Anxiety
I almost quit my job this morning.
Dislike: Writing Center Director
Reason: semantics and tact. She was (perhaps unknowingly) hyper critical of me this morning, and I left without saying a word to anyone. She found my idea to help myth students problematic because.. well now I don't know why because after the professor talked with her it wasn't a big deal other than I was giving the impression that I didn't want to work with other students, or that I wanted to come in and get paid more for being a specialist.
Why is everyone so fucking stupid? Let's think about this logically:
1. I never said I was going to give up working with other students.
2. I never said anything about wanting to do this exclusively
3. When I did say I wanted to come in on a week night, it was just because I am usually booked during my normal hours and I wanted to give people an opportunity to come talk to me because I would be in the library anyways. I even told Assistant Writing Center Director when I brought it up that I would do it OFF THE CLOCK but I just wanted to see if it was ok to use the writing center to help myth students when their writing assignment at a time that was convenient for me.
I don't know what Dr. Linguist was imagining (I've been told to stop trying to imagine what other people are thinking), but we began arguing about saying what we mean and meaning what we say to students and that it is inappropriate to claim "I know how to do this assignment right." Any claims are outside the parameters of the writing center philosophy because we have no way of knowing what a professor wants. Wanna bet?
I brought up the methodical way to produce a Music 114 paper. This is a paper designed to follow a particular structure that GAs will follow while grading it. If the paper does not follow this rubric exactly, the paper will begin to lose points. Not only do I know Graduate Assistants who have graded this paper, I took the class. When I wrote the first paper, I did not follow the rubric, and I got a D. The second followed the rubric exactly with the following:
I. Introduction
a. What concert
b. What date
c. Where it was located
d. What I thought of the concert hall and my feelings towards the concert before it started.
II. Piece/Movement I enjoyed most
a. What was it?
b. Who was it by?
c. Why did I enjoy it?
i. dynamics
ii. rhythm
iii. timbre
iv. meter
III. Piece/Movement I enjoyed least
a. What was it?
b. Who was it by?
c. Why did I enjoy it?
i. dynamics
ii. rhythm
iii. timbre
iv. meter
IV.Conclusion
a. Overall thoughts about the concert
b. Would I ever attend a concert like this if it wasn't a requirement?
Any guesses as to what grade I received?
My point is this: whether I say to the student, "this is the way to do it" or "this is the proper context in which you should follow because it will yield the greatest results" only matters at a semantic level because the student is going to interpret them the same way. Further, If I chose to say the latter to a student, they will probably stare stupidly at me as say, "so.. this is the way to do it?" To which I would reply, "this is a tested method that shouldn't fail you," because I can't just say "yes." And also, many times students come into the writing center and they don't understand the terminology of their subjects. How can they be expected to write about something they can't effectively talk about?
To use my example of the Music 114 papers, many students don't understand the definition of (say) timbre which is the "musical tone quality" (Word 'look up' option). It helps if a consultant can say "trumpets have a bright sound" or "oboes can sound grating" for an example to give the student a spring board upon which they can begin to discuss the topic. It doesn't help a student to say "well what do you think the definition of timbre is?" or "what do you think they want when they ask about timbre?" That is not making better college writers. That is, in fact, deliberately withholding tools that would make a better college writer.
There is an objective truth to the answers to some of these papers, like the MUS114 essay, and also the Myth essay. So it isn't irresponsible, nor do I think is it beyond the scope of the Writing Center Mission to comfort a panicked student, especially during crunch time, by telling them that "Yes, I can help. I've successfully done this before, and I've successfully helped others succeed at this before. I know what to do." I'm not restricting the freedoms of the writer because they still have to choose the myth to write about and its interpretive context. Instead, I'm helping them avoid bullshitting for three pages by showing them what not to say. I'm not saying they all have to be written the same way, either. I'm saying that there is a right way, and there is wrong way to do things.
For example, this is the wrong way to approach this Myth essay:
"When I first started this class I had no idea what it would be like and now that I have been taking this class for a while I realize mythology is really interesting because it is a bunch of really old stories. One of the many stories we read was How Culhwch won Olwen in the Mabinogion. This story is a myth for many reasons like there is a giant and he has pitchforks under his eyes and I don't know about you but I wouldn't hold pitchforks under my eyes, etc..."
