Really, I think it was Google Trends that broke me of the habit. Usually, when I would check it, the top slots would be dominated by some celebrity or another. Most of the time, I had not idea who these people were. Even when I did recognize the name, I couldn't care less about whatever new public drama they had initiated/gotten tangled in. Plus, I've been extremely busy for the last month. So I let a few things slide.
So, a bit of news. I took the LSAT a few days ago. I believe I did fairly well. I'll know for sure in about two and a half weeks (they're supposed to email my results to me). After that, I can start to seriously plan out my next move. Until then, I'm in an all too familiar holding pattern.
I have been contemplating a few new projects. Now that the LSAT is done and I'm in a pretty reliable pattern at work, I have a little bit of free time on my hands. I'm certain nothing but trouble will come of this, but it should at least be fun.
Enjoy now, orbiters! In the final analysis, it's all we've got.
OrbitDestination
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
Overdressing for science
So, obviously I stopped even pretending I was going to update daily. Life happens, and it's been happening a lot faster and more abundantly recently. I update when I have both the time and inclination. I have the inclination this morning and, thanks to an odd inversion of my usual sleeping patterns, I have the time too.
A few weeks ago, I began an experiment. I started wearing dress shirts, slacks and ties every time I left the house, apart from going to work. Whether I was meeting friends for drinks or just running to the grocery store for beer and bagels, I was dressed up. The idea was to see if people would treat me differently.
Not surprisingly, they did. But not exactly in the way I was expecting. I anticipated that people would treat me more formally but, while it certainly started out that way, it really wasn't the case as conversations and interactions progressed. In most cases, people actually seemed more relaxed, casual and friendly than they had when I was wearing my usual jeans and t-shirt ensemble. I have no idea why that is.
Maybe dressing up in nicer clothes is having some sort of effect on me; making me more confident and outgoing without me realizing it's happening. Maybe the mismatch between my formal dress style and my naturally goofy demeanor is responsible. Probably, it's something I haven't thought of yet. I'll keep pondering the subject, and perhaps it'll come to me.
Mark Twain said "Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society." He might be right. Testing that statement could be my next experiment. If I ever do decide to roam around naked to see how people react, I'll let you know.
A few weeks ago, I began an experiment. I started wearing dress shirts, slacks and ties every time I left the house, apart from going to work. Whether I was meeting friends for drinks or just running to the grocery store for beer and bagels, I was dressed up. The idea was to see if people would treat me differently.
Not surprisingly, they did. But not exactly in the way I was expecting. I anticipated that people would treat me more formally but, while it certainly started out that way, it really wasn't the case as conversations and interactions progressed. In most cases, people actually seemed more relaxed, casual and friendly than they had when I was wearing my usual jeans and t-shirt ensemble. I have no idea why that is.
Maybe dressing up in nicer clothes is having some sort of effect on me; making me more confident and outgoing without me realizing it's happening. Maybe the mismatch between my formal dress style and my naturally goofy demeanor is responsible. Probably, it's something I haven't thought of yet. I'll keep pondering the subject, and perhaps it'll come to me.
Mark Twain said "Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society." He might be right. Testing that statement could be my next experiment. If I ever do decide to roam around naked to see how people react, I'll let you know.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Packrat rehab
I have way too much stuff. This has always been the case. I had hoped that, between moving to Japan and moving back, the stuff-valanche would somehow sort itself out, but it didn't. Just looking around the room I'm in, I can see shirts I haven't worn in years, folders full of miscellaneous papers from grad school, a broken wireless mouse, a box full of worn out shoes... That's barely getting started.
The thing is, I don't tend to save new stuff anymore. I thought that was the end of it, but I was wrong. The packrat urges are still alive and well, and as a result, I'm keeping lots of old stuff that I really have no business keeping. Obviously, packrat rehab is in order.
I remember Kaleena writing about a hanger trick for clearing out your closet (turning all the hangers around and turning them back to the regular direction when you used the item in question). That's a good idea. I'll assemble a few other tricks, and let you know how it all turns out.
The thing is, I don't tend to save new stuff anymore. I thought that was the end of it, but I was wrong. The packrat urges are still alive and well, and as a result, I'm keeping lots of old stuff that I really have no business keeping. Obviously, packrat rehab is in order.
I remember Kaleena writing about a hanger trick for clearing out your closet (turning all the hangers around and turning them back to the regular direction when you used the item in question). That's a good idea. I'll assemble a few other tricks, and let you know how it all turns out.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Google Trends serves up... My lake kiln
Here we go again... It's 11:15 am, and the number one hottest search according to Google Trends is... Minka Kelly. Huh. Evidently, she and Derek Jeter are splitting up. I have to say, I have no idea who those people are. So I'm not going to talk about Minka Kelly.
Instead, I'm going to tell you about my lake kiln. I took several ceramics classes back in college, so I had to become familiar with different kinds of kilns. My favorite was the wood fired kiln. It was a huge, blocky structure that I thought vaguely resembled a squared-off locomotive engine. I liked it for two reasons: First, the wood fired kiln gave the most interesting and beautiful glaze patterns on pieces. Second, because you couldn't just turn it on and leave it. The whole time it was firing, it had to be monitored. We kept track of the temperature, adding more fuel or opening up ventilation doors as needed. This wasn't a fast process. As I recall, it took almost 2 full days to fire the kiln. So we took turns, two at a time, minding the kiln for two hours at a stretch.
Now, my lake kiln will be like that. I'm going to build it near a lake, with light forest around for preference, on the western shore. That way, when I fire the kiln, I'll be able to sit next to it and watch the sun come up over the lake. I've always liked that time of day, when the nighttime rhythms fade away and the daytime rhythms slowly take over. On boy scout camping trips, I would almost always wake up in the pre-dawn before everybody else.
So, that's what I'll do if I ever own a bit of lake-front property and get back into ceramics. Sit there, sipping coffee, with the soft crackling of the kiln behind me and the warmth from the bricks soaking into my back, watching the mist dance slowly on the surface of the lake as the sky to the east slowly brightens.
In other news, any elk milk? We don't really drink it in the USA, but I'm told that it's commercially harvested in both Russia and Sweden.
