A Question of Friendship

       "I get by with a little help from my friends." – John Lennon

       It might strike you as odd that any great number of people – by that I imply every occurrence when more than two members of our species are gathered at a single location – may achieve a harmonious, joyous even, coexistence. Especially when the recent over-abundance of jolly times is taken into consideration. (I don’t mean to say Christmas joy is to be frowned upon, but rather I frown upon those who believe only joy and positive emotions surround that much-celebrated occasion.)

       Yet, I was to speak of the delicate balance between people. In particular, I would like to address the inspiring verisimilitude that is the foundation of tolerance between friends. I am quite certain, my dear, vociferous readers, that each and every one of you has wondered how, when it comes down to it, peace is kept between you and your friends. I am also utterly confident that you, being such a wonderful person yourself, are in abundant possession of the very rare friend commodity. Which actually makes balancing between all of them even more challenging.

       Well, as you might already suspect, I shall – as ever I do – propose a solution to that troubling question posed above. Friends are, ultimately, a great source of both inspiration and frustration. While the latter needs no clarification, the origins of the former warrant further examination.

       It should be noted, I believe, that few people have a greater influence on our decisions – few people shape our lives to a greater extent – than those friends closest to our hearts. If we exclude my overtly-pedantic note-taking habits from consideration, it should now be clear that your love of them will always drive you forwards – to better understating, to clearer vision of this world.

       Often, a dear friend is more than we need. But never less.

Wisdom and Control

       'A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.' – George R. R. Martin


       A sharp mind is the mark of a strong person, of someone who is in complete, unyielding control of his being. 
       A sharp mind is the result of a lot of work – and work of the kind most people yearn not to do. Obviously, I am not referring solely to a large and varied background in the reading vocation. Allow me to elaborate... If one is to ever reach a state where wit rises victorious above folly, one must – and I cannot possibly over-stress how hugely important this is – shed that comfortable naïveté most people seem to find so dear to their hearts. In other words, you need to try and take a small peek outside that overly optimistic bubble of yours.
       Take a small first step and try to see the world a bit more clearly... Good... There's a good little free person in the making. Now... You shall not forget, of course, that your attempt to break the shackles of narrow-mindedness and self-absorption will most likely fail to reap the highly sought-after reward of any great increase in your objective perception of reality. (No, I did not just string words together – there is an inherent logic to that sentence, worry not.) Rather, you may find yourself substituting a convenient set of illusion for a somewhat less attractive myriad of half-truths and meaningless empirical data. 
       If I have to be honest (and let's face it, why else would I be writing this), I spent a long, long time in just such a state – between knowing that there is something I am not seeing and actually trying to see it. It was a bit later than I would have liked that I reached the blindingly obvious conclusion that one must reflect upon any information gained for it to grow into a thing greater than dead, lifeless fact. A sharp mind is not attained by a simple process of knowledge-gathering, but by the force of subjective conjecture. 
       We must all find our own truths, shape our own realities. Knowledge alone is not enough to make a blind man see, if that knowledge is not felt. When logic and emotion merge, we find that place – however rarely – where clarity is within our grasp.
       Reflect on what you see in this world of ours, my dear, vociferous readers. There is much to be discovered by a cursory glance, and much more still – if you look closely. And only a closer look will bring any of us to greater understanding...
       For wisdom is not a state of the soul. It is not a place. It is not a distant, abstract concept. Rather, it is a long, ever-twisting road with no beginnings and no ends in sight, but for the ones we choose.

The True Path

       'My story is one of many thousands. And the world will not suffer, if it ends too soon.' - Ezio Auditore da Firenze, Assassin's Creed: Revelations


       Great people have often been perceived as arrogant. 
       I might be wrong to state it so bluntly, yet say it I must. It is my opinion that, indeed, most are. But the best amongst them - the greatest if you will - would never place themselves above the world. If they would, at first, seem to be as arrogant as the rest, this might be attributed to the strength of character necessary to be so self-possessed, confident, certain of who you are.
       The greatest of men are perhaps also the humblest, the people who do seek neither rewards, nor recognition. Rather they are the ones who have come to realise it is only what you do for your fellow man that has any significance, any measurable impact on this world. To be needed, to be of aid to another is mixed blessing, a life few would embrace knowingly and whole-heartedly. For it is far more difficult and dangerous to strive for a greater good, to try and become better than you can be, so that you may bring good to the lives of others - even a little.
       Throughout the centuries, myths and legends have set a high standard to which we might aspire. Both fiction and historical records have told us of great, selfless acts, of people who rose above what was demanded and expected of them. I might be wrong to try to grasp the meaning behind all this... I might be wrong to even think I might have an opinion, concise as it is.
       But I have come to belive something, after reading and thinking so bloody much. Humility is the true path to greatness.           

