Recently a famous person died. Like a lot of famous people these days it happened due to a series of poor mistakes made on the part of said famous person. Death of said famous person coincided with an event that is now Historical (for all the bad reasons). A bunch of people were, essentially, massacred in Norway because a guy hates Muslims.
So, before I begin my rambling let me clarify something:
Yes it IS sad that said Famous Person died.
Now, here's where I get probably kinda nasty depending on how you view things.
Absolutely zero of my sympathy is extended towards the decedent in this case. None. Whatsoever. She made her decisions. She stayed on the road she was on. She knew the possible results of her actions. I have a very hard time assigning sympathy to those types of people. I have had this conversation several times in my 29 years. Each person offers a perfectly valid reason (or excuse) as to WHY I should feel sympathy for these people.
One person offered the opinion of "its an addiction. You can't just quit an addiction. You have to WANT to."
Knowing what addictions like that can do and what has happened to others I find that to be more than a little selfish. It's like slowly committing suicide (of which I have very definite ideas on as well). Only those around you are watching you die. They don't "get" to wake up one morning and hear you just offed yourself. Instead they watch you slowly disappear. I guess that gives they time to adjust.
I have a deep love and affection for my friends who have ginormous hearts. They care about everyone and everything. I just can't do that. I just can't seem to find the energy or time to care about people who didn't care about themselves or the people they were hurting. It DOES make me sad though when those people (in my head) appear to think less of me because I can't fit everyone into my worldview.
I tried that once. It just didn't work.
Someone told me once (when I was in High School) I was too young to be such a pessimist.
I don't look at it as pessimism really. I've always classified it as realism.
And some people may say "Well, I hope nothing like that ever happens to you" and to that I say if it does I don't expect anyone to feel sorry for me. I'd have brought it on myself. I have TRIED to bring it on myself (turns out I fail at things). But if I had succeeded, oh so many years ago, it would've been my own stupid fault and I wouldn't have been deserving of anyone's sympathy. Family? Friends? Sure. Me? Not so much.Selfish and stupid people deserve nothing.
I think this may have come out a bit more caustic than planned. And, sure, I could backspace it all away. But...where's the truth in that?
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
In Which Shay spouts Politics
Let me preface what's to come by saying I don't like politics. I know enough to briefly understand what is KINDA happening and to know that I don't agree with the beliefs and ideologies of a great many people/politicians. For someone who, admittedly, spouts some pretty random crap sometimes my worldview can sometimes be very black and white with very little room for grey. This usually comes into play with concepts that, to me, should be decided with a heavy dose of "Common Sense".
"So," you ask. "Why are you making your first blog post about politics? Why not something fun like Unicorns and Squids and the havoc these two could cause if they teamed up to overthrow the world?"
Good question, that.Ya see, I work for a large mutual fond/stock brokerage company and when I'm not on the phone my brain wanders. A lot. It covers a bevy of topics ranging from the mundane (what should I pick up for dinner at the Kroger?) to the weird (Unicorns and Squids united would be a catastrophe). Lately my job has been preparing for, what we assume, will be an onslaught of phone calls on August 2nd, 2011.
"But Shay," you query. "What happens August 2nd?"
Firstly, crawl out from under the rock you've been living in and buy a newspaper or turn on the television, or even pop on over to CNN.com. There's this whole debt crisis/balance the budget debacle going on. Essentially it boils down to if the guys and gals on Capitol Hill don't make a decision by August 2nd, the country won't be able to pay its debts and things will go to hell.
Essentially.
So, I sit and read the news and I wonder. Common sense tells me that a balance budget makes sense. Cut spending on things we don't really need and make people who make thousands of dollars more than I do pay a little more. Why on earth do they get tax breaks anyway? That concept never made much sense to me. Congratulations! You got lucky! Here, have a break. Whereas other people (like moi) are barely getting by paycheck to paycheck. We're not losers. We didn't do anything wrong or right. Some of us even went to school and have degrees. Its just the way Fate kinda fell I suppose. But, here we are...no real end in sight...paying taxes and wondering WHY THE HELL our elected representatives are fighting over stupid things like balancing a budget.
Meh.