This is usually what the papers look like when the student comes to talk with me. There is no thesis statement; they don't have a proper understanding of the term myth, thinking that it is a common false hood thought to be true, and supporting that argument with something not meant to be taken as literal. After discussing a paper like this with me, a student might then have an introductory paragraph that resembles this:
"Myths are stories that contain elements of human truth pertaining to a particular culture, connecting that culture to a particular place, and often telling the origin of a people and the deities they worship. One myth of particular interest is "How Culhwch Won Olwen" from the Mabinogion. The Giant-King Ysbaddaden has pitchforks under his eyes to keep them from closing. His closing eyes and old age signify the end of one social order, and the beginning of another as Culhwch undergoes a series of seemingly impossible tasks to win her hand."
That is very similar to the essay I turned in for the Myth class when I was enrolled in it. BUT This isn't the only way to write that essay, and social shift isn't all that symbol could mean. Also, I didn't use that first sentence, but students sometimes have an urge to define what they are talking about. It also supports the point that too often the student doesn't even know what he or she is talking about, so shouldn't be expected to be able to write it.
I also believe that using a comparative method for tutoring writers is not altogether outside the scope of the writing center. If the two myth examples are compared, the insights are self-evident. The student will see very explicitly what is and what is not expected on the essay. This in turn should help the student on future essays because they will know not to use the "textual clearing of the throat," and will have better grounds for discussing the subject.
It is self-contradictory to say (or imply) that the only right answer is no right answer. No one is putting a gun to a student's head and saying "write this or I'll fucking fail you." Students want to come to a place where they can comfortably seek assistance in their work from a person who knows what they are talking about, and I want to help students maximize their learning ability. I've written most of these papers myself, so I can communicate effectively context so the student understands, and maybe even enjoys the assignment.
I was trying to do a good thing. But my boss made me feel like shit because she doesn't agree with my method of tutoring writers. She communicated that I don't consult right. That was sandwiched into a speal about language dictating our actions. I would point out that language is not limited to the phonation process; it is not entirely verbal, and that there are other languages such as gestures, timbre, facial expression, etc that can communicate more than words can. People use language to lie, decieve, and miscommunicate. Non-verbal communication, unless one has acquired mastery over it, betrays the best of us. So I abandoned them.
I left work to prove that whether or not she agrees with my consulting methods, they needed me there, and nothing is a bigger "fuck you" than leaving people high and dry. Professionalism is overrated. It is unprofessional to berate a consultant in front of other consultants and students over something as petty as semantics. It is even worse if she didn't intend to because it negates and falsifies everything she was trying to express with her lecture about the direct and specific use of language. It would have been tactical to express the problematic concerns with my proposal, and not engage me in a 20 minute debate over Writing Center philosophy which ended up costing the students more than anything. I will take my share of the blame, but not all of it because I'm not completely at fault.
Dislike: Writing Center Director
Reason: semantics and tact. She was (perhaps unknowingly) hyper critical of me this morning, and I left without saying a word to anyone. She found my idea to help myth students problematic because.. well now I don't know why because after the professor talked with her it wasn't a big deal other than I was giving the impression that I didn't want to work with other students, or that I wanted to come in and get paid more for being a specialist.
Why is everyone so fucking stupid? Let's think about this logically:
1. I never said I was going to give up working with other students.
2. I never said anything about wanting to do this exclusively
3. When I did say I wanted to come in on a week night, it was just because I am usually booked during my normal hours and I wanted to give people an opportunity to come talk to me because I would be in the library anyways. I even told Assistant Writing Center Director when I brought it up that I would do it OFF THE CLOCK but I just wanted to see if it was ok to use the writing center to help myth students when their writing assignment at a time that was convenient for me.
I don't know what Dr. Linguist was imagining (I've been told to stop trying to imagine what other people are thinking), but we began arguing about saying what we mean and meaning what we say to students and that it is inappropriate to claim "I know how to do this assignment right." Any claims are outside the parameters of the writing center philosophy because we have no way of knowing what a professor wants. Wanna bet?