Incompatible Notions

       “Oh, 'twould be marvelous if the world and its moral questions were like some game board, with plain black players and white, and fixed rules, and nary a shade of grey.”― Glen Cook

       Simplicity. Structure. Sagacity…

       You might be rather confused – and somewhat amused – by this apparently random array of words.  Three unrelated, incompatible notions.  

       Let me give you a hint: they are just that – notions. They are simple illusions, conveniences we have conjured up in our attempt to define and subdue, and control the chaos and chance, and shades of grey that are usually our lives.

       You have all heard, I have no doubt, an almost endless procession of delightful, motivational stories and speeches. And I know how urgently we need such words of comfort and hope. We are all human – or try to be, at the very least. When we feel lost and confused, which – if I you really think about it – is most of the time, we need them. When it seems that our lives are to be spent stumbling through darkness in search of that single shred of clarity, we need them.

       It is reasonable to assume, therefore, that those apparently random words – the unrelated, incompatible notions – are in fact central to our lives. Illusions are the path to humanity; they are the wings in our ascent and the rope in our fall. They help us – and they help us come to the aid of others.

       Our illusions, ultimately, define who we are. For no dream was ever born of seeing the world only for what it is.      

A Matter of Perception

       ‘...as neere is Fancie to Beautie, as the pricke to the Rose, as the stalke to the rynde, as the earth to the roote.’ – John Lyly

       Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, they say… If the verity of that statement is accepted as final, then the logical extrapolation would consist of fascinating conclusions – exempli gratia, truth is subjective. So is morality. So is each and every ideal our species has given rise to over the centuries.

       This irrefutable relativity of our perception has significant consequences. Indeed, the way we choose to see this world is a prominent source of ambiguity: from it stem both personal miscalculations and global dilemmas. 

       Yet, if this path of logic is pursued, we may also safely assume that our choices, opinions, ideas and motives do have certain importance – they entail implications for at least one person, ergo they matter.

       Which probably means that – the chances are – someone, somewhere actually gives a damn about what you think. They are also likely to be interested in you as a person – at least on a very broad, general level. A logical inference of this possibility is the fact that you are not alone.

        Loneliness is, after all, simply a matter of perception.      

The Obligations Profusion

       ‘They steal our yesterdays and leave us no youth but that of our children…’ - Glen Cook

       There is an increasingly insufficient selection of means through which I may expound upon the dwindling number of restful moments I have been capable of seizing from the wretched and decadent structure of measuring the progression of Life.

       Or if I may vocalise this in a different manner – there is too much I have to do at this moment, and I don’t have the time to boost my self-esteem with the writing of this blog. Speaking of which… I’ve got to run – no time.

       Addendum: I hope you enjoyed the incredibly droll first paragraph (after the quotation). I cackled like a mad man while writing it – at its exaggeratedly superfluous and resolutely meaningless attempt to get a point across.        

The Confidence Insufficiency

‘Only as high as I reach can I grow,

Only as far as I seek can I go,

Only as deep as I look can I see,

Only as much as I dream can I be.’ 

       – Karen Ravn

       Confidence begins with the self…

       Let us embark on a journey of conjecture, shall we? Let us say that you try hard to do your very best each and every day… However, it’s highly likely that you will fail to bring about the reality of your dreams.

       But worry not – the board is not set against you, the system is not rigged, there is no grand conspiracy to keep you miserable. That would imply that the world actually gives a damn…

       Still with me? If you are, then you probably possess the same general lack of faith in our fellow human beings. As a logical – and natural – consequence of that, you may also be experiencing acute depression and extreme despair.

       If you do, it might be said, with some assurance, that you care far too much. (I don’t mean to portray that as a character flaw, mind you.) I know I do – I sit and ponder, and drown within the depths of the complex webs of understanding (or the lack thereof).

