Blah blah "I Am Legend" blah "scary movie instincts". Blah. Time for some good old-fashioned meme porn.
1. Do you ever bite your lip?
Yes? I don't notice.
2. Do you have pictures on your walls?
Not in my office. And... not at home. Yet. I'm lazy.
3. Have you ever seen anyone picking their nose?
Of course. Children do it without a care in the world.
4. Do you like country music?
Nope. Except the soulful ballads by countryish singers. Is Kim Richey country?
5. How do you peel your orange?
In big chunks.
6. Do you like bananas?
Yes. They're especially good in Cheerios.
7. Could things be better in your life at the moment?
Can't they always?
8. Have you ever tried to put a huge puzzle together?
All the time, in ages past. It's what the family does during holidays.
9. Have you ever been drunk?
What? Of course not. I'm a teetotaler.
10. Did you ever try to cut yourself?
I dislike blood, especially my own. And I'm not that desperate for attention.
11. Do you like clowns?
I am not scared of them, but otherwise I could go either way.
12. Have you seen the movie Jaws?
Yes. And Jaws 2.
13. How do you feel about show offs?
I love them! Seriously, what is the range of answers expected here?
14. Do you go to the library?
Not since law school.
15. Are you excited for back to school?
This question is both chronlogically outdated (it's December!) and personally inapplicable (no school!).
16. Whats your favorite type of energy drink?
I don't drink "energy drinks". I like the red Vitamin Water though.
17. What do you put on your hamburger?
Everything. Don't really like onions though.
18. Do you wish you were older?
I will be older in... 16 days.
19. Do you wish you had magical powers?
Magical? Not really. Sounds like a lot of arcane studying.
20. If so, what powers?
I'm still a fan of immortality. Yeah, I've seen the Twilight Zone and Outer Limits, I'm aware of the drawbacks. I'm still interested.
21. Do you eat teddy grahams?
Isn't that a cereal? No.
22. Does anyone hate you?
I hope not.
23. What is your favorite color of eyeliner?
This is a chick meme, isn't it.
24. Have you ever believed in fairies?
It is. Damn it.
25. Has a butterfly ever landed on your finger?
I massacred hundreds of them while driving through Arizona one time. It was awesome. Take that, you wussy question.
26. Do you have your nose pierced?
That would go over poorly in court.
27. Do you know how to multiply?
As in, "Go forth and multiply"? Because yeah baby, I sho' do.
28. Do you know how to divide?
I hate long division.
29. What was the first school you attended?
Fairview Elementary.
30. What is your favorite number?
I don't have one. Six?
31. Would you rather have braces or glasses?
Braces suck, man. Glasses all the way.
32. What did you have for lunch?
Haven't had lunch yet.
33. Who is/are your best friend(s?)
Good question. It varies.
34. Have you ever seen Coronation street?
I do not know what this means.
35. Are you missing anyone right now?
Sure.
36. Who?
Oh aren't you clever with your follow-up questions. Well I am declining to answer on advice of counsel.
37. Do you have a job?
Yup.
38. Where do you work?
A law firm. Pays the bills!
39.Have you ever stolen something before?
Yes.
40. What was it?
Online stuff. Nothing from the "real world" though.
POST-SCRIPT: These questions started out with promise but rapidly became stupid. Maybe there are no good memes left. Maybe I will have no choice but to make thoughtful, substantive posts about life from here on out.
Oh nevermind, I forgot about the marginally illiterate rants!
December 18, 2007
December 17, 2007
He Be Legend
I don't want to spoil the movie for anybody, but if you've read the original "I Am Legend" and are considering the movie, you should know a few things.
First, they've changed the ending. I won't tell you what the old one, or the new one, actually was. But it's different now, and the movie is quite a bit more Hollywood. The worst part is that it makes the name of the movie nonsensical. Why is he legend? They try and craft a new reason, separate from the book's reason, but it's pretty weak.
