tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post6008628206588423197..comments2024-03-28T20:04:20.286-07:00Comments on One Cʘsmos: Hope, Change, and SuicideGagdad Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-78506733417981282702015-09-09T08:21:24.018-07:002015-09-09T08:21:24.018-07:00Hmm...that's odd, I meant to say He not Hid.Hmm...that's odd, I meant to say He not Hid. USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-50027138895526608292015-09-09T03:45:41.554-07:002015-09-09T03:45:41.554-07:00"America is not a sad place. But it is an anh..."America is not a sad place. But it is an anhedonic place. To get a sense of this, one would have to "participate" in contemporary America, which the Raccoon refuses to do. When I say that America is anhedonic, imagine being strapped to a chair and being forced to watch its television, or listen to its contemporary music, or read its popular fiction. Any normal person would soon fall into despair and give up hope."<br /><br />Aye, it is no wonder that so many people seem bored to death. At least that's the sense I get when I read comments elsewhere sometimes, and that's even at conservative blogs. There are so many worthwhile things one can do, but the things that are "popular" or the "in" thing are not it. It all lacks God, hope, meaningfulness, purpose, virtue, goodness, etc., etc.. So of course a Fodless culture leads to the road of nihilism and boredom.<br /><br />Never before have we had the technology to search out truth so easily, and yet most people seek illusion or distractions, and wonder why they can't feel a passion for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Or, indeed, to feel much of anything. I reckon a lot of blame falls on public indoctrination, and the propensity to eschew the tried and true wisdom of past generations of wise guys.<br /><br />If the "freedom" of Godlessness leads to this kind of walking deadness one would think that the freedom of atheism and nihilism is quite the opposite of what it's advertised to be. For I see no freedom in it, just a pathetic illusion of freedom that is really a poisonous slavery, and a very poor illusion at that.<br /><br />Perhaps this helps explains the cultural fascination with zombies and vampires. In any sense, I sure am glad there are raccoons, and that Hid is real, or I would probably be very depressed right now. USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-762499771886947862015-09-08T18:15:00.627-07:002015-09-08T18:15:00.627-07:00Must be why they never stop making up phony strugg...Must be why they never stop making up phony struggles like black lives matter, feminism, and transgenderism.Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-7512872338179288252015-09-08T18:01:01.889-07:002015-09-08T18:01:01.889-07:00Boredom is the logical result of that lethal mix o...<i>Boredom is the logical result of that lethal mix of affluence and leisure. </i><br /><br />When astronauts spend any length of time in null gravity they begin to lose muscle and bone mass. Without the constant pull of gravity on the body, it stops wasting energy reinforcing bones or strengthening muscles.<br /><br />They can exercise all they want or take calcium supplements or hook up those electronic stimulators to keep their muscles twitching but the bone and muscle mass will be lost.<br /><br />Individuals in a prosperous society might be able to maintain some degree of fortitude but society as a whole absolutely will not.<br /><br />Sorry, but there it is.dicentra63https://www.blogger.com/profile/18265008441951516140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-73065122198754288332015-09-08T12:34:12.140-07:002015-09-08T12:34:12.140-07:00The really sad thing, though, is that if she stand...The really sad thing, though, is that if she stands out in the realm of short fiction for writing misanthropic stories, she must write at the absolute nadir of hopelessness, because there is a <i>lot</i> of competition. I can't even remember the last time I picked up an anthology of short stories (as found at, say, Barnes & Noble) and found anything good, decent, hopeful or uplifting.juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-37980354910719984192015-09-08T12:30:50.006-07:002015-09-08T12:30:50.006-07:00Speaking of depression and anhedonia, too. They sh...Speaking of depression and anhedonia, too. They should package the title with a selection of razor blades and instructions for taking one final bath. At least, I assume it's depressing because if her stories had a note of good humor or even an appreciation for the absurd, it would not be misanthropic, nor a chronicle of human insignificance.<br /><br />I bet she's fun at parties.juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-71800489064968756192015-09-08T12:25:17.166-07:002015-09-08T12:25:17.166-07:00Speaking of contemporary fiction I'll never re...Speaking of contemporary fiction I'll never read, a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/06/magazine/the-misanthropic-genius-of-joy-williams.html?_r=1" rel="nofollow">misanthropic genius chronicler of human insignificance</a>.Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-1978803806416640292015-09-08T11:57:43.448-07:002015-09-08T11:57:43.448-07:00Gagdad said "The Christianity/religion sectio...Gagdad said "The Christianity/religion section was particularly pathetic."<br /><br />Yeah, ours had always been poor there, but it used to have a nifty and unique aisle, Philosophy & Math/Science, down one side, and up the other it had Poetry & Mythology/Stage. Sometimes it was fun just to stand there and take in the titles and people watch the odd mix of people trying to keep the others behind them.<br /><br />They fixed that about two months ago though, halved their stock and sent them to the for corners of the store. Slashed their SciFi/Fantasy too. It's kinda depressing now, but I suppose I still go and hang out as a ghost would haunt an old haunt. <br />Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-71545430019547841542015-09-08T11:35:56.899-07:002015-09-08T11:35:56.899-07:00Hanson has a similar diagnosis:
"In the ca...<a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/article/423653/west-dead-yet" rel="nofollow">Hanson</a> has a similar diagnosis: <br /><br /> "In the case of modern America, Britain, and Europe, the sheer material bounty spawned by free-market capitalism and legally protected private property, combined with the freedom of the individual, creates a sort of ennui. Boredom is the logical result of that lethal mix of affluence and leisure. It is not just that Westerners forget who gave them their bounty, but they tend to damn anonymous ancestors who worked so hard, but without a modern sense of taste and politically correct deference." <br /><br />Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-35885860468426560692015-09-08T11:29:25.256-07:002015-09-08T11:29:25.256-07:00:D
Thanks, Leslie - I appreciate the sentiment. I...:D<br /><br />Thanks, Leslie - I appreciate the sentiment. In truth, there are days when it already feels like we have too much (though notably, to a five-year-old it is strictly impossible to have too many Legos), and I know that many doting family members will be adding to the collection. They can't help themselves. Perhaps some day we will sell them by the bucketful on Ebay...juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-60645727719384157592015-09-08T11:23:33.484-07:002015-09-08T11:23:33.484-07:00Julie, I have buckets and buckets of Legos taking ...Julie, I have buckets and buckets of Legos taking up closet space...I wish I could send them to you. The B&N closest to us closed up shop this year. I see it coming for all bookstores.Lesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02284936021406079076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-16307856889412438962015-09-08T10:44:02.024-07:002015-09-08T10:44:02.024-07:00Re. the Legos, no kidding. Speaking of which, we j...Re. the Legos, no kidding. Speaking of which, we just bought some for the boy in advance of Christmas, as there are some pretty good deals right now. Talk about an expensive habit!juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-75950930037322105912015-09-08T10:42:54.659-07:002015-09-08T10:42:54.659-07:00"You see, either there was going to be a futu...<i>"You see, either there was going to be a future or there wasn't going to be a future and this was the only thing that offered an acceptable future."</i><br /><br />We were watching <i>Downfall</i> last week, and the scenes where Magda Goebbels chose death - not only for herself, but in particular for all of her children - were probably the most horrific; her reason, of course, that "My children cannot grow up in a world without National Socialism."juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-6081953195176610382015-09-08T10:40:07.446-07:002015-09-08T10:40:07.446-07:00It's not even a good place for Legos, because ...It's not even a good place for Legos, because they charge list price.<br /><br />What would I do without amazon?Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-90314048827939568512015-09-08T10:28:50.025-07:002015-09-08T10:28:50.025-07:00Wow - Just yesterday, we too stepped into our loca...Wow - Just yesterday, we too stepped into our local B & N for the first time in months if not a year. The kids love it because they can play with the trains, and also there are sticker/ activity books. I haven't bought anything to read for pleasure there in years, though, as wandering through the aisles too often leads me to, well, anhedonia. I agree with Van, there are hidden spots of interest if you really want to search, but odds are anything a raccoon wants for spiritual edification will be absent, with extreme prejudice.juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-63672079019275341542015-09-08T10:22:21.282-07:002015-09-08T10:22:21.282-07:00Yes, they still have a lot of the classics, but I ...Yes, they still have a lot of the classics, but I wasn't looking for that. The Christianity/religion section was particularly pathetic. Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-34162897506471650742015-09-08T10:09:25.240-07:002015-09-08T10:09:25.240-07:00"... It was the local Barnes & Noble, and..."... It was the local Barnes & Noble, and it was about as uplifting as shopping for books in Soviet Moscow. The crap people read! It was like being in the cathedral of the Death Culture."<br /><br />Oddly enough, this weekend I had a similar experience in ours. From the pierced and tattooed and pink haired staff, selling coffee, cakes & books with the same 'I'm cool, you can tell that by my distant frown, these are yummy, buy', to the books celebrating self and nothing, it had that feel of cultured death. <br /><br />But you can find some green spots, hidden behind the tombstones, here and there. Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-49547353676245596842015-09-08T09:51:16.142-07:002015-09-08T09:51:16.142-07:00(er, self-destructiveness)
Or, from Esolen today...(er, self-destructiveness)<br /> <br />Or, from Esolen today: The man who sets himself against human nature will know no bounds to his hatred.mainemannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-21035589820956269522015-09-08T09:30:49.349-07:002015-09-08T09:30:49.349-07:00You know, when you read Johnson's "Intell...You know, when you read Johnson's "Intellectuals" one of the patterns that stands out is the unholy trinity of narcissism, rage, and quite often self I destructiveness.mainemannoreply@blogger.com