Instead, I'm going to tell you about my lake kiln. I took several ceramics classes back in college, so I had to become familiar with different kinds of kilns. My favorite was the wood fired kiln. It was a huge, blocky structure that I thought vaguely resembled a squared-off locomotive engine. I liked it for two reasons: First, the wood fired kiln gave the most interesting and beautiful glaze patterns on pieces. Second, because you couldn't just turn it on and leave it. The whole time it was firing, it had to be monitored. We kept track of the temperature, adding more fuel or opening up ventilation doors as needed. This wasn't a fast process. As I recall, it took almost 2 full days to fire the kiln. So we took turns, two at a time, minding the kiln for two hours at a stretch.
Now, my lake kiln will be like that. I'm going to build it near a lake, with light forest around for preference, on the western shore. That way, when I fire the kiln, I'll be able to sit next to it and watch the sun come up over the lake. I've always liked that time of day, when the nighttime rhythms fade away and the daytime rhythms slowly take over. On boy scout camping trips, I would almost always wake up in the pre-dawn before everybody else.
So, that's what I'll do if I ever own a bit of lake-front property and get back into ceramics. Sit there, sipping coffee, with the soft crackling of the kiln behind me and the warmth from the bricks soaking into my back, watching the mist dance slowly on the surface of the lake as the sky to the east slowly brightens.
In other news, any elk milk? We don't really drink it in the USA, but I'm told that it's commercially harvested in both Russia and Sweden.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Google Trends serves up... Ocracoke Island (and a bit about memory)
It's 11:04 a.m. and the hottest search on Google trends is... Ocracoke Island. Presumably, this is because the island is expected to be hammered by Hurricane Irene as it moves up the east coast.
I have fond, if vague, memories of Ocracoke Island. Years ago, my family used to go camping at Cape Hatteras in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We got down to Ocracoke Island once or twice. Honestly, though, all I remember of the place is that there were giant horseflies there. That, and I remember hearing something about horses.
It's odd. All of my earliest memories are bad ones. Being bitten by giant horseflies at Ocracoke Island. Losing my grip on my E.T. balloon and having it drift up to the top of the high ceiling in the living room. Having my toy truck thrown into the parking lot by a bigger kid outside the family apartment and crying because I wasn't allowed to go get it and I thought it was gone forever. I don't know what was so compelling about the tiny miseries of being a tiny person, but they're seared into my memory.
As I got older, though, something changed. I think it was sometime during early college. It was a slow change, but the most enduring and powerful memories of my adult life are the positive ones. These days, unpleasant memories tend to go through a refining process in which they're rendered down intellectually to extract any lessons or other useful information they might contain. Any lingering emotional fallout fades away for lack of anything to anchor it to, and I'm just left with an intellectual understanding of what happened. By contrast, if I want to call up the memory of late night improvisational frisbee golf with a good friend, or a cherry-blossom viewing party with BBQ on a perfect spring day in Kyoto, all I have to do is close my eyes, let my mind drift back, and there I am.
If I knew more about psychology, I'm certain I could put some names to what changed and what it is that I do now. But I don't, and I can't. And honestly, I couldn't care less. It works well. If it ever stops working, I'll change it to something better. That's it for today.
The orbit's starting to drift wider. I can feel it!
I have fond, if vague, memories of Ocracoke Island. Years ago, my family used to go camping at Cape Hatteras in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We got down to Ocracoke Island once or twice. Honestly, though, all I remember of the place is that there were giant horseflies there. That, and I remember hearing something about horses.
It's odd. All of my earliest memories are bad ones. Being bitten by giant horseflies at Ocracoke Island. Losing my grip on my E.T. balloon and having it drift up to the top of the high ceiling in the living room. Having my toy truck thrown into the parking lot by a bigger kid outside the family apartment and crying because I wasn't allowed to go get it and I thought it was gone forever. I don't know what was so compelling about the tiny miseries of being a tiny person, but they're seared into my memory.
As I got older, though, something changed. I think it was sometime during early college. It was a slow change, but the most enduring and powerful memories of my adult life are the positive ones. These days, unpleasant memories tend to go through a refining process in which they're rendered down intellectually to extract any lessons or other useful information they might contain. Any lingering emotional fallout fades away for lack of anything to anchor it to, and I'm just left with an intellectual understanding of what happened. By contrast, if I want to call up the memory of late night improvisational frisbee golf with a good friend, or a cherry-blossom viewing party with BBQ on a perfect spring day in Kyoto, all I have to do is close my eyes, let my mind drift back, and there I am.
If I knew more about psychology, I'm certain I could put some names to what changed and what it is that I do now. But I don't, and I can't. And honestly, I couldn't care less. It works well. If it ever stops working, I'll change it to something better. That's it for today.
The orbit's starting to drift wider. I can feel it!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Google Trends serves up... Will Smith.
I'm sticking by my guns. The topic for today is going to be selected for me. It's 12:27 p.m. Central time, and I'm checking Google Trends. Number one is... Will Smith? Seriously? Yesterday at about this time, it was 'HP Tablet.' Oh well.
Evidently, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith are separating. I have to admit, I don't really have anything to say about that. Reason being, I can't honestly say I care. I've never met any of the Smiths, and it's extremely unlikely I ever will. They're not in my monkeysphere and, while I acknowledge it's an unfortunate and difficult process they're going through, I don't believe their personal lives are any of my business. I've never really understood why so many people are so fascinated with the minutia of celebrities' lives, especially when I have plenty to keep track of in my own life. I suppose my own perspective might be equally baffling to an avid celebrity gossip aficionado.
As for Will Smith, I have a confession to make. While I really did like 'Pursuit of Happyness,' and 'Fresh Prince' is obviously loaded with nostalgia, my favorite Will Smith performance was in 'Men in Black.' That's a secret I've held onto for years, and now it's out. I feel cleansed. Now I'm going to go get ready for work.
Tomorrow, same experiment. Google Trends gets another shot at picking the topic.
Evidently, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith are separating. I have to admit, I don't really have anything to say about that. Reason being, I can't honestly say I care. I've never met any of the Smiths, and it's extremely unlikely I ever will. They're not in my monkeysphere and, while I acknowledge it's an unfortunate and difficult process they're going through, I don't believe their personal lives are any of my business. I've never really understood why so many people are so fascinated with the minutia of celebrities' lives, especially when I have plenty to keep track of in my own life. I suppose my own perspective might be equally baffling to an avid celebrity gossip aficionado.