But, second, it isn't actually as terrible as you might think. Despite some significant changes, the story of the main character is pretty well done. And Will Smith is quite good as well.
The problem lies in the fact that, with that part of the movie crafted so well, you really regret the changes they make to the ending, and to the "bad guys". The bad guys are just CGI special effects with no real purpose other than to scare us.
Anyway, the movie itself is probably a 6 or 7 out of 10; but when you take it in concert with the book, and realize what it could have been (with no changes to actors or the first hour/hour and a half), it gets a 4/10.
Oh, and I'm pretty sure that crazy-insane with disease or not, you can't bash your skull against a plexiglass wall repeatedly without turning your brains into goo. That part was just plain silly.
First, they've changed the ending. I won't tell you what the old one, or the new one, actually was. But it's different now, and the movie is quite a bit more Hollywood. The worst part is that it makes the name of the movie nonsensical. Why is he legend? They try and craft a new reason, separate from the book's reason, but it's pretty weak.
But, second, it isn't actually as terrible as you might think. Despite some significant changes, the story of the main character is pretty well done. And Will Smith is quite good as well.
The problem lies in the fact that, with that part of the movie crafted so well, you really regret the changes they make to the ending, and to the "bad guys". The bad guys are just CGI special effects with no real purpose other than to scare us.
Anyway, the movie itself is probably a 6 or 7 out of 10; but when you take it in concert with the book, and realize what it could have been (with no changes to actors or the first hour/hour and a half), it gets a 4/10.
Oh, and I'm pretty sure that crazy-insane with disease or not, you can't bash your skull against a plexiglass wall repeatedly without turning your brains into goo. That part was just plain silly.
December 16, 2007
Benefit of the Doubt
A man and a woman drive down a dark road. They're off the map, and while he's sure they're going the right way, she has her doubts.
Something stirs in the darkness, and a terrible feeling washes over the woman. "Honey, please. This doesn't feel right--can we turn around?"
Now, if this were a movie, or TV show, he would immediately tease her and refuse to acknowledge her "irrational fear". But this bugs me, because I feel like unless you date someone that does nothing but barrage you with "weird feelings" and whatnot, why wouldn't you just listen to her.
I mean, if I were in that situation--or anything similar, like a dark house or a desolate street--and the person I was with confessed a deep foreboding, I would actually listen! Is there anybody out there that is dating, or friends with, somebody that they would just disregard?
The thing is, if you did listen to your omen-sensing companion, you'd completely avoid the Horror Story that you headed towards. Which, I suppose, would be terribly boring for anybody reading the story. But in case it ever comes up in real life, I just want to say: listen to your gut. You've seen enough television to know how this works.
Something stirs in the darkness, and a terrible feeling washes over the woman. "Honey, please. This doesn't feel right--can we turn around?"
Now, if this were a movie, or TV show, he would immediately tease her and refuse to acknowledge her "irrational fear". But this bugs me, because I feel like unless you date someone that does nothing but barrage you with "weird feelings" and whatnot, why wouldn't you just listen to her.
I mean, if I were in that situation--or anything similar, like a dark house or a desolate street--and the person I was with confessed a deep foreboding, I would actually listen! Is there anybody out there that is dating, or friends with, somebody that they would just disregard?
The thing is, if you did listen to your omen-sensing companion, you'd completely avoid the Horror Story that you headed towards. Which, I suppose, would be terribly boring for anybody reading the story. But in case it ever comes up in real life, I just want to say: listen to your gut. You've seen enough television to know how this works.
December 12, 2007
"Reality" is Killing The Office
So that whole Writers' Guild strike is still going on, and as a result almost all the good TV shows are out of scripts/episodes for the season. And it's only December.
Sadly, we are rapidly approaching the mid-season scripted show killer: goddamn American Idol, which apparently comes back in January or thereabouts. This is bad, not only because it's inherently silly, but because it will bump ratings back up for the studios (read more about that here).
