Y'know the idiomatic English usage "[period of time] later"? Such as "one month later"?
People of course have started using things that aren't strictly a period of time, but are things that have happened. For example, "one college education later".
It would be interesting to make a further extension to that. For example, "a vacuuming of the floor later", or "the Madoka Magica soundtrack later", with the noun phrase indicating an event that has passed.
Well, come to think of it, that is kinda confusing. That said, the original construction always was prefixed by a number. So I guess one could say "one vacuuming of the floor later".
I guess I kinda like that "principled hating" thing that was (if I recall correctly) espoused in the Bible immediately preceding God's destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Something about if there's just one good person there, He would spare them.
(Of course, He just went right on with being a jerk. Even turned Lot's wife into a pillar of salt for the heck of it. So it's not like He was following His own principle anyway. Jerk.)
Well, in any case, the Japanese did horrible things in China during and in the lead-up to World War II, and there are historical revisionist idiots still trying to fuck with that. But simply hating everything Japanese for that would conflict with not hating Ritsuko Okazaki's music. And I can't hate Ritsuko Okazaki's music.
The world is complex like this. People can do great things and turn around and do terrible things. This even happens with individual humans themselves, and doubly so with groups.
I like to go there. Even if the subject matter is horribly offensive. In fact, I wish that everyone could handle horribly offensive topics seriously, and be able to keep their emotional reactions in check for just long enough to talk about them civilly and calmly.
Because if we can actually iron out some of the stickier social/political/cultural/etc. topics in civilization, I think we can be better people coming out of it. We would have more understanding.
"Sit alone in a somewhat darkened room with nothing going on and no wifi or cell connection for like ten or fifteen minutes or so" ought to be a more common practice.
Look, I'm sorry for bringing up things that offend people.
I don't mean to offend people. If anything, I want to find a safe place or medium in which to discuss sticky topics, so that we can have an open conversation about them.
Man is a most complex simple creature: see what he weaves, and how base his reasons for doing so.
I think I've talked at length about my former rabid hate for Japan on behalf of misplaced nationalism. I think I've talked about the self-loathing I used to place upon myself because my favorite things was media from that nation. I think I've mentioned that I don't hate them anymore. But I don't think I've talked about the rest.
I no longer feel any love for my country, for they were raised to sell their soul to the enemy, and they have sold it cheaply indeed. I have no love for the motherland, for in their efforts to resist the foe they have co-opted all of its worst weapons. There is no place for us there.
I have placed that love for my people as a whole, which I define very broadly as "everyone who would be considered Asian."
I still consume media from the peoples that I see to be the ultimate aggressors of this whole mess (the West). I still speak their language, wear their clothes, and count several among their number as friends.
The days where I hate myself for allowing the invasion of my mind and soul varies.
Some days, I see that the world is what it is, and that there's no shame in accepting cultural hegemony as long as I do not let it change me, that remember, that I help correct the imbalance of power when the opportunity arises. Other days, disgust consumes me and I wish I could tear out my own throat for being the offending member.
I do not blame you as individuals. I blame history, I blame the systems you as people have raised up, I blame those who feel inconvenienced by our existence. But you're not of mine.
You're all humans, and for that you are worthy of life, contentment, and the chance to attain enlightenment. But you're not my humans. I'm sorry.
I like to go there. Even if the subject matter is horribly offensive. In fact, I wish that everyone could handle horribly offensive topics seriously, and be able to keep their emotional reactions in check for just long enough to talk about them civilly and calmly.
Because if we can actually iron out some of the stickier social/political/cultural/etc. topics in civilization, I think we can be better people coming out of it. We would have more understanding.
If you can't talk to me when I'm angry, why should I believe that you would ever understand what I value?
It's damned easy to keep calm when it doesn't involve you. It's damned easy to not cry out when you're not the one in pain.
I'd rather have an enemy than a friend like that. An enemy can be dealt with, without complication.
It's a lot easier to step through one's mental processes when one isn't angry and is calm enough to question one's assumptions -- as well as the assumptions of others. And part of really coming to an understanding, I think, can very well involve both communicating one's feelings and opinions openly to others, and also listening openly to what others have to say about them. Understanding is a two-way street.
[/platitudes]
I don't think I've really ever felt very conflicted about enjoying media from a culture or person with problematic aspects.
Well, maybe I have, but only a little bit. And mostly out of embarrassment in a few instances -- in other words, in reaction to social cues.
In general I've believed in a sort of "baseline culture neutrality" of creative works. While creative works are influenced by their cultural context in the course of their creation (holy shit that's a lot of c's), a lot of that context is just...well...context. Maybe like building blocks of the setting or something.
There are works that are just well and truly racist (for example) though I tend to not enjoy them anyway.
Man is a most complex simple creature: see what he weaves, and how base his reasons for doing so.
Oh, I'll question why I value what I do. I'm doing so right now.
