*...Religion. Is the smile on a dog...I'm not aware of too many things. I know what I know if you know what I mean?
A friend posed a very important question that she'd like me to add to a discussion here on my bloggy blog. So I got to thinking of one of my all time favourite and totally frivolous past-times: philosophy.
I am going to come up with a few little philosophies and conundrums and I would like you to respond to all of them, or to the ones you've pondered with honest, thoughtful answers. I do not want any fence sitting however. Tomorrow, I will answer each one myself!
Okay, here we go.
1. If you have the ultimate of experiences, and you are not able to tell anyone about it, would you still want to have it? Is it still worth it? It's kind of like the idea of if a tree were to fall in a forest and no one were to hear it, would it have really fallen. Let me give you an example: Let's just say that I had the opportunity to meet Ryan Reynolds and he fell madly in love with me. But of course, we're both married. Now I am not saying I would do anything, but, this is strictly for argument's sake. Were we to have a minute tryst, but I could not tell a sole, would it be worth it? Is the act more juicy than the telling of the tale?
Yes. I would. Because it is my life, after all -- though it would KILL me to not brag about certain accomplishments...
2. Is beauty important: should our exterior matter? Or is it shallow to put value in our looks?
I am absolutely a big believer in external looks being important. We are all the signs and signifiers trying to get our messages out there. We advertise ourselves daily. We choose what we want to say. To not be conscious of how we appear makes a strong statement. However, that said, I have a child now, and my hair does not work so well as it used to, so sometimes I am make-upless and my hair is a bit scraggly when going on errands. And I am telling the world: piss off, I don't have time!
3. Is it better to have a handsome man or a handy man? Remember you cannot have both.
Anonymous -- show off! Handsome -- or i'd be a really disappointed cookie.
4. Betty or Veronica? Carrie or Samantha? Blair or Serena? I tried to hit all demographics with this question: Veronica, b/c she wasn't sneaky. Carrie annoys me. And I love Blair b/c she does not apologize for her bitchiness.
5. Love or money? Love.
6. Is life better for the thinker or for the ignorant and oblivious? I sort of feel people who think about life get to live it over and over...and that's pretty lucky.
7. Is luck merely a series of proper decision making? Yes. It is a total series of proper decisions: including the decision to be in the right place at the right time!
8. If you were to pick one value you'd like to instill in your child (real or hypothetical child), what would it be? Integrity -- to be consistently herself and proud of it in all circumstances.
9. Would you rather a romantic partner who is unpredictable but makes your skin tingle, or a constant partner who while he/she is loyal and constant, is more a friend than a lover? Only one. Constancy -- the other can be too unreliable.
10. Are women born innately competitive or is it a learned trait? -- Please explain your thinking -- :-)! I believe we are trained from birth to be more attractive than, smarter than, and more interesting than other women. We are indoctrinated to set ourselves apart from others in life. To get our man; To achieve success in our career; To maintain a certain amount of social status, certainly! And that is why we all are consumers! Well, that and the fact that shopping is just so darn fun...and apparently we are the gatherers -- so our hubby hunts. We gather. Not our fault.
11. Television or the Internet? Internet sadly. I wish I could be a passive recipient of all things entertainment. But, I like to be active, and so writing, choosing what I watch and reading what interests me makes the Internet the only way!
12. Will consumerism eat us alive? One prada bag at a time...
13. Bend to cultural ideals and norms or remain true to self, even if that means subjection to ridicule and a tough road to travel? This one I have a hard time with. We live in a social world, and there are social norms. So in a way, we must absolutely bend, and I learn that daily in the classroom when the 'nerd' does something socially unacceptable and I pray that s/he will learn from how others treat him and grow socially. However, I hate bullying as well--though, being on the receiving end, I did learn a lot; and there's something to be said for being unique. Okay. to pick: unique wins by a hair. but that's a hard life.
13. Bend to cultural ideals and norms or remain true to self, even if that means subjection to ridicule and a tough road to travel? This one I have a hard time with. We live in a social world, and there are social norms. So in a way, we must absolutely bend, and I learn that daily in the classroom when the 'nerd' does something socially unacceptable and I pray that s/he will learn from how others treat him and grow socially. However, I hate bullying as well--though, being on the receiving end, I did learn a lot; and there's something to be said for being unique. Okay. to pick: unique wins by a hair. but that's a hard life.
Okay -- I hope you play along! I will only answer if and when I get at least five responses!!!
****Artist:Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians
Hey, I'm playing along since you and I are doing the same thing on Valentine's Day--NOTHING!!
ReplyDeleteHere are my answers:
1. If you have the ultimate of experiences, and you are not able to tell anyone about it, would you still want to have it?
YES
Is it still worth it?