My plea, and this really only goes out to those that watch reality TV (I think we all do, to some degree) would be to boycott such shows for the rest of this season. Not forever (I know such a plea is all but impossible for some of you) but just for now, so that the studios will give the writers what they want and we can go back to a nice mix of good and bad-but-we-watch television.
And please note: since I do not believe any of you are Nielsen families, you have to be even more careful. No visiting reality-TV show websites, no using Tivo or other DVR devices that report what you're watching to some higher power. You gotta think outside the box.
If you ARE a ratings-determining household, go watch PBS and Friday Night Lights. I don't really watch either, but then nobody cares what I think. Go!
Sadly, we are rapidly approaching the mid-season scripted show killer: goddamn American Idol, which apparently comes back in January or thereabouts. This is bad, not only because it's inherently silly, but because it will bump ratings back up for the studios (read more about that here).
My plea, and this really only goes out to those that watch reality TV (I think we all do, to some degree) would be to boycott such shows for the rest of this season. Not forever (I know such a plea is all but impossible for some of you) but just for now, so that the studios will give the writers what they want and we can go back to a nice mix of good and bad-but-we-watch television.
And please note: since I do not believe any of you are Nielsen families, you have to be even more careful. No visiting reality-TV show websites, no using Tivo or other DVR devices that report what you're watching to some higher power. You gotta think outside the box.
If you ARE a ratings-determining household, go watch PBS and Friday Night Lights. I don't really watch either, but then nobody cares what I think. Go!
December 11, 2007
Stop:
...waiting until the light turns green to put on your turn signal. This goes out to the jerk this morning who sat alone at the light, and made me instantly regret not cutting over to the right lane to get out from behind him. Why? Because he had no indicator that he was turning, until the light turned green and then he scooted forward 5 feet, and signaled. Meanwhile I'm trapped behind this putz when I could have easily moved into the right lane, had he not been lost in his own world of idiocy and let me know he was going to block traffic.
Moral: If you aren't in a turn lane (and hey, even then) you HAVE TO USE YOUR TURN SIGNAL, people. No exceptions.*
...the "He went to Jarred's" commercials (or wherever he went; I've tried to mentally block the name of the store). Even if you accept the premise that diamonds will make your significant other forgive your emotionally crippled personality, I doubt that even those women who forgive will actually care where you got them. Go to hell, Jarred-or-whoever.
Moral: Don't buy diamonds because they're evil.
...taunting me, Detroit Lions. What the hell was that on Sunday? You make a game of it against freaking 11-1 Dallas, when you couldn't make a game of it against the 5-6 Vikings or the even more woeful Cardinals? And then you lose anyway?
Moral: I never thought I'd say this, but thank God for the Tigers. And I wish I liked hockey more.
...being so cold, Oakland. Seriously, two blankets is too much when you live in California. I know people are literally dying in other parts of the country, but this is my forum for selfish complaining. It's too damn cold here.
Moral: You people who insist that the east coast is colder don't wake up to an apartment that is 52 degrees, do you? Yeah, I didn't think so.
...zerging the Alliance base in AV. It's a whole new battleground now and just a smidgen of defense will all but ensure a Horde victory, people. No moral needed for this one; just play a little D and everyone will be cool.
*One exception: car chases.
Moral: If you aren't in a turn lane (and hey, even then) you HAVE TO USE YOUR TURN SIGNAL, people. No exceptions.*
...the "He went to Jarred's" commercials (or wherever he went; I've tried to mentally block the name of the store). Even if you accept the premise that diamonds will make your significant other forgive your emotionally crippled personality, I doubt that even those women who forgive will actually care where you got them. Go to hell, Jarred-or-whoever.
Moral: Don't buy diamonds because they're evil.
...taunting me, Detroit Lions. What the hell was that on Sunday? You make a game of it against freaking 11-1 Dallas, when you couldn't make a game of it against the 5-6 Vikings or the even more woeful Cardinals? And then you lose anyway?
