Is knowledge, science, understanding what we are, where we are and what has and will be.
Self knowledge is part of this, but mysticism as comfortable and fun as it may be has no part. What does it create do or contribute? What is the point of a heaven if all you do is stand around all day and worship. That'd get bloody boring rather quickly I'd hope, both for the one being worshiped and those doing so. And who cares if you might be reincarnated as a bacteria it's hardly useful to worry about that, your not going to remember.
Instead why not seek out real knowledge, how to help others or ones self. Seek to extend your days and minimise your impact while expanding or helping to expand our knowledge.
As in the end, all that may well remain of us is our contribution to knowledge, which should it reach the necessary levels, may end up sustaining us and allow us to remain as we seek to expand it and seek out new wonders.
After all the universe doesn't care about you and chance ain't going to hand you a free survival card just because you believe it should. Learn and grow, expand your capabilities and knowledge and you might just manage to stay ahead of the reaper.
But don't forget to bring the other living things with you, or you'll end up cutting your own throat with out even noticing.
Showing posts with label random. Show all posts
Showing posts with label random. Show all posts
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Friday, January 01, 2010
2009
Following my tradition of copying Katherine's New Years post, here is 2009.
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
- Explored Northland
- Moved into a flat with people I know!
- Changed Jobs within a company
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for the next year?
- There weren't any. No.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
- No
4. Did anyone close to you die?
- No. Never been to a funeral.
5. What countries did you visit?
- None unfortunately.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
- A lover or relationship deeper than a friendship.
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched in your memory, and why?
- None 2009 mostly work, and can't remember the dates of the non work stuff.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
- Getting a better Job
9. What was your biggest failure of the year?
- To be more outgoing.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
-None, odd cold.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
-My car I guess, I mean it's a car so hardly excitingly, but unfortunately far to useful.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
-No one really
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
-The world leaders as usual with regards to politics and climate change
- Christian and all other overly Religious and or fanatical peoples.
14. Where did most of your money go?
-Rent and Car
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
- The Gathering Storm
- A new computer
- Bioware's return to there roots
16. What song will always remind of you of 2009?
-none
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
- No change, maybe a little happier now my Job is better
b) fatter or thinner?
- 10% bigger, apparently I'm now nearly a health weight.
c) richer or poorer?
-Richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
- Getting to know people.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
-Spent money
20. How did you spend Christmas?
-With Family in Chch, and house sitting
21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
- I wish
22. What was your favourite TV programme?
- Darker than Black 2, and Eden of the East
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
- Not really, still hate stupidity, especially the religious type
- oh and any one who smokes, really really hate smokers!
24. What was the best book you read?
- The Gathering Storm, now I have hope that the Wheel of Time may end well.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
- none
26. What did you want and get?
- A better Job
27. What did you want and not get?
- Love/relationship
28. What was your favourite film of this year?
- Sherlock Holmes? Maybe having problems remembering what else I saw this year
29. What did you do on your birthday and how old did you turn?
-Turned 25, and Secretly had a lot of people over for Breakfast with out most of them realising the true reason!
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
- Love
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
- Same as always
32. What kept you sane?
- Books and Friends
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
- none, they're all idiots
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
-nothing really
35. Who did you miss?
-Lots of people, who no longer live in the same city
36. Who was the best new person you met?
- One of my flatmates from my previous flat, a good bloke
- A couple of people at work
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
-Some times exceeding expectations is rewarded
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
- Uhm... I'll pass on this one
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
- Explored Northland
- Moved into a flat with people I know!
- Changed Jobs within a company
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for the next year?
- There weren't any. No.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
- No
4. Did anyone close to you die?
- No. Never been to a funeral.
5. What countries did you visit?
- None unfortunately.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
- A lover or relationship deeper than a friendship.
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched in your memory, and why?
- None 2009 mostly work, and can't remember the dates of the non work stuff.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
- Getting a better Job
9. What was your biggest failure of the year?
- To be more outgoing.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
-None, odd cold.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
-My car I guess, I mean it's a car so hardly excitingly, but unfortunately far to useful.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
-No one really
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
-The world leaders as usual with regards to politics and climate change
- Christian and all other overly Religious and or fanatical peoples.
14. Where did most of your money go?
-Rent and Car
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
- The Gathering Storm
- A new computer
- Bioware's return to there roots
16. What song will always remind of you of 2009?
-none
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
- No change, maybe a little happier now my Job is better
b) fatter or thinner?
- 10% bigger, apparently I'm now nearly a health weight.
c) richer or poorer?
-Richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
- Getting to know people.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
-Spent money
20. How did you spend Christmas?
-With Family in Chch, and house sitting
21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
- I wish
22. What was your favourite TV programme?
- Darker than Black 2, and Eden of the East
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
- Not really, still hate stupidity, especially the religious type
- oh and any one who smokes, really really hate smokers!
24. What was the best book you read?
- The Gathering Storm, now I have hope that the Wheel of Time may end well.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
- none
26. What did you want and get?
- A better Job
27. What did you want and not get?
- Love/relationship
28. What was your favourite film of this year?
- Sherlock Holmes? Maybe having problems remembering what else I saw this year
29. What did you do on your birthday and how old did you turn?
-Turned 25, and Secretly had a lot of people over for Breakfast with out most of them realising the true reason!