As for Will Smith, I have a confession to make. While I really did like 'Pursuit of Happyness,' and 'Fresh Prince' is obviously loaded with nostalgia, my favorite Will Smith performance was in 'Men in Black.' That's a secret I've held onto for years, and now it's out. I feel cleansed. Now I'm going to go get ready for work.
Tomorrow, same experiment. Google Trends gets another shot at picking the topic.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Slow Sunday Conversations
A while ago, I had something to say about the conversations I had with guests across the bar. Last night, for curiosity's sake, I kept track of every topic of conversation that came up with all of my guests. It was a slow night at the bar itself, but I did have a few guests.
As an aside, corporate policy is to refer to all customers as 'guests.' I guess I've internalized it. Good thing? Bad thing? Subject for another day's entry.
Anyway, here's a list of the conversation topics. Obviously, I'm not going to include the mechanical conversations at the heart of the ordering process. Those don't really count as conversations, as I understand the term. Everything on this list is outside the business of putting food and drinks in front of guests (directly, anyway).
What it's like living in Delaware
Weather x2
Chips and Salsa (awesomeness of)
Good book to movie adaptations
Different kinds of tequila
That's it. I didn't try to steer the conversations at all. Each of those topics was guest selected. Kind of a fun little exercise, I thought. I may do this again some time, but I think it's time to start expanding the orbit a little. I have no idea what tomorrow's topic will be. Google Trends is going to pick it out.
As an aside, corporate policy is to refer to all customers as 'guests.' I guess I've internalized it. Good thing? Bad thing? Subject for another day's entry.
Anyway, here's a list of the conversation topics. Obviously, I'm not going to include the mechanical conversations at the heart of the ordering process. Those don't really count as conversations, as I understand the term. Everything on this list is outside the business of putting food and drinks in front of guests (directly, anyway).
What it's like living in Delaware
Weather x2
Chips and Salsa (awesomeness of)
Good book to movie adaptations
Different kinds of tequila
That's it. I didn't try to steer the conversations at all. Each of those topics was guest selected. Kind of a fun little exercise, I thought. I may do this again some time, but I think it's time to start expanding the orbit a little. I have no idea what tomorrow's topic will be. Google Trends is going to pick it out.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Missed days and such
Missed a day yesterday. I'm probably going to miss an entry tomorrow too. I'm not too worried, though. Life happens, and I'd rather not miss it. Work happens too, and I can't afford to miss that.
A little while ago, I wrote about the kinds of conversations I have with customers across the bar. Tonight, I think I'll try to keep track of what topics come up, about how many people want to talk versus how many don't, and so on. I'll be back next time with whatever I find.
A little while ago, I wrote about the kinds of conversations I have with customers across the bar. Tonight, I think I'll try to keep track of what topics come up, about how many people want to talk versus how many don't, and so on. I'll be back next time with whatever I find.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
What would you do if you had a time machine?
What would you do if you had a time machine? When would you go, and where would you end up? I think that's kind of an important question, since we're all constantly in motion around the axis of the Earth, in orbit around the sun, around the center of the galaxy and so on. But for now, I guess we can assume that you won't automatically end up in deep space.
So, what would you do? Would you travel into the past if you thought you might be at risk of erasing yourself from of existence via time paradox? What if nothing you did on the trip could affect your 'home' timeline? How would that change your time travel plans? Would you go into the future if you knew it would be a one-way trip? What if the future was set and you couldn't actually change anything that would happen? What if you could only observe, but not interact with the people and events you encountered?
Would you try to change the past to engineer a better present? Would you go get nifty gadgets from the future or, for that matter, information on the stock market or major sporting events? Your time machine might need to look like a DeLorean in order to pull that last bit off.
If I had a time machine, I think I would go back to when I first started writing this blog post and write about something else instead. Sadly, that's something that can't be done. Happily, I'll have another chance tomorrow, so I won't stress about it too much. Instead, I will drink some coffee and run some errands. Since I don't have a time machine.
So, what would you do? Would you travel into the past if you thought you might be at risk of erasing yourself from of existence via time paradox? What if nothing you did on the trip could affect your 'home' timeline? How would that change your time travel plans? Would you go into the future if you knew it would be a one-way trip? What if the future was set and you couldn't actually change anything that would happen? What if you could only observe, but not interact with the people and events you encountered?
Would you try to change the past to engineer a better present? Would you go get nifty gadgets from the future or, for that matter, information on the stock market or major sporting events? Your time machine might need to look like a DeLorean in order to pull that last bit off.
If I had a time machine, I think I would go back to when I first started writing this blog post and write about something else instead. Sadly, that's something that can't be done. Happily, I'll have another chance tomorrow, so I won't stress about it too much. Instead, I will drink some coffee and run some errands. Since I don't have a time machine.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
RIP, Jeff. We're going to miss you.
A friend and coworker passed away early yesterday morning. I found out about it when I got to work yesterday afternoon. He was one of the most awesomely off-beat, hilariously goofy and all around most fun people I've ever worked with. I always enjoyed seeing his name on the schedule because I knew those shifts would be better because he was there. He was an outstanding dude, and I wish I had gotten to know him better. My sincere condolences to his family, loved ones, and all who were lucky enough to be closer to him than I was. You're going to be missed, Jeff.
That's all I've got to say today.
That's all I've got to say today.
Monday, August 15, 2011
I can't think of anything
I can't think of anything worth writing. So I'm free writing for 5 minutes. I'm deliberately trying to keep my sentences simple and short. If I don't do that, I tend to ramble. Spaghetti sentences are more interesting, but they're also a pain to read. Keeping track of complicated syntactic structure can be obnoxious, especially when the ideas presented in the sentence don't warrant such a level of sophistication. Oops. Let one slip out.
The thing is, though, simple sentences are boring. They may be clear and concise, but they're dry. Deserts are dry. Most deserts are dry. Most of the time, anyway. The Kalahari desert is pretty dry. I remember watching "The Gods Must be Crazy" when I was little. At the time, I had no idea it was a foreign film dubbed into English. I think the original was French. At the end of these 5 minutes, I'm going to google it and find out. I'll let you know whether it is or not after the fact in these parentheses: (According to Wikipedia, the original language used in most of the movie was Afrikaans.)