Moral: I never thought I'd say this, but thank God for the Tigers. And I wish I liked hockey more.
...being so cold, Oakland. Seriously, two blankets is too much when you live in California. I know people are literally dying in other parts of the country, but this is my forum for selfish complaining. It's too damn cold here.
Moral: You people who insist that the east coast is colder don't wake up to an apartment that is 52 degrees, do you? Yeah, I didn't think so.
...zerging the Alliance base in AV. It's a whole new battleground now and just a smidgen of defense will all but ensure a Horde victory, people. No moral needed for this one; just play a little D and everyone will be cool.
*One exception: car chases.
December 10, 2007
A Fine Whine
The Washington Post had an op/ed piece by a moderate-conservative professor decrying the "lack of diversity" in U.S. universities. But when he says lack of diversity, he means bias--bias towards liberals, that is.
I don't disagree that many professors in the social studies disciplines (such as sociology, economics, and political science) are left-leaning. And a common, but unruly answer to this from the liberal angle is that liberals are more open to ideas and therefore more amenable to the "teaching" atmosphere.
I do not think this is necessarily incorrect, but it sure does piss people off when you say it. Maranto (the author of the op/ed) in particular says it smacks of arrogance, which it absolutely does. That doesn't make it wrong, though.
Maranto compares the tendency to teach Intelligent Design in schools (they don't) to the tendency to teach Marxism economic theory (they do). This seems flawed for a number of reasons, chief of which is that they are not comparable theoretical systems. Yes, both may be fundamentally flawed, but Marxism is a testable theory and ID is completely untestable. Granted, I am neither an economist nor a biologist, but I know that you can look at history and economic theory and study Marxism, and thereby identify its flaws. But with ID, the entire theory is "Evolution isn't real." Not only is it asinine, it's untestable. The phrase, "It was Intelligent design," is the answer to any question you would have about biology, if you adopt the ID approach. "Some sort of higher power did it" is not an answer, because it stops there.
So it is a poor comparison. Marxism may be loved by some liberals, but it is not the same as when conservatives propose Intelligent Design as an answer.
And if this is what makes liberals arrogant--that they know a proper, testable theory when they see one, and conservatives seem happy to spout some untestable nonsense and then stop research--then sign me up for the Ego class.
Not that I'd... need it. What with being liberal.
I don't disagree that many professors in the social studies disciplines (such as sociology, economics, and political science) are left-leaning. And a common, but unruly answer to this from the liberal angle is that liberals are more open to ideas and therefore more amenable to the "teaching" atmosphere.
I do not think this is necessarily incorrect, but it sure does piss people off when you say it. Maranto (the author of the op/ed) in particular says it smacks of arrogance, which it absolutely does. That doesn't make it wrong, though.
Maranto compares the tendency to teach Intelligent Design in schools (they don't) to the tendency to teach Marxism economic theory (they do). This seems flawed for a number of reasons, chief of which is that they are not comparable theoretical systems. Yes, both may be fundamentally flawed, but Marxism is a testable theory and ID is completely untestable. Granted, I am neither an economist nor a biologist, but I know that you can look at history and economic theory and study Marxism, and thereby identify its flaws. But with ID, the entire theory is "Evolution isn't real." Not only is it asinine, it's untestable. The phrase, "It was Intelligent design," is the answer to any question you would have about biology, if you adopt the ID approach. "Some sort of higher power did it" is not an answer, because it stops there.
So it is a poor comparison. Marxism may be loved by some liberals, but it is not the same as when conservatives propose Intelligent Design as an answer.
And if this is what makes liberals arrogant--that they know a proper, testable theory when they see one, and conservatives seem happy to spout some untestable nonsense and then stop research--then sign me up for the Ego class.
Not that I'd... need it. What with being liberal.
December 6, 2007
Brimful of Asha on the...
