TMI Tuesday #149

I know it's a day few days late, but I'm doing it anyway.

1. What is the one thing you would change about your body?

I wouldn't like to have as much body hair. =\ I actually have another answer I'd like to write, but it's going to be really long so I'll save it for another time.

2. What is the one personality trait you would change?

I'd like to be more focused. I'd like to be able to start something and finish it. I don't like how I try to justify my procrastination.

3. What is the one thing about your job you would change?

I would like to have a job. Period.

4. What is the one thing about your home you would change?

I'd like to have my own place if I could afford it. The floor in my parents' kitchen could use replacing though. Some of the mouldings could use replacing too.

5. What is the one thing about your Significant Other you would change?

Just having an S/O would be nice right now. Messing with the details can come later.

6. Who is the one person you would poof out of your life and why?

This one is really hard. I don't think there's anyone I'd really like to get rid of. Even in a joking sense. My family and friends add a depth to my life I wouldn't have without them.

7. Who is the one person you would poof back in and why?

This is almost the same as #6. I wouldn't really want to change anything. I have a 'let it be' philosophy. However, I would probably ask for my uncle back. He died too young.

The Confusion of Language

Returning to my entry from August sixth, I'd like to discuss two specific examples of 'the disconnect between what people say and what they mean.' Perhaps a better way to put it would be the double-interpretation of words or phrases.

On a recent outing a friend of mine brought one of these such phrases to my attention. That phrase being 'slept with.' As in, "I slept with him/her." This could be interpreted in one of two ways. First, that the individual literally and platonically slept with the person in question, or second, that the individual had sex with the person in question. Today, most people would assume the latter meaning over the former. The problem with this is that there is no way to be sure how the message will be interpreted without being explicit in the details. "I slept with him/her" is far more subtle than "I had sex with him/her."

Consider the following scenario: Person A tells Person B that they 'slept with' Person C. Person B misunderstands Person A's meaning and tells Person D that Person A and Person C had sex. Person D tells Person E, who tells Person F, and so on. Eventually Person C comes to Person A angry, because the rumour made its way to their partner and their relationship is now standing on shards of broken glass. This is of course, a worst-case scenario, but it demonstrates the potential fallout from the misinterpretation of language. The message is clear: say what you intend to say plainly, and make sure the other person knows what you mean. (Really, it would help all us unperceptive folks.)

My second example is more specific, and involves the use of the word 'girlfriend.' When a man uses the word 'girlfriend' the meaning is usually clear: it's his romantic interest. When a woman uses the term, it's simply a friend. But what if that woman is a lesbian? Does she mean a romantic interest or a platonic friend?

There is also a double standard here. If a man where to use the term 'boyfriend' he may be accused of being gay, even if he only meant it in a platonic sense. Not that there is anything wrong with being gay; it is simply that in some social circles being gay is considered undesirable and some people may wish to avoid that association.

I think there is definitely a muddying of the waters and a 'communication breakdown' occurring in the modern vernacular. Political correctness may have something to do with this, but that is a topic for another time. (Sorry segue fans.)

TMI Tuesday #148

Ugh. It's been a week and I haven't done a proper post since last week's TMI Tuesday. Oh well.

1. Are you truly politically correct? Be honest.

I try to be, but I'm honestly not. I do not think facts should be subject to political correctness.

2. Will you ever streak in public during rush hour?

Hahahahahaha! No.

3. Would you ever do something sexual in public (more than 20 people around)?

It's highly, highly, unlikely.

4. Do you ever not have good table manners?

Probably. I do my best to be polite, but I'm not anal about it. I don't bother with switching my knife and fork from hand to hand depending on what I'm doing.

5. Do you ever fantasize about a public sexual act? Describe.

No, I don't. (But I probably will now...)

Bonus: Have you ever gone through a true sexual fantasy? Describe.

No, I haven't. But I would like to. (Doesn't everyone want their fantasies to come true?)

TMI Tuesday #147

1. What is your favorite song to have sex to?

I haven't actually had the opportunity to try this out. I think "Crimson & Clover" would be a good choice, as well as "Kashmir." "Wolf Moon" has some erotic symbolism. A lot of people talk about "Closer" but I just don't get what they see in it. Classical is probably another good choice.

2. What is your vision of hell?

I don't believe in Hell, but if I did I would picture it something like this. Mostly because I like the idea of Hell being ironic. Although Dante's depiction of Hell in The Divine Comedy is classic.

3. In the film made of your life, who will play you?

I do all my own stunts.

4. What is the one thing you most urgently need to tell your mom?

I honestly can't think of anything that urgently needs to be said.

5. What will be carved onto your tombstone?

"I was as you are; I am what you will be. Remember your mortality. Seize the day." Preferably in Latin.

Bonus: What is your drag name (which would be, first name: the name of your first pet; last name: the name of the street you grew up on)?

Piper Seven. (It sounds more like a callsign than a drag name.)

An Update

An entry posted on the Pharyngula blog is discussing some of the themes addressed in one of my previous posts, TMI Tuesday on Marriage. The entry and comment thread can be found here.

I've also decided to add Pharyngula to the sidebar.

