David

Last Updated:
Aug 17, 2008

Send Message
Instant Message
Email to a Friend
Subscribe

Gender: Male
Status: Single
Age: 29
Sign: Scorpio

City: Kentwood
State: MICHIGAN
Country: US

Signup Date: 06/12/04

My Subscriptions
[LuciferFlower242]
Ryan Lieske, Dark Fiction Writer
libertie
The Last Son of Krypton
Magic Bullet Diva!!!
Amber
KeiraSionnach
Thommy

Blog Archive
Older     Newer ]


Monday, July 28, 2008

Indignation: the worst of all human addictions?

It's not too often I stumble across a great thinker whose ideas really interest me. David Brin is one of them. I became familiar with him through the book "Startide Rising".  His work shares a positivity about the future that reminds me of Heinlein. He's not one of those science fiction authors that take kings and queens, knights and dragons, and transplants them into space like so many do.  He doesn't believe in looking to the past for some "golden age" of humanity that we should try to emulate to solve any of our woes. Nor does he believe that answers lie in trusting elites to solve our problems, but that true progress has always been made by lots of free people working together to solve problems. He's essentially a pragmatic libertarian, something akin to my own heart. Here are a couple pieces of essays that I found interesting.

Before we get to that, take a look at this questionare that would make a great discussion if I could find enough people who would be interested.
http://www.davidbrin.com/questionnaire.html


http://www.davidbrin.com/realculturewar1.html
INDIGNATION AND MORAL VALUES: Science now calls indignation a distinct physiological state -- one that triggers secretion of active chemicals in the brain, delivering a "high" with addictive traits, very similar to opium.
     We've all felt the self-righteous rush. It's seductive, and deeply human.
     Faced with the temptations of outrage, some people set limits, as with any pleasurable vice. (Skeptical self-doubt is one anodyne.) Others indulge, stoking indignant fires that repay with fierce passion and energy.
     For millennia, kings and propagandists rallied public indignation against some hated-other. A different faith. The kingdom next door. Communists and Capitalists chose each other. Hitler chose Jews. Today's Middle-East shows where this process leads.


http://www.davidbrin.com/addiction.html
The Most Common (but Unstudied) Form of Self-Addiction

So far, we are on ground that is supported by copious (if peripheral) research. If nothing else, at least there should be an effort to step back and notice the forest, for the trees, generalizing a view of this whole field as we've described so far. A general paradigm of self-reinforcement.

Only now, taking this into especially important new territory, please consider something more specific. A phenomenon that both illustrates the general point and demands attention on its own account.

I want to zoom down to a particular emotional and psychological pathology. The phenomenon known as self-righteous indignation.

We all know self-righteous people. (And, if we are honest, many of us will admit having wallowed in this state ourselves, either occasionally or in frequent rhythm.) It is a familiar and rather normal human condition, supported -- even promulgated -- by messages in mass media.

While there are many drawbacks, self-righteousness can also be heady, seductive, and even... well... addictive. Any truly honest person will admit that the state feels good. The pleasure of knowing, with subjective certainty, that you are right and your opponents are deeply, despicably wrong.

Sanctimony, or a sense of righteous outrage, can feel so intense and delicious that many people actively seek to return to it, again and again. Moreover, as Westin et.al. have found, this trait crosses all boundaries of ideology.2

Indeed, one could look at our present-day political landscape and argue that a relentless addiction to indignation may be one of the chief drivers of obstinate dogmatism and an inability to negotiate pragmatic solutions to a myriad modern problems. It may be the ultimate propellant behind the current "culture war."

If there is any underlying truth to such an assertion, then acquiring a deeper understanding of this one issue may help our civilization deal with countless others.


2:29 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Monday, July 21, 2008

Write me in for president

Currently reading :
Startide Rising (The Uplift Saga, Book 2)
By David Brin
Release date: 1984-03-01

1:10 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Friday, February 16, 2007

Vegas Pictures
Current mood: awake

Not many of vegas. I wasn't there much during the day. Click the pics below to see them on Flickr, the best image hosting service. You can even see them as 1024x768


Currently reading :
Empire
By Orson Scott Card
Release date: 28 November, 2006

1:54 AM - 4 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Friday, December 22, 2006

Suffering and Purpose
Current mood: determined

I believe I was listening to a Buddhist on the radio a month ago or so when I heard a very interesting bit that put a lot of things into perspective.