I brought up the methodical way to produce a Music 114 paper. This is a paper designed to follow a particular structure that GAs will follow while grading it. If the paper does not follow this rubric exactly, the paper will begin to lose points. Not only do I know Graduate Assistants who have graded this paper, I took the class. When I wrote the first paper, I did not follow the rubric, and I got a D. The second followed the rubric exactly with the following:
I. Introduction
a. What concert
b. What date
c. Where it was located
d. What I thought of the concert hall and my feelings towards the concert before it started.
II. Piece/Movement I enjoyed most
a. What was it?
b. Who was it by?
c. Why did I enjoy it?
i. dynamics
ii. rhythm
iii. timbre
iv. meter
III. Piece/Movement I enjoyed least
a. What was it?
b. Who was it by?
c. Why did I enjoy it?
i. dynamics
ii. rhythm
iii. timbre
iv. meter
IV.Conclusion
a. Overall thoughts about the concert
b. Would I ever attend a concert like this if it wasn't a requirement?
Any guesses as to what grade I received?
My point is this: whether I say to the student, "this is the way to do it" or "this is the proper context in which you should follow because it will yield the greatest results" only matters at a semantic level because the student is going to interpret them the same way. Further, If I chose to say the latter to a student, they will probably stare stupidly at me as say, "so.. this is the way to do it?" To which I would reply, "this is a tested method that shouldn't fail you," because I can't just say "yes." And also, many times students come into the writing center and they don't understand the terminology of their subjects. How can they be expected to write about something they can't effectively talk about?
To use my example of the Music 114 papers, many students don't understand the definition of (say) timbre which is the "musical tone quality" (Word 'look up' option). It helps if a consultant can say "trumpets have a bright sound" or "oboes can sound grating" for an example to give the student a spring board upon which they can begin to discuss the topic. It doesn't help a student to say "well what do you think the definition of timbre is?" or "what do you think they want when they ask about timbre?" That is not making better college writers. That is, in fact, deliberately withholding tools that would make a better college writer.
There is an objective truth to the answers to some of these papers, like the MUS114 essay, and also the Myth essay. So it isn't irresponsible, nor do I think is it beyond the scope of the Writing Center Mission to comfort a panicked student, especially during crunch time, by telling them that "Yes, I can help. I've successfully done this before, and I've successfully helped others succeed at this before. I know what to do." I'm not restricting the freedoms of the writer because they still have to choose the myth to write about and its interpretive context. Instead, I'm helping them avoid bullshitting for three pages by showing them what not to say. I'm not saying they all have to be written the same way, either. I'm saying that there is a right way, and there is wrong way to do things.
For example, this is the wrong way to approach this Myth essay:
"When I first started this class I had no idea what it would be like and now that I have been taking this class for a while I realize mythology is really interesting because it is a bunch of really old stories. One of the many stories we read was How Culhwch won Olwen in the Mabinogion. This story is a myth for many reasons like there is a giant and he has pitchforks under his eyes and I don't know about you but I wouldn't hold pitchforks under my eyes, etc..."
This is usually what the papers look like when the student comes to talk with me. There is no thesis statement; they don't have a proper understanding of the term myth, thinking that it is a common false hood thought to be true, and supporting that argument with something not meant to be taken as literal. After discussing a paper like this with me, a student might then have an introductory paragraph that resembles this:
"Myths are stories that contain elements of human truth pertaining to a particular culture, connecting that culture to a particular place, and often telling the origin of a people and the deities they worship. One myth of particular interest is "How Culhwch Won Olwen" from the Mabinogion. The Giant-King Ysbaddaden has pitchforks under his eyes to keep them from closing. His closing eyes and old age signify the end of one social order, and the beginning of another as Culhwch undergoes a series of seemingly impossible tasks to win her hand."
That is very similar to the essay I turned in for the Myth class when I was enrolled in it. BUT This isn't the only way to write that essay, and social shift isn't all that symbol could mean. Also, I didn't use that first sentence, but students sometimes have an urge to define what they are talking about. It also supports the point that too often the student doesn't even know what he or she is talking about, so shouldn't be expected to be able to write it.
