Saturday 27 November 2010

On seeing the world as it really isn't.

There are many ways of looking at the world. People have been murdering each other over it for hundreds of years, in fact. Murder, after all, is the best way to decide if not who is right, then at least who is left.

I could have started this post completely differently, so I will. The next sentence is the ACTUAL beginning of this post.

The saying goes that information is power. But this is no longer the case. After all, with a tool like the internet, all but the best-kept secrets are available to anyone with a computer and too much free time. So what would be the new "power"? Application of knowledge? Relations between tidbits of information? No need to fret, I'll just tell you. It's perspective. First of all, I like the word perspective because it doesn't mean anything in and on itself. Perspective only has meaning within a given situation. But within every situation, there is perspective. There is a different way of looking at the problem.

Ways of using perspective in relation to problems:



  • Looking at the situation in such a way that the problem isn't there.


  • Finding the perspective which shows the answer as being inside the problem.


  • Seeing the easiest solution.


  • Looking at the problem in such a way as to figure out a way to make it someone else's problem.

Say, for example, that you would require money to buy a new car.




  • Don't buy a new car. You don't need a new car.


  • What do you need a new car for? Is it for work? Maybe your work could get you a company-car.


  • Work.


  • Steal a car/Rob people/Lend a friends car and drive to another country with it.

Society seems to hinge on people looking at things a certain way. Capitalism thrives on it. It thrives on people's fear. There are many ways you could look at your life, but raise minimum one eyebrow if this sounds familiar:




  1. Get through high school or you'll never make it in to college/university


  2. Get through college/university or you'll never get a degree


  3. Get a degree or you'll never get a job


  4. Get a good paying horrible job, or you'll never have that brand new car


  5. Get that brand new car or people at your job will not respect you


  6. Get respected or you'll never be able to live with yourself


  7. Get blar blar blar


  8. blar


  9. bl

If points 1-6 don't sound familiar, 7-9 might. Seriously though, major companies make major monies off of you being convinced that you need stuff or need to do stuff or you'll never be happy/succesful(means happy)/rich(means happy).


The fun thing to do is take a step to the right. Really, take a step to the right. Now sit back down and keep reading the article, you literal minded tit :p


No, you need to look at the system from a different perspective. The perspective most people now have is: There's stuff in this system I want, but first I have to climb this mountain to get to it. Let me put them all together with added smileys , because I'm in the mood for lists

  • I want my stuff, but I have to climb the mountain :/
  • I feel like climbing a mountain :D (These people grow up to be clerks and accountants)
  • I feel like sitting a the bottom of this mountain :) (Not exactly the achievers)
  • Um.. guys? There's a shortcut, like, right here. Ignore the no-trespassing sign, let's just go. :D => D: in prison
  • OooooooOOOOoooh... pretty mountain :'D (That's me)
  • I'll dig through, if that's okay with you.

The last kind are the specials, the people with the different perspective. They'll not only dig a tunnel straight through the mountain, but one in a million will strike gold, silver, jewels, and a very annoyed colony of gophers. To name some (people, not gophers. That would be pointless because all gophers are called Ted for some reason):

  • Steve Jobs
  • Steve Wozniak
  • Vincent Callebaut
  • Leonardo Da Vinci
  • Tim Burton
  • Henry Selick
  • Neil Gaiman
  • Terry Gilliam

They looked at the world and thought "lol". I'm sure of it. They looked at the system and thought: "It's a nice try. It even seems to work for some people. Now I'll make my own system and Lo! Hark! Forsooth! It will work!"

Guess what? It kinda did. Awesomesauce.

This was going to be a post about imagination and seeing the colours move. Looks like I'm easy to distr-SQUIRREL!

6 comments:

  1. "he saying goes that information is power. But this is no longer the case. After all, with a tool like the internet, all but the best-kept secrets are available to anyone with a computer and too much free time. So what would be the new "power"? Application of knowledge?"

