We take as our text today the 11th Chapter of Luke.
I don’t consider this Spill to be “social” media and it’s the same for the little films, even if and when they do get posted to Google’s monster video platform.
The only social-media I really have consists of Family Text Threads, and, off to the side, a Twitter account that I mainly use to shitpost responses to those FTTs without actually contributing to sending the threads themselves in bad directions.
(Though I am tempted to do so often.)
That’s been working okay. But last night I was tempted again, and instead of just venting off at Twitter, I sinned and responded directly.
In penance, this morning I’m working on tweaking that system, to be able to use it as a more effective shield from personally committing exactly such Sins. (Religare is ‘to bind back’, and that’s what I’m doing, to and for myself.)
It starts over here on my own platform where I can say whatever I want, however I want, and do it in ludicrous depth if I feel like it (and clearly I do).
Twitter is an intermediate tool for converting a post here into a bite-sized format and a shortlink, which can be posted to the threads as a pointer to that full response.
The shortlink can finally be posted to a FTT–where it can be taken in by those who actually WANT my responsive takes, and blissfully ignored by the undoubted majority, who, I infer with all due gnashing–Don’t.
We’ll try this improved method, and see how it goes.
For purposes of this immediate case, to my brother and my nephew and my step-pater I will only say: This is all your fuckin’ fault, hermanos.
With the majestic magnanimity so characteristic of my venerable and noble soul, I forgive you your transgression. You may consider this forgiveness as well for never once ever stooping to entangle yourself in my work and art by so much as the price of a bag of magical organic beans. You do you, because what we choose to support or not with our attention and our spending is a grave and serious matter, between ourselves and god almighty above.
Back to real life with both sin and hard feelings expiated, at least as far as I’m concerned. Hallelujah from the baffled king. It should be a hell of a Thanksgiving dinner eh? Eh?
If you NEED a last word on the subject, there are at least two venues now where you can have it.
But the FTT is not one of them–I won’t respond to you there any more if I can at all help it–all I ask is that you consider your options in that regard with the same kind of social study and care I’m modeling for you here; and Selah.
Responsive takes. No shortage of opinions in the world, and our always-on world has shifted the primary platform from the water cooler and the coffee shop to our many devices.
Opinions are interesting. Much can be learned from the opinions of others.
That learning may have value to the individual. A tiny impact. Multiply learning by actions, and that impact can grow exponentially. Actions matter. Enough of the TV pundits who talk more than act.
I believe that we create our own reality thru our words, deeds, and choices. However, this creation fades as we consider broader issues where we have less…or no control. You can’t control the weather, as the saying goes.
And, so it is that we are frequently tasked with making what we consider to be a suboptimal decision. A choice between alternatives that are not of our choosing. Yet, action is important. Even a suboptimal choice is a way to have a bit of control in an otherwise uncontrollable situation. The real bonus: making a choice can also turn down the volume inside our heads. The voices of countless alternatives that we might prefer, that are not realistic. Making a choice between the available options is not giving up. It is being brave enough to assess the situation, stop the spin in our heads, and make a choice. It allows us to move on.
Good to see you.
I take and like your point about reality creation and its limitations. Most of us here are a few steps up old Maslow’s Pyramid and thus quite blessed in that regard, but being truly free (even just unenslaved) is still a struggle no matter how ascended we are.
The band Rush had a lyric once upon a time, probably cribbed from some libertarian thinker, about choosing not to decide and how that is still a choice.
I’m not quite sure where that fits into this dialogue.
But I can say that a finer focus on the “changing the things I can change” part of life seems to be serving me well. And on that broadest of all scores, it feels good to Take Up Arms Against A Sea of Troubles with you nearby in the same platoon.