Well, this isn't very Parabol-related at all (though that song is downright beautiful), but the first time it saved me on a term paper.
The second time was described on my blog, but since it's private unless you add, I'll just put it here:
Technically it just changed my perspective. A LOT.
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The Undertow
Today, I saw someone. I don't know if it should have been pity or relief...or some sort of contempt.
I only feared that someday I would become them. It's thwarting us. It's thwarting our world. We slowly diminish---with every passing day, we die.
And I saw this person mere moments ago. Pain following their every step. They would not get the affection of anyone---of any male, female, or anything in between.
And that saddened me. Extremely.
These are moments in which I really can't help but want to reach out. I don't lie when I say that this person is destined to die. This person will die.
And they will die in within a decade if they don't get help. If anything, why not try to assist them?
Because we do not know them. And in this fear, we choose not to speak with them. This is what makes us an antisocial kind of society. We claim to help; we claim to reach out.
But we are too afraid. We are too afraid to even release our own emotions---in fear of their reaction.
Can we change this? Will you change this? Will I change this?
And most of all---
Will we become this? Or are we already pulled in by the undertow?
But do you mean that we choose not to help because we don't care for those we don't know? Or to protect yourselves from those who might take disadvantage of our attempt to help?
Well, this isn't very Parabol-related at all (though that song is downright beautiful), but the first time it saved me on a term paper.
The second time was described on my blog, but since it's private unless you add, I'll just put it here:
Technically it just changed my perspective. A LOT.
----------
The Undertow
Today, I saw someone. I don't know if it should have been pity or relief...or some sort of contempt.
I only feared that someday I would become them. It's thwarting us. It's thwarting our world. We slowly diminish---with every passing day, we die.
And I saw this person mere moments ago. Pain following their every step. They would not get the affection of anyone---of any male, female, or anything in between.
And that saddened me. Extremely.
These are moments in which I really can't help but want to reach out. I don't lie when I say that this person is destined to die. This person will die.
And they will die in within a decade if they don't get help. If anything, why not try to assist them?
Because we do not know them. And in this fear, we choose not to speak with them. This is what makes us an antisocial kind of society. We claim to help; we claim to reach out.
But we are too afraid. We are too afraid to even release our own emotions---in fear of their reaction.
Can we change this? Will you change this? Will I change this?
And most of all---
Will we become this? Or are we already pulled in by the undertow?
It's your decision.
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Mm.
Very well put, it's human nature to shy away from situations like these because of the uncertainty but it makes you such a stronger person to set aside that unknowning fear act on it for the better.
__________________ "WITHOUT A LITTLE EVIL, GOOD WOULD NEVER EXIST"
I reckon' we humans invest anything in anyone for this one reason; Personal Gain, albeit sometimes, the gain is simply protection of self. They tell women to yell "fire" instead of "rape" or "help" whilst getting attacked. I heard that in a movie, so it has GOT to be true (anyone name it?) Anyway, is this because they fear injury? A fire could bring on some fuckin pain, I'd think! Maybe the chivalry within drives them to feats of miraculous courage, but there could always be a cheerleader squad on fire; ya never know. Or...Maybe because most folks have no greater fear than the one for aggressive conflict. Sure, we all have an old brodie from school that, to this day, is still walkin' around, knockin' teeth out because it's fun (and he may or may not be in the clink). But there are also those few of us that will truly sacrifice self for stranger. Omittiing these exceptions, would you not agree? Like in Fight Club, when the "homework assignment" is to go pick a fight, and most find it difficult if not impossible. People run like the sheep when something threatens to break up their little collective serenity they got goin'. I wonder if we harbor a similar fear of compassion and pity, and ultimately intervention, (which kinda goes back towards aggression). Don't most cringe at the thought of drug addicts, or obeise people, or colostomy bags? I feel a little uncomfortable trying to be curteous through my embarassment when meeting a deaf person that talks like a mummy. I see a large woman walking down the street, feel sorrow for her because she probably has not now, and never will, a man to love her. (please don't take that wrong; especially if you are a quiet, undersexed, fat crack whore that can't hear the gastro doctor calling on the phone so she can come get her shit sack swapped out)...........My point is that even though the compassion is there, an underlying element lurks in wait, ready to derail us back to our safe, comfortable lives so we can produce more like us, and less like the aforementioned lady, that is no doubt a wonderful woman with galaxies of beautiful in her heart (so what if she moans to music she can't hear?) ....This world, this society especially, likes to either lock the struggling up, send them to some "hospital" where sedation is easilly administered, or simply keep them outta sight, outta mind. Wieght-loss commercials don't show really fat people, they show the "slightly over the optmal body wieght" chick (that looks great to me), giving the youth of america a parameter in which to reside in, and become what is comfortable; not for themselves, but for the majority......... Sorry about rambling.........It saddens me greatly, man. All we can do is continue on our journey. loving, laughing, enjoying, fucking, singing and trying to help each other out, no matter what happens. A thousand people may have screwed me over, but that doesn't mean that number one thousand one doesn't deserve a little assistance............"undertow" is groovy, but sad, and I agree with everything you guys said. I am loving this site......