Whatever you are suffering with in this life; that is what you were sent or came here to overcome.

So if you are struggling with debt, shyness, anxiety, depression, or excess want, illness, or any other sort of difficulty the purpose in your life is to overcome these things so that you can grow spiritually and life differently in the next.

As Christians, we believe that some of our difficulties are tests put forth to us by God. I've never really had it explained in a satisfactory way why God wants to test His followers. I believe the idea above gives a proper answer answer. The main purpose in this world is to grow and evolve as human beings and adversity has a way of inducing rapid growth as opposed to a dull and uninteresting life.

Currently reading :
The Cat Who Walks Through Walls
By Robert A. Heinlein
Release date: 01 June, 1988

11:21 PM - 1 Comments - 1 Kudos - Add Comment

Monday, December 18, 2006

Ultimate Truth
Current mood: hopeful
Category: Religion and Philosophy

The ultimate truth is that each one of us together and separately creates our own reality by what we choose to believe.

I agree with the above and find this site very interesting:
http://members.surfeu.fi/wpk

Currently reading :
Foundation and Empire (Foundation Novels (Paperback))
By Isaac Asimov
Release date: 01 October, 1991

8:13 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Sunday, October 08, 2006

More evidence of a new paradigm shift in thinking
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Life

I think this is one of the most important scientific studies to come out in recent years. It affirms a paradigm shift in thinking that I've made over the past 4 or 5 years; that the human brain has limitless potential and what makes people unique is the choices they make, not their natural talents. It gives hope to people that have always thought there is only one option for them in life and tears down old philosophies that make conjectures that each person can only be happy doing the one thing that they are best at.

Scientific American: The Expert Mind [ PSYCHOLOGY AND BRAIN SCIENCE ]
Studies of the mental processes of chess grandmasters have revealed clues to how people become experts in other fields as well




Currently reading :
The Complete Hammer's Slammers Volume 1
By David Drake
Release date: 15 November, 2006

8:02 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Friday, September 22, 2006

I told you I was super-goth! Oh yeah!
Current mood: contemplative

You scored as Understanding Outsider. You are not a goth yourself, but you may know goths and you understand and appreciate, or at least respect, the gothic subculture. Click on my name to take my other tests if you liked this one.

Understanding Outsider

83%

Anything-Goes Goth

71%

Old-school Goth

58%

Industrial/Rivet-Head

54%

Cyber-goth

54%

Fantasy Goth

50%

Confused Outsider

42%

Ethereal Goth

33%

Perky Goff

29%

Death Rocker

25%

Romantic Goth

17%

What subcategory of Goth best fits you?
created with QuizFarm.com

Currently reading :
Hunters of Dune (The Dune Series)
By Brian Herbert
Release date: 22 August, 2006

12:37 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Monday, May 29, 2006

Personality Results - Jung - Myers-Briggs typological approach
Current mood: indescribable

From http://www.humanmetrics.com

Your Type is
INTJ
IntrovertedIntuitiveThinkingJudging
Strength of the preferences %
33621256

INTJ type description by D.Keirsey
INTJ type description by J. Butt and M.M. Heiss


Qualitative analysis of your type formula

 You are:
  • moderately expressed introvert
  • distinctively expressed intuitive personality
  • slightly expressed thinking personality
  • moderately expressed judging personality

From: http://keirsey.com/personality/ntij.html

The Portrait of the Mastermind Rational (iNTj)


Of the four aspects of strategic analysis and definition, it is the contingency planning or entailment organizing role that reaches the highest development in Masterminds. Entailing or contingency planning is not an informative activity, rather it is a directive one in which the planner tells others what to do and in what order to do it. As the organizing capabilities the Masterminds increase so does their inclination to take charge of whatever is going on.