YES
But I wouldn't want it to be an act of like cheating on my husband, but just something really amazing that would not hinder my ethics, and I would totally want to experience it.
2. Is beauty important: should our exterior matter?
It shouldn't matter but it does, but it doesn't matter to me 100% of the time. Or else I wouldn't leave the house 99% of the time that I do!
Or is it shallow to put value in our looks?
Not shallow to put value in our looks, it just gives us a boost of self-esteem, but it can go too far. I know some people who are WAAAY too shallow and that is annoying.
3. Is it better to have a handsome man or a handy man?
I have a handsome man rather than a handy man. I don't know what I would choose if given the choice, probably a handsome man because you can always pay someone to do the handy stuff. Does THIS make me shallow? hahah.
4. Betty or Veronica? The brunette.
Carrie or Samantha? I never watched Sex in the City.
Blair or Serena? I don't know who these girls are.
5. Love or money? Love, even though asshole husband floundered on Valentine's Day.
6. Is life better for the thinker or for the ignorant and oblivious?
For the thinker. I think. But maybe I'm ignorant and oblivious about this.
7. Is luck merely a series of proper decision making?
Hmmmm ... great question. Am not sure.
8. If you were to pick one value you'd like to instill in your child (real or hypothetical child), what would it be?
Honesty.
9. Would you rather a romantic partner who is unpredictable but makes your skin tingle, or a constant partner who while he/she is loyal and constant, is more a friend than a lover? Only one.
UGH!!!!! I have plenty of FRIENDS!
10. Are women born innately competitive or is it a learned trait -- support your answer.
I don't think I compete with other women.
11. Television or the Internet?
INTERNET!
12. Will consumerism eat us alive?
Don't know.
13. Bend to cultural ideals and norms or remain true to self, even if that means subjection to ridicule and a tough road to travel?
True to myself. Hopefully always.
Thanks, this was fun. Something interesting to do on Valentine's Day! hahah.
Religion, is the blah blah blah blah ... what I am .... I know that song. Edie Brickell.
ReplyDelete1. If you have the ultimate of experiences, and you are not able to tell anyone about it, would you still want to have it?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. There is pleasure in celebrating small and significant feats on one's own.
2. Is beauty important: should our exterior matter? Or is it shallow to put value in our looks?
For me, the exterior is important as I think of it as a window to the interior. And it works both ways, sometimes, when I feel horrible (i.e. excruciatingly tried), I like to dress up even more than usual in an attempt to convince myself that I am awake.
3. Is it better to have a handsome man or a handy man? Remember you cannot have both.
But I do ;)
4. Betty or Veronica? Carrie or Samantha? Blair or Serena?
As my handsome-handy husband reminds me, I was raised (and continue to exist) under a rock, oblivious to a lot pop culture so I can only comment on Carrie and Samantha. This is a tough choice. Both have enviable traits and ugly flaws. I guess Carrie.
5. Love or money?
Love.
6. Is life better for the thinker or for the ignorant and oblivious?
The thinker. Ignorance can be bliss but knowledge is power.
7. Is luck merely a series of proper decision making?
No. Luck is being at the right place at the right time, coincidentally meeting someone who has a significant impact on your life...
8. If you were to pick one value you'd like to instill in your child (real or hypothetical child), what would it be?
Health. Happiness is a close second.
9. Would you rather a romantic partner who is unpredictable but makes your skin tingle, or a constant partner who while he/she is loyal and constant, is more a friend than a lover? Only one.
The constant partner.
10. Are women born innately competitive or is it a learned trait? -- Please explain your thinking -- :-)!
I think men and women all develop their competitive natures early on, when triggered by comparisons to a sibling, friend, or from books/tv/movies. I don't think competitiveness is something to apologize for. It pushes us further, perhaps past the point that we would usually stop at...Now, I won't pretend that I don't know what your question is referring to -- I know lots of women who compete with one another over appearances, partners, careers, etc. But I think men do the same; they just have a different set of issues (physical size, strength, earning potential, etc.) From an evolutionary standpoint, this stuff might not be learned but intuitive for survival.
11. Television or the Internet?
Internet. I don't have cable and I love it. I can watch all my must-have shows (Biggest Loser, Grey's, 60 Minutes, Olympics)online. And I love to rent TV series and indulge in a string of back-to-back episodes. That's how I watched 6 Feet Under, Mad Men, Weeds, The Wire, House, Big Love, L Word... So as ou can tell, I may not have cable, but I haven't missed out! OK, so maybe I don't live under a rock!
12. Will consumerism eat us alive?
Probably.
13. Bend to cultural ideals and norms or remain true to self, even if that means subjection to ridicule and a tough road to travel?
True to yourself. Live your own life (isn't that what Oprah tells us to do?!?)
Looking forward to your answers and reflections, Bella.