Tis human to be violent by jpssteveshanahan, literature
Literature
Tis human to be violent
I've also come to the realization that maybe it's just in our nature to behave the way we do. Look no further than the animal kingdom as resounding proof of this. Animals kill each other all the time and one can't seriously suggest that they themselves have also been conditioned by today's violent media in order to behave in such fashion. If you're going to go by the theory that implies that the only thing that separates us from the rest of the food chain is our superior our intellect and nothing more. Then our own behavior is merely a reflection of how every other species of life behave on this planet (at least in principle). Consider the following: 1) Animals fight each other over territory. So do we. 2) Animals fight each other over food. So do we. 3) Animals fight each other over mating rights. So do we. 4) Animals fight each other for the sake of establishing superiority over the rest of the flock. So do we. Sometimes I think to myself that this is the only
Free will is the root of all evil by jpssteveshanahan, literature
Literature
Free will is the root of all evil
I've come to the realization that at least part the reason why this world is in such a fucked up state is because we are incapable of controlling human behavior. By that I mean is that we obviously have the capacity of performing noble, commendable acts that give humanity reason to be optimistic in it's own faith. But sadly, the concept of free will is an ideology that can alternate between two extremes (though it usually settles for somewhere in between). That same free will that allows us to conduct our day to day affairs in virtuous standing. Is the same will that gives us the freedom to stray from the path that is generally considered to be morally and/or ethically righteous. Let me give you the following example: Right now, nothing's stopping me from taking the time to help an elderly lady cross the street. But at the same time nothing's impeding me from drawing a sidearm and mercilessly gun down said senior citizen. Why? Because I have the free will to do so. It goes
A voyage to escape To escape a voyage A voyage to embrace The voyage I've exploited But running from the pack Means a lonely journey And running from the past Won't allieviate the memories You threw me to the wolves I came back one of them You threw me to the shadows But I'm the one who sees When all is said and done Has anything been said at all? Has anything but lies been spoken? Anything but promises broken? When saints are ruling hell They'll shine a lantern for you To break your ignoramus spell And I'll go free Or maybe, just maybe I'll be nothing more than A skull And lettering upon a stone
As snow falls, the clock strikes midnight: Celebration, Welcoming the new year with joy, A ployed ration. A fresh breath, the start of new days; Yesterday's gone. Crisp employment of Locke's blank slate— Our fate foregone. Raw possibilities await, Each day sublet; Starting, ending, 'round in a loop, A duped sunset. Is it truly original? Am I alive? Or am I still standing under Yesterday's sky?
Why People Hate Rainbow Ponies by MakingFunOfStuff, literature
Literature
Why People Hate Rainbow Ponies
or
In Defense of the Word 'Cringey'
This isn't a contradiction of the popular argument against bullying individual artists. It's an elaboration on why the issue is more complicated.
Let's get passed the "live and let live" formalities, and admit some people have negative opinions. Not everybody agrees certain types of art are harmless. This is an explanation of why the sides exist, so we can get to the root of the matter and admit it's not about rainbow ponies. I don't support attacking individuals. I do support posting general criticism against specific trends or tropes. I believe in objectivity.
This is a war of personal philosophies, n
desperation clings to me.
i am forever in search of
a legacy that will never
come to me unless,
somehow, i set myself
free.
but what is 'free' when
all i've known is
the shackles of the past,
connecting me to events and
memories i no longer wish
to be tethered to,
no longer want to
bring me down into this
cruel reality?
if there were a god,
She would've made this world
a little nicer,
a little kinder for the
outcasts, for those
tossed aside like
annoying crumbs clinging
stubbornly to you.
what is the point in
turning oneself into marble?
what's the point of
creating yourself into
myth when we don't even
remember the names,
much less the
Ulterior Motives in Stories by MakingFunOfStuff, literature
Literature
Ulterior Motives in Stories
Subjectivity relates to what we prefer. Objectivity relates to how something is despite how we feel about it. Some stories are objectively better quality than others. If we enjoy or get something out of a bad story it's because there was something good in us, not the story.
A story that fails to live up to the standards it set for itself or has a foundation built on the sand is failing in quality. We can debate whether or not it fails in this way. Refusing to acknowledge that there can be real levels of quality in storytelling because everything is "subjective" is the thing that's close-minded.
The best stories are the most particular. The
There's something inside all of us which stories stem from. Talent relates to how much we understand these things and are able to control them (instead of letting them control us). We have curiosities and passions that lead to the same places over and over when we follow them blindly. The more we can understand our base tendencies the more power we can have over them and our story. We may have different opinions about how to control these passions, but writing with no plan or opinions only leads to what I call a "base story." I’ll try to explain what I mean by this.
Don't confuse base stories with "basic" (underdeveloped) stories. Base
“Hurry now, the show’s about to begin,” the Baron said.
The night finally came, the folks around were excited, obviously. Fiendish ghouls rose from their graves just to hear the howling of the wolves from the faraway hills, who in turn would soon gather around the Spider Queen to greet and receive her blessings. A momentous day for all creatures that haunted the night. Swarming like flies, yearning for a spectacle – a show.
“These creatures,” Mann said, “… oh god… they’re rising from the earth.”
“Why so aghast, dear friend?” Asked the Baron.
“I just do no
Contest Entry: I didn't even get it Autographed by Ikeepboothin, literature
Literature
Contest Entry: I didn't even get it Autographed
I was having such a great day. Work gave me tickets to the Reds game, right center field. My boss bought me five nine dollar beers and a six dollar hot dog just for showing up today. As if it wasn’t enough, I caught a home run hit by Adam Duvall.
For what it’s worth, I’ve never really followed baseball, but I’ve always known enough to really enjoy the few games I’ve been able to see in person. I also loved knowing that my boss was a fanatic, so I took a little bit of pride in robbing him of a homer hit by his presumably hetero man crush.
I remember being just a little bit tipsy while we walked down to the pavil