Reading, learning, ignoring.
So, got my hands on Wizards at War by Diane Duane - read most of it in the library, rereading it now along with a reread of Wee Free Mine. Only fair on the second, since I nearly ignited its creamy goodness t’other night putting out a candle. I’ve a special book devoted to that, and it’s not Wee Free Men.
The whole reading thing at the moment is spectral somehow. People look at you oddly if you’re in the library trying desperately not to scream laughter because of things like cargo pants and “Crivins!” Yep, library had Hat Full of Sky as well. Upshot: Book juxtaposition again.
Diane Duane - Wizards at War
Terry Pratchett - Wee Free Men
Tamora Pierce - Briar’s Book
The juxtaposition of these three is largely based on responsibility, cost of doing things, and a more general fantastic approach to magic. Sure, ignore the fantasy aspects, replace magic with whatever your actual work is, and suddenly you’d have a dissertation on the ethics of responsibility. As in, each book presents - “If you have a form of power, you’re responsible not only for yourself, but that over which you exert control.” Even tangential control.
Since 14, that’s been my life.
I just tend to merge it against a background of, “Most people don’t see their lives as a matrix of job subsets.” Go ahead, pick up an uncomfortable book like Imago or The Handmaid’s Tale. Tell me you wouldn’t want to do anything about things that make you feel worried, stressed…
…and we’re told, “Sit back, relax, it’ll be over soon. Someone else is in charge. You shouldn’t feel bad about X because it’s not your doing.” Sod that. Everything I have even tangential control options on are my responsibility. Doing nothing is a choice, sticking my nose in where unneeded is a choice - and for each subset is a consequence.
*headshake*
This is why I love teaching when I get the chance, and why I hate teaching so very much. I have a strongly negative reaction to people who actively choose to avoid learning, especially when it turns out to be me. Yep. I’ve been avoiding a certain area of knowledge for six years, and it’s my own damn fault.
It gets really easy to immerse one’s self in challenging tasks and later say to the one you’ve been avoiding, “I had stuff to do, damnit - and the work was needed.” Yep, the work was needed, and if you’re making needed work to avoid needed work, well - that’s as naff as choosing not to learn.
*sigh*
So, now to go learn the crap I hate. Multi-book-reading will save my sanity, probably for posterity.
Ach, while I think on that, I’ll think this as well:
Get your own spectral analysis from Area 23®
The whole reading thing at the moment is spectral somehow. People look at you oddly if you’re in the library trying desperately not to scream laughter because of things like cargo pants and “Crivins!” Yep, library had Hat Full of Sky as well. Upshot: Book juxtaposition again.
Diane Duane - Wizards at War
Terry Pratchett - Wee Free Men
Tamora Pierce - Briar’s Book
The juxtaposition of these three is largely based on responsibility, cost of doing things, and a more general fantastic approach to magic. Sure, ignore the fantasy aspects, replace magic with whatever your actual work is, and suddenly you’d have a dissertation on the ethics of responsibility. As in, each book presents - “If you have a form of power, you’re responsible not only for yourself, but that over which you exert control.” Even tangential control.
Since 14, that’s been my life.
I just tend to merge it against a background of, “Most people don’t see their lives as a matrix of job subsets.” Go ahead, pick up an uncomfortable book like Imago or The Handmaid’s Tale. Tell me you wouldn’t want to do anything about things that make you feel worried, stressed…
…and we’re told, “Sit back, relax, it’ll be over soon. Someone else is in charge. You shouldn’t feel bad about X because it’s not your doing.” Sod that. Everything I have even tangential control options on are my responsibility. Doing nothing is a choice, sticking my nose in where unneeded is a choice - and for each subset is a consequence.
*headshake*
This is why I love teaching when I get the chance, and why I hate teaching so very much. I have a strongly negative reaction to people who actively choose to avoid learning, especially when it turns out to be me. Yep. I’ve been avoiding a certain area of knowledge for six years, and it’s my own damn fault.
It gets really easy to immerse one’s self in challenging tasks and later say to the one you’ve been avoiding, “I had stuff to do, damnit - and the work was needed.” Yep, the work was needed, and if you’re making needed work to avoid needed work, well - that’s as naff as choosing not to learn.
*sigh*
So, now to go learn the crap I hate. Multi-book-reading will save my sanity, probably for posterity.
Ach, while I think on that, I’ll think this as well:
Get your own spectral analysis from Area 23®