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
- Love
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
- Same as always
32. What kept you sane?
- Books and Friends
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
- none, they're all idiots
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
-nothing really
35. Who did you miss?
-Lots of people, who no longer live in the same city
36. Who was the best new person you met?
- One of my flatmates from my previous flat, a good bloke
- A couple of people at work
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
-Some times exceeding expectations is rewarded
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
- Uhm... I'll pass on this one
Monday, November 23, 2009
What is Sin, Evil...
What is sin, does it exit or is it simply a social construct used to justify punishment of that which defies the social structure?
Is sin evil?
Is sin the lack of foresight living/reacting to the now rather than that which is yet to come?
Is sin self harm? Damaging ones self or others?
Is sin the failure to follow the golden rule?
Is sin freewill, not sticking to the script or the pupet masters desires?
As I'm not entirely sure I believe sin exists these days, I'm certain it's not some sort of metaphysical smut though it seems a lot of people believe that.
I was wondering though if a lot of what is called sin is simply a lack of foresight the inability to see past ones current desires, and doing what satisfies the now rather than the future.
Often I've thought that that which is human or sentience, is acting in ways beyond the now, controlling and channeling our emotions, and reactions. Channeling those immediate evolutionary triggers fight/flee, feed/reproduce in manners that are beneficial over the long term.
In ways that show no short term benefit and fufill no evolutionary need, but instead do or become part of something greater, progress, knowledge, science etc.
If we are to be human we must recognise that we are and will always be animal (evolutionary constructs) as well. And our ability to overcome our genetic/evolutionary programing is what distinguishes us from our fellow animals, sometimes for better but often for worse. And that as an individual it should be our goal to overcome our natures for the better, as much as is possible.
Is sin evil?
Is sin the lack of foresight living/reacting to the now rather than that which is yet to come?
Is sin self harm? Damaging ones self or others?
Is sin the failure to follow the golden rule?
Is sin freewill, not sticking to the script or the pupet masters desires?
As I'm not entirely sure I believe sin exists these days, I'm certain it's not some sort of metaphysical smut though it seems a lot of people believe that.
I was wondering though if a lot of what is called sin is simply a lack of foresight the inability to see past ones current desires, and doing what satisfies the now rather than the future.
Often I've thought that that which is human or sentience, is acting in ways beyond the now, controlling and channeling our emotions, and reactions. Channeling those immediate evolutionary triggers fight/flee, feed/reproduce in manners that are beneficial over the long term.
In ways that show no short term benefit and fufill no evolutionary need, but instead do or become part of something greater, progress, knowledge, science etc.
If we are to be human we must recognise that we are and will always be animal (evolutionary constructs) as well. And our ability to overcome our genetic/evolutionary programing is what distinguishes us from our fellow animals, sometimes for better but often for worse. And that as an individual it should be our goal to overcome our natures for the better, as much as is possible.
Friday, February 27, 2009
I attempt to write a manual for understanding my personaility
After an interesting 3 way discussion deriving from Christina's Shout vs Split culture post and how that links into dating etc. And then an interesting discussion on egos and so forth that generated some interesting questions and thoughts.
Any way ended up thinking/discussion a lot about my personality, so here are a few thoughts.
First up thinking about the underling basis or belief in my personality I'd say that for me it is:
As a result I spend far to much time thinking about things and thinking about thinking. Which means I fall prey to the trap of trying to determine all possible out comes especially for social interactions.
I think I know my self quite well and can model and determine my own actions in advance, but when it comes to trying to work out what others are thinking/feeling. That while I can empathise with there emotions i.e. feel others pain physical or emotional. I have problems working out the cause and am unable to interact with out some knowledge of the cause.
I must know something or I will not act in fear of making it worse. As a result I try to work out what they're thinking but hit a problem that I don't understand or know their underling biases, unlike for my self. Thus I'm forced to start extrapolating which when combined with the underling idea of "I'm nothing" leads to such thoughts heading in negative directions, trying to plan and work out ways of dealing with everything that could go wrong or has gone wrong.
With all the extrapolation needed for this I end up being locked up mentally, frozen and unable to interact. Thankfully and I suspect the only reason I don't get depressed is the rather chaotic ability to mentally go "stuff this" and to stop thinking about it. This doesn't mean I'll act it simply means I will stop worrying about it at least for a while and stop digging my self an ever deeper mental hole which could potentially lead to depression.
As such when I aim to change my self these underling biasis and drives combine, I think I see/understand far too well the many elements that make me up and how they all interact. The result being that I have problems working out what or where I should start making changes. While at the same time there is the knowledge that I have missed something and thus this internal model of how I think, could/is wrong and thus any changes based on it may fail. It doesn't stop me from changing (after all I'm still somewhat chaotic) but it does massively slow me down and makes most changes to be very deliberate actions or spontaneous events with no apparent reason behind them.
I guess that that is the delight and curse of having a personality that finds examining it's self interesting and an intellect that is capable of allowing me to do so, along with a mixed negative and chaotic basis.
