Comments | rich31082: I Wonder What I'm Thinking?

rich31082

I Wonder What I'm Thinking?

Jan 07, 2006 00:36

As I drove home in the dark tonight, I had a little time to think, which is always dangerous. Along the way I had two trains of thought which I felt would make interesting subjects for a post, interesting to me at least. The first thought was based on two accusations of cowardice which were leveled at me earlier, and the second in the fine ( Read more... )

Comments 10

supercheyenne January 7 2006, 14:43:49 UTC

I don't think the issue determines what is and isn't cowardly. I think it's a person's reason for not taking sides on a matter. If it's a situation like the current one, where taking sides is silly and creates an issue that might not be an issue at all, then it's silly to take sides. However, if one refuses to take a side because they are afraid of the consequenses, or afraid of offending someone, or afraid of some uncomfortable situation that may arise, then that's just cowardly.

supercheyenne January 7 2006, 14:45:13 UTC

And don't take my random accusations of cowardice too seriously. I think I put the cowardice label on a lot more things than most people. Overly idealistic, I guess. ;-)

For someone who is a Shaolin Monk your Kung-fu is really lousy. onyx_nightscape January 7 2006, 16:38:00 UTC

Pay no attention to the title I was merely going to write this under Cheyenne's latest post. Since I read your reply I think I will be adopting the phrase "Your Kung-fu is weak." I had a good laugh at that. On to business. Like you Rich I desire a harmonious enviroment. The presence of this fellow is a problem as I do not want Jeff holed up in his room all semester. We both know that Jeff has little patience with people that he does not like. Add to this that the guy is a pothead which is my only issue with the guy. Add to that you are our roomate Rich. We desire your opinion on certain issues that will affect you to avoid seeming like we are unfair. Hence why we were a little bit strong at coercing your opinion yesterday. But I do believe that this is an issue where prudence is not the right course of action. To avoid conflict between Jeff and this guy (Because we both know it is going to happen) and create a harmoniuos atmosphere this semester, it is my belief that this guy showing up will complicate matters. I apologize if you ( ... )

Re: For someone who is a Shaolin Monk your Kung-fu is really lousy. rich31082 January 7 2006, 17:21:33 UTC

No, no I wasn't offended at all. I just think that this is a matter that needed to be discussed more privately than was being allowed yesterday.

On pictures and memory. coreyaugustus January 7 2006, 19:03:49 UTC

I do agree that pictures and paintings cannot capture a memory in the full scope as your pure experience. But then, were they ever intended to do that? I don't think so. We have pictures in frames on our desks and walls to serve as reminders of memories. For instance, when you see a picture of one particular "breathtaking young lady," as you call her, you think, "That was taken when we went to ______, and I remember how we did _______ and it was _______." The picture serves as a token for a memory, not the memory itself. So I think pictures are fabulous as reminders and the bset part is that they sometimes look pretty.

Re: On pictures and memory. rich31082 January 7 2006, 20:00:04 UTC

No, no you fool! Pictures steal your soul! You picture taking people I will never understand you. I wonder though, is it more important to remember the physical properties of the past, or the qualia of it? I'm inclined to believe that how we think about the past is more important than the way it actually happened.

Re: On pictures and memory. supercheyenne January 8 2006, 19:46:13 UTC

I think that writing comes closer to capturing moments than pictures. Of course, neither is going to provide a perfect reproduction. And sure, a picture may speak a thousand words. But when you are writing you get to chose the words. A picture is just what a camera or a paint brush happened to save.

But one can get carried away with trying to preserve the past, and forget to leave time for new things to happen. I have a friend who writes in her journal for about four hours a day. I can not begin to imagine that her life is that interesting. At times I become convinced that she must just be writing about writing:

"Movin' the pen. I'm movin' the pen. And breathing. And still movin' the pen...ooh, I coughed! An action sequence!"

Re: On pictures and memory. coreyaugustus January 8 2006, 20:14:09 UTC

You can choose the wronge words when writing. Even the best of writers make mistakes. Paintes make similar mistakes with their medium. Cameras, on the other hand, shoot only what is there. No error. Of course, they miss some of the unseen details which are felt instead of seen, but they don't lie about what's there.

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