    I think this simply means the power goes to the people with to much free time and the persistence to look it up. But I don't think information and knowledge are power on itself. They are required to gain, keep and use your the power you poses. And yes in some sense they are power.
    And as much as I like your rant. It feels like it lacks some consistency. You talk about the 'new power' being perspective and you list Leonardo Da Vinci as an example. Okay, you might say that he didn't have as much power in his time. And that today perspective plays a much greater role then it did yesterday (which looks to be the starting point of your post). I say perspective has always been and will always be a very important 'power'.

    For the reason why it might seem like there are more people who get into a position of power because of their perspective, I will give you here my rebuttal in advance.

    First of all, I think it is very possible that we underestimate the number of people who had a great influence because of their (unique) perspective. Aren't most writers, notable military people, and other historical figures who we study, studied just because they had a different perspective then most people of their time? Think of how many of them must have remained hidden for the history books. (Or are hidden in the history books you haven't read yet)

    Secondly, isn't it possible that there is more power, so more people can have power equal to the power of their predecessors. And just because you are more common with the people that achieved power through perspective (because you probably find them more interesting)(media is a factor in here to) in contrast to those who didn't achieve their power through perspective.

    So far my rebuttal and whining about the 'actual beginning' of your post.

    Further more, I think I am missing something around the point you say something about capitalism. I have already reread it a few times. I keep having the impression that I miss a little point. (Supposing you have that point I'm looking for)
    I do get some things out of it. But not everything. Can you rewrite it or clarify your the point(s) you are trying to make with it?

    Also, that distraction joke gets old. You made it before and it seems to work only once.

    So far my feedback. I hope this will help to improve your rants in the future. And I'm looking forward reading them.

    Have a good day,
    RR

    ReplyDelete
  2. 1. There is no "true point" to my posts or rants. I post my thoughts, often writing while thinking of new ones, etc... I often start with: "I want to write this" and then I don't.

    2. This means that, yes, my posts lack consistency. I am repentant, blar blar.

    3. I'm not going to summarize an article this short. There's no "true point" as I'm not actually posting an essay.

    4. If the distraction joke gets old, you need to acquire new literature instead of reading and re-reading my posts.


    I can kinda deflect your feedback by saying that I have add, and that, even if I didn't, then at least this blog does. Reading MY blog and complaining about consistency and jokes about attention deficit disorder is preaching to the choir. Or even better, preaching to the prophet. I am well aware that it's not consistent or that it uses jokes again. It's the kind of stuff you keep out of most of your life because it gets in the way of your job or whatever, and that you can finally vent on the internet.

    So basically your feedback boils down to pointing out the obvious (flaws) as flaws. No matter how much you look forward to reading my rants, I can't say I look forward to your feedback, because they're going to sound like a broken record REAL quick.

    a quick recap: Your problems with my rant are the issues I'm venting on this blog. I'm sorry, but I'm not going to restyle my blog and then start a new one elsewhere just because you heard the same joke twice.

    My apologies if I'm overly harsh, but I'm tired and I've had a long and exhausting day.

    Goodnight.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You took my feedback way more serious then it was meant to. Maybe the tone of my comment wasn't really what the tone it was supposed to be.

    After rereading my own comment I can only say that the blame is on my. I should not have added "I hope this will help to improve your rants in the future. And I'm looking forward reading them." Because, as you pointed out that is a bit ridiculous to ask from a rant.

    The reason why I commented is because I find it quite an interesting idea. I really think it's worth digging in. How do perspective, power and information relate to each other. While typing a response I got all these idea's, that I then implemented as critique on your post. Which of course make it look like I'm trying to shoot with a bazooka at just a few sentences of the original post. This asymmetry gives the impression of overkill.

    And this all coming from someone you perceive as a stranger after a long and exhausting work day. ... Yeah, I kinda see why your reply does come along a bit harsh to me.

    Cya,
    RR

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well, thanks for that :)

    And no, I don't think you're a stranger. Just a friend with a mask.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Can you guess who's behind this mask?
    What clues gave me away?

    RR

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sub-par english grammar, mostly. I hope you don't mind my saying?

    Therefor, you're either dutch or from the LN boards.

    ReplyDelete