It is in their abilities that Masterminds differ from the other Rationals, while in most of their attitudes they are just like the others. However there is one attitude that sets them apart from other Rationals: they tend to be much more self-confident than the rest, having, for obscure reasons, developed a very strong will. They are rather rare, comprising no more than, say, one percent of the population. Being very judicious, decisions come naturally to them; indeed, they can hardly rest until they have things settled, decided, and set. They are the people who are able to formulate coherent and comprehensive contingency plans, hence contingency organizers or "entailers."

Masterminds will adopt ideas only if they are useful, which is to say if they work efficiently toward accomplishing the Mastermind's well-defined goals. Natural leaders, Masterminds are not at all eager to take command of projects or groups, preferring to stay in the background until others demonstrate their inability to lead. Once in charge, however, Masterminds are the supreme pragmatists, seeing reality as a crucible for refining their strategies for goal-directed action. In a sense, Masterminds approach reality as they would a giant chess board, always seeking strategies that have a high payoff, and always devising contingency plans in case of error or adversity. To the Mastermind, organizational structure and operational procedures are never arbitrary, never set in concrete, but are quite malleable and can be changed, improved, streamlined. In their drive for efficient action, Masterminds are the most open-minded of all the types. No idea is too far-fetched to be entertained-if it is useful. Masterminds are natural brainstormers, always open to new concepts and, in fact, aggressively seeking them. They are also alert to the consequences of applying new ideas or positions. Theories which cannot be made to work are quickly discarded by the Masterminds. On the other hand, Masterminds can be quite ruthless in implementing effective ideas, seldom counting personal cost in terms of time and energy.



From: http://typelogic.com/intj.html

Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging
by Marina Margaret Heiss

Profile: INTJ
Revision: 3.0
Date of Revision: 27 Feb 2005


To outsiders, INTJs may appear to project an aura of "definiteness", of self-confidence. This self-confidence, sometimes mistaken for simple arrogance by the less decisive, is actually of a very specific rather than a general nature; its source lies in the specialized knowledge systems that most INTJs start building at an early age. When it comes to their own areas of expertise -- and INTJs can have several -- they will be able to tell you almost immediately whether or not they can help you, and if so, how. INTJs know what they know, and perhaps still more importantly, they know what they don't know.

INTJs are perfectionists, with a seemingly endless capacity for improving upon anything that takes their interest. What prevents them from becoming chronically bogged down in this pursuit of perfection is the pragmatism so characteristic of the type: INTJs apply (often ruthlessly) the criterion "Does it work?" to everything from their own research efforts to the prevailing social norms. This in turn produces an unusual independence of mind, freeing the INTJ from the constraints of authority, convention, or sentiment for its own sake.

INTJs are known as the "Systems Builders" of the types, perhaps in part because they possess the unusual trait combination of imagination and reliability. Whatever system an INTJ happens to be working on is for them the equivalent of a moral cause to an INFJ; both perfectionism and disregard for authority may come into play, as INTJs can be unsparing of both themselves and the others on the project. Anyone considered to be "slacking," including superiors, will lose their respect -- and will generally be made aware of this; INTJs have also been known to take it upon themselves to implement critical decisions without consulting their supervisors or co-workers. On the other hand, they do tend to be scrupulous and even-handed about recognizing the individual contributions that have gone into a project, and have a gift for seizing opportunities which others might not even notice.

In the broadest terms, what INTJs "do" tends to be what they "know". Typical INTJ career choices are in the sciences and engineering, but they can be found wherever a combination of intellect and incisiveness are required (e.g., law, some areas of academia). INTJs can rise to management positions when they are willing to invest time in marketing their abilities as well as enhancing them, and (whether for the sake of ambition or the desire for privacy) many also find it useful to learn to simulate some degree of surface conformism in order to mask their inherent unconventionality.

Personal relationships, particularly romantic ones, can be the INTJ's Achilles heel. While they are capable of caring deeply for others (usually a select few), and are willing to spend a great deal of time and effort on a relationship, the knowledge and self-confidence that make them so successful in other areas can suddenly abandon or mislead them in interpersonal situations.