Here's hoping there's a good TMI Tuesday tomorrow.

Brave New Philosophy

Sorry, it's not really about Aldous Huxley or his works.

One thing I've been noticing more and more lately about modern language is that there is often a disconnect between what people say and what they actually mean. I think that peoples' grasp of the English language is degrading. Not to say that its devolving, there's no such thing. The English language is evolving, but not in what I would consider a progressive way. You need only watch Fox News for a short period of time before a pundit uses 'liberal' in a context that is far more suited to perhaps 'socialist' or 'communist.' This is at best the result of ignorance. At worst, it is willful misrepresentation. People are letting connotations carry more weight than actual denotation.

I've also noticed another trend. To put it in a phrase: "You cannot be X because you are Y." People are defining other people not just by who or what they are, but who or what they aren't. More and more an 'Us' and 'Them' mentality is developing. This is frightening. This type of mentality often, and perhaps inevitably, results in conflict. A divided population less attuned to the subtleties of the English language, combined with powerful rhetoric can be dangerous. We have see the results of this combination before. Revolutionary Russia. Israel and Palestine. South Africa during Apartheid. The United States during the civil rights movement. Quebec during the FLQ crisis. There are many other factors involved in each of these scenarios of course, but I believe that these two are common to all of them.

This lack of education and social division are issues that must be addressed by our societies if we wish to progress in a manner that is beneficial to all. (Here come the pundits, calling me a communist.)

I want to make a point. I want to prove that I am not merely 'X.' I can also be 'Y.' Schools of thought are not mutually exclusive. There are merits and drawbacks to every system of thought, and to limit oneself to a single philosophy is foolhardy.

I am a liberal. (But I could also be called a conservative or socialist as far as economic matters are concerned.)

I am an agnostic, and an atheist.

I am a feminist, and an environmentalist.

I am a metaphysical naturalist, an existentialist, a nihilist, a humanist, a rationalist, a neo-objectivist, a materialist and physicalist, a stoic and a skeptic, a hedonist and an epicurean.

P.S. Storyteller, I'm happy that that conversation went as well as it did and I'm glad my honesty is appreciated.

TMI Tuesday on Marriage

It's been over a month since I made my last post. How am I ever supposed to be a successful blogger if I don't write an entry at least once a week?

I was originally going to write about some of the weirder news articles of the past week, but TMI Tuesday (May be NSFW) came through with some interesting subject matter that I would like to address. Yes, I know, I'm nearly a week behind on this too.

Q: Do you believe in marriage?

Personally, I think the wording of this question is a little vague. Do I believe in marriage in the sense that marriage exists? Yes. Do I believe in the virtues of marriage? No, not really. I think marriage is a social construct and any perceived virtues associated with marriage are a construct as well.

Q: What is marriage to you?

Warning: Long Rant

To be legalistic, (and this is the definition I prefer,) marriage is a social contract. From antiquity, marriage has been used to combine ownership of possessions (or transfer them outright, i.e., dowries) and cement relationships. I don't necessarily mean a relationship between two people either; marriage has just as easily cemented alliances between families.

While this is still mostly true in regards to property, I think that the concept of marriage is outdated. In fact, I think it is largely unnecessary. A lot of people ascribe spiritual attributes to marriage. I see no reason why the former cannot exist without the latter in any other loving relationship.

If marriage is a social contract between two persons, the judicial branch of government has valid reason to record such contracts, in the event of divorce or other disputes. However, I do not think governments should provide tax benefits to married persons. It is my opinion that governments provide tax benefits to married persons with the intent of a) encouraging reproduction (this is not true in all marriages) and b) creating a healthy, stable environment where children can be raised. Governments do this to ensure a source of labour, sales, and investment for the economy. In a democratic society, a strong economy benefits everyone. (At least theoretically.) However, I believe that the interests of the individual trump the interests of the majority. Thus, governments should not provide tax benefits to married persons because it is discriminatory to those who choose to remain unmarried. A simpler, more equitable solution would be to provide tax benefits to those with children.

[I recognize that this is an exercise in logic; you must accept the presuppositions for the argument to work.]

Q: If you are married, why did you do it? If you are not, why have you not married?

I'm not married. I don't think I'm old enough, nor do I have an S/O. As I wrote earlier, I think marriage is unnecessary. I sometimes quip that I won't get married until I'm at least 27.

Q: Do you believe in divorce?

Again, this is vague. We all know that divorce exists. Legal contracts are routinely rendered null and void and I see no reason why marriage should be an exception. I'm not the first to say that it would be terrible to be stuck in an unloving relationship for life.

Q: If you are divorced, why did you do it? If you have not, are there certain circumstances under which you would agree to a divorce?

I'm not divorced. There are certain circumstances under which I would agree to a divorce. Irreconcilable infidelity, for example. I say 'irreconcilable' because non-monogamous relationships can, and are, stable. Poly-amourous and swinging relationships, for example.

Q: Do you believe that same sex marriages are a threat to traditional marriages?

Until traditionalists sufficiently prove to me that gay marriage is a threat to heterosexual marriage, No. In fact, until they sufficiently prove to me that marriage is sacrosanct, No. Straight people seem to have enough trouble maintaining the 'sanctity' of marriage.

