To what extent do you think we are the product of our environment?
Perhaps our core beliefs and morality and to a certain degree our way of dressing and presenting ourselves are all the result of growing up in the way in which we did. But what about our sadness and happiness? Is it possible to feel better about oneself far from the madding crowd? I cant help feeling that being a part of society cons me into caring more about some things than I would necessarily if left to my own devices. I mean there are the obvious examples of general consensus when it comes to issues like weight I imagine fewer isolated individuals would care about losing so much weight as they do when faced with the media. But I dont even mean that; theres another element which is the value we place in other people, and how that can betray us. If I meet someone who I value highly and they dont seem to think Im so great, then I can be in a funk about it for days and I can even be wrong in my perceptions, but I will still feel bad. Likewise a conversation with a stranger who lifts you can leave you drifting on currents of joy for days because you deemed them worthy of passing judgement on you and its great that that judgement was positive. How do we attribute validity to the utterances of others? And how can they mean so much? What is that driving urge that compels us to place our lives in the hands of strangers, or even friends who are not ourselves, time and time again?
Sometimes I think that if I lived in a cave on the edge of a mountain by myself, I mean truly isolated as opposed to self-imposed hiding, then perhaps nothing would really matter anymore. All the worries and neuroses that pop in and out of my head throughout the day, some significant but others merely passing dreams which hold no consequence would they still be there if there was no audience and nobody to pass judgement? And by continuation, does this mean that I treat the outside world as an external conscience? Does everyone?
Most days I like for things to matter, good and bad it gives me goals and aims. But Im a very driven and motivated person and need to accomplish things in excess, and sometimes I get worn out by my stupid missions and goals. Sometimes I find too many things to cram into my head and would prefer to cut off and not fill my head with any thoughts besides where my next meal is coming from and where I will sleep.
Today I am going to go to Hampton Court Palace and look at topiary.
Perhaps our core beliefs and morality and to a certain degree our way of dressing and presenting ourselves are all the result of growing up in the way in which we did. But what about our sadness and happiness? Is it possible to feel better about oneself far from the madding crowd? I cant help feeling that being a part of society cons me into caring more about some things than I would necessarily if left to my own devices. I mean there are the obvious examples of general consensus when it comes to issues like weight I imagine fewer isolated individuals would care about losing so much weight as they do when faced with the media. But I dont even mean that; theres another element which is the value we place in other people, and how that can betray us. If I meet someone who I value highly and they dont seem to think Im so great, then I can be in a funk about it for days and I can even be wrong in my perceptions, but I will still feel bad. Likewise a conversation with a stranger who lifts you can leave you drifting on currents of joy for days because you deemed them worthy of passing judgement on you and its great that that judgement was positive. How do we attribute validity to the utterances of others? And how can they mean so much? What is that driving urge that compels us to place our lives in the hands of strangers, or even friends who are not ourselves, time and time again?
Sometimes I think that if I lived in a cave on the edge of a mountain by myself, I mean truly isolated as opposed to self-imposed hiding, then perhaps nothing would really matter anymore. All the worries and neuroses that pop in and out of my head throughout the day, some significant but others merely passing dreams which hold no consequence would they still be there if there was no audience and nobody to pass judgement? And by continuation, does this mean that I treat the outside world as an external conscience? Does everyone?
Most days I like for things to matter, good and bad it gives me goals and aims. But Im a very driven and motivated person and need to accomplish things in excess, and sometimes I get worn out by my stupid missions and goals. Sometimes I find too many things to cram into my head and would prefer to cut off and not fill my head with any thoughts besides where my next meal is coming from and where I will sleep.
Today I am going to go to Hampton Court Palace and look at topiary.
VIEW 9 of 9 COMMENTS
If you can't make such concessions, then perhaps it IS better if you move to a cave to become a hermit in order to escape judgments by others. but then. without a societal measuring stick, would you begin to yearn for others' opinions and judgments? juuuuuuust a thought.
You dig the Gaiman? You grabbing his new book Anansi Boys? I'm not sure when it comes out where you live, but I think it's coming out here in a few days and I am exciiiiiiiiited. And he's doing a reading here two days before my birthday! rock on. anyhoo. taker easy.
I work in Whitechapel, live in Archway. Your neck of the woods is a stone throw from Whitechapel.
Your wishlist doesn`t work. When I log on, it gives me my wishlist, not yours.
Have another go or if you trust me give me you address via contact tab and the book is yours
I`ll send you a tiny mail anway to get the ball rolling.
Hey and don`t worry about not knowing about Lord Dunsay, I came to it quite late and there are only so many hours in the day
I`ve been wanting to write fantasy for a long time and have done all sorts of research, plus a few chapters. I`m a bit disillusioned at the moment with my writing style and content, mainly because of Neil Gaiman and China Meville. They humble me with their originality and have got me questioning the value of my work.
I don`t want to churn out just another fantasy novel. We`ll talk about this more sometime.
I read that short story and liked it. You see what Neil does, he takes a genre and then adds sex and horror. Who would have thought to have a character like that little girl in such an old world setting? Or if they had the idea they would dismiss it as too off the wall or whatever. She would have been a blood sucker only, not this little girl that bites cocks. In a few pages he`s brought up necrophilia, incest, pedolfilia as well as plain old sex. What a guy!
So keep well and speak soon.