Birth. School. Work. Teevee. Retire. Die.

[twicketface]

Sigh. I think it’s one of those black cloud days. I’m worried about things in the near future and have gotten away from the life I want to live. I *completely* wasted Saturday and while I was aware of it at the time, I still couldn’t unshackle myself to do something about it. Where do these moods come from and why can’t I deal with them more appropriately?

The saying that knowledge is power is complete bullshit. Knowledge is important, but it’s not even close to power. Example: If someone is overweight and they know it, it doesn’t make them any more “powerful” to change it, if they so choose. If I know that our government is corrupt and silly, I’ve got no more power to change things. Money is power. Influence is power. Race is power. But not knowledge.

I’ve been thinking lately about taking down my website. I think a lot of the writing I did was good and at the time it served it’s purpose, but this seems to be a better outlet for frustration, ideas, etc. I want to look into an on-line picture hosting service (hopefully for free) so I can transfer the photos there and put in links when appropriate. I don’t really have to take it down, but I’d feel bad (somehow) but having it up there and not updating it. The novelty seems to have worn off, or something.

Time for lunch with Marie. Some of the best things in life are truly free.

Comments

[mikecheck.livejournal.com]

actually most free services don't like to let you link pictures offsite. you might want to consider just revamping your site into a simple homepage, with links to the (now) archived site so that those of us who will look on it with fond rememberance may do so. :)

and i think maybe it's just the kind of knowledge we're talking about.

consider this line from a Berthold Brecht play called the measures taken:

we bring the teachings of the Classics and the Propagandists: the ABC of Communism. To the ignorant we bring instruction concerning their condition; to the oppressed, class-consciousness; and to the class-conscious, practical knowledge of the revolution.

[twicketface.livejournal.com]

True dat. Most of the ‘free’ ones have specifications that they are only for auction sites, etc. I agree; a revamp would be a good idea.

I think knowledge is an ingredient of power. But there is so much more to the recipe (information, connections, foresight, coercion) than just knowledge. Knowledge might be the first step, but having the knowledge to realize the power structure might be the most important.

Of course, I could be just full of it.

takin' it to the streets

[reject.livejournal.com]

people. people are the power. people have the power.

knowing a problem exists is the first step toward fixing things. that's power, even if you feel lost and feel that you don't have what it takes to change things.

( believe me, you do )

money, influence, race, those things aren't real power. those things are just tools and institutions of the capitalist system. without the system, those things have no real meaning.

people, together, have the power to create anything

/pretentious socialist mode

Re: takin' it to the streets

[twicketface.livejournal.com]

So, what’s the hold up? I’d argue that there are *millions* of people wanting to change the system, so why aren’t the goals being accomplished? I tend to believe that people are making a difference, but it seems that there are more ‘bad’ differences being accomplished than ‘good’ differences.

I agree that knowledge is the first step, but not the only step. Is solidarity power? Is organization power? Is charisma power?

If there are two people desiring change, one with money and no knowledge and one with knowledge and no money, clearly the woman with the bottomless checking account will win. This is not right nor is it the world I want to live in, but it is the case.

I question whether or not anarchy and solidarity can co-exist. If there are no rules, what will hold us together? Not trying to pull a PT here, but seriously, I don’t think roving bands of citizens will keep the peace or protect my family.

P.S. I have called the thought police on you and they should be arriving shortly.

Re: takin' it to the streets

[spidervine.livejournal.com]

A) I don't think you guys fully understand capitalist (I know. I'll get hell for that comment)

B) money, race, stupidity, charisma...etc will only get you so far. Sometimes, being an intelligient, decent human being gets you further. Have faith. Don't lose hope. I'm not much of an optimist, but I know good will prevail and that the truth will surface. I have to have faith in those things. Otherwise, I'd kill myself.

Re: takin' it to the streets

[reject.livejournal.com]

i'm not planning on givin' no hell.

please elaborate.

Re: takin' it to the streets

[spidervine.livejournal.com]

Let me preface by saying that my dad is a high school teacher and my mother is bookkeeper at a dentist office. I come from a working class family and I've had a job consistently since I was 14 yrs old. I say this because the first retaliatory remarks I get when I voice my opinion about capitalism are things like "You must be rich" or "You must have lived a life of luxury."

Capitalism, in my understanding, is meant to allow someone like my grandfather (an irish immigrant) to come to this country, wake up one morning with an idea and start a business. Freedom and individualism is what capitalism is suppose to be about. In a true capitalistic system Governement would a tool (like pencil or a wrench) that people would use to get what they want. Right now, government is a babysitter with the power to tell you when to go to bed and what to eat (very reminiscent of communism). I can elaborate further, but I need more time think. Perhaps we can carry on this discussion when I have more time.

Re: takin' it to the streets

[reject.livejournal.com]

my problem with capitalism is that certain people have unfair advantages. the idea is that the lower class has the same opportunities as everyone else, but i've never really seen it work that way. i've had people tell me that "poor people/black people are lazy" and things like that, but i honestly believe that the system is designed to keep them down. noam chomsky once defined government as an institution designed to protect the minority, the opulent, from the majority, the proletariat. capitalism, to me, is evil because it perpetuates greed. the idea that what's good for the few is good for the many is ridiculous. the invisible hand is a hoax.

that's my take on it.

Re: takin' it to the streets

[spidervine.livejournal.com]

If you run a race and you give someone a head start it goes without saying that that person has an advantage. But, it doesn't mean you're out of the race. Money and a head start will only get you so far. Even the richest white men faulter (ex: Enron guys) and they're kingdom will crumble.