...45?
These aren't half bad, for once.
1. Do you still talk to the person you had your first kiss with?
First kiss? Nope, I haven't seen or heard of her in more than 10 years. Second kiss is married. Third kiss is MIA as well. Maybe this means something.
2. What would you do with 1,000 plastic spoons?
I guess donate them to a soup kitchen or something.
3. What kind of music did you listen to in elementary school?
Same as Kim, I listened to my parents music. Which meant my dad's music, which meant classic rock.
4. What is the best thing about your job?
I'm still thrilled just to have one.
5. Do you wish cell phone etiquette was required in class?
I'm hardly ever in "class" so I don't really care. But there are many issues that I have with cell phones.
8. Where are you going on your next vacation?
True vacation? No idea. I don't count going to Virginia for Christmas.
9. Quote a song lyric?
"Morning's here, the morning's here
Sunshine is near
The sky is blue, the morning's here."
10. Are most of the friends in your life new or old?
It's all relative. Most are old, I suppose, but it depends on your meaning, Poll Drafting Person.
11. Do you own any furniture from Ikea?
Almost all of it is from Ikea.
13. If you could be an animal what would you be?
Something that can fly, like a hawk. Some sort of raptor.
14. What state/country are you from?
I was born in Virginia.
15. Tell us about the last conversation/s you had.
"Where the hell is everybody?" "I know! Man!" "Oh well."
16. Where do you see yourself in one month?
At work. It's possible that other than a shifting of the piles of paper on my desk, and a different shirt, that everything will be exactly identical.
17. What is your favorite smell?
Girl smell. Sometimes it's perfume, sometimes it's some other thing girls use, but it's pretty good.
18. What is your favorite sight?
I am most often amazed by weather effects and other heavenly sights (sunsets, etc.). They're pretty outstanding.
19. Do you consider yourself bi-polar?
If you "consider yourself" bipolar you're an idiot, and probably just looking for attention. People who actually are bipolar have had a real diagnosis and treatment.
21. Have you ever done anything vindictive to your coworkers?
I don't roll down like that. I'll cut you eye-to-eye, not from behind two weeks later. Fo' sho'.
22. Have you ever gone to therapy?
Sure. Post-parental divorce, during some teen angst issues, and people have been recommending it lately too. Hmm.
23. Have you ever played Spin the bottle?
I was not cool when it was cool to play Spin the Bottle, so I was not at those parties.
24. Have you ever toilet-papered someone's house?
Hmmm. I honestly can't recall. Chance would know.
25. Have you ever liked someone but never told them?
That could be the subtitle to part one of my autobiography, "Sam: The Formative Years".
26. Have you ever gone camping?
Of course. I was a Cub Scout after all.
27. Have you ever had a crush on your sister's friend?
Let me think on that. Emily's were all way too young, but Kate's weren't. I don't believe that I ever had a real "crush" on one of them though.
28. Have you ever been to a nude beach?
Nope. There are plenty around but that ain't my thing.
29. Have you ever had sex on the beach?
Neither the act nor the drink. Sand doesn't belong in certain places.
30. Have you ever had a stalker?
I've known a girl that my female friends considered a stalker, but this just made me convinced that most girls who claim "OMG stalker!" don't really know how bad it could be.
I... should show them. (cue maniacal laughter)
32. Have you ever laughed so hard you cried?
Sure baby, we all have I hope. I mean, if tearing up is crying.
33. Have you ever gone to a party where you were the only sober one?
I didn't drink much in the early part of college, so yeah. It has happened.
34. Have you ever been cheated on?
Not that I'm aware of, but I wouldn't be surprised.
35. Have you ever felt betrayed by your best friend?
Not really. I wasn't right if I did, at least.
36. Have you ever lied to your parents?
Who doesn't? Damn religious kids, making me answer questions that should be a no-brainer.
37. Have you ever been out of the US?
Canada, Mexico, and technically British soil.
