Codesmith

Life, Or Something Like It
2004-07-04 09:11:23 (UTC)

Adore Me

It's 335am. Pitch black night, with a slight wind blowing
off the lake. As usual there are no stars, ... even when I
turn off the lights.

We went to see the movie "The Terminal" at the theaters on
Friday. Starring Tom Hanks, the story takes place in an
international airline terminal and is about an interesting
scenario in bureaucratic regulations. Namely, what happens
when a citizen of a foreign country arrives at an
international airport and is unable to leave the terminal
since for some reason or another they no longer are a
citizen of any country?

Basically what happens is that the protagonist played by
Tom Hanks arrives at JFK international and is withheld by
U.S Immigration on account of having an invalid passport
from some made-up country. Not that Tom Hanks forged a
passport or anything, it's just that his passport is made
invalid because as he was flying to America, his country
underwent a military coup. The coup was successful and as
a result, America no longer recognizes the new government
or their sovereignty. Since America no longer recognizes
the country from which Tom Hanks originated from, he is
unable to leave the international terminal to New York
City and likewise unable to leave the international
terminal back to his country. All because his passport is
invalid.

I've made a few international trips and can sympathize
with Tom Hanks about this. I was almost caught up in a
similar dillema when I was in Pittsburgh airport. Well
then again, I think it might have just been that the signs
were somewhat confusing. Actually I don't think I was in a
similar situation now that I think about it. All I
remember is that they gave me a small kit of toothpaste, a
toothbrush, a comb, and a razor. Why they gave me such a
thing, I have no idea. I made it up a few floors and
called Naomi since I was just wondering what she was up
to. I think she was in Pittsburgh at the time, as well as
her sister and her husband. Actually, I think they still
live in Pittsburgh. That or they moved to Maryland.

I got a birthday card from Beth. Something much
appreciated. I also got a few other things, although they
were from the girls. It was just pretty much the standard
birthday deal with a cake and dinner.

Oh and I had my exam that day too.

I came across an interesting thought the other day. It
pertains to one of my other theories on the idea of
generalization. I did say at one time that generalization
is the way humans compact information in order for quick
retrieval as well as being something simpler to work with.
It's like a yes or no question. If you get a "yes" or
a "no" to an answer, that is something that is easily
understandable. "Did you have your birthday a few days
ago?" Yes. "Did you watch a movie a few days ago?"
Yes. "Did you get liquored up and get another sort of
birthday present from the therapist?" No.

Generalization is like a simple yes or no question.
However, the minute we expand past yes or no we get into
something a bit more complicated.

Well anyway, I guess before what I had said is that the
human capacity for generalization is one of their greater
strengths and equally ... their greater weakness. On the
one hand, snap decisions and being able to see ideas
through a holistic perspective is ideal when forced to
make decisions on the fly and when time is not in
abundance.

Yet, at the same time a holistic perspective is
inappropriate given certain situations where a more piece-
wise approach would be more ideal. For example, social
encounters featuring xenolithic people. What would be
better? To build a snap system of understanding based on a
holistic perspective of other races? Or to build a more
detailed system of understanding based on a piece-wise
perspective?

The holistic approach is more often than naught, what
leads to stereotyping of people. For instance, blondes act
a certain way, men act a certain way, women act a certain
way ... all of which are based on holistic approach.
Sometimes a holistic approach is useful ... and sometimes
it is counter productive.

But anyway, so ... I encountered the other day a view that
was very similar to my view. The only difference was that
the generalization of ideas by humans was a complete
disaster and not the least bit redeemable. In other words,
generalization is the absolute worst thing a human can do.
Yet, it is the way we are wired to behave ... and so we
are caught in an eternal loop of behaving wrong.

Furthermore the only way to correct this perceived flaw in
humans was to create a sort of universal consciousness for
all humans. Similar to Jung's idea about the universal
consciousness, only that while Jung's theory was a purely
descriptive theory ... this alternate view suggested that
the universal consciousness be made into reality through
technological means.

In other words, there should be something that hooks into
all humans that would push everyone into a huge collective
consciousness ... enabling everyone to be able to see
everyone else's thoughts. A literal virtual democracy.

Once we got this way, we would be free from all the limits
which are imposed upon us through our primitive cognitive
approach to all circumstances ... generalization I mean.

It was an interesting idea I had to admit. One that I
initially thought was a good idea. It definitely solves
the problem with Democracy. Namely that not everyone in a
democratic society is an informed individual. Allowing
people to voice their opinion into matters where they have
no vested interest in the matter is quite ... odd. Not to
mention that those in a democracy tend to show signs of a
mob mentality. All it takes is a charismatic leader and
there you go, ... chaos.

