Jo S. Wun's Blog, page 11
November 1, 2011
Unfinished Symphonies
Birth.
I am hunger!
I am contentment.
I am hunger - I am contentment - I am
A l o n e ?
I am fear!
I am comforted.
I am fear - I am comforted - I am
With - you?
I am - me?
I was - what?
Now, I am me, and you are not me.
Are these my boundaries?
Explore.
Question.
Unlock.
Aspire.
Love.
Invent.
Taste.
Yell!
Talk.
Inspire.
Mentor.
Empathise.
LAUGH!
Death.
I am ready.
But the chances are
I will be caught napping
In the midst of composing
The next movement in my symphony.
All of us, unfinished symphonies
Cut short in the middle of
Diaspora*
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It's been a long time coming, and there's still a way to go, but I'm impressed with diaspora*, especially because it's still in 'alpha' development. It's also still invitation only, but it's growing fast.
I got my invitation a couple of days ago, and went to see what it has to offer. Another Facebook? Another Google+? Surprisingly, I don't think it is. Sure, there's a 'news stream' on your home page, a profile page where you can lay out who you are, and the option to compartmentalise the people you link up with, but there's a different feel about it. It has atmosphere. It actually feels like a community, or rather, many communities under a common umbrella.
But it's not rigid. It's flexible and imposes very little on its users. You are free to be involved as much or as little as you like. It would be perfectly possible to enjoy diaspora* without having any 'friends' at all. You could simply use hashtags to identify your interests and receive posts in your news stream from people who share those interests, with no obligation to do anything other than lurk.
However, I suspect that you, as I have, would find yourself wanting to make a comment on, or 'like', some of the posts that come in your news stream. And almost before you know it, you've started up a conversation with someone with a shared interest.
Of course, once you have joined diaspora*, you can also invite people you already know. If you want to join, but don't know anyone who is already a member, then you can go to diaspora* and sign up for an invite. Or you could ask me, nicely!
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October 31, 2011
Windows Of Opportunity
I caught a glimpse of a window of opportunity, from the corner of my eye.
My community, with arrogant impunity, dismissed it as a lie.
"Beware!" they said, all knowingly, "all that glisters is not gold."
Yes, they quoted Willie Shakespeare's words, to keep me in the fold.
Surely they misunderstood the nature of my objective, that which I was looking for?
But their invective, although increasingly defective, well it hurt me to my core.
How could they try to hold me back, to block my exploration
Of a world so nearly visible. It filled me with frustration!
I'll bide my time, and wait for the perfect moment to make my bid for freedom.
For they'll foment, use arguments oh so cogent, to maintain the fragile fiefdom.
I know it will be difficult to break away these chains and ties.
They have been so like a family, notwithstanding all the lies.
So here I am carefully constructing my defences. I'll need them, and then some,
But no pretences, no matter how intense is the attack that's sure to come.
This time it will be different, I'll show courage and stand firm,
Then take my first unfettered step, you'll no longer see me squirm.
But I'm not ready yet, to embark upon this journey. I feel so very much alone.
No defence attorney, to shield me from those who'd burn me. Must I do it on my own?
Was it truth I glimpsed through that fleeting window? How can I be sure of that?
"You can't! But discover it you will, when it comes your turn to bat!"
Is it evil, this constant internal conversation that flows inside my head?
Such consternation, and fearful trepidation, what is it that I dread?
But now I see, I should've realised before, the answer's very neat.
Without that flow I'm merely half a man, but with it I'm complete.
Please listen up, my future partners in discovery. I'm truly on my way.
I'm in recovery. At last I've found the whole of me, and the balance to defray
The curse of indecision, which stymied me in doubt.
I thought that I was looking in, now I know I'm looking out.
October 30, 2011
Default Position: Missionary?
Sorry to disappoint, but this post is not about sex. However, to allay any hard feelings (oooh, er, missus!), here's an illustration from the Wikipedia article about the so-called 'missionary position'.
