Lament #0010 - How gullible ARE we?

There are moments when I really wonder about our mental state of mind. I'm not saying I don't believe in people, insofar as their ability to overcome and improve themselves. My issue is with those who don't and won't.

Take this for example:

Nathan Zohner, a 14-year-old student, gathered petitions to ban "DHMO" as the basis of his science project, titled "How Gullible Are We?"

In order to understand how this has any bearing, I will further demonstrate by referring you to an website which explains DHMO. Coalition to Ban Di hydrogen Monoxide. (Another informative website, more up-to-date, is found at DHMO.org, although the first link provides a concise example of what I wish to illustrate.)

Pretty severe sounding, right? Yeah, well. Di hydrogen Monoxide is only water. But there are thousands of people who don't know this, and who merely agree to sign a boy's petition without knowing the facts, because "it must be good to ban this, because a 14 year old boy asked me to!" Sorry. That's not a good enough reason to sign anything.

There's my issue. Humorous as the situation with DHMO is, I'm not amused by the consistent gullibility of the masses. How much effort would it take to type "Di hydrogen Monoxide" into Google, or to look it up in an encyclopedia to discover that, yes, water can kill you, and no, the odds aren't in favor of that. Assuming one has the sense to spell Di hydrogen Monoxide (but that's an issue for another lament).

And gullibility isn't always so harmless as signing a petition to stop water usage. Sometimes it has much more adverse effects.

Take, for example, the voting of Barack Obama into office. I'm not referring to his political standing, but rather those who voted for him for, say, a single act he promised to pass. My brother recently visited a neighbor who was among those who voted in favor of Obama, but now, mere hours after his official inauguration, they express the horror of voting without knowing all the facts. Or, in their own words, "We used to like Obama. Not so much now."

Oh, great. I feel so reassured that those who voted really knew where they stood.

Yes, I'm being sarcastic.

With the mentality of people like that, people who think they hear a good idea, and so jump at it, it's a wonder we have a person in office at all. They may as well have voted for those 300 roosters on Fox News, instead of Obama. It would have been just as consistent.

Whatever a person's political, religious, or other views, they ought to "look before they leap", think before they talk, watch before they stand. Unlike a computer art program, where we can simply "undo" our mistakes, the world at large doesn't in reality revolve around us (sorry, no, it doesn't) and life goes on after we've made our blunder. Whoops. Too late now.

In short, know where you stand now.

Yes, I know. Twenty-twenty hindsight. Easier said than done. But that's my point. If we know the facts, all the facts, before the issue, how much easier is it to know where you stand, what to say, how to vote? I've made decisions early in my life which still affect me today, whether adversely or not.

I believe in people, as they can be if they only take the time to try. I believe we have what it takes to make or break the world by acting on our convictions, rather than standing by, or signing our names on the dotted line because a young boy asked us to. Learn, evaluate, know yourself. At least then, when the smoke has cleared and you see the results of your actions, you can know for yourself that you did what you knew was best. There are less regrets that way. I can't see anything wrong with that. Can you?

Lament #0009 - Try playing life for a while.

I play games, how about you? I really enjoy them, too, although I'm less excited about Internet or video games, and more enjoy a good round of Twister most any day. Still, I play.

But I don't obsess over games.

I feel very much the same about games as I do about online relationships; they ain't healthy. At least not on a constant basis. Statistically, games are all about improving oneself, whether it be reflexes, memory, or any other sort of skill one can acquire by mastering a game. If we're speaking of RPGs (role playing games), it could be creative processing, writing or interaction with others. Games can be healthy, were meant to be healthy, in fact. But something went wrong. It usually does.

Games are about dealing with life. Not vice versa. It was never supposed to be, "When life gets you down, HIDE!" Of course, anything can cause you to ditch everyday life for an alternative; the Internet is one of today's loudest, most addictive distractions. But that's just it; things like games are distracting, and seem more and more to be keeping people away from life instead of teaching them how to deal with it.

I can't tell you how many blogs, livejournals and forums I've been to where someone has discussed the drama of their life only after they delightedly shared the drama of their games--usually RPG, but sometimes others. How much fan art and fiction are based on games? Again, there isn't anything wrong with enjoying what you enjoy, so long as you don't skip life for years of rolling a die or sharing a fictitious romance!

Despite the justifications we hear, addictions are harmful, and in most instances (not all, but most) gaming is an addiction. I have friends--wonderful friends--who are game addicts in the extreme. One in particular has wasted years when he could have been out gaining both education and social associations, but instead has chosen to remain aloof. I swear he's dating his Xbox. I'm just holding my breath for the wedding announcement.

