On solutions
Now, everyone go read some Rainer Maria Rilke poetry.
I can’t help but wonder what it would be like if we didn’t all live at opposite ends of this country.
Original post #4
On Romeo and Juliet cynics (original post #3 ?)
There is a scientific study that shows evidence for a ‘checklist’ in our heads. It’s the criteria for our ‘perfect’ partner, built up through experience and events, nature nurture- the theory is that ‘love at first sight’ (not true love, but deep and powerful attraction) can exist in a case where most of the checklist is ticked right away.
Of course, this would mean it was a very superficial checklist.
However, the character of Romeo is highly superficial. This is established through his talk of Rosaline, his essential self-centredness, his over-the-top and melodramatic nature, his want of being in love- or at least being in the idea of love. Thus so, it is not unreasonable to imagine that Romeo- endearing and sweet as he is- could have a predominantly materialistic checklist: one that Juliet fits perfectly.
Juliet is very sharp, witty, down to earth; decisive but uncertain; sheltered but anything but naïve and above all, incredibly brave: this girl not only gambles upon a relatively unknown drink, and if it fails has her knife ready (act IV, scene III, 14-58) but has the strength of mind to think straight and stab herself when Romeo is dead (act V, scene III, 169-171).
As such- down-to-earth, sharp, witty- she is simply blown away as a boy approaches her and their first exchange is to create a spontaneous sonnet together. The things he says are so far from what any other man- Paris, for example- would have said to her (they are fresh and romantic and unrestrained) simply sweep her off her feet, so what chance did she have of not falling for him?
Most likely, however, their feelings would not have become so overstated and ‘passionate’ if their relationship had progressed from a normal way from there on in. It is the fact they meet only four times before believing the other dead so that their relationship is mainly in their heads, built on fantasises and ideals it is easier to dream of than to actually live that makes it so powerful. They have no time to discover faults or the actual humanity of each other: knowing so little but feeling so much, they make the other out to be a God.
I can only conclude from this that it is love which they share- or at least, they themselves believe it to be totally. They are highly compatible people, and time would have allowed their relationship to bloom to full flourish and become just as powerful. Their love is impulsive and accelerated- it is this acceleration that is their fall.
“Did my heart love till now?”
Original post #2
On the use of the phrase ‘I love you’ in a two week relationship which is not within the context of a Shakespeare play
Actually came into contact with a case of this today- in real life, not in the abundance of abusive comments about it on the interwebs.
It’s not even just those of 13-14; I swear there are people even at 17 who do this.
I can’t make my mind up about it though. The girl who spoke to me today about it was all kinds of serious- to her it wasn’t the joke so many people make it out to be.
Is it said out of custom, conviction, or naivety- and why?
People want to blame the increase in youth crime on video games; can we blame the increase in premature lovin’ on a cocktail of bad rom coms, adult ideas forced on kids, early-teenage hormones and the romanticising of youth?
I think a lot of emotions are felt with shocking clarity and passion in teenagers, perhaps moreso than in adults.
“at your age the hayday in the blood is tame, it’s humble”
I think a lot of people who say it really do think they are in love. I think it’s interesting.
I would never say that someone that young could never be in love or never understand what it is- that isn’t true. That’s a question of individual circumstance and maturity (but both this, and the question of whether or not they should be in love is a whole different fish of a kettle).
I wish I understood more about what exactly these people see as love- because if you think you can be in love after two weeks, you cannot know what to be in love actually is.
But I also wish people would stop condemning those who say it; to them, it’s real.
Neil Gaiman: An open letter to Washington from Artists and Creators
We, the undersigned, are musicians, actors, directors, authors, and producers. We make our livelihoods with the artistic works we create. We are also Internet users.
We are writing to express our serious concerns regarding the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA).
As creative professionals, we experience copyright infringement on a very personal level. Commercial piracy is deeply unfair and pervasive leaks of unreleased films and music regularly interfere with the integrity of our creations. We are grateful for the measures policymakers have enacted to protect our works.
We, along with the rest of society, have benefited immensely from a free and open Internet. It allows us to connect with our fans and reach new audiences. Using social media services like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, we can communicate directly with millions of fans and interact with them in ways that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago.
We fear that the broad new enforcement powers provided under SOPA and PIPA could be easily abused against legitimate services like those upon which we depend. These bills would allow entire websites to be blocked without due process, causing collateral damage to the legitimate users of the same services - artists and creators like us who would be censored as a result.
We are deeply concerned that PIPA and SOPA’s impact on piracy will be negligible compared to the potential damage that would be caused to legitimate Internet services. Online piracy is harmful and it needs to be addressed, but not at the expense of censoring creativity, stifling innovation or preventing the creation of new, lawful digital distribution methods.
We urge Congress to exercise extreme caution and ensure that the free and open Internet, upon which so many artists rely to promote and distribute their work, does not become collateral damage in the process.
Respectfully,
- Aziz Ansari
- Kevin Devine, Musician
- Barry Eisler, Author
- Neil Gaiman, Author
- Lloyd Kaufman, Filmmaker
- Zoë Keating, Musician
- The Lonely Island
- Daniel Lorca, Musician (Nada Surf)
- Erin McKeown, Musician
- MGMT
- Samantha Murphy, Musician
- OK Go
- Amanda Palmer, Musician (The Dresden Dolls)
- Quiet Company
- Trent Reznor
- Adam Savage, Special Effects Artist (MythBusters)
- Hank Shocklee, Music Producer (Public Enemy, The Bomb Squad)
- Johnny Stimson, Musician
(Source: stopthewall.us)
Original post #1
On the comments of a friend
Today, someone said to me they don’t like Tumblr because they don’t like the unoriginal nature of reblogging. I’ve decided to prove that there is original stuff on here by limiting myself to three reblogs a week and everything else original. Just a heads up chaps x