I also believe that using a comparative method for tutoring writers is not altogether outside the scope of the writing center. If the two myth examples are compared, the insights are self-evident. The student will see very explicitly what is and what is not expected on the essay. This in turn should help the student on future essays because they will know not to use the "textual clearing of the throat," and will have better grounds for discussing the subject.
It is self-contradictory to say (or imply) that the only right answer is no right answer. No one is putting a gun to a student's head and saying "write this or I'll fucking fail you." Students want to come to a place where they can comfortably seek assistance in their work from a person who knows what they are talking about, and I want to help students maximize their learning ability. I've written most of these papers myself, so I can communicate effectively context so the student understands, and maybe even enjoys the assignment.
I was trying to do a good thing. But my boss made me feel like shit because she doesn't agree with my method of tutoring writers. She communicated that I don't consult right. That was sandwiched into a speal about language dictating our actions. I would point out that language is not limited to the phonation process; it is not entirely verbal, and that there are other languages such as gestures, timbre, facial expression, etc that can communicate more than words can. People use language to lie, decieve, and miscommunicate. Non-verbal communication, unless one has acquired mastery over it, betrays the best of us. So I abandoned them.
I left work to prove that whether or not she agrees with my consulting methods, they needed me there, and nothing is a bigger "fuck you" than leaving people high and dry. Professionalism is overrated. It is unprofessional to berate a consultant in front of other consultants and students over something as petty as semantics. It is even worse if she didn't intend to because it negates and falsifies everything she was trying to express with her lecture about the direct and specific use of language. It would have been tactical to express the problematic concerns with my proposal, and not engage me in a 20 minute debate over Writing Center philosophy which ended up costing the students more than anything. I will take my share of the blame, but not all of it because I'm not completely at fault.
Stupid Sleep
I wanted to get up an hour (2 hours actually) early so I could get some more reading done, but my natural tendency to press the snoooooze eleven times got me out of bed with enough to to write this before running off to work. Well, I can only hope I get out of work with enough energy to bust out some papers.
Like: Semester ends in a week
Dislike: The amount of work to do this week.
Like: Semester ends in a week
Dislike: The amount of work to do this week.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Crunch Time and All-Nighters
There is less time available than required to finish all of these projects. I have a pounding headache, and about 30 pages to write by 4pm Wednesday. Work will take seven hours tomorrow and I should probably sleep sometime between now and 9am when I have to go in.
Dislike:
End-of-Semester Crunch to get everything done on time. I've had all semester to do this stuff, but I was too busy being an eccentric artist, or a flaky genius, or whatever you want to call it. I still have about 239 pages until I finish His Dark Materials, and I'm growing quite anxious to finish the trilogy.
Stress and distraction can influence the appreciation of something. This is proving to be the case with my current reading assignment, and reading has become such a chore that I don't have the drive to keep reading tonight although I know I'll never finish if I don't.
A strategically placed all-nighter is going to make all the difference here.
Dislike:
End-of-Semester Crunch to get everything done on time. I've had all semester to do this stuff, but I was too busy being an eccentric artist, or a flaky genius, or whatever you want to call it. I still have about 239 pages until I finish His Dark Materials, and I'm growing quite anxious to finish the trilogy.
Stress and distraction can influence the appreciation of something. This is proving to be the case with my current reading assignment, and reading has become such a chore that I don't have the drive to keep reading tonight although I know I'll never finish if I don't.
A strategically placed all-nighter is going to make all the difference here.
Taste, Experience, and Social Anxiety
To restate my assumptions:
When a person doesn't like something, it may result from the following:
1-Taste*
2-Experience*
3-Social Anxiety (angst); The set of reactions connected with the person's position in society. It was pointed out that a person may like something and then grow not to like something due to the reaction of others to the same object. I believe this is what happened to me and Harry Potter. I used to be a rather big Harry Potter enthusiast, but after being subjected to the behavior of many Harry Potter fanatics over the last year I have a desire to distance myself from the series.
So in addition to the two previously described characteristics of appreciation, social reaction and angst also play a role in whether or not someone likes something.
*described in previous post.