I'm aware that most people, especially in my age group, enjoy games; whether RPGs, video games, or something else. Xbox, Wii, PS2--these are wonderful! It amazes me how far technology has advanced, and I love how much fun we can have. But I am sickened by the gross amount of time spent distracting our lives away.

If you would rather spend every free moment in front of a console than to go out, meet people, learn something, read a book, interact with your family, then something is wrong. Gamers seem to think that they should make a living off what they waste their time doing. And some do go out and make something of themselves--they create games, sell games or rate games! Grand for them; truly, I'm impressed. But what of the millions of others who don't? What will they do in ten years, when all their high school buddies have moved on, gotten educations, families, lives? Keep playing of course, because it's too late for life.

My prescription is the same as it is for online relationships--for anything, really. Take time off; learn something new. You know that game you learned on the Wii? Try learning it for real, outside (as long as it isn't the sniping one). Get in shape. Attend a class. Celebrate life, because, despite what others would have you think, life really is worth living. Sure, there are ups and downs alike--and sometimes the downs are steeper than the ups can seem to climb above, but give it time. Stay patient. Have a little faith.

If you were proud of beating that level ten monster, try beating life. It has a greater reward waiting at the end. Endure. You'll find no greater satisfaction than by sticking to life and living it well.

Lament #0008 - What's our country, again?

The biggest problem with America is simple. It's the same problem which has plagued this country since World War II. I'm not talking about civil laws and human rights: gay rights, abortion or anything of the like. The problem rests with most of America's presidents.

They seem to be badly educated, or are of the opinion that the American people are, as a whole, ignorant. Well, Mr. Presidents, not all of us. Sorry.

Before I go further I should mention that I'm not addressing Democratic vs. Republican party views. I'm referring solely to the form of government which America is--not what it is called.

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation under God, indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for all."

Please note the bold text.

Now, allow me to quote our up-and-coming US president, Barack Obama.

"I always believe that ultimately, if people are paying attention, then we get good government and good leadership. And when we get lazy as a democracy and civically start taking shortcuts, then it results in bad government and politics."

Democracy? What is he talking about? Is our nation a democracy? It is? Sorry. No. It's not. At least, it wasn't ever supposed to be.

Anyone who has pledged allegiance to the American flag, anyone who has repeated those words with their hands over their hearts, calls our nation a Republic. And it is, according to the constitution of our land.

"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence." --Article IV Section IV

Not once, through the whole of the constitution, does it ever mention a democracy. Not once.

I find it very disturbing that our president-elect, and those who have come before him, are under the misconception that America is a democracy. Even setting aside the fact that, yes, there are differences between these two forms of government, it disturbs me to know that I understand the constitution better than those who have spent decades in governmental affairs. How can I trust my beloved country to men who are either too stupid to read, or who must else wise intentionally ignore the words which they swear to uphold, live by and protect?

It's no wonder our nation is so split. It's no wonder people aren't sure what to think. No one's reading the words we each have a duty to protect! No one understands them! I'm far from reassured when men in power stand up and constantly, over and over and over again, call my nation something other than what my forefathers, and our founding fathers, LIVED AND DIED TO PROTECT.

Lament #0007 - Why English Sucks.

Yes, I'm approaching this subject again, because I never get sick of ranting about it.

This morning my brother, sister and I were discussing the inconsistencies of the English language. We brought up a lot of interesting points, not the least of which being, "Why do we park on driveways and drive on parkways?"

To further prove my point concerning why the English language sucks, Brian Regan will demonstrate:

Skool!

It is a Youtube video, so it might take time to load, but it's absolutely worth it. You'll never see our language the same again.

"Moosen!"

Lament #0006 - PROper ProNUNciatAtion rOcks!

Nothing bothers me more than bad pronunciation. Okay, there are some things that bother me more, but not many. Least ways not much more.

The English language is particularly evil that way; especially the way English-speaking people speak not-English-speaking languages. But first, let's examine our own inconsistencies.

Take this for example:

Monkey. Pronounced MUN-key, right?
Now take donkey. DON-key.
Spelled the same, yet pronounced differently. Explain that one.
Shouldn't it be MON-key and DON-key--or MUN-key and DUN-key?
Ugh.

Then there's improper foreign pronunciation; perhaps more understandable yet all the more irksome.

Since I know how to pronounce Japanese, I'll use that as an example.

Anime. Most pronounce this like the English word Animation. That's actually wrong (yes, despite what you like to think). It's not Anna-may. It is in fact On-ee-may. On. Ee. May. Got it? Yup. It's true. Just like Manga isn't pronounced Main-gah like a mango. It's actually MAHN-gah.

Or Naruto. Na.Ru.Tow. Not Nar.Uu.Toe. Say it out loud to hear the difference.

If people care to be experts (or otaku: Oh. Taw. Kuu) they should at least learn how to talk right first. Geez.