I'm leaving on vacation tomorrow morning, so don't expect any posts for several weeks. I'll try to write some new material for you all while I'm away.

Perfection...

...Is a b*tch of a taskmaster.

I had a conversation with a teacher I admire very much today. The conversation was about a few overdue assignments I had (read: have) and it can essentially be broken down into this:

Him: "You deserve a good grade in this course."
Me, internally: Yeah, right.

I left the conversation in a very sour and depressed mood, despite the rash of good events that had happened to me previously. I did substantially better than the class average on an exam, I got three free books, and I won a contest. Still, I was mopey. I have an annoying tendency when I'm depressed to have thoughts of an existential and nihilistic flavour. Standard emo bullsh*t. (Go cry emo, I'm not going to give you the dignity of a capital 'e.')

To paraphrase a friend of mine, I have a preconceived image of the world and how it works (or should work) and I act irrationally when reality does not match this preconceived image. (I'm obsessive-compulsive, so sue me.)

I have a very antagonistic view as far as late assignments are concerned. If it's late, I'm not going to get any marks for it, so I'm not going to bother wasting my time with it. The problem is that this isn't the case. I can get marks for late assignments, just not as many. I don't care about the assignments. They do.

This led me to two questions. First, is my notion that late assignments are not permissible a preconceived notion that I impose on myself because of a perceived (or idealistic) social standard? Second, am I just trying to justify my actions?

I think that the first question is true. I don't think that I should receive any marks for a late assignment. Most, if not all of the student body would probably disagree. So much for the perceived social standard. I have no doubt that it's a preconceived idea. As an only child, I'm subject to the stereotype that only children have poor social skills, little or no friends, are spoiled, prodigies, and so on. Unfortunately all stereotypes have some basis in fact.

As a very young child I had no-one I would consider a 'friend' and mostly associated with adults. I think this left a lasting impression on my psyche. Specifically, I think I learned a fair number of behaviours from mimicking and to uphold myself to an exacting standard. The standards I demand of myself are neither reasonable or realistic. I fear that this is a deep-seated and irreversible behaviour, and probably the root cause of my disorder. It's frustrating, and frankly, it pisses me off. I don't blame my parents or my family, but I digress.

The implications of the second question, to me, seem worse. Do I use my belief that I should not receive marks for overdue assignments as a justification for not completing them? (Even if it is just a subconscious justification?) If this is true, then I'm only justifying my laziness. Irregardless of whether it's true or not, I still need to deal with the consequences of the first question.

I'm sure that I will be obsessive-compulsive for the rest of my natural life. But I need to break this cycle and control it if I'm going to succeed.

Wherein I Explain My Over-Thinking In Selecting U2 Singles

This is a response to this post where I said I would explain my choices.

Male or Female? The Ground Beneath Her Feet

I couldn't exactly use "Gloria" or "Miss Sarajevo" for this one. This was the only one left that seemed to imply masculinity. Let's face it, we've all heard of the "downtrodden husband and controlling wife" stereotype.

Describe Yourself: Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of

I thought about using "Even Better Than The Real Thing" for this one, but that didn't make any sense. I finally settled on "Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of" because I didn't think I was really going anywhere in my life. I'm still not sure, for that matter. "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" was a close second for this one. I say that it's a close second because I'm not sure what I want to do with my life at this point, or even what I want to major in at university.

Where do you want to be? Where The Streets Have No Name

"In God's Country" definitely didn't work for this one, and neither did "City of Blinding Lights." "A Celebration" also seemed like a good choice. I chose "Where The Streets Have No Name" mostly because it seemed a bit esoteric. The title also implies anonymity to me, which is what this blog allows me to do: remain anonymous. In theory, anyway.

How do others feel about you? Even Better Than The Real Thing

This was the best opportunity to use this one. The title doesn't make sense, but I hope it will make people think for a moment. I think I considered "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses" too.

How do you feel about you? I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

I used this one for the same reasons posted above. The important thing being I recognize that I don't know what I want to do at this point.

How do you live? Last Night On Earth

"A Celebration" was my second choice for this one. I can't argue with "Last Night On Earth" though. Ya never know when you're gonna go, so ya might as well enjoy it. [Poor grammar intentional.]

How do you love? Two Hearts Beat As One

I originally considered "The Ground Beneath Her Feet" for this one, but it didn't fit well with my concept of relationships being a two-way street. Other than that, I'm a romantic sap.

Words of Wisdom: Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own

Honestly, this was the only one that made sense.

This was the discography I used: U2 Singles

More Silly Meme Time

Aren't they all silly? I guess I'm really bored tonight. Honestly though, I hope some of my answers will provoke responses from people and get me to open up and share my thoughts with people. Nods again to Bryi.