But I won't do so at your prompting. Because you are the enemy. And if you aren't, then you are supporting the power of the enemy.
The enemy's power comes from the structures and systems that they have established. Our power comes from emotion; anger, fear, disgust, envy. And by nature, we have the lesser of it.
To deny us our passion is to deny us our power. To play by the rules that the enemy has set. The rules that favor the enemy.
Having to justify why I am angry, why I am fearful, or disgusted or envious is a waste of energy, of time. Again, I prefer one more foe than a friend that I have to clear everything by. A friend who doesn't GET IT.
All the stars in the sky can be our enemy. We can handle that. It is nothing less than what we have always faced.
But an ally who we have to appease to get what we want, an ally that does not wish to be inconvenienced, that is what I am wary of.
Man is a most complex simple creature: see what he weaves, and how base his reasons for doing so.
Racism isn't an active action. It isn't doing a certain thing that offends, that stings. "Chink," "gook," "commie," or "yellow" isnt racism, merely its most obvious tools.
Racism is inaction. Racism is the system. Racism is the game, the game that well-intentioned peacable folks tell us to play to get results. Racism is reporting one thing but ignoring another because the people don't want to hear it. Racism is "scientific evidence" that we tend toward things that you don't like. Racism is knowing better but feeling attacked, feeling uncomfortable, so you do nothing. Racism is the implication - not the statement! - that I am less than human. Racism is an absence of the true understanding that only comes from pure, unconditional empathy. Racism is believing you're not racist.
Racism is not wanting the blood on your hands. Because you're better than that.
But your hands are dyed scarlet, and dried into scabs long ago.
This is probably not the right thing to say, but I'll just say it anyway:
I don't get at least half of what you're saying. I think I do, but while it sounds like really evocative language (and I like that aspect of it), I'm not sure what kind of meaning to make of it.
Regarding the half that I think I do get, well I guess it depends on what you mean by "enemy". If "enemy" is something to rid the world of and destroy, in a zero sum game, I don't think that's getting anyone anywhere productive. If "enemy" is just a term for an "other" that one would rather not associate oneself with, then that's a whole nother ball game.
I agree with (what I think is) your point about raacism. Racism is not an active thing that people intentionally do -- it is more like a condition in which people operate, which nudges people toward certain actions and speech. So simply telling people to stop being racist doesn't usually work very well, and may even garner defensive responses.
Man is a most complex simple creature: see what he weaves, and how base his reasons for doing so.
If you are, then you are the enemy.
My enemy is the one that attacks me. My enemy is the one that holds a knife to my throat. My enemy claims to be protecting us. My enemy will not listen to what I have to say. My enemy has the luxury to ignore me. My enemy refuses to apologize for past crimes against me. My enemy denies wrongdoing. My enemy turns pieces of myself in into the enemy. My enemy makes my way the wrong way. My enemy sees my present sins and chooses to ignore my own efforts to correct myself.
(I answered you in another thread, in case that wasn't clear.)
But I don't see why my race would be a factor in that.
Race is solely skin deep. Or technically, it's just a figment of people's imagination, assigning stereotypes to other people based on their skin color.
Basically, the best way to do things, in my opinion, is to treat people as individual human beings. Each with their own thoughts, feelings, desires, hopes, fears, biases, likes, dislikes, affections, disgusts, and much more. Everything that defines oneself as a person is something that could define someone else as a person.
Rather than as a statistic, a race, a culture, an ethnicity, an occupation, a gender, a sex, a sexual orientation, an age, an interest, a fandom, a political ideology, etc.
Those latter things could be used as proxies to guess at what a given person is like, but one must be open-minded to be wary that one might be wrong by using such a proxy.
In case anyone was wondering, the earlier "rather than liking it, I don't hate it" comment was partly spurred by a thread on another (unrelated) forum asking anime fans whether they are more into Japanese culture or just the animes.
Comments
yeah baby
the future is here and it has bright turquoise hair.
mods are asleep post deathcore
i think i'll try to get down all the way to a 30 inch waist size
im at a 34 now, i started this year at a 38
could be fun
legal?
I thought those things were endangered
People of course have started using things that aren't strictly a period of time, but are things that have happened. For example, "one college education later".
It would be interesting to make a further extension to that. For example, "a vacuuming of the floor later", or "the Madoka Magica soundtrack later", with the noun phrase indicating an event that has passed.
Well, come to think of it, that is kinda confusing. That said, the original construction always was prefixed by a number. So I guess one could say "one vacuuming of the floor later".
...which is kinda how it's already used.
Rather, it makes me not hate it.
What I mean is that I don't hate people or their culture for what their leaders do with their geopolitics.
For another example: Russia is cool. Putin is the asshole.
(Of course, He just went right on with being a jerk. Even turned Lot's wife into a pillar of salt for the heck of it. So it's not like He was following His own principle anyway. Jerk.)