When a person doesn't like something, it may result from the following:
1-Taste*
2-Experience*
3-Social Anxiety (angst); The set of reactions connected with the person's position in society. It was pointed out that a person may like something and then grow not to like something due to the reaction of others to the same object. I believe this is what happened to me and Harry Potter. I used to be a rather big Harry Potter enthusiast, but after being subjected to the behavior of many Harry Potter fanatics over the last year I have a desire to distance myself from the series.
So in addition to the two previously described characteristics of appreciation, social reaction and angst also play a role in whether or not someone likes something.
*described in previous post.
Taste and Experience
Two things keep people from liking something:
1. Taste- and this may be the most important factor, for it changes less quickly as the other characteristic.
2. Experience- the only reason someone might not like something is because they have experienced something better that the former does not stand up to.
Now when someone tells me they don't like something, I figure it is because they know something much better, or more exciting. If I seek out what this may be, and find it to be less satisfying, then it has to do with taste, which I believe is shaped by accumulating experience. Thus experience can be shaped much more quickly than taste.
1. Taste- and this may be the most important factor, for it changes less quickly as the other characteristic.
2. Experience- the only reason someone might not like something is because they have experienced something better that the former does not stand up to.
Now when someone tells me they don't like something, I figure it is because they know something much better, or more exciting. If I seek out what this may be, and find it to be less satisfying, then it has to do with taste, which I believe is shaped by accumulating experience. Thus experience can be shaped much more quickly than taste.
Beginnings
It has begun!
Hahaha. I needed/wanted a place to spew my love and hatred for stuff, and what a more demeaning way of dispensing useless thought with a writing form designed precisely for that? Now I can just say what I like and what I don't like.
First the likes:
Today I am a big fan of His Dark Materials. Ok, so this isn't much out of the ordinary for me.. but I have finally made it to The Amber Spyglass and I am very fascinated with the way Pullman has woven this trilogy together. As much as I admire my good friend and mentor's opinions on a great many issues, one I think I disagree with him on is the point that The Golden Compass is the only book in the trilogy worth reading. I'm starting to believe in the concept of pluralism, and the implications that many philosophies can play together paradoxically in the world. The friction created by one ideology trying to falsify another is what makes pluralism so difficult for a mass appeal. However, on a individual level perhaps it can serve as a tool to make a good peace-maker.
Now the dislikes:
I cleaned my basement tonight, and made it presentable. Now it is a living room again and not a storage closet. I wanted to enforce a no smoking (cigarettes) policy, but there was no asking the cowboy not to smoke when he was drinking, so I guess there will be no such policy. This is disappointing, but now that both living rooms are accessible we will be able to live peacably.. at least for now. I've decided not to break lease, or as Joe Paul would say I've decided not to be a little bitch about it, and I hope I'm making the right decision. The next few days will dictate whether or not I can handle living in this house during periods of high-stress.
For now that is all. God knows how much I will use this... but it's all for fun :)
Hahaha. I needed/wanted a place to spew my love and hatred for stuff, and what a more demeaning way of dispensing useless thought with a writing form designed precisely for that? Now I can just say what I like and what I don't like.
First the likes:
Today I am a big fan of His Dark Materials. Ok, so this isn't much out of the ordinary for me.. but I have finally made it to The Amber Spyglass and I am very fascinated with the way Pullman has woven this trilogy together. As much as I admire my good friend and mentor's opinions on a great many issues, one I think I disagree with him on is the point that The Golden Compass is the only book in the trilogy worth reading. I'm starting to believe in the concept of pluralism, and the implications that many philosophies can play together paradoxically in the world. The friction created by one ideology trying to falsify another is what makes pluralism so difficult for a mass appeal. However, on a individual level perhaps it can serve as a tool to make a good peace-maker.
Now the dislikes:
I cleaned my basement tonight, and made it presentable. Now it is a living room again and not a storage closet. I wanted to enforce a no smoking (cigarettes) policy, but there was no asking the cowboy not to smoke when he was drinking, so I guess there will be no such policy. This is disappointing, but now that both living rooms are accessible we will be able to live peacably.. at least for now. I've decided not to break lease, or as Joe Paul would say I've decided not to be a little bitch about it, and I hope I'm making the right decision. The next few days will dictate whether or not I can handle living in this house during periods of high-stress.
For now that is all. God knows how much I will use this... but it's all for fun :)
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