I really understand what you're saying.
That's sort of what I was trying to say.
The person I saw that day was this woman that was...how do I put it...fat.
No, wait, she was a young girl.
I saw her, and I felt immense pity for her, for the same reason that you felt bad for that old woman you saw.
No one would love her. Well, sappy, I know, but it's fairly lonely for everyone to just look over and think "what a fatass" and then leave, you know? It's depressing, and if you put yourself in their shoes for just one minute...not only will you feel the weight of the person, but you'll feel the weight of their pain.
And sometimes we don't think about that because we've never been through it.
You know, sometimes you want to reach out and help and all, but you can't. Not because you don't want to (well, some might...) but mostly because you don't know the person, and because that person probably won't even trust you at first.
And yes, it's sad, and we have no choice to move on...makes me wonder if that's what humans are for. To try and try incessantly and fall. It's an epic made for tragedy.
Or to protect yourselves from those who might take disadvantage of our attempt to help?
That one.
Also, the fact that we do not know this person.
Yes, technically the second.
We have no idea of the person's background history, and with all that we see around, be it from life's experiences or television...we grow wary of everyone, kin or not.
I really understand what you're saying.
That's sort of what I was trying to say.
The person I saw that day was this woman that was...how do I put it...fat.
No, wait, she was a young girl.
I saw her, and I felt immense pity for her, for the same reason that you felt bad for that old woman you saw.
No one would love her. Well, sappy, I know, but it's fairly lonely for everyone to just look over and think "what a fatass" and then leave, you know? It's depressing, and if you put yourself in their shoes for just one minute...not only will you feel the weight of the person, but you'll feel the weight of their pain.
And sometimes we don't think about that because we've never been through it.
You know, sometimes you want to reach out and help and all, but you can't. Not because you don't want to (well, some might...) but mostly because you don't know the person, and because that person probably won't even trust you at first.
And yes, it's sad, and we have no choice to move on...makes me wonder if that's what humans are for. To try and try incessantly and fall. It's an epic made for tragedy.
Yeah but if that fatass had any willpower she'd be working out everyday. People do it all the time. It's like the fat chick that's depressed and sits there complaining about their weight, crying while eating some fucking McDonalds double cheesburgers. Fuck that, it's one thing to cry about something you have no control over but if you have the ability to change something and you just don't do it., I don't want to hear you fucking cry about it.
__________________ "WITHOUT A LITTLE EVIL, GOOD WOULD NEVER EXIST"
Good point.
Wasn't a point I had in consideration, but it would eventually come up in conversation.
The girl I saw was disabled, however, which is why I didn't really think of that at the time.
Unless it can't be helped, the only pity that most would give out is spite, for feigning helplessness.
Then we become MORE wary, and alongside that, we shun everyone.
Leaving us where we started.
Hm, seems to me you guys are doing a very good job of focusing whats on the outside and not inside. This man just basically explained that a Tool album saved his life, and all you guys have to say to that is "WOOO CAP LOCKS IS AMAZING, THIS THREAD IS THE BEST CUZ OF CAPS". Fuck, man.
__________________ Some say the end is near, some say we'll see armageddon soon...
That was even before I posted.
I tried to get it back together and reply to CodyC's original thread.
And then it was forgotten.
That was one page ago.
Yes, 9 days ago.
A lot of things can happen in 9 days.
That was even before I posted.
I tried to get it back together and reply to CodyC's original thread.
And then it was forgotten.
That was one page ago.
Yes, 9 days ago.
A lot of things can happen in 9 days.
Yes, but nothing in 9 days can be considered " a long time ago"
__________________ Some say the end is near, some say we'll see armageddon soon...
9 days ago I ate a peanut butter sandwich, a fruit cup (peaches) and a chewy granola bar (s'mores flavor). But that was easy, cause i eat that every day xD
__________________ Some say the end is near, some say we'll see armageddon soon...
Hmm, well let's see. The doors song/poem "Celebration of the Lizard" inspired me to look into deeper meanings of simplistic things. And I had my first and only OBE to it. (That can be pretty amazing)
__________________ Some say the end is near, some say we'll see armageddon soon...
As for me, a song has definitely saved me as well. I owe a lot to Undertow.
To make things short, I'll just say that it saved me twice.
TOOL songs have that effect.
Amazing, really.
Undertow is a great album to listen when things in your life don't go so well. I remember to listen to it when i was really messed up, and helped me a lot, (but Pushit did the most part), you just have to focus on the lyrics, find the right space and push all the anger out of you! I owe a lot to Undertow too!
Haha, yes.
Undertow is amazing.
Though everyone thought I was referring to the album...I meant the song, subjectively.
Regardless, Undertow's good stuff.
At first it took some time to warm up to, but then I really liked it.
Hmm, well let's see. The doors song/poem "Celebration of the Lizard" inspired me to look into deeper meanings of simplistic things. And I had my first and only OBE to it. (That can be pretty amazing)
:D
Yes, that CAN be pretty amazing.
The Doors is some good stuff.