       What happens, I find myself wondering, when the best you can do, the very best you could ever achieve in a certain situation, is simply not good enough? When you endure each and every challenge this world has to offer you? When you go above and beyond what is expected... and then still remain irrelevant, your efforts – in vain, your dreams – shattered, broken? Are there no boundaries to the ability of the human spirit to persevere?

       Should it so happen that you find an answer to any of those troubling questions, do share it with my humble person, will you?

       Finally, I feel I must say this… If you still think everything is coloured in shades of grey – do consider not doing that. You might want to embrace a more optimistic perspective.

       Confidence begins with the self, remember?  

Downfall

       'Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts.' - John Wooden

       The possibility of failure has too often kept me awake until first light – and I do not imply any specific failure. Rather, the general idea that there are too many aspects of human knowledge that shall forever remain beyond me; too many roads I shall never walk; too many mysteries that shall always be outside my comprehension.

       This is what failure means to me – the inability to be better. The end of my will, the boundaries of my endurance, the faltering of my strength. The final drop of disillusionment that is always the tipping point that drives me towards despair…

       I am only human. There will come a day when I will fail.

       But I will always rise above my errors, overcome my misconceptions and strive for greater understanding.

       It is the only way, I believe, to become better than you think you can be.   

Scarcity Study

       'Don't let people drive you crazy when you know it's in walking distance.'  - Author Unknown

       I am very far from the thought that I am in any way close to exceptional.
       Apart from the realisation that the universe does not revolve around my person, I am quite the same as everyone else – I have my grandiose dreams and petty vices, I am simultaneously appallingly arrogant and inspiringly humble. I am, to paraphrase, common stock.
       But, with very, very, very few exceptions, so is each and every person on this chunk of rock we call Earth.
       I think… I think I wanted to say that I believe you should never let those who think themselves your betters make you feel inferior. ‘Illegitimi non carborundum,’ etcetera, etcetera. Or would that be, ‘Noli nothis permittere te terere,’ as Henry Beard suggested? Anyway… I am almost certain that, in reality, those few who truly are better would never stoop so low.
       Finally – and perhaps most importantly – have faith, my dear, vociferous readers. If you yourself do not believe you are a decent human being, a person who deserves far more than this grey world quite often gives us, who else will?

The Dividing Ubiquity

       ‘What do you do on a Sunday afternoon? You watch your favourite sports programme? Why not do something useful and riot instead? A little insurrection is a good thing...’ – Dr. David Dolowitz

       While I do believe these words were spoken humorously, they do hold a certain troubling truth within them – the ubiquitous influence of entertainment has turned most people into inactive, irrational, irresolute, apathetic, superfluous, simple-minded ‘couch potatoes’.

       People devote their terribly insufficient time to celebrity gossip, derivative shows, tedious sports channels, pointless films, unenlightening magazines, dumb music and clichéd books… When there is so much to do and so little – so utterly, inadequately little – time to do it.   

       You might be perplexed or flabbergasted by my sincere dislike of that particular product of modern society.

       I would even try to elaborate, if I believed an explanation was necessary. 

Reflections of the Past

       “Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.” - Oscar Wilde

       In my experience, it has never been easy to leave a path you have chosen – I am yet to meet a mentally stable and socially acceptable individual who would beg to differ. This feat is far from impossible, I admit, bit it is extremely difficult to accomplish.
       And I am certain you will agree that it is not only the effort to change who you are – your habits, idiosyncrasies, perceptions, etc. – that’s so bloody hard. There is something else that hinders you at every step of your transition: baggage.

       Now, obviously, I’m not referring to the sort of baggage one might take along on the train/plane/bus for a quick holiday escape. No... I am, in fact, talking about what modern society has dubbed the generally recognised euphemism for the loads of unpleasant moments in the history of, well, basically every person who has left his or her teen-age years behind.

       You always have trouble trusting another person because you were betrayed in the past? Then you have baggage – and a lot of it. You have a different set of ideas about what relationships ought to be like? Baggage. You don’t want to accept each and every single thing you don’t like? Baggage!

       I'm fairly sure that I know now what the most ironic aspect of making any significant change to the person you are truly is... No one ever stops reminding you who you used to be – people will always hold a mirror for you, lest you forget any mistake you’ve made.

       I don’t really know why. Although I do have my suspicions. If I had to guess... Maybe they are not aware that I already have a mirror.