I should know. I have used such a approach before in
dealing with a group of people. That is, when you inspire
a certain notion in a few people ... it eventually spreads
to everyone till they believe in it as much as they do in
gravity.

Human weakness is the limiting variable in the strength of
democracy. A human collective consciousness doesn't do
much but make the problem only alot easier to exacerbate.
Instead of voicing opinions, initial emotions and feelings
are registered first in the collective conscious. This
could set into motion a cascading collapse in reason, as
person after person is exposed to an almost exponentially
increasing amount of fear.

I should probably do the math on that one of these days to
prove growth is exponential. Although I am fairly certain
with that size of a number, and with the way humans
think ... the rate of fear spreading is most certainly
exponential growth.

But I guess assuming you could fix human weakness and make
everyone truly equal. That is, using some kind of
technology to strengthen an individual's weakness and make
everyone truly physically, intellectually, and emotionally
equal.

... I guess even then I would be a bit reticent to
actually be a part of this collective consciousness.
Namely the stuff that I know would probably get me kicked
out of the collective consciousness pretty fast. Not to
mention the numerous amount of thoughts along the lines
of, "Wow she's hot.", "Wow nice legs.", "Wow is she
legal?" ... that would just spam through the collective
consciousness network ... all from me.

Speaking of legal ... I'm quite happy now that Lindsay
Lohan is 18. It eliminates the nagging thought that I'm
doing something ... out of the ordinary. Not that it does
me any real good. I mean she's ... oh a Cancer. I've never
actually dated another Cancer, save for Naomi. That didn't
turn out real well, but probably becaus we were both real
young. And probably cause in a not so serious off hand
remark I mentioned the various adult things I'd do to that
one girl I saw at the mall.

Oh what it means to be young.

Speaking of women, ... Mel wrote to me the other day. She
said she couldn't find my city on the map. I had some wild
thought that maybe she was like ... in a motel in my city,
and like ... she was trying to find my place. It was nice
to hear from her again though. Oh wow that totally reminds
me ... I haven't called Nonna yet.

If I were offered a position to fix the problem of the
human species ... I would take it. My solution to the
world is three fold. That is, first we need to find a way
to reproduce enormous amounts of power quite easily and
efficiently. I'm talking about something along the lines
of nuclear fusion where we can reproduce thousands of
kilowatts on a few gallons of water. Energy becomes cheap,
and organizations develop to create accessible supplies to
everyone. Secondly, a technological development in
aerospace to enable people to travel past Earth. Beyond
Earth. I think once enough people see how small earth is
compared to the backdrop of the Universe ... people start
to rethink their lives. Finally, ... we need to encounter
another sentient species. It forces humans to come
together and form a kind of human culture that unites
everyone. It's only through this that we ever really solve
any of the problems of humans. Of course, afterwards we
probably will get different problems to solve. But I'm
thinking short term ...

Actually, if my math is right ... there are three to five
other sentient species in the Universe. One of these days
I might explain how I arrive at that estimate.

There I go again, being all ... what's the word? Geeky? I
suppose that's one way of putting it. I guess I just like
to imagine and fantasize.

It's morning. Well, it has been technically since I began
writing. Actually it is that thing where you are between
day and night. The name escapes me. But whatever it is ...
it's beautiful. I guess part of the reason I think it's
beautiful is because ... I get a bit sleepy around this
time. Coupled with this song by Lisa Barbuscia, I start to
feel something I can't quite describe. A mix of romantic,
sentimental, and something I think is called love.

Leaning back in my chair with the lights off, I listen
quietly to my music ... almost a faint whisper in the pre-
dawn darkness.

The other day, I was watching t.v ... dateline to be
exact. For some reason I enjoy watching the news ... well,
dateline doesn't count as news. But anyhow, they were
doing some piece about war casualties. The reporter tried
to make some sort of symbolic connection between the color
of the sunset and the ominous foreshadowing of pain that
the war will bring tomorrow on the soldiers. The reporter
in question even had a picture of the sunset that made him
draw that sort of connection ...

When I saw the sunset, I remember thinking to
myself ... "Dude, that's how all sunsets look."
He went on to say that it was a strange blend of pink,
purple ... blah. Well, ... that's normally how sunsets
appear old man. Besides, it's all a trick of light. Any
first year psychology student could tell you that.
Well, ... maybe.

Hm. I wrote alot tonight. I typically have alot of things
I want to say, it's just that I never get around to
writing them. Probably because as the things occur that I
want to write about ... I start pretend that I'm writing
them ... only I do it in my head. So when I get back to a
computer, the thoughts are all gone. Passed into the void
of consciousness and into the realm of whatever my being
might be. I hope.

Well I guess I should end this for now. Coincidentally,
the name of the Lisa Barbuscia song is, "Adore Me".




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