The check marks mean the statement is true, the X's that the statement is false, and tildes [~] that the statement is semi-true. My own comments are in the brackets.

x I miss somebody right now.
✓ I don't watch much TV these days.
✓ I own a lot of books.
✓ I wear glasses or contact lenses.
✓ I love to play video games.
✓ I've tried marijuana. (I regret it a bit.)
✓ I've watched porn movies.
x I've been the psycho-ex in a past relationship.
✓ I believe honesty is usually the best policy.
✓ I curse sometimes.
x I have changed a lot mentally over the last year. (I don't think so.)
x I carry my knife/razor everywhere with me.
x I have broken someones bones.
✓ I have a secret I'm ashamed to reveal. (I probably do, but I'd also probably answer honestly if the correct question was asked.)
~ I hate the rain. (I'd say it's more of a love-hate relationship.)
✓ I'm paranoid at times.
✓ I would get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free of cost and scar free. (I don't think very much of my nose.)
✓ I want/need money right now. (I'd like some more money, but I don't need it.)
x I love sushi.
x I talk really, really fast. (I don't think I do.)
x I have fresh breath in the morning.
x I have long hair. (I'd like to see what it would be like longer though.)
x I have lost money in Las Vegas.
x I have at least one sibling.
✓ I was born in a country outside of the US.
x I have worn fake hair/fingernails/eyelashes in the past.
x I couldn't survive without caller ID.
x I like the way that I look. (Again, my nose. It's mostly my hair that bothers me though.)
✓ I have lied to a good friend in the last six months. (I'm not quite sure, but I probably have about something inconsequential.)
~ I am usually pessimistic. (I would say I'm a realist, but I vary between the two extremes based on my mood.)
x I have a lot of mood swings.
✓ I think prostitution should be legalized. (I may or may not outline my arguments in another post.)
x I slept with a roommate.
x I have a hidden talent.
x I'm always hyper no matter how much sugar I have.
x I have a lot of friends. (I'd say I have a lot of acquaintances and a few close friends.)
x I have pecked someone of the same sex.
x I enjoy talking on the phone.
x I practically live in sweatpants or pj's.
✓ I love to shop or window shop.
x I'm obsessed with Xanga or Livejournal.
x I'm completely embarrassed to be seen with my mother.
x I have a mobile phone.
x I have passed out drunk in the last six months.
x I've rejected someone before. (I assume the question is about a relationship.)
x I currently like/love someone.
~ I have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life. (Some ideas, but I'm still working on it.)
~ I want to have children in the future. (Generally, no. It would depend on what my significant other wanted too though.)
x I have changed a diaper before.
x I've called the cops on a friend before.
x I'm not allergic to anything. (Pollen.)
✓ I have a lot to learn.
✓ I'm shy around the opposite sex. (Sometimes.)
x I'm online 24/7, even as an away message.
x I have at least 5 away messages saved.
✓ I have tried alcohol or drugs before.
x I have made a move on a friend's significant other or crush in the past.
x I own "South Park" the movie.
x I have avoided schoolwork to be on Livejournal.
✓ I enjoy some country music. (I blame my uncle.)
~ I would die for my best friends. (Honestly, it depends on the circumstances.)
✓ I'm obsessive, and often a perfectionist.
x I have used my sexuality to advance my career.
x I think Halloween is awesome because you get free candy. (I stopped trick-or-treating at about eight.)
x I have dated a close friend's ex.
x I am happy at this moment.
x I'm obsessed with guys.
x Democrat.
x Republican.
x I don't even know what I am. (I assume the question is about political affiliation.)
x I am punk-rockish.
~ I go for older guys/girls, not younger. (I got for the individual.)
x I study for tests most of the time.
x I tie my shoelaces differently from anyone I've met.
x I can work on a car.
x I love my job. (No job.)
✓ I am comfortable with who I am right now. (I know who I am, but I don't know where I'm going.)
x I have more than just my ears pierced.
x I walk barefoot whenever I can.
x I have jumped off a bridge. (I don't recall ever doing it...)
~ I love sea turtles. (I think 'love' is too strong a term.)
x I spend ridiculous amounts of money on makeup.
✓ I plan on achieving a major goal or dream.
x I am proficient on a musical instrument.
x I hate office jobs.
x I went to college out of state.
x I am adopted.
✓ I am a pyro. (I like candles, fireplaces, and campfires if that counts.)
x I have thrown up from crying too much.
✓ I have been intentionally hurt by people that I loved.
x I fall for the worst people.
x I adore bright colours.
x I usually like covers better than originals.
x I hate chain restaurants like Applebees and TGI Fridays.
✓ I can pick up things with my toes.
~ I can't whistle. (I'm learning!)
x I have ridden/owned a horse.
x I still have every journal I've ever written in.
x I talk in my sleep. (Not that I'm aware of.)
~ I've often thought that I was born in the wrong century. (I fantasize about living in a different time period.)
✓ I try to forget things by drowning them out with lots of distractions.
x I wear a toe ring.
x I have a tattoo. (I'm not ruling out getting one.)
x I can't stand at least one person that I work with.
x I am a caffeine junkie.
x I am completely tree-huggy spiritual, and not ashamed at all.
x If I knew I could get away with it, I would commit at least one murder.
x I will collect anything; the more nonsensical, the better.
✓ I enjoy a nice glass of wine with dinner.
✓ I'm an artist.
x I am ambidextrous.