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Still with me? Good. You can always read that Wikipedia article later.
So, if this post is not about sex, what is it about? Well, I've been thinking about how people present their ideas and opinions, what you might call their 'foot in the door' approaches. In particular, because the subject of how religion operates has always intrigued me, I've been thinking about the various tactics people use to promote their particular brand.
It's well known that in the secular world, sex sells everything,
from
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to
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There's probably a lot of debate about the details, but sex sells because it appeals to a powerful basic instinct. But that's just not an option for the vast majority of religions. Indeed, many of them treat sex as an unfortunate necessity for the production of more members, and something which must be strictly controlled. Er... no, no, no! I meant 'for passing on the gift of life', of course.
However, sex has not been completely ignored as a recruitment strategy, at least not by fringe organisations. The classic example is the 'Flirty Fishing' employed by female members of the Children of God in the 70s and 80s (at the behest of the cult's leader, David Berg). It is no surprise that it was an effective strategy, until AIDS came along and forced cessation. But I seem to have forgetten that this post is not about sex!
There are several different 'normal' religious pitches, the first of which I'll call the tangential. It's employed by people who approach you directly, but in an indirect way. It goes something like this:
"Do you think there is enough love in the world?"
It's designed so that it doesn't matter what you answer, the point of it being to open a dialogue. Or rather, provide an opening for a dose of proselytizing. I don't know if they still use it, but it was a favourite ploy of Jehovah's Witnesses at one time.
Then there's the feel-good angle. Its supporters talk a lot about love and seem particularly fond of the word 'joy'. Their cousins, the happy-clappies, like to make it into a musical production.
The Da-doo-do-goods are up next, who tacitly assert that the good deeds of their particular type of non-atheist proves their beliefs - in an action-speaks-louder-than-words sort of way, although they are not short on words to assert it.
Fire and Brimstone preachers don't bother with any of that subterfuge. They smack you right between the eyes with what it all comes down to: Be afraid! Be very afraid!
And that is actually the default position, the fall-back position, of all the other approaches too. It's all they've got when the 'nice' approaches don't work. They might hide behind those weasel words, "I'll pray for you," but that's just shorthand for something like, "if you don't join my team, after you die, you're going to burn over and over again, in perpetual agony, forever (but I'll be okay because I'm doing my best to recruit you, because I believe!)"
I have a weird sort of respect for the fire and brimstone guys (it seems like it's usually guys rather than women), but only because they are upfront and honest about their message. I'm not talking about the one's whose ulterior motive is to extort money, they deserve no respect whatsoever (and more besides). I'm thinking of the guy who gets up on his soap-box in the High Street and lets passers-by have it with both barrels, metaphorically speaking.
So, here's the bottom line. If you can't use the powerful basic instinct of sex to manipulate people into doing what you want, and other approaches fail, then there's always good ol' fear to fall back on. It's been tried and tested, over several millenia, and has been shown to be consistantly effective. Up until now, at any rate.
In conclusion, it seems that sex has the edge on fear, when it comes to manipulating adults. But what about children? I wonder whether sex or fear would work most effectively on small children? Right, no contest. As if children don't have enough real things to be frightened of.
October 29, 2011
Noggin (On Heaven's Door?)
I wrote about false dichotomies the other day, and their close associates, false dilemmas. There are some circumstances, however, when reducing a vast array of choices down to just two, has definite benefits. A case in point: music genres.
There was a time when I would struggle with such questions as "Is this UK Garage or Funky House?" but a couple of years ago, I stood back and thought about my reasons for tagging music. I realised that to use genres in practice, rather than as an academic exercise in precision, meant that I needed only two: Vocal and Instrumental.
When I'm writing, I tend to listen to instrumental music, because lyrics can be distracting. At other times, vocals can be a source of inspiration, or just good to sing along with, or simply enjoyable. So that's what I did. I tagged everything in my music collection using just those two genres. Simple!
