I know that I have readers and I do my best to cater but I still view this blog as a private enterprise and notebook. Please excuse me while I indulge myself -- aka bore you. There's just a couple of things I want to jot down because I think they're basically right -- yet am not sure -- and want to think about them. And I can't be bothered to organize them into a post about something else that you may care to read. Just too fucking tired.
1.) Your ethical duty is usually right in front of you. Do not waste time with your imagination. Its purpose is to simulate reality and possible outcomes. Keep it in its place. You should not build an imaginary future life within your head as you will build one in which you are a success. Doing that will make you remiss in your direct and obvious duties as you will be afraid of damaging that imaginary success. It is bad enough that a person can be controlled through the threat of losing what they do have. It is repugnant to be controlled by the threat of losing what you do not have. You do not have a future. You have a present. Your duty will be presented to you. Fulfill it.
2.) Most people who are fucking up are fucking up because they are making their decisions based on their poor use of the imagination. They are not ill-willed. They are kissing ass and stomping people, filling the world with lies and cowardice along the way, not because they are mean or stupid, but because they are insane. They are afraid of losing something they do not have, will never have and yet believe is real. They are hallucinating and their hallucination brings them comfort. They will incorrectly see a similar illusion in you and pander to it. Be careful of these people as they lie without knowing it. Don't believe their hype. They're sad and pathetic creatures just doing the best they can on false premises and they cannot be held to account any more than your average madman. Learning will cure them and reality will eventually teach them. But some people are just plain mean. Learning will not cure these people. They know reality and exploit illusions to evil ends. While both cause harm, be careful to know the difference between these types of people. One deserves kindness, the other does not.
3.) When the demands of reality conflict with your ethics - as they will - you have a duty to attempt to create change. Not to make a meaningless, flamboyant and symbolic gesture. Those simply ease the conscience. They are an act of pride and accomplish little of import. Your conscience does not deserve to be eased. Either attempt to alter the condition that has made reality unethical or alter your ethics that have made reality unbearable. Doing nothing is not an option -- it is desertion from life.Labels: personal, philosophy |
