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greygirlbeastLooking back at the inaugural speech, which I've read through a couple of times now, there are two little bits that I adore and just want to give a quick mention to before moving along to other things. First, President Obama's acknowledgment of atheists and agnostics as legitimate segments of a pluralistic society. That made me almost as happy as the inclusion of gays in his acceptance speech:
We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and non-believers.
And, also, his nod to the vital role that science, set aside by the Bush Administration as inconvenient and irreligious. must play:
We will restore science to its rightful place...
And, speaking of science's rightful place, it goes without saying that I was very happy about the repeated references to global warming.
---
Yesterday was pretty much consumed by the inauguration. I cannot even recall the last time that a national event kept me so captivated. 9/11? Hurricane Katrina? The invasion of Iraq? The crash of the space shuttle Columbia? But, this time, I was captivated not by horror and tragedy, but by unity and the possibility of a light at the end of the tunnel. Or at least the possibility that the tunnel may have an end. That has to count for something, so I don't feel too bad about allowing the words to languish yesterday.
Today, now that I've decided on the Edgar Allan Poe theme for Sirenia Digest #38, I need to figure out, quickly, exactly what that means as regards what I'll be writing. I suspect I'll be re-reading "The Premature Burial" and "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar," and a great deal of his poetry. I'd love to write a piece called "The Thousand-and-Third Tale of Scheherazade," but that that may a little ambitious, given the deadline and all. We'll just have to see. Anyway, it should be an interesting issue.
Last night, very late (three ayem to half past four), I watched Resident Alien (1990), Jonathan Nossiter's documentary on Quentin Crisp. It didn't help my insomnia, but it was quite entirely wonderful. Crisp remains one among my motley band of role models. Is it odd to be -4 (and almost -5) and still have role models? I should hope not, but I never know how people look at these things.
I was going to say something about Second Life, since I admitted, a few days ago, to falling back into it again. Here's the thing. Upon returning, I have found some genuinely marvelous roleplayers, people I knew from before, and also people who are new to me. And here when I say "rp" I am referring to improvisational theatre, or simulationism. Total immersion. And I do treasure these people. But there is no denying that the majority of SL, so far as I can see, not only has no interest in rp, or making any sort of use of SL for artistic ends, it's also dumb as a bag of hammers. Or a doorknob. Or what have you. Indeed, I am quite certain now that SL, either intentionally or unintentionally, selects for stupidity and illiteracy, the way that natural selection might favour tricuspid teeth or osteoderms. And here I'm not talking about a casual, easily overlooked stupidity, but one that is bone-jarringly deep and constantly, aggressively drawing attention to itself. A proud sort of stupid. So, in order to take part in SL, I am having to struggle to rp around the idiots, and there are days, like yesterday, when it almost gets the better of me again. I just don't do dumb as a rock. I think I might have tried it on one weekend in 1988, but found it wanting (and a bit snug about the bust). It should not surprise me, and I see that clearly now, that SL draws to itself the lowest common denominator, those with apparent (if not actual) low intelligence, almost nonexistent social skills, and a refusal to express themselves in complete sentences. But it does. Surprise me, I mean. It just seems very sad, and like a gigantic waste of both human potential and of electricity (and time, and the oil used to make plastic, and I could go on and on), just to turn a profit for Linden Labs and enshrine the Church of LOL and provide a playground for those who deem thoughtful characterization "too emo." Still, I'm not giving up again. At least not just yet. But I came very close last night, and I thank Joah for pulling me back.
And yes, I am carping. It's something I do very well.
And if you've still not ordered your copy of A is for Alien, due out next month from Subterranean Press, please take a moment to do so today. The platypus will smile upon you.
We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and non-believers.
And, also, his nod to the vital role that science, set aside by the Bush Administration as inconvenient and irreligious. must play:
We will restore science to its rightful place...
And, speaking of science's rightful place, it goes without saying that I was very happy about the repeated references to global warming.
---
Yesterday was pretty much consumed by the inauguration. I cannot even recall the last time that a national event kept me so captivated. 9/11? Hurricane Katrina? The invasion of Iraq? The crash of the space shuttle Columbia? But, this time, I was captivated not by horror and tragedy, but by unity and the possibility of a light at the end of the tunnel. Or at least the possibility that the tunnel may have an end. That has to count for something, so I don't feel too bad about allowing the words to languish yesterday.
Today, now that I've decided on the Edgar Allan Poe theme for Sirenia Digest #38, I need to figure out, quickly, exactly what that means as regards what I'll be writing. I suspect I'll be re-reading "The Premature Burial" and "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar," and a great deal of his poetry. I'd love to write a piece called "The Thousand-and-Third Tale of Scheherazade," but that that may a little ambitious, given the deadline and all. We'll just have to see. Anyway, it should be an interesting issue.
Last night, very late (three ayem to half past four), I watched Resident Alien (1990), Jonathan Nossiter's documentary on Quentin Crisp. It didn't help my insomnia, but it was quite entirely wonderful. Crisp remains one among my motley band of role models. Is it odd to be -4 (and almost -5) and still have role models? I should hope not, but I never know how people look at these things.