It's true that some people are at a disadvantage. That's life. Some people will never be rocket scientists, no matter how hard the try. But, just because I can't be a doctor doesn't mean I'm out of the game. Poverty or ignornace or race shouldn't brand you for life as a loser. It may make your battle tougher (and that isn't fair), but it doesn't guarantee you will lose. I've seen some pretty disadvantage people do some pretty amazing things.

Capitalism, in it's purest form, is meant to give everyone the opportunity to succeed. It will also seek out and destroy those people who had and head start and didn't use it to create something amazing for everyone to enjoy.

Re: takin' it to the streets

[reject.livejournal.com]

but what's success? lots of money, a house in the suburbs, an suv or two?

Re: takin' it to the streets

[reject.livejournal.com]

what about a society that's fair to everyone? what about a society where everyone actually is able to succeed?

perhaps capitalism in its "purest form" isn't so bad, but what we have going for us here in america certainly isn't what you describe.

Re: takin' it to the streets

[spidervine.livejournal.com]

"but what we have going for us here in america certainly isn't what you describe."

My sentiments exactly.

Re: takin' it to the streets

[harleyquinn.livejournal.com]

the problem with using Enron as an example is that when the rich white men faultered, it took a lot of other people with them.

Greed

[spidervine.livejournal.com]

What's wrong with greed?

Greed is bad when you want more money only for the sake of being richer. Greed is bad when you want something just because you think you should have it. Greed is good when it encourages you to work towards a worthy goal.

I'm greedy. I'm greedy for life, for success, for happiness. Am I evil, because I want more out of life? Am I evil for wanting to be happy?

And, let me add that what is good for the majority isn't necessary good for everyone.

Re: Greed

[reject.livejournal.com]

what's good for the minority is almost never good for everyone.

why do you say that, though? i'm curious. i guess if it's not good for everyone (i.e. something may be good for the working masses but not the ruling elite), then at least it's fair.

there's certainly nothing wrong with being "greedy" for happiness and wanting more out life, as long as you aren't willing to step on others to get those things. but the problem lies in that people think money will bring them happiness, or stuff will bring them happiness, and that's not true in the least bit. happiness can only come from within yourself.

there are things other than greed that inspire one to work toward a worthy goal. doing something that's good for everyone, cooperating, those things are just as, nay more important than doing something that's simply good for yourself, if you ask me.

if i've interpreted adam smith correctly, the reason capitalism works is because competition is good for people. i'm a little unclear, however, how this could be true. how can me wanting to get to the top (and wanting that badly enough to push others down or step on them) possibly be for the good of everyone? it seems to me working together to acheive things works out much better in the end.

greed is selfish.

greed inspires people to do horrible, horrible things.

Re: takin' it to the streets

[reject.livejournal.com]

you would do that, wouldn't you?

people don't realize that they hold the power they hold. people are scared of expressing dissent. people are scared that they are alone in their unhappiness.

blah. anyway.

here (http://www.zmag.org/anarchism.htm)'s a really good article on anarchism if you're interested.

Re: takin' it to the streets

[spidervine.livejournal.com]

"people don't realize that they hold the power they hold. people are scared of expressing dissent. people are scared that they are alone in their unhappiness."

I agree. I'm all about telling people when I'm unhappy. That's why I started an online journal. :)

I'll take a look at that article.

knowledge v. acknowledgment

[spidervine.livejournal.com]

Example: If someone is overweight and they know it, it doesn’t make them any more “powerful” to change it, if they so choose. If I know that our government is corrupt and silly, I’ve got no more power to change things. Money is power. Influence is power. Race is power. But not knowledge.

What you are talking about here isn't really "knowledge." You're talking about "acknowledgment" or "to recognize the status of" a situation. You can acknowledge that a situation exists without having the knowledge of how to deal with said situation. Knowledge implies gained experience or association. If you associate, really associate, being fat with being unhealthy then and only then will you have the power to do something about it.

You were just being lazy. I'm the same way on weekends. You have to remember that if you spend your weekend frivolously than it won't feel like a weekend at all. You'll get to work on Monday feeling just as tired and stressed as you were on Friday...of course, it's fun to occasionally veg out, eat junk food and do nothing. Just don't veg out for the entire weekend.

Re: knowledge v. acknowledgment

[twicketface.livejournal.com]

I can’t really acknowledge a situation without having knowledge. If I walk past someone changing their oil and I’m not sure where the oil is located in the car, I can acknowledge that she is “working on the car” but now really know what specifically she is doing. But then I could ask her and she could impart that knowledge onto me. I think it’s dealing with a degree of knowledge. I can nod along to the newscast at night but not really have ‘knowledge’ of the situation, right?

If you get screwed over by a store and have all of the proper documentation, reason and evidence that you were screwed over, and you still don’t get a resolution, your knowledge did not equate to any power. I can associate my situation to being taken advantage of, but I still won’t have the power to do anything about it except make a Fuck Best Buy section on my website. ;P

I wish I could just veg out more productively.

Re: knowledge v. acknowledgment

[spidervine.livejournal.com]

I think we have different definitions of knowledge and acknowledge.

Re: knowledge v. acknowledgment

[reject.livejournal.com]

that seems to be the problem with most debate.

differences of definition and interpretation.

Re: knowledge v. acknowledgment

[spidervine.livejournal.com]

No. Those things are just pathetic attempts at proving that you are a "success."

Success for me is accomplishing something that I can be proud...and, maybe going on a lecture tour, because I'm so smart and everyone wants to hear what I have to say. :)