I'm at about the 3 and a half minute mark. It's getting a little cloudy outside. They're mid-altitude clouds. It's surprisingly easy to type while I'm not looking at the screen. I'm glad I took typing in high school. it really paid off, especially when I was writing papers in college. I want to go back to school.
I'm looking at the screen again. Surprisingly, I only made one spelling error while I was looking away. I'll correct it before I post.
5 minutes are up. See you later!
The thing is, though, simple sentences are boring. They may be clear and concise, but they're dry. Deserts are dry. Most deserts are dry. Most of the time, anyway. The Kalahari desert is pretty dry. I remember watching "The Gods Must be Crazy" when I was little. At the time, I had no idea it was a foreign film dubbed into English. I think the original was French. At the end of these 5 minutes, I'm going to google it and find out. I'll let you know whether it is or not after the fact in these parentheses: (According to Wikipedia, the original language used in most of the movie was Afrikaans.)
I'm at about the 3 and a half minute mark. It's getting a little cloudy outside. They're mid-altitude clouds. It's surprisingly easy to type while I'm not looking at the screen. I'm glad I took typing in high school. it really paid off, especially when I was writing papers in college. I want to go back to school.
I'm looking at the screen again. Surprisingly, I only made one spelling error while I was looking away. I'll correct it before I post.
5 minutes are up. See you later!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
A vast expanse of nothing
Nothingness. Void. Empty space (woah). It's a weird concept. Why do you need to have something to represent nothing?
I guess you could just refer to it the measure of distance between two bits of something. Much of that distance simply doesn't have anything in it. It's place-holder distance. It's like a concession to our sense of perspective.
Or maybe it's more than that. Maybe it's potential existence. A very real reminder of potential in a universe where so little actually lives up to its potential. Maybe empty space is a call to action. Maybe it's a challenge slapping us in the face with a glove packed with lead shot to get off our collective asses and actually accomplish something. Or maybe I'm just rambling, or filling space in a blog I decided to update daily.
Or, since this is something of a departure from everyday thought, maybe I'm just trying to live up to the the title 'far orbit of the mind.'
I guess you could just refer to it the measure of distance between two bits of something. Much of that distance simply doesn't have anything in it. It's place-holder distance. It's like a concession to our sense of perspective.
Or maybe it's more than that. Maybe it's potential existence. A very real reminder of potential in a universe where so little actually lives up to its potential. Maybe empty space is a call to action. Maybe it's a challenge slapping us in the face with a glove packed with lead shot to get off our collective asses and actually accomplish something. Or maybe I'm just rambling, or filling space in a blog I decided to update daily.
Or, since this is something of a departure from everyday thought, maybe I'm just trying to live up to the the title 'far orbit of the mind.'
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Camera resolution (as in, decision)
I just realized, I haven't taken many pictures at all in the last year. I had a camera all the time when I was in Japan, but for some reason I don't carry one now that I'm back in the US. I'm not sure why that is. It's not like there's nothing to take pictures of around here. I'm going to start carrying a camera, and if I come up with any good pics, I'll be sure to share.
Ok, so today's kind of a 'light thought day.' Nothing too heavy. I didn't even have to define anything!
Ok, so today's kind of a 'light thought day.' Nothing too heavy. I didn't even have to define anything!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Enjoying Freedom Responsibly 3: The Tyranny of Freedom
This is it. Next up is something else.
So, freedom is awesome. With freedom, you can do anything, right? Wrong. Freedom is awesome, but it's not license to do anything that springs to mind. After all, we live in a complicated world, in the context of a relentlessly advancing entropic arrow. It points in one direction, and anything shining a light cone on any particular event could potentially influence that event. A person may have the ability to drive a monster truck over orphans and pensioners, but doing that will inevitably lead to myriad consequences (most of them unpleasant to all involved, excluding lawyers). And that's responsibility. Understanding and being mindful of consequences is responsibility. Freedom in the absence of responsibility is a meaningless concept. It's action without reason, and ultimately it makes one a slave to circumstance.
That, then, is my final point and conclusion. Freedom without responsibility is meaningless and impotent. Responsibility without freedom is nonsensical and irrelevant. The two concepts are the two sides of a single coin. Nourish one, and the other inevitably flourishes. They can't be seperated.
So, that's it. The longer I went about on this series, the less I liked it. Tomorrow's something different. Not sure what. I'll let you know.
See you tomorrow, orbiters!
So, freedom is awesome. With freedom, you can do anything, right? Wrong. Freedom is awesome, but it's not license to do anything that springs to mind. After all, we live in a complicated world, in the context of a relentlessly advancing entropic arrow. It points in one direction, and anything shining a light cone on any particular event could potentially influence that event. A person may have the ability to drive a monster truck over orphans and pensioners, but doing that will inevitably lead to myriad consequences (most of them unpleasant to all involved, excluding lawyers). And that's responsibility. Understanding and being mindful of consequences is responsibility. Freedom in the absence of responsibility is a meaningless concept. It's action without reason, and ultimately it makes one a slave to circumstance.
That, then, is my final point and conclusion. Freedom without responsibility is meaningless and impotent. Responsibility without freedom is nonsensical and irrelevant. The two concepts are the two sides of a single coin. Nourish one, and the other inevitably flourishes. They can't be seperated.
So, that's it. The longer I went about on this series, the less I liked it. Tomorrow's something different. Not sure what. I'll let you know.
See you tomorrow, orbiters!
Enjoying Freedom Responsibly 2.1: The Consequence Connection
So, now that I've laid down some definitions (or at least pretended to) for freedom and responsibility, let's get this train wreck rolling.
Actually, the funny thing is that, reading back on it, most of my work is done already. If freedom is a state of not being determined or controlled from an outside source, and responsibility is acceptance of the consequences of one's actions, whatever they may be, then the connection between the two seems pretty clear. The greater the options, the greater the range of consequences.
Originally, I was going to systematically work through the consequence connection (ooh, I like that... I think I'll use it!) by considering examples, but now I'm having second thoughts. All the examples I was thinking about using started to blur together. Eventually, I'd just end up repeating myself, so I'm changing direction a bit.
Next post is the last one in this series, then I'm moving on to something else.
Actually, the funny thing is that, reading back on it, most of my work is done already. If freedom is a state of not being determined or controlled from an outside source, and responsibility is acceptance of the consequences of one's actions, whatever they may be, then the connection between the two seems pretty clear. The greater the options, the greater the range of consequences.