On the Road...

“The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.”

              - John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

       I have been pondering lately whether it is true what people say – that you get to know another person best when they are travelling.
       And I sincerely hope that is not the case.

       I have no doubt you’re not even wondering why, as you already know the answer, I’m sure. After all, we have all journeyed to or departed towards, or voyaged into something/somewhere (a goal; a destination; the unknown; the nearest pub; fill in the blank). And you must know what humans tend to be on the road – petty, irritable and generally rather far from the magnificent individuals they would otherwise be. (‘Otherwise’ here entails access to fresh food, clean clothes and personal hygiene facilities – the frail foundations, upon which civilisation rests in our consumer-driven Realm of the Developed.)

       Perhaps you’re thinking I believe myself and exclusion of sorts from that paradigm – and rightly so, even if that is true only to a certain extent. I am petty and irritable, and generally far from the magnificent individual I otherwise have the potential to be. But I am also happy and giddy with excitement. And hopeful – for I know where my road shall take me. And where it might...

       Few things hold greater allure, I believe, than the open road and its promises, whispered by winds unknown.

Hope and Glasses

       "Happiness is not an ideal of reason, but of imagination." - Immanuel Kant

       It has always seemed to me rather sad that lovely, sunny, positive and happy days are a catalyst for my thinking, analytical side. I have to admit, however, I do tend to be a lot more optimistic about the world on days such as this one...
       I'm not really sure why – I choose to believe that I simply see more of the beauty of life when I feel that there is hope (in the broadest possible sense, that is.)

       It is only human, to project our thoughts, emotions, perceptions onto our immediate surroundings – be they people, animals, bus stops, etc.

       Perhaps the point I was trying to make – with simple, direct words this time – is that I need more days like today, when I see the world through bloody pink-stained glasses.

       I truly do need them... I do not think I shall be able to stand the hypocrisy of it all, otherwise.  

Descent

       "Absence diminishes mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and fans fires." - Francois de La Rochefoucauld 

      

       There is a slim, almost non-existent chance that I unknowingly perpetrated a vile deception when I promised to pen down my brilliant flashes of inspiration and self-deprecation until their number reached thirty – an epic, monumental achievement that still dwells beyond my grasp.

       I have been an absentee from the virtual world of self-centred writings for such a long time, because I felt that my life was descending into utter chaos. Which it was... Worry not, I found a solution to that particular glaring issue – I ceased to have free time, thus bringing my negative thoughts and emotions to an all-time low.

       Yet... Whatever I do, however much I mock this world and delude my poor self, there is this incredible absence – a bottomless pit within my soul, if I may say so.

       There is a person who, while the reason for that specific hurting, is also the only one who can make it better. Whenever she leaves, I feel less myself, less... Just less.

       And all I can do is wait.     

The Core Duality

   

Emotion by Armandsg

“But some emotions don't make a lot of noise. It's hard to hear pride. Caring is real faint - like a heartbeat. And pure love - why, some days it's so quiet, you don't even know it's there.” - Author Unknown

       I have always prided myself on my ability to bend words to my will, to bend them into monolithic, coherent, solid and meaningful shapes that may bear across space and time the emotion I felt, writing those words.
       Indeed, it is emotion – that momentary, fleeting, ethereal flash of inspiration – that is the source of it all, the origin of both writing ideas and the motivation to actually sit down and write. And I have always felt, even when it had seemed to me that such was not the case.
       Yesterday, I realised a rather important something about life, the universe and all that stuff. It is obligatory to have that core of raw feeling within you, even if it is buried somewhere so deep you cannot perceive it at all. I have already shared my belief that, in this life, we often think too little...
       But often – perhaps too often – we think too much, as well.

Unassuming

     "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid." - Soren Aabye Kierkegaard

       I am – and have been as of late – deeply and profoundly tired. Exhausted, even. Both physically and mentally.

       It is because I am certain that you are, at the moment, burning with an unquenchable desire to know the full extent of the myriad of unfortunate occurrences that form the reason for my state of being utterly knackered, I shall – as ever, without further a due – explain...

       I am so bloody tired by people who think they’re always right. People who question the verity of neither their premise, nor their conclusions – however unfounded, unreasonable and untrue those may be.

       There. I have finally vocalised my objections. Rather unassuming ones, wouldn’t you agree? (This time only, of course.)

