Why am I writing this blog? What makes me think I have anything of value to say? How can I imagine my “meaty words” are tasty to anyone else?
Or as some (including myself) might say, “WTF?!”
As is so often the case in life, there are multiple facets to the answer. All of them are true; none of them comprise the complete answer. Some of them may be delusions or illusions. Some of them aren’t very flattering.
But FWIW, here’s WTF (in this case, “W”=”Why”).
⊗ I believe I have the soul of an artist (I’m not saying I’m a good artist, mind you), and artists need to create and need to put their work out there. I can’t paint, sculpt or draw, but I do think I do okay with words and ideas. I do this to feed that urge to create (foremost) and to be seen (definitely part of the equation).
⊗ I have the stunning conceit to believe I have something worth saying. I’ve lived a fair number of years, and I’ve benefited from a good and rich education. And I’ve read and thought a lot about life. Bottom line, I think I’m worth reading. (At least sometimes? (Maybe once in a while??))
⊗ I believe I also have the soul of a teacher. I delight in the way someone’s eyes light up when the light bulb goes on and they find their world expanded. That experience and education I mentioned above is something I want to share with those who are interested.
⊗ I crave affection, admiration and approval (don’t we all)? As someone without strong family connections (even my dog died), I find myself more or less alone in the world, and this is a way to reach out and connect.
With regard to that last, I confess that I am a highly alienated misanthrope whose life experience has repeatedly confirmed that Sartre was right when he wrote that, “Hell is other people.” Perhaps it’s just been bad luck and life changes. I do have hermit tendencies that go way back; the internet suits me well. Maybe I’m just a solitary creature.
But as any human does, I crave connections with my peers, with those who think like me (and, thank heavens, they do exist). I don’t, won’t, can’t connect with mainstream, so I hope for the approval of (even a small number of) cognoscenti with the background to appreciate the material.
Or, better yet, I hope to reach those with questing, exploring, thinking minds who might be interested in learning from an old fart foggy guy like me.
Now,… you may have expected to find on this page the common rejoinder, “Why ask why?” Nope. (Except that, of course, there it was.) I’ve always thought it was a particularly silly thing to say. Asking, “Why,” is one of the key things that makes us human. It’s what makes us different from animals, plants and rocks.
So keep on asking, “Why?” It’s good for your mind.
December 24th, 2012 at 4:11 pm
Nice write-up… I can relate to the essence of this. I find that, as I get older, it gets harder and harder to find people to connect with if your life path diverges somewhat from the norm. But like you said, they are out there
And the internet certainly helps.
Hell is other people.
Heaven is other people, also.
December 24th, 2012 at 4:23 pm
Thanks for dropping by and commenting! I love your handle (I love cake, too).
I do agree completely; the coin has two sides. For every horror there is a joy (and vice versa), and there isn’t much on Earth that can make you feel as miserable or as wonderful as another human being.
December 24th, 2012 at 4:28 pm
True. And there IS a new Star Trek movie coming out next year, after all. We always have that to look forward to, lol.
I’m old enough to have watched – and loved! – the original series. Aw, those were the days
December 24th, 2012 at 4:34 pm
Yep, same here (you’ll find a lot of posts about Star Trek here!), I grew up with Kirk and Spock and Bones and Scotty. I was already a science fiction fan by the time the show aired (life-long geek here—you’ll find lots of SF stuff here, too).
I haven’t entirely made up my mind about the rebooted version yet… it’s so “not my Star Trek” and there were bits that seemed pretty far from canon. [shrug]
December 24th, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Yes… I see where you’re coming from. I found that the ‘reboot’ was much better than I had expected. I’m def up for the next installment. Even if I have to schlepp into Madrid for that, as I cannot-absolutely-cannot cope with a dubbed version. Maybe I’ll go and see it in London.
Will be raiding your sci-fi archives shortly.
December 24th, 2012 at 4:58 pm
I’ll definitely check out the new one (likewise The Hobbit, which I’m also not certain about—early word hasn’t been encouraging). I think I’ll have to see the rebooted Trek movies the same way I see the Mission: Impossible movies; as exciting, interesting movies that really have no connection whatsoever with much-loved, well-remembered childhood favorites. Once I got over the shock of the M:I movies (Jim Phelps a traitor? WTF?!?!), I quite liked them.
December 24th, 2012 at 5:11 pm
It’s the only way to look at it – the new stuff can’t be faithful to canon all the time.
Star Trek TOS was very much a product of its time – apart from the obvious technological aspects, just look at the roles allotted to the women, lol.
Am curious about The Hobbit. I never read the books, because when I attempted it two decades ago, my English just wasn’t up to scratch. Need to give that another go.
December 24th, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Well, your English is certainly up to scratch now! I had no idea it wasn’t your first language until you wrote that comment. Kudos! We USAians really suck at the whole bi-lingual thing. (I’m fluent in over a dozen computer languages… does that count for anything?)
December 25th, 2012 at 5:17 am
That is impressive, and I certainly think that learning languages – computer or human – stops the brain from calcifying as one gets older
Plus, we’re both earning our living that way, I assume.
December 25th, 2012 at 1:42 pm
Programming or just using our brains? Yes, either way—I very much believe the brain is a muscle that needs to be exercised least it decay. I have a strong lust for learning new things!!
April 14th, 2013 at 1:15 am
Sheesh! Get a room, you two…
April 14th, 2013 at 10:30 am
Aw, come on. Lady + Cake! Who can resist that?!
June 16th, 2013 at 4:51 am
Your very last line just above makes me laugh every time I read it.
June 16th, 2013 at 9:43 am
About Cake Lady? Yeah, I love cake!!
June 16th, 2013 at 9:49 am
Me, too. Cakes with chocolate most especially.
Man of the Cakes sounds awkward, though.
June 16th, 2013 at 10:01 am
Yeah! Even Cake Man doesn’t have the same ring as Cake Lady.