Not Very Likely

I encourage everyone to read. Books are a precious resource as any librarian will tell you. I enjoy walking around my local library as well as big box bookstores. Some of the most popular and highest selling novels revolve around ideas that I find ridiculous. It is not the latest vampire craze I am referring to; although that is pretty silly. There are three subjects that are not worth the paper they are printed on.

Astronomers look up at the stars to gaze at the panoply that nature offers. Astrologers look up as well in hopes of predicting their day. A small segment of the population fixes their eyes, and their cameras, on what they hope is evidence of alien life. Apparently their local Home Depot parking lot does not offer enough proof of alien activity. This vocal minority truly believes that somewhere in our universe life must exist. Frankly the only anal probing I worry about is during my annual physical.

My turgid sense-of-humor aside I am not concerned in the least about possible alien existence. I look at the issue logically. If extra-terrestrials were to someday visit Earth en masse we might be shocked for a little while. News coverage would be hot and heavy for a few days. What do they look like? What do they want? Would they like a cup of tea? After the furor dies down we must get back to our lives. People still have to show up at work. The lawn must still be managed. I mean, really! Pictures of Britney Spears will not post themselves!

It is the end of the world as we know it and I am okay with that. 2012, apparently the end of the Mayan calendar, marks the end of civilization. Dozens of books and even a feature length film have all been created to memorialize, commemorate and scare the bejeezus out of us. I guess the world is going to end and there is nothing we can do about it. So much for those pesky student loan payments! Did the Mayans have some secret knowledge or were they just too lazy to make any more calenders?

If the world is, in fact, ending there is not a damn thing anyone can do. If these books' purpose is to inform us I see no point. We are "SOL" and have no real options. If someone is that afraid then a peaceful suicide is always a possibility. Any scientist worth their bunsen burner can tell you that our planet has been here for millions of years and will very likely be here for millions more. I hope these doom and gloom authors do not really believe their own bullshit. If so then they only have a few more years to spend their royalties.

What happens when we die? Atheists believe that all we do is fertilize the soil. The desire to understand what occurs after death is part and parcel of many religions. Sometimes the dead return to help us or haunt us. Zombies are quite popular lately. If it were not for them authors would have no reason to rewrite so many stodgy classic novels. Ghosts and spirits inhabit our world for reasons only they can know. Maybe they got sidetracked by a sale at Neiman Marcus on their way to the light?

The belief that places are haunted is quite common. It always seems to be some old house or former sanitarium that is rife with apparitions. Why is it never an Armenian Walmart? Some might argue that the dead leave behind their energy or "life force" which cause disturbances. The only thing disturbing is that so-called "intelligent" people truly believe in such nonsense. When you die, that is it, game over. Science proves that the only shadows are the ones objects make while standing in the sun.

I still cannot understand such irrational thinking and behavior. Ever since reading books by James Randi, et. al. I cannot help but be a skeptic. There is plenty that physically exists that we are still deciphering without having to look for more. A truism neatly applies to these unscientific notions. There is no point worrying about that which we cannot control. Some individuals have the need to concern themselves with thoughts derived from pure fantasy. To them I say: Do not worry! When the world ends in a few years aliens will swoop down to save us all. How do I know? A very reliable ghost told me.

What It Is

I enjoy discussion and debate as much as the next person. Certain rules must be in place for this to occur. Personal attacks are out. Keep emotions in check. Be open to differing viewpoints and criticize constructively. In in ideal world these rules would be a given. On television, where much debate occurs, these rules do not exist. Objectivity seems nonexistent and attacking one's character are the norm.

Many of the talking heads we see televised are popular due to specific techniques used while speaking to their mass audience:

Patronize their viewers
Minimize whom they disagree with
Demonize those they fear
Ostracize anyone who disagrees
Canonize like-minded speakers

The end-result is:

Polarize the country as a whole

Watch any of the popular political pundits with the above points in mind and I think you will agree. Why does this happen? Calm, rational and well thought-out debate just would not gather the viewers nor increase ratings. When there are no stated rules that must be followed, other than the FCC's, other rules then naturally develop. My next paragraph will attempt to summarize them.