Originally, I was going to systematically work through the consequence connection (ooh, I like that... I think I'll use it!) by considering examples, but now I'm having second thoughts. All the examples I was thinking about using started to blur together. Eventually, I'd just end up repeating myself, so I'm changing direction a bit.
Next post is the last one in this series, then I'm moving on to something else.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Enjoying Freedom Responsibly 1.4: Intro 4
Alright, enough of this silliness. Time to nail down this definition.
When I sat down to write this, I hypothesized that perhaps I had not adequately searched for a reasonable definition of 'responsibility.' So, I resolved to change that. I looked, and every online dictionary I saw had some variation of Merriam Webster's dependency on 'responsible' that I griped about last night.
I'm going to cut a long story short. I didn't find much that was particularly helpful, or even close to what I was looking for. Dictionary.com actually came sort of near the mark, with: "having a capacity for moral decisions and therefore accountable; capable of rational thought or action: 'The defendant is not responsible for his actions.' " I found that little gem just a few lines under an advertisement for 'catchhimandkeephim.com' letting me know the 9 ugly mistakes that I'm probably making that my man finds totally unattractive.
But the best answer I found came from Answers.com, which gifted me with "3. Being a source or cause." I was impressed by the simplicity and elegance. Really, that cuts to the heart of it right there. No blatherskite about fiscal nonsense, answering to somebody or some higher authority. Simple cause and effect. That's what it comes down to. Responsibility involves recognizing oneself as the agent by which action occurs, realizing that one is at least one of the (potentially numerous) causes for whatever consequences arise.
But that's not quite enough. Responsibility, on a personal level, implies obligation. Maybe not in relation to some higher power, but it still can't exist in isolation. It requires some social, even moral, framework to exist. This is rapidly threatening to spiral into a philosophical morass of unknown depth and viscosity. So I'm opting for a simpler answer, in the interests of common sense (not to mention shortening this already obnoxiously long 'intro').
Responsibility is: "A condition of attribution and ownership of one's actions/inactions, the consequences thereof and the well-being of others affected by said actions or inactions." There. That's it. I'm going with that until such time as circumstances force me to change it. On with the show!
Enjoying Freedom Responsibly 1.3: Intro 3
The definition of freedom is now workable, at least for the time being. If the definition stops functioning somewhere along the line, rest assured I'll revise it and correct any mistakes that might have crept in along the way. But, for now, freedom is solid.
Next, I focus on defining 'Responsibility.'
I learned my lesson with 'freedom.' Merriam Webster flatly refuses to define 'responsibility' (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/responsibility) itself, and rather refers back to 'responsible' (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/responsible).
The trouble is, I'm not satisfied with Merriam Webster's definitions. Unlike 'freedom,' no amount of tweaking will make this drivel satisfactory. I'll explain, point by point:
There are 2 definitions given for responsibility. Definition 2 is a noun referring to those things one accepts as duties and/or obligations. As I see it at the moment, that has nothing to do with the current discussion, so I'll disregard it unless it becomes important later. There are only 2 definitions, so that leaves me with definition 1. That being, "The quality or state of being responsible." As with 'freedom,' this isn't helpful, so I'll move on to 'responsible.' This is where I really began to be irritated.
All the sub-definitions of Responsible, definition 1, involve liability with the assumption of outside authority. 2.b is probably the closest to what I'm aiming for: "able to choose for oneself between right and wrong." But there's a lot missing yet, so I keep looking. Definition 4 is useless, since from the outset it's solely concerned with social and political ramifications of choices, and I would ultimately classify that as a direct consequence of definition 1. Definition 3 is the one that I found really irritating: Marked by or involving responsibility or accountability. When I saw that, I almost threw a handful of raw hulled sunflower seeds at my laptop. Infinite see-also loops are not as helpful as the authors of that gibberish might think.
I didn't throw the seeds. I ate them. Sunflower seeds are good, yo.
Obviously, Merriam Webster's dictionary isn't going to be especially helpful. I'll do a bit of looking, and a lot of thinking, and be back tomorrow with something more substantial. See you then, orbiters!
Next, I focus on defining 'Responsibility.'
I learned my lesson with 'freedom.' Merriam Webster flatly refuses to define 'responsibility' (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/responsibility) itself, and rather refers back to 'responsible' (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/responsible).
The trouble is, I'm not satisfied with Merriam Webster's definitions. Unlike 'freedom,' no amount of tweaking will make this drivel satisfactory. I'll explain, point by point:
There are 2 definitions given for responsibility. Definition 2 is a noun referring to those things one accepts as duties and/or obligations. As I see it at the moment, that has nothing to do with the current discussion, so I'll disregard it unless it becomes important later. There are only 2 definitions, so that leaves me with definition 1. That being, "The quality or state of being responsible." As with 'freedom,' this isn't helpful, so I'll move on to 'responsible.' This is where I really began to be irritated.
All the sub-definitions of Responsible, definition 1, involve liability with the assumption of outside authority. 2.b is probably the closest to what I'm aiming for: "able to choose for oneself between right and wrong." But there's a lot missing yet, so I keep looking. Definition 4 is useless, since from the outset it's solely concerned with social and political ramifications of choices, and I would ultimately classify that as a direct consequence of definition 1. Definition 3 is the one that I found really irritating: Marked by or involving responsibility or accountability. When I saw that, I almost threw a handful of raw hulled sunflower seeds at my laptop. Infinite see-also loops are not as helpful as the authors of that gibberish might think.
I didn't throw the seeds. I ate them. Sunflower seeds are good, yo.
Obviously, Merriam Webster's dictionary isn't going to be especially helpful. I'll do a bit of looking, and a lot of thinking, and be back tomorrow with something more substantial. See you then, orbiters!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
A bamboo break
Originally, my plan was to lay out my working definition of 'Responsibility' today, but the day is going to be completely packed, and I don't have time.
Instead, check out this picture of bamboo! It's bamboo!!
See you tomorrow!
Instead, check out this picture of bamboo! It's bamboo!!
See you tomorrow!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Enjoying Freedom Responsibly 1.2: Intro 2
Before I really get started, there's just one more thing to get out of the way: definitions. Big, abstract concepts like 'freedom' can be difficult to discuss unless you lay out, from the beginning, exactly what you mean when you use the word. It's very helpful to have a solid cartesian origin point around which the resulting discussion can orient.