       Ah, how light is life without a burden to rest upon your soul... Or maybe not.

Frequency Shift

       "Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine." - Robert C. Gallagher


       After nearly a month of daily wordiness, I would like to believe that I have (to some extent) established a few of my most fundamental ideas. I hope you have found in them something more than empty thoughts.
       I am writing this rather brief post to announce that when I reach the number of thirty (30) posts, I shall continue to pen down my random thoughts and to share them with you, my dear, vociferous readers. However, there will be an inevitable change in the frequency of those posts.
       For a great number of reasons, after the first month, I will only write one post every week – rather than one each day.
       And perhaps you will still read them. 

The Deceptive Vista

       "The popularity of conspiracy theories is explained by people's desire to believe that there is - some group of folks who know what they're doing." - Damon Knight


       When confronted with many an existential dilemma, the most common and least baffling fault we humans usually are possessed of is the great likelihood that a transference of blame will occur – in essence, we like to point our finger towards anyone but ourselves. And we all know that's the probable source of any specific conundrum.
       Thus, conspiracy theories were born. And they persisted, and evolved, and became a permeating, poisonous part of our otherwise charming and tranquil world. (Do ignore the gale of venom-dripping sarcasm, I beg you. Addendum: I might have forgotten to warn you at the beginning of the post about the great chance of the aforementioned facets of my writing style today.)
       The most troubling aspect, I think, of our fascination with global conspiracies is that it undermines the chances of a truer and clearer perception of the real problems with which we are faced as a species. It is only logical that there are those who find the current situation comfortable (and profitable, I'm sure). If such was not the case, people would not be encouraged to such great extent by the mass media and various cultural mediums (books, films, magazines, etc.) to believe there is a grand conspiracy afoot.
       I might be wrong... 
       Yet, that is what I see, when I take a brief look around. And I marvel at the thought that, apparently, the current predominant paradigm is not comfortable only to those few who attain greater wealth and power by its propagation. On the contrary, the deceptive vista that is set before our eyes to better hide the steel bars would seem to be sufficiently satisfactory and surprisingly soothing to such a great number of people... 
       Indeed, to most people.

Absence

       "Don't be dismayed at goodbyes, a farewell is necessary before you can meet again and meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends." - Richard Bach


       Today is not a good day... For various reasons, I have none of the mental acuity that is usually in my possession. I shall be brief.
       It is hard to say goodbye to a friend, and I think it does not become any less devastating with repetition. Such has been my experience thus far, at least. And I do believe I have had a large enough number of farewells in my life to be in a position to pass judgement. (I shall say again that, as ever, I may be wrong about all of this.)
       I do know, however, that there are few more heart-warming moments, than when you meet a person close to you after a long absence. It is always something to look forward to with great impatience and trembling hope. 

Frontier of Dreams

       "We need men who can dream of things that never were..." - John F. Kennedy


       "Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein


       "Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were..." - Dr. Carl Sagan


       I was pondering the implications of the wide-spread, gangrenous, highly contagious malleability of the human mind in the world today – the comfortable cage we have fashioned for ourselves...
       The only logical conclusion I could approach, without the hazard of my head exploding, was that there is an apparent tendency to suppress creativity, imagination, individual perceptions and the general will to attain cognitive processes – the system is brilliantly predicated on the baffling necessity we humans have to try to imitate established social norms and to bow to common wisdom.
       It is for that very reason that I have taken upon myself the grand responsibility to attempt to convince – by verbal abuse, most likely –  some of you that the three great men I quoted at the beginning of today's rambling session are, indeed, correct in their presumptions. Of course, I shall let you reach your own conclusions and make your individual decisions – that is, after all, the very reason I am writing all of this.
       I have said repeatedly that we have to learn to think for ourselves, rather than conform to social guidelines. This is, naturally, far from a statement that society is an artificial and unnecessary construct – I actually believe it is fundamental to our sustainability as a species. (Even if there are some fascinating aspects of the current political and socio-economic order that are a tremendous waste of our time.) 
       Therefore, I shall not delve deeper into that particular subject. Actually, I think I had something quite different to say. Ah, yes... I simply want to believe that at some moment in the future, there will be enough people who will have let their imagination guide them to a state of equilibrium for our species.
       Also, this should happen soon – before we blow ourselves up, please.

