The Unfinished List

I’m tired of being ‘told’ how to perceive someone, how to know someone, or how to understand someone. With so many opportunities to post information about yourself online where virtually anyone can see, it’s hard to resist snooping in on someone’s life. We love to live through other people in movies, magazines, and tv, so any level of this cyber stalking is similar in my eyes. Most Blockbuster movies I’ve seen will hold my hand, tell me exactly who a character is, quickly tell me his/her relationship with other characters, and jump right into action plot. I don’t need any other social parental aides guiding me through my interpretations of people.

The patience it takes to get to know someone is disappearing. Developing relationships and history with people over time is quickly becoming less desirable to the speedy spy technology offered. Sure, if I post my diary online you can see my inner-most thoughts to an extent but this does not mean you know my thought process, or even how truly animated I can be in movement, body, tone, or expressions. This in no way can replace the pleasure of finding answers to questions asked in person. We are denying people the freedom and opportunity to read people. Pretty soon, I think, we will lose most of our abilities to read someone in a physical as well as mental context. If someone wants to get to know me, I will not tell you how to see me. I’d like to think I would give you more credit than that.

EXCERPT:

“J.’s sense of private and public was filled with these kinds of contradictions: he wanted his posts to be read, and feared that people would read them, and hoped that people would read them, and didn’t care if people read them. He wanted to be included while priding himself on his outsider status.”

Who is to say that, knowing anyone can read these journals, we as authors are not writing for the public? We want our posts to be read, we want to connect with people, but at the same time fear the reactions. Or maybe we don’t fear reactions anymore. There is security in anonymity. We’ve become bold social cowards. I realize the irony of making these points on a blog. That aside, just remember to go outside and get to know someone using every part of you.

women caught in a cycle

Over the past two years I have become increasingly aware of the fact that women are rarely allowed to be seen in their entirety. Women become objects when their bodies and their sexuality are linked to products that are bought and sold. They are dismembered into legs, breasts, thighs, etc. This reinforces the message that women are not whole human beings.

This awareness has made me think more about how I am received in interactions with my peers. My sole purpose in life is NOT to sexually satisfy a man, nor do I need any validation from them.