38. Have you ever thrown up from working out?
The very first time I ever worked out, to my knowledge, was in 9th grade at the first Crew practice, and yeah I did. But not since then.
39. Have you ever gotten a haircut so bad that you wore a hat for a month straight?
More often I delay getting a haircut for so long that a hat is necessary.
40. Have you ever eaten 3 meals from 3 different fast food places in 1 day?
Probably, but not on purpose and not in the last 5 or so years.
41. Have you ever gotten so wasted you cant remember the nite before?
It's "night" and no. I have always been suspicious of people that can't recall anything about the night before; usually you know what happened, you just don't remember the details very clearly. So yeah you did make out with me, Amber!!!
(that was a joke, don't get all crazy on me out there)
42. Have you ever spied on someone you had a crush on?
Is Google spying? Because if so hell yeah. Otherwise no, not that I'm aware of.
43. Have you ever slept with one of your coworkers?
Yep!
44. Kissed more than one person at a time?
No and no thank you.
45. Pot?
Kettle? Black!
These aren't half bad, for once.
1. Do you still talk to the person you had your first kiss with?
First kiss? Nope, I haven't seen or heard of her in more than 10 years. Second kiss is married. Third kiss is MIA as well. Maybe this means something.
2. What would you do with 1,000 plastic spoons?
I guess donate them to a soup kitchen or something.
3. What kind of music did you listen to in elementary school?
Same as Kim, I listened to my parents music. Which meant my dad's music, which meant classic rock.
4. What is the best thing about your job?
I'm still thrilled just to have one.
5. Do you wish cell phone etiquette was required in class?
I'm hardly ever in "class" so I don't really care. But there are many issues that I have with cell phones.
8. Where are you going on your next vacation?
True vacation? No idea. I don't count going to Virginia for Christmas.
9. Quote a song lyric?
"Morning's here, the morning's here
Sunshine is near
The sky is blue, the morning's here."
10. Are most of the friends in your life new or old?
It's all relative. Most are old, I suppose, but it depends on your meaning, Poll Drafting Person.
11. Do you own any furniture from Ikea?
Almost all of it is from Ikea.
13. If you could be an animal what would you be?
Something that can fly, like a hawk. Some sort of raptor.
14. What state/country are you from?
I was born in Virginia.
15. Tell us about the last conversation/s you had.
"Where the hell is everybody?" "I know! Man!" "Oh well."
16. Where do you see yourself in one month?
At work. It's possible that other than a shifting of the piles of paper on my desk, and a different shirt, that everything will be exactly identical.
17. What is your favorite smell?
Girl smell. Sometimes it's perfume, sometimes it's some other thing girls use, but it's pretty good.
18. What is your favorite sight?
I am most often amazed by weather effects and other heavenly sights (sunsets, etc.). They're pretty outstanding.
19. Do you consider yourself bi-polar?
If you "consider yourself" bipolar you're an idiot, and probably just looking for attention. People who actually are bipolar have had a real diagnosis and treatment.
21. Have you ever done anything vindictive to your coworkers?
I don't roll down like that. I'll cut you eye-to-eye, not from behind two weeks later. Fo' sho'.
22. Have you ever gone to therapy?
Sure. Post-parental divorce, during some teen angst issues, and people have been recommending it lately too. Hmm.
23. Have you ever played Spin the bottle?
I was not cool when it was cool to play Spin the Bottle, so I was not at those parties.
24. Have you ever toilet-papered someone's house?
Hmmm. I honestly can't recall. Chance would know.
25. Have you ever liked someone but never told them?
That could be the subtitle to part one of my autobiography, "Sam: The Formative Years".
26. Have you ever gone camping?
Of course. I was a Cub Scout after all.
27. Have you ever had a crush on your sister's friend?
Let me think on that. Emily's were all way too young, but Kate's weren't. I don't believe that I ever had a real "crush" on one of them though.