Discussion is often based upon the hosts' particular politics or ideology. Much of what is mentioned is based upon, not what is, but on what would/should/could have been. Too often the "whys" are covered before we ever learn the facts of the "what." The roundtable type discussion usually degenerates into speculation and debating minutiae; minutiae that changes as more facts become available. Most of the guest speakers on these shows seem quite out-of-touch. They are too often academic types who leave their vaulted towers just long enough to make a quick buck or push their latest treatise.

I hold no allusions that much of the information available on the Internet is pure crap. You might actually step into a bit here and there on this blog if you are not careful. The Web has a few benefits though that makes it a more viable information source than television any day of the week. Anytime you must find the truth for yourself rather than repeat what another has said is always best. Look around as you surf and seek varying points of view. Do not simply settle on some site that agrees with your mindset and think that you have done enough. You have not.

Truth is relative. Politics, experience, religion and even our own repressed desires can affect how we view our changing world. These facts will never be uttered by the denizens of Fox News, the New York Times or any other media outlet or source. Be your own investigative reporter. Look behind the news. Look at multiple sources of information. Ask questions and then ask even more questions. As soon as you are satisfied that you truly understand an issue you have probably just scratched the surface. Dig deep enough and in enough places and you might just strike information gold!

Follow The Leader

I have never been much for authority figures. I do not like taking orders. Giving them to others is not much better. A person should march to the beat of their own drum. In an ideal world people would listen to their instincts and do what is right. Sometimes though we may get lost on the way to our destination. This is a time when it becomes easy to influence society's lost sheep.

Take a look at the self-help section of your local bookstore. Plenty of authors offer the "perfect" plan for your life. No matter where your difficulty may lie there is a book just waiting to set you back on the right track. Peek into the pages and you will discover words of wisdom and gems of advice. As you scan the shelf you must begin to wonder? How could these writers know me when they write for the masses?

They cannot be a substitute for one-on-one therapy or counseling. Books such as these, by their very nature, must be written as broadly as possible. These books must appeal to a mass audience in order to sell the greatest number of copies. No matter how specific the malady the book will suggest that many segments of society can relate in some way. In this way the publisher hopes to sell as many copies to as many people as possible.

If a person becomes desperate enough they will seek solace in a group of like-minded individuals. This is how cults are formed. One person declares themselves the "savior" and offers to lead the group to -- heaven, nirvana, Starbucks, take your pick -- if the followers would only promise their undying obedience and loyalty. And much of their life savings. If only people would remember that old adage about absolute power.

This type of movement can be seen in various seminars for corporations or modern religions like Scientology. A person or group insists that they have all the answers. No one has all the answers and certainly not me. Beware of these groups who attempt to outline your life and control your behavior. If someone says that they are God please run away as fast as you can in the opposite direction. Anytime your money or unquestioned devotion is required for assistance you are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I certainly went through a period when I was trying to figure out just who I was and what my purpose might be. I looked toward people I knew and even people I had just met. No one really held any answers for me. I was hoping I would find someone worthy of following. I felt lost and confused. In the end I did not find that person and I am glad for that. Who is truly worthy of following and what person really wants some kid following them?

In the end I discovered the one and only source of truth in one's life. It is difficult to accept and even harder to listen to. The source is your own heart. A friend once told me that the head will lie yet the heart is incapable of deceit. Within ourselves is the ability to determine just what is right and good. We often have other more selfish ideas which makes it harder to listen to that inner voice. The way to truly listen is to stop fighting ourselves and accept the truth of what is. Let your heart lift the burden your shoulders know too well.

Who Is Special?

We as humans are walking contradictions. When we experience something painful or stressful we wonder. We wonder if others have had the same experiences. There are times that knowing we are not alone would make us feel better. Conversely we desire to feel special. Individualism drives us as we try to establish just who we are. The contradiction is between these two concepts. Are we like everybody else or are we simply one of a kind?