x I sleep with so many stuffed animals, I can hardly fit on my bed. (I used to.)
x If it weren't for having to see other people naked, I'd live in a nudist colony.
~ I have terrible teeth. (Probably.)
x I hate my toes.
✓ I have more friends on the Internet than I do in real life. (Probably.)
x I have lived in more than three states or countries.
✓ I am extremely flexible.
✓ I love hugs more than kisses.
x I want to own my own business.
x I smoke.
✓ I spend way too much time on the computer.
✓ Nobody has ever said I'm normal.
✓ Sad movies, games, and the like can cause a trickle of tears every now and then.
~ I like the way women look in stylized men's suits. (I don't know about stylized...)
✓ I don't like it when people are displeased or seem displeased with me.
✓ I've been described as a dreamer or likely to have my head in the clouds. (By myself to myself.)
x I have played strip poker with someone before.
✓ I have had emotional troubles for which I've sought professional help.
x I believe in ghosts and the paranormal. (But I don't deny the possibility.)
x I can't stand being alone.
x I have at least one obsession at any given time.
x I consistently spend too much money on obsessions of the moment.
✓ I can be a judgmental asshole. (I would agree completely if not for the 'asshole' part.)
x I'm a huge drama-queen.
✓ I have traveled on more than one continent. (North America and Europe.)
x I sometimes wish my father would just disappear.
✓ I need people to tell me I'm good at something in order to feel that I am. (Most of the time I feel that they're lying or mocking me.)
✓ I am a Libertarian. (Moderate.)
x I can speak more than one language.
x I can fall asleep even if the whole room is as noisy as can be.
✓ I would rather read than watch TV.
~ I like reading fact more than fiction. (About equal.)
x I have pulled an all-nighter on an assignment I was given a month to do.
✓ I have no piercings.
x I have spent the night in a train station or other public place.
x I have been so upset about my physical gender that I cried.
x I once spent Christmas alone because there was a miscommunication over which parent was supposed to have me that night.
✓ There have been many times I've wondered "Why was I born?" I may or may not have cried about it.
x I like animals better than most people.
x I own a collection of retro game consoles.
x The thought of physical exercise makes me shiver.
x I have hit someone with a dead fish.
✓ I am compulsively honest. (If anything, it's the opposite.)
x I was born with a congenital birth defect that was never repaired.
x I have danced topless in front of complete strangers.
x I have gone from wishing I was a girl to reveling in being a boy to feeling like a girl again in the span of five minutes, and not cared a whit for my actual sex.
x I am unashamedly bisexual, and have different motivations for my desires for different genders.
x Some days I won't eat for a whole day or sleep a whole night because I forget to.
x I find it impossible to get to sleep without some kind of music on.
x I dislike milk.
~ I obsessively wash my hands. (Sometimes.)
x I always carry something significant with me.
x Sometimes I'd rather use a wig in day to day life instead of my own hair.
✓ I've pushed myself to become more self aware and therefore more aware of others.
x I hand wrote all the HTML tags in this document.
✓ I've liked something which a majority of people thought was bad or weird.
x I've been clinically dead for a brief period of time.
✓ Instead of feeling sympathy/empathy with people and their problems, I simply get annoyed. (Sometimes.)
x I have participated in auto drag races and won.
x I do not 'get' most comedy acts.
✓ I don't think strippers are money-greedy or slutty for dancing.
x I don't like to chew gum.
✓ I am obsessed with history and historical things, and can't wait for someone to build a time machine so I can be the first to use it. (Except I wouldn't use the time machine.)
x I can never remember for the life of me where the car is parked.
x I had the teen angst thing going for at least 2-3 years.
✓ I wish people would be more empathic and honest with each other.
x I play Dungeons & Dragons weekly.
x I love to sing.
x I want to live in my mother's basement when I grow up.
x I have a custom built computer.
x I want to create a certain someone's babies, even if there's a 0% possibility of ever achieving it.
x I would be in a relationship with one of my pets if they were human.
x I've gone skinny dipping.
x I've performed in three plays.
✓ I enjoy burritos.
x I'm Irish and loving it.
✓ I have a thing for redheads.
x I am a twin.
✓ Most of the time, I'd rather do something intellectual instead of doing something generically 'fun'.
x Once I set out to finish something, I always stay at it until it is completed before moving on to something else.
~ I wish there was a way to erase past mistakes. (There are times.)
x I sleep more than 12 hours a day.
✓ I wish I could be prouder of what I've accomplished, but its never enough.
x I need more time to myself.
x I wish I was more open-minded.
x I hope that I go prematurely gray.
✓ I download songs from the Internet. (I have in the past.)
x I say random things to freak people out.
~ I love playing Truth or Dare. (I haven't played. I think it would be an interesting experience.)
x I love listening to slow music, but I hate singing to it.
x Music helps me remember that I am not alone.
x Playing my favorite sport helps me forget my problems.
✓ I think this survey is particularly long.
x I prefer my LJ friends to my real life ones.
x I can only hate someone I love.
x I've ordered an extra two shots of espresso to an Americano at Starbucks.

