Fears

Why is it that someone can be surrounded by people and yet still feel alone? That they can be in the middle of an office; or a party or even with their own families, and yet they feel totally alone. Humans are social creatures; there is no denying that. So why, even if we are in proximity to others, can people experience feelings of isolation?

If I was to write a list of my top 5 fears they would go something in this order:

1) Isolation

2) Having my loved one cheat on me

3) Velociraptors ... *Thanks for reminding me about them xkcd!* >=(

4) Being toyed with in the sea by a Great White Shark

5) The thought of someone hating me.

Now its obvious why the raptors and shark is there... but why are the other 3 all to do with other people? If I was to analyse this myself I would assume:

My fear of isolation probably comes from growing up and living (comparatively) far away from all people I know. Then having lived closer to them for a few years I have now had to move away again. I guess its the feeling of helplessness, even though I know I am not.

Having my loved one cheat on me? I guess that comes from knowing I would rather die then cheat. I think cheaters are wretched empty people. I don't mean cheetahs. Cheetahs are pretty cool. Cheaters though, they are the suck. To put yourself in that sorta relationship of trust, and have it mean nothing? You'd have to be a very self absorbed and callous person.

Thought of someone hating me? I think this is probably a fear that comes from having grown up in a society where ragging on each other is common place and well and truly encouraged. Don't get me wrong, I love bagging friends out in a friendly 2-way kinda way. I don't like the people that just cut for the sake of cutting. I loathe the thought that someone would actually hate me for who I am, that they would dislike me for being me. That they would think bad of me in any way. That being said, I refuse to bow to peer pressure and be the guy that "will do anything". I still remain my own man; I just hate thinking that perhaps if I'd started a conversation differently, or if there had been other circumstances that maybe I'd have gotten along with them and there wouldn't be any animosity.

What a world we live in.

Questions

Does this world run on ethics? Do we have worldwide standards? How can we live with terrorism if there is no set backbone with which to base a proper way to live? How can we embrace ethics or morals without being contradictory to our own religions or beliefs, whilst accomodating for other people?

Should the onus on teaching morals and ethics fall solely on the parents, or should they be able to teach this in schools? Are morals even something to be taught? Are they a natural thing or do they come from the way we are nurtured?

Is there ever going to be a way to effectively combat terrorism short of arming everyone the same? Will there ever be an end goal?


Less Serious Questions:

How the heck DO they get the bonsai cats into bottles? Even just in terms of photoshopping

If Pinocchio says the phrase "My nose is about to grow" what happens to him?

If able bodied people are not allowed to use disabled parking or they incur a fine, should the same thing happen for disabled toilets? Where do we draw the line?

Will my beautiful girlfriend ever be able to find my blog?

Will I ever stop teasing her about not knowing where it is, even though I keep giving her totally rad clues?

Will anyone ever comment without me advertising?

Whatever happened to MC Hammer?

Why can I find a Samurai Pizza Cat Lunch Box on eBay, but I can't find a new house to rent?

Why am I still typing?


- Shifty

The Popularity of Masculinity

They say the first post is always the hardest.

I have had a dawning realisation of late that "masculinity" has become somewhat an ill defined term in modern society. I figured some stream of consciousness writing will help me nut through it all so here it goes. Hope you enjoy:

I walk around and I see the withered shadow of what manliness has become. I see ratty looking guys trying to look tough and intimidating. In their head they have associated men with strength, but they have not realised what it truly means to be a Man. They wear their blokey shirts with slogans about how they don't take crap from anyone; they wear their muscle shirts; they talk loud and arrogantly; they try and portray an image of toughness and independence and by all this, they miss the whole point.

In decades past a man was something to be looked up to. A man was a person of strength in times of weakness; a person of perseverance and resolve in times of desolation. A man was someone who was self-controlled and disciplined. A man would deal with what life dealt him without complaint; without hesitation; without blaming others. A man would seek to help out those less fortunate. A man would provide for his family; he would help out with his friends; and would always be available to those who needed him, be they friend or enemy, without questioning when or why.

All in all - A man was someone who by his own deeds had earned respect.

Manliness does not come from the way we dress. It is not something that can be put on and taken off when needed. Manliness is part of who you are. Its as much a part of you as the air you breathe.

One of the things that stands out to me most of late has been listening to the change in music over the last decade. I'm often in social situations where I'm forced into listening to the latest gangster rap or emo "rock". When I think back over some of the classic manly musical acts of the last few decades (from Frank Sinatra to KISS to Guns and Roses to Cold Chisel), the lyrical topics that stand out are usually about how great the woman they are thinking of are and how much they love them; or to what lengths they would go to simply please her. When I listen to the music now playing, (rap) all I hear about is how the singer wants to bang as many "bitches" as he can; while getting "high" and owning a "dope ride"; or on the emo side - how sad they are that the girl likes someone else and it makes them want to cry.

How do you get these people to understand they have to MAN UP. What good will it do to be upset because you haven't gotten your way? How on earth do the rap artists manage to get any girls interested in them when they are constantly belittling the women they are with? Why is it that this is glossed over and seen as something good - something to be looked up to? Whatever happened to being unwavering in our masculinity - to take life as its dealt? There is no respect held for people who treat women solely as objects of gratification; who complain about all sorts of little things that hold no bearing in the long term. No respect is earned by these deeds.

Manliness is almost always accompanied by humility. A man does not seek rewards for feats accomplished. The feat itself is his reward. I see stories of heroics in the news where some Johnny Citizen has done something amazing and asked that his name not be published as he felt it was just his "duty" to do the right thing and he'd like to get back to his life. This brings warmth to my heart. I cannot express how great it makes me feel to know that I'm not holding on to the last bastion of manliness in this world.

I'm not advertising this blog to anyone; I'm not writing for any audience other then myself. I have lots going round in my head and figure this would be good way to nut it out and unravel it all. I have no idea where future posts will lead. I intend to take it as it comes.

If you do stumble across this and have any thoughts, please share. I'm keen to know what other people think.

Cheers,

Shifty.