But, that was only partially the reason I decided to write this today. As I thought about this I started to get a little angry and then I thought of some of my friends who would argue with me (they like politics you see and will argue them for days. Seems I also have friends on both sides of the proverbial fence). So, as I thought of this I started to get indignant over a conversation that hadn't even HAPPENED yet (but one that sounded like so many others I had previously experienced) that I felt the need to be wordy.
As mentioned before I don't know much in the grand scheme of Politics. I know that I have very definite beliefs and I don't understand why Common Sense, apparently, plays no part at all. I go out of my way to avoid political confrontations. Its not that I don't care, but I see no point in getting myself worked up and angry at friends (or people in general). Politics is one of those topics that you will hardly ever find an average person discussing quietly over tea. It usually involves yelling and, in extreme cases, charts and graphs. Dangerous charts and graphs. With teeth.
I have no desire to engage in that amount of stupidity.
The idealist in me likes to think that we can all get along, even with our varying beliefs.
So, I think in the long run, all I really wanted to say is "if ya ain't got nothin' nice t' say, don't say it at t'all." Or something. Don't come to me looking to argue politics (storylines and anime is a different matter). Don't expect me to switch my belief system just because you think you're smarter with all your clever yelling. And don't be surprised if I haul off and pants you when you piss me off.
"So," you ask. "Why are you making your first blog post about politics? Why not something fun like Unicorns and Squids and the havoc these two could cause if they teamed up to overthrow the world?"
Good question, that.Ya see, I work for a large mutual fond/stock brokerage company and when I'm not on the phone my brain wanders. A lot. It covers a bevy of topics ranging from the mundane (what should I pick up for dinner at the Kroger?) to the weird (Unicorns and Squids united would be a catastrophe). Lately my job has been preparing for, what we assume, will be an onslaught of phone calls on August 2nd, 2011.
"But Shay," you query. "What happens August 2nd?"
Firstly, crawl out from under the rock you've been living in and buy a newspaper or turn on the television, or even pop on over to CNN.com. There's this whole debt crisis/balance the budget debacle going on. Essentially it boils down to if the guys and gals on Capitol Hill don't make a decision by August 2nd, the country won't be able to pay its debts and things will go to hell.
Essentially.
So, I sit and read the news and I wonder. Common sense tells me that a balance budget makes sense. Cut spending on things we don't really need and make people who make thousands of dollars more than I do pay a little more. Why on earth do they get tax breaks anyway? That concept never made much sense to me. Congratulations! You got lucky! Here, have a break. Whereas other people (like moi) are barely getting by paycheck to paycheck. We're not losers. We didn't do anything wrong or right. Some of us even went to school and have degrees. Its just the way Fate kinda fell I suppose. But, here we are...no real end in sight...paying taxes and wondering WHY THE HELL our elected representatives are fighting over stupid things like balancing a budget.
Meh.
But, that was only partially the reason I decided to write this today. As I thought about this I started to get a little angry and then I thought of some of my friends who would argue with me (they like politics you see and will argue them for days. Seems I also have friends on both sides of the proverbial fence). So, as I thought of this I started to get indignant over a conversation that hadn't even HAPPENED yet (but one that sounded like so many others I had previously experienced) that I felt the need to be wordy.
As mentioned before I don't know much in the grand scheme of Politics. I know that I have very definite beliefs and I don't understand why Common Sense, apparently, plays no part at all. I go out of my way to avoid political confrontations. Its not that I don't care, but I see no point in getting myself worked up and angry at friends (or people in general). Politics is one of those topics that you will hardly ever find an average person discussing quietly over tea. It usually involves yelling and, in extreme cases, charts and graphs. Dangerous charts and graphs. With teeth.
I have no desire to engage in that amount of stupidity.
The idealist in me likes to think that we can all get along, even with our varying beliefs.
So, I think in the long run, all I really wanted to say is "if ya ain't got nothin' nice t' say, don't say it at t'all." Or something. Don't come to me looking to argue politics (storylines and anime is a different matter). Don't expect me to switch my belief system just because you think you're smarter with all your clever yelling. And don't be surprised if I haul off and pants you when you piss me off.
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