Silly Meme Time

Choose a band/artist and answer ONLY IN song titles by that band (you pick your own band or artist, don't use the same one as the person who did this before you).

Band: U2
Male or Female? The Ground Beneath Her Feet
Describe Yourself: Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of
Where do you want to be? Where The Streets Have No Name
How do others feel about you? Even Better Than The Real Thing
How do you feel about you? I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
How do you live? Last Night On Earth
How do you love? Two Hearts Beat As One
Words of Wisdom: Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own

If anyone wants an explanation of my choices, leave a comment and I'll get right on it.

With a nod to Bryi.

Existential Crisis, Pt. 3

Alternately titled "I Really Hope This is the Last One for Now."

My "Anonymous" commenter has graced my blog once again. I'll block quote him here for simplicity:

It all depends what you mean by "exist" and "true". I don't think the number 3 exists (point to it) in the same sense that you exist. And as for propositions, consider two propositions "Toronto is in Canada" and "There are infinitely many prime numbers". How much of the truth of a statement depends on how we ascertain its truth?

For purposes of my last entry "exist" was defined as "having casual power or a physical location in space." I admit that this is a very restrictive definition of the term that does not allow for the "existence" of numbers or other abstract concepts. That was a mistake. Numbers certainly do exist, even if they are only constructs of the human mind.

[On a side note, I was going to make a joke about how I had become a "numeral agnostic" because of my belief that it was impossible to prove the physical existence of numbers or the mental construct of numbers in my mind or anyone else's. Or possibly that I had rejected number theory and become an adherent of numerical formulation.]



Now, how much of the truth of a statement depends on how we ascertain its truth?

I freely admit that I haven't studied epistemology in depth yet. I think it is fair to say that there are different methods of ascertaining truth. However, if any part of that method is illogical or fallacious, then the result of that line of reasoning is likely to be illogical or fallacious as well. Truth is not a democracy; unalterable facts are not open to debate. (Technically they are, but the decision of a committee won't change the fact itself.)

As a point of interest, I've been reading about Empiricism and Methodological Naturalism lately.

Editor's Note:
I was originally going to write this post based around the joke, but that was over a month ago. As I opened up the draft tonight I ended up addressing the question anyway. It's about time I finished it. Next time: Procrastination, Academia, and angst. (Emo?)

Existential Crisis, Pt. 2

Originally this post was going to be my commentary on equality. However, I've been distracted by end-of-semester finals. Thankfully, an anonymous comment left on my last entry (maybe not so anonymous, I think I know who it is) has provided me with a question to address. It also segways into another topic I had wanted to discuss, but had previously forgotten about. This is what I was asked:

Where do abstract certainties like 1+1=2 or bivalence come into your view?

Now this may seem like a store shelf type of answer, but when I was discussing uncertainty in terms of knowledge, I was referring to the physical universe (or concrete objects, if you are so inclined). I should have clarified that. Abstract ideas make the matter far more complicated.

It can be argued that abstract ideas do not actually exist (and are therefore abstract) because they lack a location in space, the lack of casual power, etc. This puts abstract ideas in an interesting position. Can abstract ideas be true if they do not exist? I see no reason why they cannot. Common tautologies include mathematical proofs. To use an example from above: 1+1=2, 2=1+1

I'm not really sure where to take this entry from here, so I'll leave it up to my readers. Any comments, questions, or criticisms are welcome.

P.S. I know I'm one entry behind. I'll try to come up with something interesting to keep you entertained.

Existential Crisis

I was originally intending for this post to be about equality and it's role in our society, but I was worried that some of my arguments/explanations could be misconstrued. I'm going to take my time to write everything out properly and have it reviewed by at least one of my peers. Instead, I want to talk about existential crises.

For a period, perhaps last May to October, I experienced an existential crisis. Recently, this led me to create this little nugget of wisdom:

"Life is an extended existential crisis - and then you're dead."

This wasn't my first existential crisis, to be sure. I recall strong feelings of cognitive dissonance when I went through a period of depression several years ago.

I spent a lot of time contemplating my place in the universe, who I am (and what I am for that matter), and people watching while nursing a coffee at my favorite cafe. (I usually do that last one regardless of what I'm feeling.)

Going back to my 'nugget of wisdom' I had originally viewed it as a bit humourous, but now I see some truth in it as well. I do not think that it is likely that we, as human beings, can know anything with absolute certainty. I do believe however that we can reduce the amount of uncertainty to a negligible degree. We may accept whatever is ~99.99% true as fact, but there is always the slightest percentage that we are, in fact, incorrect. (Or at least incomplete in our knowledge of the subject in question.)

As such, I've resigned myself to an existence of limited certainty and (begrudging) skepticism. For now, at least. Perhaps numbers are indeed everything, as some would propose. I guess that makes life a gambler's game.

I would like to end by paraphrasing Lisa Hoffman:

"Life is like Pi - natural, irrational,
and very important."

A New Year

I could write any one of many tacky sayings here to welcome in the new year, such as 'out with the old, in with the new,' or 'another year gone.' I could even say 'Auld Lang Sane,' which doesn't really seem all that tacky to me. But I won't. Paradoxically, I already have.