I was going to say something about Second Life, since I admitted, a few days ago, to falling back into it again. Here's the thing. Upon returning, I have found some genuinely marvelous roleplayers, people I knew from before, and also people who are new to me. And here when I say "rp" I am referring to improvisational theatre, or simulationism. Total immersion. And I do treasure these people. But there is no denying that the majority of SL, so far as I can see, not only has no interest in rp, or making any sort of use of SL for artistic ends, it's also dumb as a bag of hammers. Or a doorknob. Or what have you. Indeed, I am quite certain now that SL, either intentionally or unintentionally, selects for stupidity and illiteracy, the way that natural selection might favour tricuspid teeth or osteoderms. And here I'm not talking about a casual, easily overlooked stupidity, but one that is bone-jarringly deep and constantly, aggressively drawing attention to itself. A proud sort of stupid. So, in order to take part in SL, I am having to struggle to rp around the idiots, and there are days, like yesterday, when it almost gets the better of me again. I just don't do dumb as a rock. I think I might have tried it on one weekend in 1988, but found it wanting (and a bit snug about the bust). It should not surprise me, and I see that clearly now, that SL draws to itself the lowest common denominator, those with apparent (if not actual) low intelligence, almost nonexistent social skills, and a refusal to express themselves in complete sentences. But it does. Surprise me, I mean. It just seems very sad, and like a gigantic waste of both human potential and of electricity (and time, and the oil used to make plastic, and I could go on and on), just to turn a profit for Linden Labs and enshrine the Church of LOL and provide a playground for those who deem thoughtful characterization "too emo." Still, I'm not giving up again. At least not just yet. But I came very close last night, and I thank Joah for pulling me back.
And yes, I am carping. It's something I do very well.
And if you've still not ordered your copy of A is for Alien, due out next month from Subterranean Press, please take a moment to do so today. The platypus will smile upon you.
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no subject
Date: 2009-01-21 05:11 pm (UTC)Not at all.
I remain unapologetic in my veneration of Doctor Jane Goodall.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-21 05:14 pm (UTC)I remain unapologetic in my veneration of Doctor Jane Goodall.
As it happens, she's on my list as well, under "Primatology."
no subject
Date: 2009-01-21 05:48 pm (UTC)I know only too well the stupid of which you speak, and I'm not even on SL (being far too behind in 1stL). It's somehow more depressing to hear it's running rampant in the etherworlds.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-21 05:50 pm (UTC)being far too behind in 1stL
Sadly, this hasn't stopped me.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-21 06:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-21 06:46 pm (UTC)Those statements cemented my suspicion that Barack is a closet Atheist.
Hmmmm. It's an interesting proposition. If only we were so lucky.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-21 06:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-21 06:47 pm (UTC)He can do that sort of thing, like you know... representing *all* citizens
Isn't that absolutely scandalous? The man has moxie....
no subject
Date: 2009-01-21 06:29 pm (UTC)Yes! And not even in some carefully qualified bracket; tossed in as offhandedly as the religious denominations we are all used to hearing about. Just there and real.
I'd love to write a piece called "The Thousand-and-Third Tale of Scheherazade," but that that may be a little ambitious, given the deadline and all.
There's always next month.
Is it odd to be -4 (and almost -5) and still have role models?
Nah. It's completely legit.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-21 06:48 pm (UTC)Just there and real.
Bingo. As with his inclusion of gays in the acceptance speech.
There's always next month.
I have found that things I put aside until next month become consigned to some perpetual limbo.
Speech
Date: 2009-01-21 07:59 pm (UTC)Re: Speech
Date: 2009-01-21 08:28 pm (UTC)Many are happy to be recognized at all, but I wish there was a richer term to cover what is believed, rather than defining it by what it is not.
There's a slippery slope here. Sure, I'd have been happy (though baffled) if he'd have included those of us who revere and celebrate sea goddesses (or the sea sans any anthropomorphic vessel) and call ourselves pagans and witches, even though we are also atheists.
For that matter, Christians could take issue with having all being lumped together. And, personally, as an atheistic pagan, I am completely comfortable with the tag "non-believer," despite the fact that it does sort of define by a negative.
Re: Issues
Date: 2009-01-21 10:03 pm (UTC)Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the inclusiveness offered by the President. This is a word problem for me. (Even a nihilist believes in something :^)
Also, I saw this over at Laird Barron's blog (imago1.livejournal.com) and thought you might appreciate it. I just like the idea:
http://timesonline.typepad.com/faith/2007/06/and_who_created.html
Re: Issues
Date: 2009-01-22 12:34 am (UTC)I still contend that "non-believer," while problematic, was a perfectly suitable term, given the complexities of the issue at hand. The only thing I really share in common with other atheists, in general, is that I don't believe in the objective existence of any sort of god or goddess. Hence, a non-believer, as compared to theists, such as most Christians, Jews, Hindus, and Muslims (and most pagans, etc.). Obama wasn't saying that the "non-believers" in question are devoid of all belief, but, rather, that they are not theists. It's entirely clear from context.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-21 08:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-21 08:30 pm (UTC)Best of luck out there in "SLOL". Hope your RP excellence holds up. I'd like to get back into it (really had no desire after HE dissolved), but the belt has been tightening a few notches as far as time and disposable cash.
It's touch and go. Mostly, I've learned to simply endure the idiots, because I'd started missing the rp so badly.
As for as disposable time, I don't really have that, either. But somehow I'm doing it, anyway. I think I'm slowly eliminating sleep...
no subject
Date: 2009-01-22 04:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-22 03:37 pm (UTC)inauguration
Date: 2009-01-22 04:44 pm (UTC)