This happens in part because many INTJs do not readily grasp the social rituals; for instance, they tend to have little patience and less understanding of such things as small talk and flirtation (which most types consider half the fun of a relationship). To complicate matters, INTJs are usually extremely private people, and can often be naturally impassive as well, which makes them easy to misread and misunderstand. Perhaps the most fundamental problem, however, is that INTJs really want people to make sense. :-) This sometimes results in a peculiar naivete', paralleling that of many Fs -- only instead of expecting inexhaustible affection and empathy from a romantic relationship, the INTJ will expect inexhaustible reasonability and directness.

Probably the strongest INTJ assets in the interpersonal area are their intuitive abilities and their willingness to "work at" a relationship. Although as Ts they do not always have the kind of natural empathy that many Fs do, the Intuitive function can often act as a good substitute by synthesizing the probable meanings behind such things as tone of voice, turn of phrase, and facial expression. This ability can then be honed and directed by consistent, repeated efforts to understand and support those they care about, and those relationships which ultimately do become established with an INTJ tend to be characterized by their robustness, stability, and good communications.


Functional Analysis
by Joe Butt

Introverted iNtuition

INTJs are idea people. Anything is possible; everything is negotiable. Whatever the outer circumstances, INTJs are ever perceiving inner pattern-forms and using real-world materials to operationalize them. Others may see what is and wonder why; INTJs see what might be and say "Why not?!" Paradoxes, antinomies, and other contradictory phenomena aptly express these intuitors' amusement at those whom they feel may be taking a particular view of reality too seriously. INTJs enjoy developing unique solutions to complex problems.

Extraverted Thinking

Thinking in this auxiliary role is a workhorse. Closure is the payoff for efforts expended. Evaluation begs diagnosis; product drives process. As they come to light, Thinking tends, protects, affirms and directs iNtuition's offspring, fully equipping them for fulfilling and useful lives. A faithful pedagogue, Thinking argues not so much on its own behalf, but in defense of its charges. And through this process these impressionable ideas take on the likeness of their master.

Introverted Feeling

Feeling has a modest inner room, two doors down from the Most Imminent iNtuition. It doesn't get out much, but lends its influence on behalf of causes which are Good and Worthy and Humane. We may catch a glimpse of it in the unspoken attitude of good will, or the gracious smile or nod. Some question the existence of Feeling in this type, yet its unseen balance to Thinking is a cardinal dimension in the full measure of the INTJ's soul.

Extraverted Sensing

Sensing serves with a good will, or not at all. As other inferior functions, it has only a rudimentary awareness of context, amount or degree. Thus INTJs sweat the details or, at times, omit them. "I've made up my mind, don't confuse me with the facts" could well have been said by an INTJ on a mission. Sensing's extraverted attitude is evident in this type's bent to savor sensations rather than to merely categorize them. Indiscretions of indulgence are likely an expression of the unconscious vengeance of the inferior.

Famous INTJs:

Dan Aykroyd (The Blues Brothers)
Susan B. Anthony
Arthur Ashe, tennis champion
Augustus Caesar (Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus)
Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice)
William J. Bennett, "drug czar"
William F. Buckley, Jr.
Raymond Burr (Perry Mason, Ironsides)
Chevy Chase (Cornelius Crane) (Fletch)
Phil Donahue
Michael Dukakis, governor of Mass., 1988 U.S. Dem. pres. candidate
Greg Gumbel, television sportscaster
Hannibal, Carthaginian military leader
Veronica Hamel (Hill Street Blues)
Angela Lansbury (Murder, She Wrote)
Orel Leonard Hershiser, IV
Peter Jennings
Charles Everett Koop
Ivan Lendl
C. S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia)
Joan Lunden
Edwin Moses, U.S. olympian (hurdles)
Martina Navratilova
Charles Rangel, U. S. Representative, D-N.Y.
Pernell Roberts (Bonanza)
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California
Josephine Tey (Elizabeth Mackintosh), mystery writer (Brat Farrar)
Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor
Donald Rumsfeld, US Secretary of Defense
General Colin Powell, US Secretary of State
Lance Armstrong
Richard Gere (Pretty Woman)
Katie Couric