As a result I've always been my own worst critic, and that while I can be hurt to a fair degree by others opinions of me. What I think they think of me is usually worse than what they actually think of me, leading me to often be pleasantly surprised, if highly suspicious that they may be faking it.
I guess that also feeds in to those silly love languages, where my prefered one is "Quality time". This may possibly be partly because I enjoy spending time with people being a social animal (as in the scientific use of the term) and also partly becuase the more time I spend with some one, the better I can model them mentally and the more I'll be able to understand them (this increasing my knowledge, my primary drive).
Touch then comes second becuase if it is either deliberate or unconscious, there is likely some meaning behind it in that one way it's a delibrate choice while the other it is being comfortable enough that it is not something to be worried about. Still if I have any suspicion that it is being used for some other reason, a tease or joke I can't stand it.
Then all the others come because to me they're meaning less and it's far to hard to tell if there as any particular reason behind it or if it's a conscious lie or illusion on the others part.
Damn this post has ended up longer than I thought. So there you have it a fragment of a possible manual to understanding a part of my personality, and I won't go into the Darwinian aspects this time.
What I'm curious about is:
After all the more I learn, the better and the more I can stick in my internal models of people :P
Oh and here is a cat picture and a sunset becuase I like these photos
Any way ended up thinking/discussion a lot about my personality, so here are a few thoughts.
First up thinking about the underling basis or belief in my personality I'd say that for me it is:
- "I'm nothing, but that won't stop me" (negative and chaotic)
- While the underlying drive is a "love and desire for knowledge".
- Mixed with a Darwinian idea of the survival of the fittest.
As a result I spend far to much time thinking about things and thinking about thinking. Which means I fall prey to the trap of trying to determine all possible out comes especially for social interactions.
I think I know my self quite well and can model and determine my own actions in advance, but when it comes to trying to work out what others are thinking/feeling. That while I can empathise with there emotions i.e. feel others pain physical or emotional. I have problems working out the cause and am unable to interact with out some knowledge of the cause.
I must know something or I will not act in fear of making it worse. As a result I try to work out what they're thinking but hit a problem that I don't understand or know their underling biases, unlike for my self. Thus I'm forced to start extrapolating which when combined with the underling idea of "I'm nothing" leads to such thoughts heading in negative directions, trying to plan and work out ways of dealing with everything that could go wrong or has gone wrong.
With all the extrapolation needed for this I end up being locked up mentally, frozen and unable to interact. Thankfully and I suspect the only reason I don't get depressed is the rather chaotic ability to mentally go "stuff this" and to stop thinking about it. This doesn't mean I'll act it simply means I will stop worrying about it at least for a while and stop digging my self an ever deeper mental hole which could potentially lead to depression.
As such when I aim to change my self these underling biasis and drives combine, I think I see/understand far too well the many elements that make me up and how they all interact. The result being that I have problems working out what or where I should start making changes. While at the same time there is the knowledge that I have missed something and thus this internal model of how I think, could/is wrong and thus any changes based on it may fail. It doesn't stop me from changing (after all I'm still somewhat chaotic) but it does massively slow me down and makes most changes to be very deliberate actions or spontaneous events with no apparent reason behind them.
I guess that that is the delight and curse of having a personality that finds examining it's self interesting and an intellect that is capable of allowing me to do so, along with a mixed negative and chaotic basis.
As a result I've always been my own worst critic, and that while I can be hurt to a fair degree by others opinions of me. What I think they think of me is usually worse than what they actually think of me, leading me to often be pleasantly surprised, if highly suspicious that they may be faking it.
I guess that also feeds in to those silly love languages, where my prefered one is "Quality time". This may possibly be partly because I enjoy spending time with people being a social animal (as in the scientific use of the term) and also partly becuase the more time I spend with some one, the better I can model them mentally and the more I'll be able to understand them (this increasing my knowledge, my primary drive).
Touch then comes second becuase if it is either deliberate or unconscious, there is likely some meaning behind it in that one way it's a delibrate choice while the other it is being comfortable enough that it is not something to be worried about. Still if I have any suspicion that it is being used for some other reason, a tease or joke I can't stand it.
Then all the others come because to me they're meaning less and it's far to hard to tell if there as any particular reason behind it or if it's a conscious lie or illusion on the others part.
Damn this post has ended up longer than I thought. So there you have it a fragment of a possible manual to understanding a part of my personality, and I won't go into the Darwinian aspects this time.
What I'm curious about is:
- What are other peoples underling biases and primary drives? Are they like me "I'm nothing but that isn't going to stop me", just "I'm nothing", "I'm cool" or "I'm perfect" or some thing completely different.
- And what about your primary drives is it "knowledge", "relationships" of one of the many other possibilities.
After all the more I learn, the better and the more I can stick in my internal models of people :P
Oh and here is a cat picture and a sunset becuase I like these photos
Thursday, September 25, 2008
More photos and facebook
Heh I see facebook appears to pick these posts up now. Rather useful!
Any way a couple more photos because I'm bored, and am interested to see if facebook picks them up as well!
Any way a couple more photos because I'm bored, and am interested to see if facebook picks them up as well!
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