On Seeming and Being...

“You see, there’s a fundamental connection between seeming and being.” - Patrick Rothfuss

A deeply tragic, yet integral and inevitable part of our lives is that, no matter how great our efforts to avoid and elude it, we all pretend to be something other than what we are – to be what is often demanded of us.

We pretend...

But there is an underlying danger to pretence. Seeming to be is the easiest and most alluring path to becoming. Humanity has seen this repeatedly, this simple fact has become an inseparable aspect of what we perceive our roles as individuals should be.

We know masks are dangerous. We know that if you pretend to believe or to be something for a certain period of time, you shall, eventually, believe it with all your heart and realise you are now someone else. Indeed, we know everything about masks...

Yet, we also possess a wonderful proficiency, a peculiar, inexplicable ability to know how to ignore the lessons we have learned.

My dear, vociferous readers, have you wondered lately about the mask you have chosen?

Paradigm Alteration

Warning!

This post shall constitute a rambling, extravagant flurry of words, which may or may not – depending on the light, I guess – demonstrate verily any part of what is to be discussed. There will be an attempt, however, to hold to certain ethical standards, such as objectivity, balance of presentation, etc. I shall most likely fail to achieve that. (Also, this might just spoil your lovely day.)

You have been warned.

“Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it is the only one you have.” - Emile Chartier

Fear not, my dear, vociferous, readers, I do not intend to frighten or disappoint, or insult. My objective on this special day is rather simple – I shall continue to speak about Ideas.

When I say that, I refer to Ideas as the all-embracing concept of eternal, enduring, exhilarating epiphanies our species has come to depend on so greatly. We are not wrong to do that, I believe...

However, too often we forget. We need to harness Ideas – too often we presume to possess complete and perfect understanding. We flaunt our utterly unfounded notions and present them as facts, without any prior deep examination of all aspects of the issue at hand, without any inherent logic to our statements...

We need critical thinking, if we are to harness the true power and develop the full potential of our most precious Ideas. We need to admit the possibility of being wrong... Imagine, for a brief moment at least, where our species would be now, if we could all think before we speak.

This is a truly remarkable dream, I’m certain you’ll agree. I shall always wonder if it will be possible one day to make it our reality.

A Slight Detour

Lately, I have been involved in several engaging discussions of the origin of ideas – and more precisely, the origin of writing ideas and topics and the apparent difficulty in finding them.

Even though I would be the first one to admit the possibility of my fascinating predisposition to be mistaken, I am not in accord with the aforementioned theory.

I do, in fact, believe that ideas are rather easy to uncover from within the depths of our endless souls. It is shaping – indeed, forging – them into a vision of wisdom, beauty and hope that’s so bloody hard.

Ask any writer...

Keepers of Time

 I love sunny days – there is no better way, in my humble opinion, to appreciate how swiftly life moves past us than to stop and think for a brief instant on a day like this one. You most certainly shall reach a moment when you realise that the day has sped by at a fantastic pace. And you will wonder, I hope, about your place in the raging currents of the flows of Time.

We, humans... We understand how important that elusive concept truly is. As I have already said, despite the obvious fact that we are the ones who developed the notion of ‘time’, we are brilliant at letting it slip through our fingers. Yet, we are simultaneously outstanding time-keepers...

It is indeed a strange paradox of a predicament we find ourselves in – today we may be able to measure Time like never before, but we have also discovered an ostensibly infinite variety of activities in our endeavour to waste Time. (My current activity is, naturally, excluded from that list, don’t you agree?)

To elaborate any further would be redundant, superfluous and generally malicious, which I strive rather hard not to be. I shall, therefore, conclude this rude interruption of what you perceive as important in life with one final, judgemental, narcissistic, condescending and generally malicious statement. (I failed, I admit.)

Don’t waste your Time.

Mythological Conundrum

“Humans live through their myths and only endure their realities.” - Robert Anton Wilson

I shall begin by saying that I hope my last post consisted mostly of the person L.B. being wrong about being wrong. I do need to believe there are more people like you...

And now, moving on to the first (and, to your great relief, final) item on today’s agenda – the enduring influence of myths on our lives in this sad, little, yet oddly fascinating century.

There is, however, a slight conundrum with which I am faced. I feel the sudden inexplicable urge to not be verbose and violently vivid in my pursuit of Veritas – ergo, I shall be brief.