There are everyday occurrences that we know through experience are ones most people deal with. When rarer experiences occur we tend to feel confused and alone. Intellectually we know that other people must have gone through it before. We need to hear it from others. Depending upon one's support system one might have an easier time than another. Support groups, on or off the Internet, are widely available. It is not too hard to find someone who can understand just where we are in life.

Everyone wants to feel special. A kind word from a co-worker or loved one helps to instill these feelings within us. We begin to work toward individualism as teenagers. The way we talk, dress and the people we associate with are all part of defining our identities. As much as we wish to be like no other we tend to blend in regardless. It is only as we age and have greater choices do we begin to form the real person inside.

I see an overlap with all that I have said. When we are stressed or feel trapped we need help from others. Understanding that others have walked your path lifts a weight off of our shoulders. By doing this we see we are not so different after all. The downside is that if this is so we cannot be as special as we thought. Sometimes we need to believe the fallacy that our thoughts and feelings are truly original.

For some there is no other way to feel special. Even if it means being the loner or rebel, no matter how painful this may be, some choose to distance themselves from the rest of society. This is a negative way to make yourself feel like no one else can understand you. It feeds into a form of ego that says that one must be special if no one else understands them. It is unhealthy in the long run. It is like a child who gets negative attention as this becomes better than none at all.

My point is that we need to feel understood and misunderstood both at the same time. We want to be seen as approachable yet also as an individual. We are part of the world around us yet we are alone when the need arises. I see this is an inherent contradiction in all people. The solution is to support and be open to being supported. Our own inner dialogue is enough to sustain our need to feel special. It is possible to have a world of individuals whom have much in common.

Truth In Advertising

Whether you like capitalism or not we all have needs. It takes dollars to meet those needs. Beyond these are wants and sometimes the line between the two becomes blurred. Corporations entice us with their commercials. They make their products seem so attractive. They proclaim that we will feel, look and perform better with whatever they hawk. Most intelligent adults know puffery when they see it. We know we are being lied to yet we still give them our hard earned bucks.

Most any car will get us to our destination. Any cereal eaten in the morning will fill us up for a few hours. The majority of products advertised will have the basic effect intended by the manufacturer. Why and how do we determine just whose products we will buy and consume? Some of us are brand loyal. We pick the brands that we are used to or have features we have come to expect. Those who choose something different each time do so for a variety of reasons.

We may go out and buy a product because it is new. A coupon in the Sunday newspaper might have enticed us. Friends often make recommendations as to something they liked. Advertising itself does not always create the want within us. Outside factors as I have stated can be just as powerful. For decades the best commercials on television were the ones that entertained rather than informed. What good are the efforts of big business therefore in getting their products in front of prospective buyers?

It is a given that companies need some way to get the word out as to their latest offerings. The problem that I have is that much of advertising is an insult to our intelligence. Companies know that any real benefit of their product over another is in the mind of the user. We as consumers know better than to fall for the line of bullshit advertisers feed us. Yet companies still market to intangibles like vanity rather than how a product will create a tangible benefit in one's life.

What is worse is when a product presupposes that a particular condition or malady exists. This is especially true for drug manufacturers. As if we, the American public, do not have enough real problems without new ones being invented. Too many products are simply solutions looking for a problem. Is it too much to ask for advertisements to definitively display exactly what good will be done for us? It is as if companies see us as children who must be told fairy tales before we are spoon-fed our medicine.

The television shows we watch must be paid by someone. Advertisers pay for the privilege of marketing to us multiple times per hour. The government has set certain standards by which companies must adhere. Most fine print is so small and repeated so fast that we cannot truly know what we might be in for. Most of what we see pushed between shows is of little value. Entertainment aside we are treated as if we cannot know what is best for us. The best way to protect ourselves is to define exactly what is a need rather than a want. Watch ads with a critical eye and keep your money in your pocket where it belongs.