A Calmer Day
Well, compared to yesterday anyway. Then again, I'm pretty sure somebody slipped some uppers into my food yesterday. Holy cow.
By the way, thanks Barb.
Only a few things to discuss today. First of all, why aren't there easy presents for guys? If all else fails, guys can always fall back on jewelry or flowers, especially for things like anniversaries. Girls are stuck. There aren't any real fall-back gifts. Mer.
I just read the book "The Giver" for about the fifteenth time. I like it a little more each time, too, which is interesting, since I really liked it the first time. However, it gets a little scarier each time, too.
Those of you who have read it probably understand. Those of you who haven't should.
Anyway, it's all about a futuristic (very, very futuristic) world, with what they call Sameness. It's exactly what it sounds like; everything is, wouldn't you know, the same. No color to differentiate, no variations to throw things off. People dress the same, act the same, have the same birthdays, are taught the same things ... until they turn twelve, when they are assigned jobs that a Committee of Elders has chosen for them. There are no choices. There is nothing but perfection. Everything is done for them. There is no pain. There is no danger. But conversely, there is no love, either.
The book follows one character whose Assignment is different, involving the memories of generations, including the days before Sameness. He experiences pain and suffering, for the first time in his life, and entirely alone, as no one else in his world is capable of feeling these profound emotions.
But then you're left thinking--what if this is how it really worked? What if you couldn't see color, or feel any form of strong emotion? What if you never left the town you were born and raised in, short of field trips with school? What if your entire life was already mapped out for you, including who your parents would be, what you would spend your days doing, who you would marry, and when you'd die? What if you never had to make a choice larger than whether or not to respond to a question in class?
All in all, it's very disturbing, and has the ability to keep you up at night thinking hard about what could, theoretically, happen. If you've ever read 1984, the effect is similar. However, this is a world where totalitarianism works, where there is no resistance ... Nobody knows of what else there could be.
I suppose to totally understand the creepiness of it you'd have to read the book.
Anyway, today was my day off. My "little" brother and I got some quality time in shopping and driving around (looking for a window cling, actually, but that's a long story and not interesting to any of you people). It was good fun, and possibly the last chance I'll get to hang out with him for some time.
That's depressing.
All for now. Talk to you people later.
"I used to have a handle on life, but it broke."
By the way, thanks Barb.
Only a few things to discuss today. First of all, why aren't there easy presents for guys? If all else fails, guys can always fall back on jewelry or flowers, especially for things like anniversaries. Girls are stuck. There aren't any real fall-back gifts. Mer.
I just read the book "The Giver" for about the fifteenth time. I like it a little more each time, too, which is interesting, since I really liked it the first time. However, it gets a little scarier each time, too.
Those of you who have read it probably understand. Those of you who haven't should.
Anyway, it's all about a futuristic (very, very futuristic) world, with what they call Sameness. It's exactly what it sounds like; everything is, wouldn't you know, the same. No color to differentiate, no variations to throw things off. People dress the same, act the same, have the same birthdays, are taught the same things ... until they turn twelve, when they are assigned jobs that a Committee of Elders has chosen for them. There are no choices. There is nothing but perfection. Everything is done for them. There is no pain. There is no danger. But conversely, there is no love, either.
The book follows one character whose Assignment is different, involving the memories of generations, including the days before Sameness. He experiences pain and suffering, for the first time in his life, and entirely alone, as no one else in his world is capable of feeling these profound emotions.
But then you're left thinking--what if this is how it really worked? What if you couldn't see color, or feel any form of strong emotion? What if you never left the town you were born and raised in, short of field trips with school? What if your entire life was already mapped out for you, including who your parents would be, what you would spend your days doing, who you would marry, and when you'd die? What if you never had to make a choice larger than whether or not to respond to a question in class?
All in all, it's very disturbing, and has the ability to keep you up at night thinking hard about what could, theoretically, happen. If you've ever read 1984, the effect is similar. However, this is a world where totalitarianism works, where there is no resistance ... Nobody knows of what else there could be.
I suppose to totally understand the creepiness of it you'd have to read the book.
Anyway, today was my day off. My "little" brother and I got some quality time in shopping and driving around (looking for a window cling, actually, but that's a long story and not interesting to any of you people). It was good fun, and possibly the last chance I'll get to hang out with him for some time.
That's depressing.
All for now. Talk to you people later.
"I used to have a handle on life, but it broke."
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