28. Have you ever been to a nude beach?
Nope. There are plenty around but that ain't my thing.
29. Have you ever had sex on the beach?
Neither the act nor the drink. Sand doesn't belong in certain places.
30. Have you ever had a stalker?
I've known a girl that my female friends considered a stalker, but this just made me convinced that most girls who claim "OMG stalker!" don't really know how bad it could be.
I... should show them. (cue maniacal laughter)
32. Have you ever laughed so hard you cried?
Sure baby, we all have I hope. I mean, if tearing up is crying.
33. Have you ever gone to a party where you were the only sober one?
I didn't drink much in the early part of college, so yeah. It has happened.
34. Have you ever been cheated on?
Not that I'm aware of, but I wouldn't be surprised.
35. Have you ever felt betrayed by your best friend?
Not really. I wasn't right if I did, at least.
36. Have you ever lied to your parents?
Who doesn't? Damn religious kids, making me answer questions that should be a no-brainer.
37. Have you ever been out of the US?
Canada, Mexico, and technically British soil.
38. Have you ever thrown up from working out?
The very first time I ever worked out, to my knowledge, was in 9th grade at the first Crew practice, and yeah I did. But not since then.
39. Have you ever gotten a haircut so bad that you wore a hat for a month straight?
More often I delay getting a haircut for so long that a hat is necessary.
40. Have you ever eaten 3 meals from 3 different fast food places in 1 day?
Probably, but not on purpose and not in the last 5 or so years.
41. Have you ever gotten so wasted you cant remember the nite before?
It's "night" and no. I have always been suspicious of people that can't recall anything about the night before; usually you know what happened, you just don't remember the details very clearly. So yeah you did make out with me, Amber!!!
(that was a joke, don't get all crazy on me out there)
42. Have you ever spied on someone you had a crush on?
Is Google spying? Because if so hell yeah. Otherwise no, not that I'm aware of.
43. Have you ever slept with one of your coworkers?
Yep!
44. Kissed more than one person at a time?
No and no thank you.
45. Pot?
Kettle? Black!
December 5, 2007
D-U Straw Poll
I'm thinking of trying to work the phrase "I've gotta see a man about a horse" into my daily life more often.
What say ye, Internet denizens? Hackneyed and stupid or a brilliant slice of old-timey goodness?
(I figured why not make a poll. It probably won't happen again.)
UPDATE: I am glad that forced sterility did not win, but I am in agreement with the "Cute but no" crowd. My interest in the phrase did not last long after this posting, sadly.
What say ye, Internet denizens? Hackneyed and stupid or a brilliant slice of old-timey goodness?
(I figured why not make a poll. It probably won't happen again.)
UPDATE: I am glad that forced sterility did not win, but I am in agreement with the "Cute but no" crowd. My interest in the phrase did not last long after this posting, sadly.
December 4, 2007
That Dreamless Sleep
Why embrace it early?
There is an interesting poll and conversation in the Post's "Funny?" chat today. It concerns suicide, and the circumstances under which one believes it is okay, right, or acceptable.
I think suicide, if you can rationally choose to do so, is a horrible mistake. I have only two exceptions--one if you take the previous sentence at full value. Because when you "rationally" decide, I take that to mean the person does not suffer from a mental disorder which colors their view of the universe or their own reality. If a person has such a disorder, we cannot comprehend what would lead them to make any decisions, including the decision to take one's life. So they get a pass on the immorality of the issue.
The only "real" exception is in the case of terminal illness that has progressed to the point where even a cure couldn't save the person. That is, if they have been so debilitated by disease or injury that even removal of said disease/injury would not save them. You may then choose to prematurely end your life, with my blessing.
The rest of you contemplating or attempting suicide? F*ck off with yourselves. The world is a big place, and there is always an answer somewhere. Even if that answer is to die in a hail of gunfire doing something important, it is better than suicide.
