Before I start off, let me thank Erica for posting a link to Sherry's blog. And. Let me thank Sherry for having such a kickass blog. I've been reading for a few dance now and I must say it's an absolutely wonderful site. Keep it up. I don't know if you read my blog at all, but if you don't, perhaps those that see her can pass on my appreciation.
Now, to the topic of this post. Sherry mentioned a site today that I'm sure most of you have either seen, or heard of. And like her I'm not suggesting you go there and look at it. Why. Because it's terrible, pure and simple Oh sure there are funny elements, those that she mentioned on her blog are really humourous, but the rest will only disturb you. I've looked at this site three times and regretted each and every time. Why did I go? I have no clue... curiosity, some morbid itch I felt needed scratched, blantant ignorance of what I already knew. The fact that the material's there isn't what bothers me the most, it's the fact that it's one of the most hit sites out there. People go to it. They look. I'm sure many are going for different reasons, but they're going.
Why?
Why is it ingrained into the human psyche to enjoy suffering. You do it. I do it. Every single individual that I've had either the pleasure, or misfortune knowing does it. We do it at different levels. Any where from laughing at the idiocies of slap stick comedies (I know they're supposed to be funny, but...) to grotesque instances of the macbre. What about reality t.v. shows. Prime example. I hate the thought of most of them, oh I admit to watching a couple. American Choppers, and I'm with Busey (which is incredibly surreal). I hate the one's like Joe Bachelor, or that one based on that island for singles. Why? Because I personally hate seeing people being screwed over emotionally. But that's my level of tolerance.
I can watch the blood and gore, I'm perfectly fine with it knowing it's not reall. Saw a film tonight that was fraught with it. When it becomes real, that's when I have the problem, most people do. Though there are some who apparently don't mind, or like it. So what?
On some level we are depraved when it comes to misery. We either wallow in it ourselves, or we allow others to do it and approach it vicariously. We all have our own level of tolerance; but it isn't linear, maybe list would be a better word.
I've laughed my ass off at Peter Jackson's campy gorefest b-movies, but I get distraught in films where the characters are getting screwed over emotionally. Other people couldn't care about the characters emotions, and find it ludicrous to do so, while being completely revolted by those Peter Jackson movies.
What's this say about the human race? It's not a new phenomena; public executions, public sacrifices of both humans and animals. Entertainment of dubious nature invovling some form of miser and suffering has exsisted as long as we've kept records.
Why? I've asked this question again and again, why?
Is Hobbes right? Do we need a strict social structure to keep our depraved natures in check. Is this the only way out? A strong controlling government, or religion? I'm asking because I don't know.
I'd like to think that we are better off today than 100 or 200 years ago. I think I'd be right, almost anyone would agree with that idea. But are we really any more "civilized"? I'd like to think so. But perhaps, just underneath our surface, we are just as depraved as the crowds that surrounded the Aztec temples and witnessed the thousand die each week. Real t.v? Violent, bloody movies? Sitting around watching individuals fight a war over seas? This all seems to feed this sick curiousity...
Can anyone give me some answers here?
Walking to and from midnight on the wings of death we laugh innocently at ourselves. Holding hands in a playful way, we forget the imminent danger and when it comes thrusting forward, there is nothing in our hearts but fear. We laugh anyway, our naivity allows us too. A hushing echo surrounds. The blackest calm covers us like a blanket and a burning cold enters our bodies and causes a sigh. Our hands are released as our eyes peer in and out through the darkness hoping for a glimpse of these creatures who've split us apart. Then praying for a glimpse of the other. Only the cold tentacles of lonliness can be found. We scream the names of the other, but when the voice leaves our lips nothing but a breathe can be heard. Our breathing quickens. Our hearts pound like drums. Our thoughts fly out like real screams of fear and horror an nothing can quench that maddening deafness. The searing blindness fills our eyes with tears. Our hearts beat a tattoo of hopelessness.
We play a soliloquy screaming through our heads.
We grope. We grasp. Tears fill our eyes and we tremble. Each searching for the other until our throats are chalky red, and our eyes swollen. Black thoughts seep into us, and out of us. We're suffocating. The darkness is like an ocean. The sharks are swimming around us closing in. We feel the horrifying pain of thier teeth closing into us. We're dieing.
Then the dawn.
A thin sliver of light pierces the blackness and strikes a cord. The cacophony of silence is broken by a wave of relief. The cold things of the night slither away in an instant and the only sounds are the others hoarse whispers of thankfulness. We rush to other when the light of the sun illuminates the world for eyes to see. Laughter escapes our lips and a smile illuminates the world around us. An embrace. Hands held clenching tight, knowing that we could never survive a seperation again. We move on our way.... walking to and from midnight.
Arnold is now Governor. I find that ridiculously humorous. Why, because while I know actors can and often are highly intelligent people, I also know that they can be complete and total dumbasses... just like everyone else. While Arnold doesn't strike me as particularly intelligent, he doesn't strike me as particularly dumb either. I know my prejuidice might be due to his thick Austrian accent, I can accept that. Arnolds election to governor, in my opinion, has to do simply with his popularity already established. He's definitly not the first person I'd think of for an official office; no experience. Yet perhaps his total ignorance will actually be benificial for him, most likely won't be, but it might.
Part of me thinks that Arnold will go down like a flaming pile of shit, but another part of me, a little guilty part of me, wants to see him succeed. The reason why is because of the impact that this election has had on the world. It has given people a bit of hope, or perhaps renewed waning hope. Not the hope that an actor or entertainer can go into politics: Regan, Ventura, Bono... just to name a few, some have been succesful, others less than optimum. No, the hope is that they can immigrate to this country and have the potential to do damn near anything. Despite the current attitude the world has for us, many people still see us as the greastest country in the world. Many people outside the U.S. marvel at Arnolds ascension into politics, and if he can do it well, that will only give them that much more hope. If he can't, well then they'll probably blame it on the people around him, or someone else.
We'll see what happens.
The first circus was over, but the clowns raised up thier own tents in the center ring, and invited people in for another show, and outside; the first tent burned around them.
I give a nod to JayC because I'm laughing too!
I remember back in my first year up here, back in 95/96, I took a Philosophy 101 class. There was this woman.... I was young and naive back then, instead of being old and naive as I am now. She was the first woman who absolutely struck me with awe, due to her sexuality. She glowed from it, maybe she was having sex before class everyday, I don't know. I do know that she sat by me nearly everyday and it drove me absolutely nuts. We talked her and I, in fact we studied together and there was nothing at that point I wanted more than to boink her brains out, but... I never did. No opportunity, or if it was there it was subtle and I missed it completely. I'm not good with subtlety. I don't know how she did in the class, I'm guessing not well, she only came about once a week, to class that is. As for me I was awestruck, hell I still am and I haven't seen her since that class. I of course realize now what I didn't realize then; that this was my first encounter with a true blue, sexual, woman.
Man what hind site is... a goddamn curse.
