Nostalgia Kills

Inspiration: <--------- this
Category: Social Critique

I was in a parking lot today when I saw this 1989 Camaro double parked. Look at that parking, it's almost competely centered in the two spots. The thing was backed in, cleaned up, and on display. Aesthetically speaking the 80s era Camaro and most 80s cars for that matter are painful to look at (but that is for another rant).

I wanted to wait for the first mullet sporting, REO Speedwagon shirt wearing, time capsule to come out to his car so I could ask for an interview. But no one appeared so I pressed on to complete the mundane task I was occupied with.

This got me thinking about nostalgia and how it can close a person's mind tighter than a well digger's ass. This isn't to say that the Camaro owner was like this, but it just got me thinking is all. Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate a classic. I would never put down someone for putting on display a truly classic and beautiful car like a '67 Camaro.



Now that is a beautiful thing and should be appreciated like the book The Old Man and the Sea or the painting The Old Guitarist forever.



Something's age does not alone determine it's continuing worth in my opinion. On the other hand, just because something is old does not mean it has true nostalgic value. Regardless of it's worth though, if the old keeps you from embracing the new and improved then it is harmful. If you continue to purchase outdated technology, when newer more efficient and less harmful replacements exist then you are not doing your part. I'm not saying that everyone should go sell their gas guzzling used car and by a new hybrid. But those who have the means should try and do this as soon as possible. Those building new houses should try and have their builders use green techniques and products. In the end this will benefit those who don't have the means, because they buy the used cars and homes that we buy new. And this will benefit us all.

Not all that is new is good and not all that is good is new. Some new things don't do anything better than their old counterparts and some are even worse. But in my opinion most new technologies are better than those that they replace. While I understand that tech. companies are mostly concerned with making money, I think that most engineers and scientists behind their money makers are trying to innovate. Bottom line: don't fear the robots. (Seriously, I just got a roomba vacuuming robot and it rocks)

But it's easy to understand that new technology should be embraced. But what about the intangible aspects of our life? What of religion or philosophy? This is a much tougher thing to let go of for people. Pretty much impossible for most. As for me, I have thrown off the religious beliefs passed on to me by my parents. If they happen to read this I want them to know that they should not blame themselves, they did the best they could. They just could not compete with an avid reader whose friends were all avid readers who love to discuss. I do thank them for giving me a strong moral foundation, one I've kept despite letting go my inherited religious beliefs. My mind is open now and I plan to keep it that way. I admit that I sometimes miss having a solid world view to fall back on, but I wouldn't trade it for the ability to explore and experience anything my heart desires; to befriend anyone I chose; to see whatever I can spot; to read whatever I can read; to discuss whatever peaks my interest. Not that I'm a total hedonist, I understand that a functioning society requires boundaries to function correctly. I've experienced things that the government or my elders have forbade and I don't regret doing these things. But I'm always cautious and I always do my homework.

All this and I am not a morally bankrupt individual. I pride myself on living by the golden rule. I try my very best not to harm others and lend a helping hand when I can (if your car breaks down by me I'll be there to help you push it off the road). I don't do these things because I fear eternal punishment or seek eternal salvation, I do these things because I want the world to be a better place. As Ghandi said, I want to be the change [I] want to see in the world. The world will become a better place when we all start seeking the ways ourselves and stop waiting for God to fix things for us.

But is religion merely cultural nostalgia? I think so. From admittedly anecdotal evidence, it seems to me that most people's religious views are inherited traditions they follow because they were raised to follow them. I think that if most reasonable people read the evidence from both sides (which I have and continue to do) that they will at the very least question their inherited belief systems. This is especially true since the religious side has very little to no tangible evidence. Hence faith. Not that the naturalistic side has proved that no higher power exists (nor do they try), but at least they appreciate evidence and their worldview allows, no demands, constant reevaluation and change.

I am all for religious freedom as long as a religion does not hurt others, but I am against religious groups telling women what they can or can't do with their bodies, blocking stem cell research that could benefit millions of flesh and blood actual human beings, denying equal rights to gay people, scamming the ignorant out of the little money they have (see www.holysmoke.org), supporting continual warfare in the middle east, or breeding harmful superstitions. I am personally against (that is I don't agree with, but I tolerate) pretty much all religions because they tend to close people's minds. Now I don't pretend to know all the answers, and understand that I could be wrong. But that's the point of being open minded right?

These things among others are why I am a bright. What is a bright you say? A bright is a person who has a naturalistic world view. A bright's worldview is free of supernatural and mystical elements. The ethics and actions of a bright are based on a naturalistic worldview. Visit www.the-brights.net if you think you are a bright or want more info.

Let go nostalgia. The world is screwed up and has always been screwed up. So what are we holding on to?

All work and no play...

Inspiration: New job
Category: the mundane


I started a new job on July 10th. So far it seems pretty good. Everyone in the office is laid back and friendly. This is the most important thing to me. A positive work environment can make almost any job beareable, but a negative one can make the best job in the world suck. For example, I would rather process cow manure under a manager that didn't have a superiority complex than test recliners and beer (at the same time) under a manager who managed with negative reinforcement.

My last job was a combination of the manure and the negativite reinforcement. While my direct managers were generally good people, the regional manager was a half-witted bully. Long hours, poor pay for the work involved, and a company that I believe is obsessed with reckless growth.