I don't mean to be insensitive to those people who have tried to off themselves, or those who were close with people who succeeded. I feel for you. But this is it, people. This life is what you get. If it is particularly hard, then change it. But every little thing, good and bad, that happens to you will cease to exist if you choose the suicide exit.
This is less a suicide-prevention issue and more an issue of perspective. Too many people live day in and day out ignoring the fact that there is not only a larger world, but an entire universe. So I cannot imagine a scenario (outside of those mentioned above) where suicide would be the only option to relieve suffering.
Prison? Read some books and better yourself.
Horrible OZ-style prison? I would kill my tormentors, or die trying.
Massive debt or financial woes? Bankruptcy, move to Idaho, open a diner. Move to a different country. Buckle down and pay it off.
Somebody doesn't love you anymore? Get over it. Seriously, you can't be so self-centered as to truly believe you are unique in that situation. Grieve for your lost love, and move on. Take a year! Take five! But move on.
Death is not a bad thing. Embracing it early, at your choice, with no positive outcome other than your own relief (theoretically--who knows what happens after you die) is the hallmark of cowards and the supremely ignorant.
UPDATE: Linked in Gene's chat was an article a woman wrote about her father's suicide. In it was this paragraph:
There is an interesting poll and conversation in the Post's "Funny?" chat today. It concerns suicide, and the circumstances under which one believes it is okay, right, or acceptable.
I think suicide, if you can rationally choose to do so, is a horrible mistake. I have only two exceptions--one if you take the previous sentence at full value. Because when you "rationally" decide, I take that to mean the person does not suffer from a mental disorder which colors their view of the universe or their own reality. If a person has such a disorder, we cannot comprehend what would lead them to make any decisions, including the decision to take one's life. So they get a pass on the immorality of the issue.
The only "real" exception is in the case of terminal illness that has progressed to the point where even a cure couldn't save the person. That is, if they have been so debilitated by disease or injury that even removal of said disease/injury would not save them. You may then choose to prematurely end your life, with my blessing.
The rest of you contemplating or attempting suicide? F*ck off with yourselves. The world is a big place, and there is always an answer somewhere. Even if that answer is to die in a hail of gunfire doing something important, it is better than suicide.
I don't mean to be insensitive to those people who have tried to off themselves, or those who were close with people who succeeded. I feel for you. But this is it, people. This life is what you get. If it is particularly hard, then change it. But every little thing, good and bad, that happens to you will cease to exist if you choose the suicide exit.
This is less a suicide-prevention issue and more an issue of perspective. Too many people live day in and day out ignoring the fact that there is not only a larger world, but an entire universe. So I cannot imagine a scenario (outside of those mentioned above) where suicide would be the only option to relieve suffering.
Prison? Read some books and better yourself.
Horrible OZ-style prison? I would kill my tormentors, or die trying.
Massive debt or financial woes? Bankruptcy, move to Idaho, open a diner. Move to a different country. Buckle down and pay it off.
Somebody doesn't love you anymore? Get over it. Seriously, you can't be so self-centered as to truly believe you are unique in that situation. Grieve for your lost love, and move on. Take a year! Take five! But move on.
Death is not a bad thing. Embracing it early, at your choice, with no positive outcome other than your own relief (theoretically--who knows what happens after you die) is the hallmark of cowards and the supremely ignorant.
UPDATE: Linked in Gene's chat was an article a woman wrote about her father's suicide. In it was this paragraph:
Suicide is a desperate act, but it is also a hostile act. It begets more hostility. It gives the survivors the perfect opportunity to express all their real feelings about one another, good and bad. Years of petty resentments, years of unmentioned slights and snubs, grab center stage.Couldn't have said it better myself--this is why it is cowardly in many cases. You want to tell them how pissed you are, but you know it's not black and white so you do so in the only way that gives you the last word. You are afraid to truly confront the people you choose to hurt with suicide, including yourself. It is a terrible, terrible choice.
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