It comes to mind that certain people (some less generous writers might call them stupid people) tend to make a resolution that they generally fail to commit to to mark the beginning of a new year on the Gregorian calendar. Or that's what the media portrays it as, at least.

As such, I have decided to throw my own coin down the well with the knowledge that I may very well never see it again. This year, I resolve to blog every weekend, usually every Friday or Saturday, and set aside a time on one of those days to facilitate the writing of an entry.

Bah, Humbug

~The Muse

P.S. If you're wondering what happened to the 'Button a Week Challenge,' I decided that it would be easier for me to put all of the buttons I wore in a single post after the challenge is completed. Seeing as a year has past, the challenge should theoretically be done, but I ran out of suitable buttons. I am always on the lookout for suitable buttons, and suggestions are, of course, welcome.

Is It Okay?

Is it okay to lose a little of my faith in Humanity whenever I read news articles like these?

Living Paycheck to Paycheck Gets Even Harder

This woman's baby will be taken from her as soon as it is born.

The Latvian Connection

Idiot Judge Number 1.

Idiot Judge Number 2.

Collected from Lupa's Blog.

Of Insults, Apologies, and Haters.

I use the term "haters" in the least offensive way possible.

It's time for a long overdue blog post.

A few weeks ago, I lost my temper and I said something I'm not very proud of. I apologized at the soonest opportunity possible, but I ended up getting some interesting comments in my Honesty Box on my Facebook profile. (For those of you who don't know, Honesty Box is an application that allows other Facebook users to post anonymous comments to you. The question asked is "What do you honestly think of me?") Let's take a look, shall we?

"Hello *****, this is **** from English. I just wanted to let you know that what you did in class today was quite amazing. I will not inquire into the depths of what happened, but I just wished to let you know this. I always find your input into our class very interesting."

I liked this comment. I received it the day I made my apology, and I really needed it.

"wow... way to blow up at a teacher... you're a jack*** you know? i mean if you dont feel "challenged enough" then why the hell are you in school still anyways! WTF!"

This was posted four days after I made my apology. I'm still not quite sure what to think about it.

"then again you did apologise so its not to bad...."

This was posted the same day as the previous comment. I think it's from the same person.

"your not always right,you think you are. [snip]"

This is another one that I liked. I do know that I am not always right, no one ever is. I do like to think that I'm right (I'm biased, being me and all) but I know that I can't always be right and I know that I can't know everything. I'd be a fool if I thought otherwise. As an aside, I consider "right" and "wrong" to be subjective, abstract concepts.

Now I'm not going to say that the other party involved overreacted, even if that's what I honestly think. I was the person that let go of their self-control. What I will say is that some of the people that made the comments above can't know all the details either. Call me preachy, but I don't think you should pass judgements without considering all the information available. That rings true for me as well.

*Some of the quoted items have been altered for relevancy and to protect the identity of those involved.

Justice is Served, Sort of

Remember that U.S. Air Force air(wo)man?

By ESTES THOMPSON, Associated Press Writer
Fri Sep 14, 6:06 PM ET

RALEIGH, N.C. - Charged with committing indecent acts after refusing to testify against a man she had accused of rape, only to see those charges later dropped, a female airman said Friday that she is no longer sure about a career in the Air Force.

"I do respect the fact that they've tried to correct the things they've done wrong," Airman 1st Class Cassandra Hernandez said in a statement released by her attorneys. "As a result of what happened this week, it does give me more hope in the system. I don't completely trust the system now."

The commander of the 43rd Airlift Wing at Pope Air Force Base decided this week to drop the charge of committing an indecent act against Hernandez, 20, who instead pleaded guilty to underage drinking and received a nonjudicial punishment, said one of her attorneys, Capt. Chris Eason.

Hernandez had been scheduled for a Sept. 24 court-martial, where she faced up to a year in prison and dismissal from the Air Force.

"I'm not angry. I'm just glad to have my life back," Hernandez said. "Overall, I'm still disappointed in how this was handled, but if they recognize the things they did wrong and can fix them for future victims, then it was all worth it."

In May 2006, about six months after she arrived at Pope, Hernandez reported she had been raped by three fellow airmen during an alcohol-fueled barracks gathering. One of the airmen was charged with rape. But after initially cooperating with prosecutors, Hernandez started to feel they no longer believed her and declined to cooperate further.

"Towards the end, I felt like I was alone," Hernandez said in an earlier interview with The Associated Press. "One reason I chose not to testify was I didn't want to put myself out there if I was not protected. I felt like I was being hung out to dry."

The Associated Press normally does not identify people alleging sexual assault, but Hernandez agreed to tell her story to reporters.

Her attorneys believe the Air Force was retaliating against her for her decision not to testify when it charged her criminally with underage drinking and committing an indecent act by having sex in the presence of others.

Three male airmen she accused of rape received nonjudicial punishment for indecent acts and were granted immunity to testify at Hernandez's trial, according to Air Force legal documents.

Capt. Beverly Mock, a wing spokeswoman, said Friday that she couldn't discuss details of the case because of privacy laws. Messages left for the prosecutors who handled the case and Col. Timothy Zadalis, commander of the 43rd Airlift Wing, were not returned Friday.

