Thursday, May 18, 2006

The Ramblings of a Madwoman

I am mad.

Or am I?

People seem to think I'm nuts. Lots of people. That I'm absolutely insane. I'm out of touch with reality. I'm on a different level.

A different level of what?

Is it consciousness that they're referring to? Existence? Reality? Who presumes to define reality?

That's the real question, isn't it? What's real? The question philosophers have been struggling to answer for aeons.

What is the definition of reality? Isn't that question exactly the same as "what is the sound of one hand clapping"? It's a question without a clear answer.

Is the definition of reality "being in the present"? Is it a thought or a feeling; imaginary or tangible?

Why do we love television so much? When you watch the season finale of your favorite show, pay attention to your emotions. Sadness, happiness, fear, relief, betrayal, disgust, annoyance--these are but some of the feelings you might experience during that hour-long (or two hours, if your show is on ABC) episode. Of course you feel these things. You "know and love" the characters. They're people we identify with, and events we can sympathize with. My body feels exactly as if I were there experiencing it with them. I laugh, I cry, I get angry.

And then, at the end, I subconsciously tell myself it wasn't real, and go out to the kitchen for a late-night snack.

So similar to what takes place every morning when I wake up. "It wasn't real, it was just a dream. Go back to sleep."

But for that moment, it sure seemed real.

Is this experience beneficial to me in some way?

If it is true that in order to know happiness, we must know despair, then yes, I suppose this was beneficial. The harder I cry at movies and television shows, the happier I'll be at work tomorrow.

Hmm.

Twisted logic.

Look at young children. "So naive," we say. "So trusting." "So innocent." And yet, they are so happy. "Oh, to be that young again and not have any worries."

If true happiness is something we experienced as children, then why do we believe that pain will make us happier in the long run? And, if we don't believe that, then why do we watch television that makes us sad and angry? No news is good news, and yet we all watch the bad news at 6:00pm, with details at 11.

What a bizzare world in which we live.

Yet, I'm crazy.

Maybe I'm one of the only ones who actually are in touch with reality.

Just a thought.
Posted by Suzi Q :: 8:57 PM :: 0 Comments:

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