Also, as a personal note, it also avoids the 'moving target' strategy of argument. Too many times, I've been involved in conversations regarding some loaded concept or another, made some argument or refutation, and had the other person suddenly shift the definition of whatever it is we were talking about rather than reply to the argument or refutation. It annoys me when others do that to me, and I'm not going to put up with it in my own thinking, either.
Freedom. Merriam Webster has this to say on the subject: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freedom . "The quality or state of being free." Then it branches into numerous sub-definitions and examples. 1.a being "The absence of necessity, coercion or constraint in choice or action." 1.g is "Boldness of conception or execution." The rest can essentially be traced back to one of those two. While this is a useful definition for most practical purposes, it's not so helpful as a foundation for real abstract thought. Something's missing.
Free. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free. This is a little more helpful. 1.a - 1.d look attractive, but invariably view freedom through the lens of interaction with other people. While that's an important and highly visible perspective, it dissolves when you put an individual in isolation.
2.a: "Not determined by anything beyond its own nature or being: choosing or capable of choosing for itself." This, by my reckoning, is the core bedrock on which all the other sub-definitions are based (excluding, of course, other non-personal definitions of free, such as a 'free lunch' or 'having a free evening'). It's also the closest definition to the one I had in mind for the present discussion.
By folding the definition of 'free' into 'freedom' and adding a personal framework, I come up with this: Personal freedom is: The quality or state of not being determined by anything beyond one's own nature or being: choosing or capable of choosing for oneself." To this, I'll add a clarification about the nature of determination and choice: The definition is not simply referring to external action, but also to how one reacts to stimuli and processes the input from the senses. Freedom of both thought and action are included.
There, that about does it for now. Tomorrow, I aim to tackle the definition of 'responsibility.' See you then!
Also, as a personal note, it also avoids the 'moving target' strategy of argument. Too many times, I've been involved in conversations regarding some loaded concept or another, made some argument or refutation, and had the other person suddenly shift the definition of whatever it is we were talking about rather than reply to the argument or refutation. It annoys me when others do that to me, and I'm not going to put up with it in my own thinking, either.
Freedom. Merriam Webster has this to say on the subject: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freedom . "The quality or state of being free." Then it branches into numerous sub-definitions and examples. 1.a being "The absence of necessity, coercion or constraint in choice or action." 1.g is "Boldness of conception or execution." The rest can essentially be traced back to one of those two. While this is a useful definition for most practical purposes, it's not so helpful as a foundation for real abstract thought. Something's missing.
Free. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free. This is a little more helpful. 1.a - 1.d look attractive, but invariably view freedom through the lens of interaction with other people. While that's an important and highly visible perspective, it dissolves when you put an individual in isolation.
2.a: "Not determined by anything beyond its own nature or being: choosing or capable of choosing for itself." This, by my reckoning, is the core bedrock on which all the other sub-definitions are based (excluding, of course, other non-personal definitions of free, such as a 'free lunch' or 'having a free evening'). It's also the closest definition to the one I had in mind for the present discussion.
By folding the definition of 'free' into 'freedom' and adding a personal framework, I come up with this: Personal freedom is: The quality or state of not being determined by anything beyond one's own nature or being: choosing or capable of choosing for oneself." To this, I'll add a clarification about the nature of determination and choice: The definition is not simply referring to external action, but also to how one reacts to stimuli and processes the input from the senses. Freedom of both thought and action are included.
There, that about does it for now. Tomorrow, I aim to tackle the definition of 'responsibility.' See you then!
Monday, August 8, 2011
Enjoying Freedom Responsibly 1.1: Intro 1
In 1946, in the book Man's Search for Meaning, neurologist and psychologist Victor Frankl wrote: "Freedom, however, is not the last word. Freedom is only part of the story and half of the truth. Freedom is but the negative aspect of the whole phenomenon whose positive aspect is responsibleness. In fact, freedom is in danger of degenerating into mere arbitrariness unless it is lived in terms of responsibleness. That is why I recommend that the Statue of Liberty on the East Coast be supplemented by a Statue of Responsibility on the West Coast." (thanks, Wikipedia) I agree wholeheartedly, and furthermore would say that this idea is both extremely important and remarkably empowering. Over the next couple of days, I intend to explore the idea of personal responsibility and a few of its ramifications. I realize I'll likely be going over ground that's already well traveled, at least at first, so I'll do my best not to let the ruts in the road be too terrible a constraint.
I'd like to start today by issuing a sort of caveat. In the next few days, I'm going to have a lot to say about the dizzying state of freedom that many of us enjoy and/or suffer from. I'm also going to have a lot to say about taking responsibility for one's actions and such. That being said, I realize that there is no shortage of people in the world who do not and cannot enjoy the benefits of freedom for one reason or another. It is in no way my intention to minimize or belittle them or their struggles. I just wanted to get that on the table first and before.
See you tomorrow!
I'd like to start today by issuing a sort of caveat. In the next few days, I'm going to have a lot to say about the dizzying state of freedom that many of us enjoy and/or suffer from. I'm also going to have a lot to say about taking responsibility for one's actions and such. That being said, I realize that there is no shortage of people in the world who do not and cannot enjoy the benefits of freedom for one reason or another. It is in no way my intention to minimize or belittle them or their struggles. I just wanted to get that on the table first and before.
See you tomorrow!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
With any luck, an everyday occurance
(In this post, I have decided not to delete anything. If I type it, it goes into the final post. Excepting spelling errors, which I will correct as I go. Yo.)
My orbit has yet to really get going. I've only just fired up my primary rockets and crawled out of the atmosphere. I can't even consider myself to be 'in orbit' yet, and already, there's a problem. As I'm trying to come up with something substantive for this post, I keep coming back to the notion that there ought to be some running theme. Some overarching purpose for the blog. A final destination, or at least a definitive direction for the orbit.
I don't know why I feel as though I have to settle on just one direction or theme. Maybe it's because that's how I've always done things. I tend to focus on just one thing at a time, and it's been a constant struggle to learn the art of multitasking (for my job, primarily). I think this tendency to focus on things, coupled with the stated embrasure of randomness in the outset of the blog, was the main reason why it took me forever and a day to actually follow up to the first post. I kept rebelling against the lack of pattern when I sat down to write anything.