Myths shape us both as individuals and as societies. They live within us and we persevere under their guiding light. Our myths play a pivotal role in our interpretations of this humble universe. Perhaps too much so...

The truth remains... I am disappointed that the world is not run by those who forge our greatest, most inspiring and most comforting visions.

Faulty Numbers

I hereby pronounce the person L.B. guilty of being unbelievably wrong.

(audible sighs of sorrow/expansive cheers of evil)

And now there remains only the truly unremarkable question – wrong about what, precisely? Perhaps you have already presented your detail-oriented, intelligent, analytical persona with that charming and immensely fascinating little mystery.

As always, I shan’t keep you guessing... I was wrong – dead wrong – about a number.

It would seem that there are not, in actuality, enough smart, thoughtful, kind, good-natured, sensitive and sensible people on Earth. At least, not enough to snatch our failure of a species back from irreversible decline and inevitable decay.

Congratulations to the rest of us! We are doomed...

We Do...?

I have found it hard to maintain my concentration on this lovely day. The natural consequence of which is that my writing is far from its otherwise insufferable impeccable quality. Also, I think my head might explode, so I shall conclude this as swiftly as possible.

Have you reached the rather logical conclusion that there is an inherent ambiguity to being a decent person, while simultaneously participating in the ‘civil society’ paradigm? Or, if I may paraphrase, have you noticed that our world is full of hypocrites?

I might be wrong, as I love to and shall continue to repeat. But I’m just going to be a hypocrite and say that each and every one of the (insert huge number here) people on our planet is, to some extent at least, living in delusion.

People lie.

I do.

You do. 
         We all do.

Admit it... Well, that wasn’t so difficult, was it? All right. Moving on...

The fascinating aspect of lying – to my twisted soul, that is – is not the attempt to deceive others, but rather the tendency of most conscientious people to try to lie to themselves. (I obviously consider myself amongst those poor creatures.)

Lying to others is messy, hard, illogical business. Deluding yourself is tremendously worse. And it often leads to what we like to call ‘experience’. (Which, sadly, often seems to be just another word for ‘mistake’ these days.)

I shall now leave you and commence to gain enough experience to reach higher levels of understanding. And maybe learn something useful. (Although, I must admit – I don’t like the odds of that happening.)

Delineation

“If you tremble indignation at every injustice, then you are a comrade of mine.” - Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara

I have always marvelled at the verity and passion behind these words. Every time my studies have led me to the story of this great person, I have stopped to ponder, to seek something more.
       Did he wonder, did he doubt at least for a moment the rightfulness of the course he had taken? I might not embrace his ideology (or any other for that matter), but I shall not cease to admire his dedication to it...

I mentioned studies and I feel that I should elaborate – after all, it seems to be much important to this world what, rather than who, you are. And I am a student of the fine and despicable art of Politics. ( Yet another brilliant mess we humans have stirred up for ourselves.)

I am by no means an expert in any aspect of my chosen field of learning. Which, when I consider it further, may not be such a terrible hindrance to my so obviously omniscient persona. However, on a more serious note, it is a good thing – my brain has not been completely formatted to conform to acceptable standards... Yet.

This makes it possible for me to examine all political, economic and societal models we have adopted through the millennia (including the current dominant paradigm) from a very interesting perspective. I have come to know them, and so I reject them all, even if no one will be any the wiser. For my opinion is of no consequence. I am a single human being, and my ideas – no matter how stirring and true – could remain pure and unbent only within the confines of my mind.

Nevertheless, I have chosen to share some of my truths with you. And I have found little in all my time of reading that I consider to the benefit of humanity. (I might be wrong, as I love to repeat.) There are very few ideas, of those that are situated within the prevalent socio-economic order, which I would dub great...

Actually, at this moment, I can only think of one – Utilitarianism, an ethical theory by the great thinker and philosopher John Stuart Mill. It postulates that the political establishment shall strive to maximise the ‘good’ for the greatest possible part of society. A lovely idea, yet one doomed to failure within the boundaries we have set for ourselves.

I shall now, for another brief moment, presume to know what is right and what is wrong and say that we need something truly different, entirely new. (End of narcissistic, self-aggrandising part of the post.)

… I wonder what I should say now...

(This paragraph intentionally left blank.)

(End of post.)