Here's an instrumental piece by a band called k u: l i:, whose music can be found on SoundCloud. The band tags this track as Jazzy, Guitar, Groove, Funky, Cool, and Instrumental. I wouldn't argue with that, but of course Instrumental is the important one for me - it's just right to accompany a bit of keyboard bashing.
Noggin by K U: L I:
Listen on Posterous
If you go to the SoundCloud page for this track, you'll see that the track title is a reference to Noggin The Nog. Ah yes, I remember it... well, not so well, actually. But a quick Google gave me various results including, you guessed it, a Wikipedia article, and it all came back to me.
There are two other equally good tracks by k u: l i: on SoundCloud;
Pad Pod and Murphy's Jazz.
They seem to be fond of cats, according to the notes under those tracks!
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October 28, 2011
The Extraordinary Dr Kerfuffle!
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After reading the first three chapters (you can download them as a sample in PDF format from www.theworldofdrk.com, for free), I wasn't sure what to make of The Extraordinary Dr Kerfuffle! by Aeddan Howells. It seemed a rather old-fashioned tale. Not in a bad way, but I was left wondering if Dr Kerfuffle would have anything new to offer.
I'm glad I decided to buy and download the whole book (also in PDF - the only downloadable format available at the time of writing) because it turned out that Dr Kerfuffle does indeed have a trick or two up his sleeve. I don't want say too much because a spoiler really would spoil the enjoyment of the story. However, I can safely say that it is mainly about the relationship which develops between Dr Kerfuffle and Josh, an "almost eleven year old boy" (who lives across the street with his sister Ellie and their parents, Sam and Laura), and the adventures that ensue.
The website declares the book is recommended for 10 - 100 year olds, which I think is a reasonable recommendation. It's also a book I can imagine reading to someone, a child perhaps, although not too young because there are some scary bits in it. Adopting a German accent when reading Dr Kerfuffle's words would be great fun - he hails from Bavaria and uses, for example, 'viz' for 'with' and 'vot' for 'what'.
If you like a good story which takes you to places you didn't expect to go, and from which you might even learn a thing or two, then I have no hesitation in recommending The Extraordinary Dr Kerfuffle!
The paperback version is available either from the publisher's webpage or from Amazon UK (and other sources), although you may prefer to download the PDF - there is, at the time of writing, a significant price premium for the paperback.
October 27, 2011
The Natural Wisdom Of A Child
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I don't know who took this photograph, or any other detail about it. It was one among many in one of those PowerPoint slide shows that get forwarded from inbox to inbox (Top photos1.pps was the one I saw). I would like to give credit to the photographer, so if you know who it was then please let me know.
October 26, 2011
SocraticMama
Anne Crumpacker, whose daughter Mason recently met the author Christopher HItchens, an encounter which caused much delight, has created a website which she describes as a "fun-loving, open forum for secular parents and their children". The tag line of the site is a quote from Socrates:Wisdom begins with wonder.
Participation is welcomed, so go check it out and get involved (if you're that way inclined), or just enjoy (if you're not). Read the About me page for more info on Anne and her reasons for starting the site (which is dedicated in honor of Mr. Christopher Hitchens), and, if you plan on participating, then read the Rules for play page too.
October 25, 2011
Strange Days
Some days the words don't flow. Bummer, eh?
Music sometimes helps.
3 Strange Days by School Of Fish
Listen on Posterous
School of Fish at Amazon
October 24, 2011
On The Importance Of Having A Trustworthy Confidente
I don't believe there is any 'afterlife' - when I die, that's it; I cease to exist. So why should I care about what sort of funeral I'm given? I won't know anything about it, right? So what does it matter?
