(no subject)
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 2:11
It seems the average person's existence revolves around getting to a position in life that allows immediate and complete gratification. People will sit in an open box under fluorescent light all day doing something they despise, or trample on others' basic rights in pursuit of profit, because "at least you get paid." All so that they can buy the right car to park in front of the right house that is home to a family the wears the right clothes and engages in the right activities. For example, I see people worrying every day about what they are wearing, whether it's on trend, balanced, flattering, complete. At least for women, they discuss their latest purchases by drawing from a large vocabulary of fashion jargon, detailing how their wardrobe, and their life by extension, has improved. Sometimes I am ashamed and appalled at how much brain power I am voluntarily wasting on such things. What is the purpose? I find myself wondering. And yet, I want all these things, I like occupying myself with it. Such are the contradictions that compose the social part of the psyche.
In my opinion, we are all playing piano for cows, as the phrase in my first language goes. Your music is noise. Your efforts to impress others are futile. Why do you care that I admire the lines of your BMW? Can you use my attention to buy food? Does its presence change your interests so that your job is more likable?
What I have observed is that behind the attempts to pimp our lives, all people want is to stay alive in order to love and be loved. Hypothetically, that is all possible even after cutting the crap, even while helping others meet these desires. It breaks my heart to see people work so hard for money with which to get things, when all I hear them say is that they want to see the world, to relax, to pursue hobbies, to be happy. Why do we take their eyes off the prize?
It would be so much easier if everyone were transparent about what they wanted. No more wasting time on jerks, sharks, or people who don't give a damn about you. It would be way easier to navigate through social life. Why is it that I have to go through the motions of asking you about your major, weekend, and day? I might as well be asking you how much your father earns, how many brothers you have, or how much you weigh. This is the stuff I want to know:
Name:
Age (preferably an average of physical and mental):
Nationality:
Gender:
Favourite type of music:
Favourite thing about music:
Favourite kind of colours (bright, muted, etc.):
Preferred type of humour/things you find funny:
Hopes:
Things that make you want to cry:
Things that make you want to celebrate:
Your opinion on education and knowledge:
What you think characterizes good social interaction:
And so ends my idealistic rant. I want so much to be able to apply it. Unfortunately, I think it addresses me as much as it does everyone, which is strange because that means I am addressing myself.
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 2:11
It seems the average person's existence revolves around getting to a position in life that allows immediate and complete gratification. People will sit in an open box under fluorescent light all day doing something they despise, or trample on others' basic rights in pursuit of profit, because "at least you get paid." All so that they can buy the right car to park in front of the right house that is home to a family the wears the right clothes and engages in the right activities. For example, I see people worrying every day about what they are wearing, whether it's on trend, balanced, flattering, complete. At least for women, they discuss their latest purchases by drawing from a large vocabulary of fashion jargon, detailing how their wardrobe, and their life by extension, has improved. Sometimes I am ashamed and appalled at how much brain power I am voluntarily wasting on such things. What is the purpose? I find myself wondering. And yet, I want all these things, I like occupying myself with it. Such are the contradictions that compose the social part of the psyche.
In my opinion, we are all playing piano for cows, as the phrase in my first language goes. Your music is noise. Your efforts to impress others are futile. Why do you care that I admire the lines of your BMW? Can you use my attention to buy food? Does its presence change your interests so that your job is more likable?
What I have observed is that behind the attempts to pimp our lives, all people want is to stay alive in order to love and be loved. Hypothetically, that is all possible even after cutting the crap, even while helping others meet these desires. It breaks my heart to see people work so hard for money with which to get things, when all I hear them say is that they want to see the world, to relax, to pursue hobbies, to be happy. Why do we take their eyes off the prize?
It would be so much easier if everyone were transparent about what they wanted. No more wasting time on jerks, sharks, or people who don't give a damn about you. It would be way easier to navigate through social life. Why is it that I have to go through the motions of asking you about your major, weekend, and day? I might as well be asking you how much your father earns, how many brothers you have, or how much you weigh. This is the stuff I want to know:
Name:
Age (preferably an average of physical and mental):
Nationality:
Gender:
Favourite type of music:
Favourite thing about music:
Favourite kind of colours (bright, muted, etc.):
Preferred type of humour/things you find funny:
Hopes:
Things that make you want to cry:
Things that make you want to celebrate:
Your opinion on education and knowledge:
What you think characterizes good social interaction:
And so ends my idealistic rant. I want so much to be able to apply it. Unfortunately, I think it addresses me as much as it does everyone, which is strange because that means I am addressing myself.