U.S. Presidents:
Chester A. Arthur
Calvin Coolidge
Thomas Jefferson
John F. Kennedy
James K. Polk
Woodrow Wilson

Fictional:

Cassius (Julius Caesar)
Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice)
Gandalf the Grey (J. R. R. Tolkein's Middle Earth books)
Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs)
Professor Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes' nemesis
Ensign Ro (Star Trek--the Next Generation)
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (Hamlet)
George Smiley, John le Carre's master spy
Clarice Starling (Silence of the Lambs)

Copyright © 1996-2005 by Marina Margaret Heiss and Joe Butt

Currently reading :
Off The Main Sequence: The Other Science Fiction Stories Of Robert A. Heinlein
By Robert Heinlein
Release date: 2005

4:47 PM - 1 Comments - 1 Kudos - Add Comment

Friday, November 11, 2005

Rudeness

Earlier this evening I was at a local coffee shop talking with some people. There was a lull in conversation so I decided to go talk to this girl that had been reading a book I thought I might find interesting. She was unoccupied at the time so I figured I would go say hello. People that know say I'm the most unimposing, unthreatening, and polite person they happen to have the acquaintance of. I said "Hi, how are you?" in the normal polite fashion which was quickly followed by an unexpected response of "Go the fuck away" from her. This totally threw me for a loop. I pride myself on treating others with respect and decency.  Despite the response I was still polite and held my tongue as I walked away.

I could have easily said something nasty back to her, but being that I'm more self-aware and conscious to what effects my actions have on my well-being, I decided not to. It's amazing how rude people seem these days whether in business or in their personal lives. I haven't an explanation for it except that manners and treating people with respect are not valued nearly as much as they were. Even if I am upset or not feeling well I try my best to be respectful. It's too bad that there are people in the world like that but as Dr Dre Said "Bitches ain't shit" and that girl definately was one.

Currently reading :
The Road to Dune
By Brian Herbert
Release date: 01 September, 2005

12:00 AM - 5 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Finding Your Calling

http://lazyway.blogs.com/lazy_way/2005/09/finding_your_ca.html

This article is taken from the above address:

Finding Your Calling

When I tell someone the secret to success is to do what he or she feels passionately about, they frequently ask me how they can identify the passion that will bring them the greatest success.

Here is what I answer:

You are a unique individual, endowed with many things that make you special. God was not stingy in giving you many powerful qualities. You have more than one passion and more than one talent.

So here is how to start the process. First, make a list of all your gifts. In other words, what talents or characteristics do you possess that are special? What makes you unique? Include on your list those positive areas where you are a contrarian or a deviant or a rebel. Your power lies on this list.

Now make a second list of all those things you love to do or feel passionately about. Include on this list the answer to this key question: what do I GIVE that when I'm giving it I am filled with great joy. Chances are that you love giving what you have in abundance. And what do you have in abundance? Those gifts or talents you put on the first list.

It would be extremely helpful to consider WHY you like a certain activity. What are all those things about a particular activity that feeds your passion? If something lights your fire then you must have some insight into why it does and in what ways it does. Write down what about it inspires you, what pleases you, what reveals more of yourself to you, what makes you laugh, what about it contributes to a greater good, etc.

NOW: think of ways or activities that involves SEVERAL of your talents, gifts, passions, and unique characteristics at the same time. We want to kill two (or more) birds with one stone OR, better put, hug two or more birds with one embrace.

The more passions and gifts that you can intersect at one point the better.

If, for some reason, that intersection of passions does not have a commercial component, modify it with more passions or talents until it does. At the intersection of many passions and talents, there should emerge a service, or a product, or an artwork, or a body of information that can be spun off commercially. This way you get to pursue your passions, grow your talents, give of yourself to others, contribute to a greater good, and, as a by-product of all this playing around, generate wealth.

www.lazyway.net

Currently reading :
Glory Road
By Robert A. Heinlein
Release date: 01 January, 1996

5:07 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment


About  |  FAQ  |  Terms  |  Privacy  |  Safety Tips  |  Contact MySpace  |  Promote!  |  Advertise  |  MySpace Shop

©2003-2008 MySpace.com. All Rights Reserved.