Well, in any case, the Japanese did horrible things in China during and in the lead-up to World War II, and there are historical revisionist idiots still trying to fuck with that. But simply hating everything Japanese for that would conflict with not hating Ritsuko Okazaki's music. And I can't hate Ritsuko Okazaki's music.
The world is complex like this. People can do great things and turn around and do terrible things. This even happens with individual humans themselves, and doubly so with groups.
I like to go there. Even if the subject matter is horribly offensive. In fact, I wish that everyone could handle horribly offensive topics seriously, and be able to keep their emotional reactions in check for just long enough to talk about them civilly and calmly.
Because if we can actually iron out some of the stickier social/political/cultural/etc. topics in civilization, I think we can be better people coming out of it. We would have more understanding.
By that, I mean contemplation, basically.
I don't mean to offend people. If anything, I want to find a safe place or medium in which to discuss sticky topics, so that we can have an open conversation about them.
but nooooo, some people just have to fuck it up
[/platitudes]
I don't think I've really ever felt very conflicted about enjoying media from a culture or person with problematic aspects.
Well, maybe I have, but only a little bit. And mostly out of embarrassment in a few instances -- in other words, in reaction to social cues.
In general I've believed in a sort of "baseline culture neutrality" of creative works. While creative works are influenced by their cultural context in the course of their creation (holy shit that's a lot of c's), a lot of that context is just...well...context. Maybe like building blocks of the setting or something.
There are works that are just well and truly racist (for example) though I tend to not enjoy them anyway.
But I won't do so at your prompting. Because you are the enemy. And if you aren't, then you are supporting the power of the enemy.
The enemy's power comes from the structures and systems that they have established. Our power comes from emotion; anger, fear, disgust, envy. And by nature, we have the lesser of it.
To deny us our passion is to deny us our power. To play by the rules that the enemy has set. The rules that favor the enemy.
Having to justify why I am angry, why I am fearful, or disgusted or envious is a waste of energy, of time. Again, I prefer one more foe than a friend that I have to clear everything by. A friend who doesn't GET IT.
All the stars in the sky can be our enemy. We can handle that. It is nothing less than what we have always faced.
But an ally who we have to appease to get what we want, an ally that does not wish to be inconvenienced, that is what I am wary of.
Racism is inaction. Racism is the system. Racism is the game, the game that well-intentioned peacable folks tell us to play to get results. Racism is reporting one thing but ignoring another because the people don't want to hear it. Racism is "scientific evidence" that we tend toward things that you don't like. Racism is knowing better but feeling attacked, feeling uncomfortable, so you do nothing. Racism is the implication - not the statement! - that I am less than human. Racism is an absence of the true understanding that only comes from pure, unconditional empathy. Racism is believing you're not racist.
Racism is not wanting the blood on your hands. Because you're better than that.
But your hands are dyed scarlet, and dried into scabs long ago.
I don't get at least half of what you're saying. I think I do, but while it sounds like really evocative language (and I like that aspect of it), I'm not sure what kind of meaning to make of it.
Regarding the half that I think I do get, well I guess it depends on what you mean by "enemy". If "enemy" is something to rid the world of and destroy, in a zero sum game, I don't think that's getting anyone anywhere productive. If "enemy" is just a term for an "other" that one would rather not associate oneself with, then that's a whole nother ball game.
I agree with (what I think is) your point about raacism. Racism is not an active thing that people intentionally do -- it is more like a condition in which people operate, which nudges people toward certain actions and speech. So simply telling people to stop being racist doesn't usually work very well, and may even garner defensive responses.
(A similar thing could be said about sexism.)
My enemy is the one that attacks me. My enemy is the one that holds a knife to my throat. My enemy claims to be protecting us. My enemy will not listen to what I have to say. My enemy has the luxury to ignore me. My enemy refuses to apologize for past crimes against me. My enemy denies wrongdoing. My enemy turns pieces of myself in into the enemy. My enemy makes my way the wrong way. My enemy sees my present sins and chooses to ignore my own efforts to correct myself.
We can be friends. True friends.
But not when you have power over me.
But I don't see why my race would be a factor in that.
Race is solely skin deep. Or technically, it's just a figment of people's imagination, assigning stereotypes to other people based on their skin color.
But it doesn't make it any less important.
Rather than as a statistic, a race, a culture, an ethnicity, an occupation, a gender, a sex, a sexual orientation, an age, an interest, a fandom, a political ideology, etc.
Those latter things could be used as proxies to guess at what a given person is like, but one must be open-minded to be wary that one might be wrong by using such a proxy.
If it's catchy the whole way through, it's just an overload. It's gotta have good pacing. It's gotta be able to breathe.
The best music, in general.
Sonata-Allegro form is a thing because it delivers a narrative. A narrative of going away and returning.
Assassin poems, Poems that shoot
guns. Poems that wrestle cops into alleys
and take their weapons leaving them dead