My coffee should be ready. I'll go grab it now.
I am back, slightly delayed thanks to a pressing need to move laundry from the washing machine to the dryer. I realize that this gap in time is entirely subjective, but perhaps you can replicate it by hopping off to a trendy juice bar for a few minutes. I promise the blog will still be here when you get back. Go on.
You gone? Alright, I'll wait.
Welcome back. I suppose I'll close this out by saying that, starting now, I intend to post daily. Or, if not daily, as close to it as I can. Many of the posts will probably be rambling, random explorations of ideas or concepts that I personally find interesting. Furthermore, I have quieted that incessant voice in my head demanding a theme or unified direction with the thought that a theme will probably creep into the posts on its own, without me actually trying to inject it.
I've also realized that I tend to write long and complicated sentences when I'm not editing myself. I haven't even had but a sip of my coffee, so that can't be the reason. Two sips now.
See you tomorrow!
My orbit has yet to really get going. I've only just fired up my primary rockets and crawled out of the atmosphere. I can't even consider myself to be 'in orbit' yet, and already, there's a problem. As I'm trying to come up with something substantive for this post, I keep coming back to the notion that there ought to be some running theme. Some overarching purpose for the blog. A final destination, or at least a definitive direction for the orbit.
I don't know why I feel as though I have to settle on just one direction or theme. Maybe it's because that's how I've always done things. I tend to focus on just one thing at a time, and it's been a constant struggle to learn the art of multitasking (for my job, primarily). I think this tendency to focus on things, coupled with the stated embrasure of randomness in the outset of the blog, was the main reason why it took me forever and a day to actually follow up to the first post. I kept rebelling against the lack of pattern when I sat down to write anything.
My coffee should be ready. I'll go grab it now.
I am back, slightly delayed thanks to a pressing need to move laundry from the washing machine to the dryer. I realize that this gap in time is entirely subjective, but perhaps you can replicate it by hopping off to a trendy juice bar for a few minutes. I promise the blog will still be here when you get back. Go on.
You gone? Alright, I'll wait.
Welcome back. I suppose I'll close this out by saying that, starting now, I intend to post daily. Or, if not daily, as close to it as I can. Many of the posts will probably be rambling, random explorations of ideas or concepts that I personally find interesting. Furthermore, I have quieted that incessant voice in my head demanding a theme or unified direction with the thought that a theme will probably creep into the posts on its own, without me actually trying to inject it.
I've also realized that I tend to write long and complicated sentences when I'm not editing myself. I haven't even had but a sip of my coffee, so that can't be the reason. Two sips now.
See you tomorrow!
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Part of the job description
I'm a bartender in a family-oriented Mexican restaurant in the St. Louis Metro East. Now, a bartender's job involves more than just mixing drinks and pouring beer. I also have to be an entertainment provider, as needed. Some people just want to drink, eat, watch TV and be left alone. But others will talk the bartender's ear off if given half a chance. This gives me a lot of opportunities to listen to people and think about what they say.
If you have some romantic notion about people pouring their souls out to the one pouring their drinks, and if you want to keep that romantic notion intact, you might want to stop reading now.
Seriously. It's cool, I promise I'll be on about something else next time.
Alright, then. Big shocker here: The overwhelming majority of conversations I have with people are about one of two things: Weather or sports. In that order of frequency. Sometimes I get lucky and the two come together in one conversation into a sort of Voltron of banality that I don't care about. Luckily, my job isn't really to expound on topics, it usually works better if I'm a sounding board for the guest. So I listen to them talk and express interest whether I'm interested or not. And my tips go up. yay.
One topic that comes up pretty frequently (although not as much as the weather or sports) is drinks. This usually starts up when the guest has no idea what they want to drink, and he/she/zie asks me for a recommendation. Or asks me what's in a particular drink, or how it's made. These conversations are fun, but usually short. The guest is thirsty, and generally not looking for a lecture.
The restaurant I work at has a pretty sweet deal going on with the hotel next door. Bring in your key card, get a 20% discount. So I meet a lot of business travelers. Some of whom are more than happy to tell you about where they're from and what they're up to in the St. Louis area if you give them the opportunity. Some don't, though, so you don't want to pry. These are probably my favorite conversations, just for varieties sake.
Rounding out the list are guests who think they're comedians. These guests are entertaining (often unintentionally), but have to be handled with caution. Here's why: When a big part of your job is making small talk, you tend to hear a lot of the same material over and over again. If a guest comes up with some clever quip that they think is totally new and original, chances are they are wrong. Now, since most of my income relies on guests giving me money on top of the price of their drinks (aka; tips), it's generally not a good idea to shoot down or deflate the would-be comedians around the bar.
Sometimes repetitive, sometimes banal, sometimes funny, sometimes interesting, sometimes absurd (these are the most fun). Not really profound, deep or dramatic. It's small talk, and it's something that I hated when I was younger. Now it's part of my job. And it's starting to grow on me.
If you have some romantic notion about people pouring their souls out to the one pouring their drinks, and if you want to keep that romantic notion intact, you might want to stop reading now.
Seriously. It's cool, I promise I'll be on about something else next time.
Alright, then. Big shocker here: The overwhelming majority of conversations I have with people are about one of two things: Weather or sports. In that order of frequency. Sometimes I get lucky and the two come together in one conversation into a sort of Voltron of banality that I don't care about. Luckily, my job isn't really to expound on topics, it usually works better if I'm a sounding board for the guest. So I listen to them talk and express interest whether I'm interested or not. And my tips go up. yay.
One topic that comes up pretty frequently (although not as much as the weather or sports) is drinks. This usually starts up when the guest has no idea what they want to drink, and he/she/zie asks me for a recommendation. Or asks me what's in a particular drink, or how it's made. These conversations are fun, but usually short. The guest is thirsty, and generally not looking for a lecture.
The restaurant I work at has a pretty sweet deal going on with the hotel next door. Bring in your key card, get a 20% discount. So I meet a lot of business travelers. Some of whom are more than happy to tell you about where they're from and what they're up to in the St. Louis area if you give them the opportunity. Some don't, though, so you don't want to pry. These are probably my favorite conversations, just for varieties sake.