Well, it matters because although I won't be aware of it, it will have an influence on others who are still living. Regardless of whether there is an 'afterlife', there sure as hell (forgive my lame humour) will be an 'afterMYlife', or at least I have reason to think there'll still be some people about after I die. It's also very likely that those of you who survive me (rather an odd expression - I hope it isn't as painful as it sounds), some of whom I know, but most of whom I don't, will continue to talk amongst yourselves. And that's why it is important to me that my funeral not be hijacked by those who do not share my views, as a means to promote and perpetuate theirs.
Sadly, in my experience, that's all too often what happens. Proponents of an 'afterlife' seem to view a funeral, no matter what the stated beliefs of the dead person, as a window of opportunity through which they can crash, launching their missals willy-nilly as they go. Like a smash and grab raid in reverse, they seek to implant a 'soul', only to claim it's gone off somewhere in the very next moment. The odd part is that a lot people seem to think it's pretty much okay for them to do that, even though they don't really share their beliefs or, if they do, only in a half-hearted, token way. They just go along with it because, perhaps, they don't want to create a scene. They simply close their ears to the sound of breaking glass.
I wrote a few days ago about the genital mutilation of babies who, due to their physical state, are unable to voice objections, which is conveniently construed, by the advocates of ritual mutilation, as there having been no objections. It bears an uncanny similarity to the situation where a dead person, due to their physical state, is unable to voice objections to the hijacking of their funeral by proponents of an 'afterlife'. Fortunately, for a dead person there is no direct personal consequence from this lack of respect, a lack of respect which is so often proudly displayed by the perpetrators, as if it is a virtue. It's that lack of respect, the complete disregard for others, which royally pisses me off. If you happen to be at my funeral, and some knobhead decides to start on about an 'afterlife' (or any of that stuff), please ask them to stop immediately, because I specifically asked you to do that very thing. Thanks.
And then there's the deathbed conversion. I don't doubt that it happens, particularly if the unfortunate soon-to-be-dead person has some arsehole stimulating their fear receptors in their final days and hours, but I also suspect that, on occasion, the alleged conversion never actually happened. Of course, I have no direct evidence of that. How could I? But why should I think that the type of thinking which allows people to abuse babies and hijack funerals is limited to those events only?
So here's the conundrum - how to prevent a false claim of your own deathbed conversion?
Achieving this requires some setting up in advance. Yes, you have to do it now to be sure it will work. I mean, you could be dead tomorrow, right? So here's what you have to do.
Firstly, you will need someone who you trust with your life, and who is also likely to outlive you. It could well be that a daughter or son would fit that profile.
Then, in secret, you and that person must agree upon a phrase that nobody else is likely to be able to guess. Something random and made up, like, "I didn't kick your kneecap when you were fourteen and three quarters", but whatever, it must be something that you will be able to remember word for word. So make it fun!
Next you put the agreed phrase in writing to your confidente, together with a statement that if you should happen to decide at, or near, the time of your death to alter your view (that there is no 'afterlife', or whatever best describes your view), the very first thing you will do, before you confide to them that you have converted, is ask the person who will witness your conversion to learn the agreed phrase (as proof of your conversion). Your confidente must keep the document, either paper or digital, in a safe place away from prying eyes, and not even reveal its existence, unless circumstances, such as an alleged deathbed conversion, make it necessary to do so.
In the event of a claim of deathbed conversion, your confidente only has to ask the claimant if you asked him, or her, to learn a phrase and, if so, to repeat that phrase. Bingo! It's revelation time.
It's not foolproof - for example, you might lose your marbles and inadvertently reveal the scheme - but if you think there is any chance of someone falsely claiming you underwent a deathbed conversion, then it might just catch them out (assuming your confidente has the courage to call them on it, which is a very good reason to choose your confidente wisely).
An additional benefit of this scheme is this: If you do decide to convert in your last moments, you have a means of confirming it beyond reasonable doubt.
Think I'm paranoid? I like to think it's the 'boy scout' in me - being prepared for all eventualities - even though I never was a boy scout!
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