I met the state manager for my new job last week and he genuinely seems like a good guy. This is my boss's boss's boss's boss's boss. I've met four of the five people above me and none of them have set off my assholometer (which is fine tuned thanks to my previous job). I have high hopes for this new job. Wish me luck. Oh yeah, at my last job I worked 52+ hrs/week and made $10,000 less per year than my current job that only requires 40hrs/week normally.

He get married? Yes he get married.

Inspiration: True love

I forgot to mention the most important development in my life. The weekend before last I got engaged to my two year girlfriend. I asked her in Charleston, Sc which is our favorite US city. We said that we loved each other there for the first time and now it is the location of our engagement. We also may have our wedding there to complete the trifecta of love. I am very lucky to have found such a wonderful girl to spend my life with. She is my love, my life, and my happiness. I love you forever Marija.

Gun rhymes with fun. Coincidence?

Inspiration: Gun Rights Blog
Category: Social Critique

And I thought I would have nothing to say today, but surf the web long enough and your bound to become inspired. I just stumbled onto a blog that at first glance seems to be against guns, but upon further inspection is a compendium of pro gun rants. The best one went something like this; "You still can't carry a concealed weapon in Illinois. You still can't carry a concealed weapon in Chicago. The murder rate is still among the highest in Chicago." This seems to imply that the murder rate would actually go down if the number of guns went up. WHAT!? I'm no statistician, but this seems like some pretty insane logic.

My understanding is that most murders take place in inner city, poor neighborhoods, between people who know each other. How does putting hand guns in the pockets of every middle-class citizen going to prevent this. Where do these gun-rights activists thank the hand guns that poor people use to kill each other originate from? These people certainly are not buying them new from the local gun shop. No, middle and upper class people buy them, they get robbed, and then another gun is on the street. The US is by far the most violent developed nation in the word, with the highest per capita murder rate.*

*murders per capita

Residents of the United States commit murder 2.5x more than in France, 3x more than in the UK, and 4x more than in Germany on a per capita basis. This makes since because on this spectrum the US has by far the most lax gun laws while the UK and Germany have the strictest. Meanwhile our congress people argue about the negative effects that violent movies and video games have on society. I love violent movies and video games and I'm one of the most pacifistic individuals you will ever meet.

For an article arguing that video games cause aggressive behavior, see:

www.psychology.iastate.edu/faculty/caa/abstracts/2000-2004/04A.pdf

For a counterargument questioning the validity of the research mentioned, see:

culturalpolicy.uchicago.edu/conf2001/papers/goldstein.html

Here is an excerpt:

"Correlational studies can tell us nothing about whether violent video games cause aggression. Even if we accept that there is a correlation between amount of time spent playing (violent) video games and aggressive behavior, there is no reason to think that games are the cause of aggression (Anderson & Dill, 2000; Colwell & Payne, 2000; Roe & Muijs, 1998). Furthermore, some correlational studies find no significant relationship with aggression (e.g., Sacher, 1993; van Schie & Wiegman, 1997)."

Sorry to go on a tangent, but it vexes me when people ignore the real cause of a problem by putting up a red herring instead of making the hard decisions. To blame virtual guns for real violence while ignoring real guns is stupid and wrong. Hand guns are only used to kill people (ok and targets that look like people), and serve no other purpose but violence against fellow human beings. When will we all learn that violence (real violence, not virtual, including weapons of violence) begets violence. Here's a simple formula that even the barbarians should be able to understand. More Guns + More Bullets = More Murders.

The End is Near!

Inspiration: A christian coversation (and margheritas)
Category: rant/social critique

So I just got back from my favorite Mexican restaurant. The margheritas were great, the food was great, but the night was tainted by fundamentalism. Yes, there I was sitting in my multi-colored booth when I overheard the conversation that was in progress next to me. At first I thought it was a jubilant bible study, but then I realized I was witnessing my first real case of dispensationalism. (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dispensationalism) I have studied this in an undergraduate history class on US Occult Knowledge, but had never seen it. Also, it plays a prominent part in a book I really like, the hilarious novel Crazy Legs and All by Tom Robbins; which I highly recommend.
Anyway, this guy was discussing with another guy that "this" (meaning the world) was Jesus's kingdom and he was going to come and take it back. In other words, kick some ass JC style. He then started talking about the current war between Israel and Lebanon. He went on and on and he continued to get more and more excited. He was actually happy that people were killing each other. This is a rough quote: " Wouldn't it be a happy occurrence if a rocket flew into the Dome of the Rock," he said with a smile on his face. Just in case you don't know, many dispensationlist believe that the Dome of the Rock, a mosque in Jerusalem, will be destroyed before the second coming of Christ. Wow, scary huh. Personally, I want no part in a religion that hopes for war and human agony.

Welcome to my head. Please excuse the mess.

I've started this blog as a space in which to let loose, record for posterity, and receive feedback on my random thoughts. I have no political, religious, philosophical, humanitarian, or [insert noun here] agenda, besides to comment on, question, and perhaps poke fun at these things and others that I have an interest in or aversion to. Hopefully my laziness won't take hold and I will continue to add to my blog. If you like/hate what I have to say please add some comments.


About Me

Name: Matt
Age: 26
Locale: Georgia, USA
Party Affilation: Independant (A myth according to my political scientist fiancee)
Religion: I am a Bright (see www.the-brights.net for info)
Ethnicity: human (I believe race is a social construct that divides us)