Hernandez was initially offered the same nonjudicial punishment, which Eason said she rejected because her squadron commander "had told her I am going to find you guilty."

Eason said the agreement to drop the criminal charges was reached after negotiations with prosecutors and approved by Zadalis. In a statement, he and co-counsel Capt. Omar Ashmawy said they "hope that those who are at fault are held accountable."

Hernandez enlisted in the Air Force in 2005 and was assigned as a clerk to the 43rd Airlift Wing, a unit whose missions include flying the paratroopers of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division into combat.

Ashmawy said his client is receiving support from the Air Force "as a result of the real psychological and physical trauma suffered from this sexual assault."

"We fervently hope that the lessons learned in this case will be used in the future to prevent this kind of thing from ever happening again," Ashmawy said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070914/ap_on_re_us/air_force_rape

Gisburne Redux

Apparently, Nick Gisburne has put his website back up. Here's his explanation:

As you know I closed my web site recently, apparently a permanent thing. So once again I'm back and... I'm messing with you, right? I give that impression, I'm aware, but please understand that I find it difficult to keep on talking about atheism, purely because I feel so strongly about the things on this site and in my book. Sometimes it becomes too hard for me to look at what religion does to the world, and I have to shut myself off from it, completely. I'm complicated, that's all I can say. But here, by popular demand, is the return of my web site, with my sincere apologies to those people who felt let down when I took it offline. I can almost guarantee this will not be the last time I do it, but please stick with me through the bad times!

Read this blog entry to see why I decided not to leave after all.

Yay!

Christians, Baha'i's and Buttons, Oh My!

I know a lot of people are going to ask "Why have you been criticizing Christianity so much lately?" or "Why don't you criticize a different Abrahamic religion? Why not even a non-Abrahamic religion?" Well let me try to explain things to you.

I do not necessarily believe that faith is a bad thing; it is when faith is not tempered by reason that it concerns me. I am more than willing to allow someone to hold and express their beliefs as long as they do not interfere with my rights to the same. I don't think that I would particularly mind if someone called me a "Satan worshiper" and that I would "burn in Hell" as long as they let me say how ridiculous I think that their beliefs are. Of course, if they repeatedly harassed me, I would have no compunction against taking them to civil court. If our roles were reversed, I would expect them to do the same.

Yesterday, I had a Christian evangelist tell me "I'm not tolerant and I'm proud of it." He also said "One way to God, right?" Frankly, a find this level of zealotry disturbing. I wouldn't even classify it as an extreme level of zealotry, considering what you see on the Internet and in the Middle East.

I don't buy that there is one way to God either, if there is one (which I doubt). I can see four possibilities if God does exist: God is malevolent, God is indifferent, God is omni-benevolent and our perception of God is completely inaccurate, or God is insane. If I say that God may exist, I shouldn't discount that a multitude of gods could exist either.

Now that that's out of the way, I want to address something. I want to point out that the Baha'i faith is probably one of the most tolerant I've seen. I'm not going to pick at any of their theological or metaphysical beliefs, but rather a few things that I think will create issues for the faith in the future.

1) The Baha'i faith views scientific inquiry as essential to expanding Human knowledge and deepening the faith of Baha'i adherents. Considering that I believe that God or some other divine aspect cannot be proven or disproven I find it interesting that the Baha'i faith supports scientific inquiry when historically most religions have been opposed to it. Historically, most religions are opposed to scientific inquiry because of contradictions with various beliefs within those religions. Just take a look at Galileo or Darwin. But consider this: What if the existence of a divine entity could be empirically disproven? I am sure that it would very much shake the Baha'i religion to its very core. I doubt that this could happen however, and I find it more of an interesting question to pose than something I could see becoming an issue. The one place where the Baha'i faith and science knock heads is #2.

2) The Baha'i faith rejects homosexuality. This is the one place I know of where science and the Baha'i faith have a contradiction. While the Baha'i faith teaches equality between people and the elimination of prejudices, sexual orientation is absent from their list of groups of Humans where prejudice should be eliminated. Others have said it before me, and I predict that this will cause tensions within the Baha'i faith in the future.

3) Women are excluded from serving on the Universal House of Justice. This is mostly for the same reasons as #2, with the Baha'i faith's teachings of equality and elimination of prejudice.

4) Followers believe that there will eventually be a single world government. I'm not going to deny that it could happen, but I doubt it. The closest we have come to this is the United Nations, and I doubt that we will go much farther. Groups of people with similar ideals would break off from a united world government and form their own nations. Self-determination has happened many times in the past and I don't see why this would change in the future.

5) It had been my understanding that the Baha'i faith also believed in a single unifying language for humankind. However the official website of the Baha'i International Community cites "the need for a universal auxiliary language."

And just a couple minor notes to finish off with:

The link to Nick Gisburne's website is no longer in the sidebar. He has taken down his website because he is no longer interested in discussing Atheism. This means some of the links in my older posts may not work correctly.

Also, if you're wondering what's been happening with the buttons, you have no need to fret. I decided that it would be easier to post all the buttons once the challenge is over than to post them every week.

ReligiousTolerance.org Article

Baha'i International Community Website