Rounding out the list are guests who think they're comedians. These guests are entertaining (often unintentionally), but have to be handled with caution. Here's why: When a big part of your job is making small talk, you tend to hear a lot of the same material over and over again. If a guest comes up with some clever quip that they think is totally new and original, chances are they are wrong. Now, since most of my income relies on guests giving me money on top of the price of their drinks (aka; tips), it's generally not a good idea to shoot down or deflate the would-be comedians around the bar.
Sometimes repetitive, sometimes banal, sometimes funny, sometimes interesting, sometimes absurd (these are the most fun). Not really profound, deep or dramatic. It's small talk, and it's something that I hated when I was younger. Now it's part of my job. And it's starting to grow on me.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Simplicity and Complexity: scratching the surface
I think I can say this much without fear of contradiction: the world is a pretty complicated place. We share a planet with nearly 7 billion of our closest friends. Our bodies are made up of trillions of cells, not counting the legion of bacteria and such along for the ride. The observable universe is so big and behaves in such a counter-intuitive way that understanding humanity's best guess on how it all works takes a lifetime of dedicated study... and we already know that understanding can't possibly be right! In fact, on that subject, any serious area of study or body of knowledge has grown so vast that anybody who wants to make any real headway at untangling it has to specialize in a sub-area of a specialty.
There's a lot going on.
Then again, it's possible to get along pretty well in the world by simplifying one's life (See Thoreau). In fact, it might well be a healthier choice to pursue simplicity rather than drown in the complexity. If I were better motivated, I'm sure I could dig up a study on the subject somewhere.
I'm wondering, can you have it both ways? Maybe, simplify to such an extent that it passes infinity, loops around, and becomes intense, complicated and super groovy? I don't have an answer to that, but I'm betting somebody has already come up with one. Probably several somebodys. And I could probably find those answers with a quick google search. Which I might do... Provided I feel like it... After I get done checking YouTube to see if anybody I'm subscribed to has posted another video... and changing my laundry.
I'll be back. Although I don't guarantee I'll be talking about this same thing.
There's a lot going on.
Then again, it's possible to get along pretty well in the world by simplifying one's life (See Thoreau). In fact, it might well be a healthier choice to pursue simplicity rather than drown in the complexity. If I were better motivated, I'm sure I could dig up a study on the subject somewhere.
I'm wondering, can you have it both ways? Maybe, simplify to such an extent that it passes infinity, loops around, and becomes intense, complicated and super groovy? I don't have an answer to that, but I'm betting somebody has already come up with one. Probably several somebodys. And I could probably find those answers with a quick google search. Which I might do... Provided I feel like it... After I get done checking YouTube to see if anybody I'm subscribed to has posted another video... and changing my laundry.
I'll be back. Although I don't guarantee I'll be talking about this same thing.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
An insidious form of writer's block
I have encountered a particularly insidious form of writer's block. Ready? Here it is:
You start out with an idea. I'm sure it's an amazing idea. No need to go into what is is here. You begin to think that maybe this is an idea that deserves writing down. That being the case, you imagine what might happen when you do write it down. Say, for example, in a blog. 'If I write this idea down in a blog,' you might think, 'there may be ramifications. After all, somebody who reads it might think X, Y and Z as a result! I should really have answers to those observations/objections!'
With these new insights, you may feel inspired. You might pursue X, Y and Z (whatever they may be) and formulate responses to them. Please remember that nothing has been written yet. This entire exercise is taking place in your mind. With your solid replies to (a wholly theoretical) X, Y and Z intact, you might begin to explore those answers, and subject them to all manner of logical attacks (intended, of course, to test their validity). These attacks, if pursued far enough, might show up flaws in the responses to X, Y and Z (for the sake of argument, let's refer to them as Rx, Ry and Rz, or Rx et al, for short).
Now, in light of these most recent (entirely theoretical) attacks, Rx et al might be looking rather flimsy (insert your own joke about the pharmaceutical industry here). So new arguments are formulated to plug the leaks in the responses to the existing argument. Let's call them Rx sub lots. Rx sub lots needs even more thought to answer, and these thought probably lead you to improved versions of the original argument. This new version spawns improved versions of X, Y and Z, and the cycle continues. When it eventually grounds out, you may be left with a thought that looks completely absurd, thanks to the mental gymnastics you had to go through to account for every possible sub-objection you might care to throw at it, or something so basic and generic that it's barely worth saying...
That's a special kind of writer's block. It's the trap of out thinking yourself, and it's something that I'm specifically trying to overcome in this blog. So, absurdity be damned! Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead! Maybe a far orbit of the mind will take us far enough out to escape the gravitational pull of the absurd. Even if it doesn't, it might yet prove to be an interesting trip.
You start out with an idea. I'm sure it's an amazing idea. No need to go into what is is here. You begin to think that maybe this is an idea that deserves writing down. That being the case, you imagine what might happen when you do write it down. Say, for example, in a blog. 'If I write this idea down in a blog,' you might think, 'there may be ramifications. After all, somebody who reads it might think X, Y and Z as a result! I should really have answers to those observations/objections!'
With these new insights, you may feel inspired. You might pursue X, Y and Z (whatever they may be) and formulate responses to them. Please remember that nothing has been written yet. This entire exercise is taking place in your mind. With your solid replies to (a wholly theoretical) X, Y and Z intact, you might begin to explore those answers, and subject them to all manner of logical attacks (intended, of course, to test their validity). These attacks, if pursued far enough, might show up flaws in the responses to X, Y and Z (for the sake of argument, let's refer to them as Rx, Ry and Rz, or Rx et al, for short).
Now, in light of these most recent (entirely theoretical) attacks, Rx et al might be looking rather flimsy (insert your own joke about the pharmaceutical industry here). So new arguments are formulated to plug the leaks in the responses to the existing argument. Let's call them Rx sub lots. Rx sub lots needs even more thought to answer, and these thought probably lead you to improved versions of the original argument. This new version spawns improved versions of X, Y and Z, and the cycle continues. When it eventually grounds out, you may be left with a thought that looks completely absurd, thanks to the mental gymnastics you had to go through to account for every possible sub-objection you might care to throw at it, or something so basic and generic that it's barely worth saying...
That's a special kind of writer's block. It's the trap of out thinking yourself, and it's something that I'm specifically trying to overcome in this blog. So, absurdity be damned! Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead! Maybe a far orbit of the mind will take us far enough out to escape the gravitational pull of the absurd. Even if it doesn't, it might yet prove to be an interesting trip.
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