Writer and Friendly Neighbourhood Philosopher
Just Thinking…
If It’s Free, It’s For Me…Maybe.
For some reason, I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. Maybe it’s because we’re all in a time of economic instability and it’s a small relief to be handed something, or maybe it’s because it’s outdoor festival season, and the freebie seekers and givers are out in full force. Either way, I have questions, not so much about the bits and bobs on offer, but about what these exchanges can reveal about us and where we’re at.
A (Not So) Quick Question For Those In Charge
I’d like to see it asked at political debates, when the house is in session, and whenever there’s a press conference, or an interview. I’d like it asked loudly, repeatedly, doggedly, until the leader in question gets flustered and inadvertently coughs up their truth.
Two Turntables And A Philosopher
But I’m also convinced that we do miss something when all we ever do is skip along the surface. When we rush our thinking the way we rush our music, completely overlooking the older, “analog” version of it, it’s not the same, and the things we miss can actually hurt us.
Idunno, Bud.
When asked who we are, I want to be able to answer with more than just not this or that, but I also want us to feel proud that we’re a place in flux, a nation of seekers and explorers and questioners. I don’t want the ink to be allowed to dry entirely. I love and cherish the unwritten parts of our story.
Yes, Asking Big Questions Is Still Helpful.
We like to divide things into eithers and ors, don’t we? No great revelation there. Among these binaries is the notion that there are thinkers and doers, and perhaps not enough between. For obvious reasons, philosophers get plunked into the “thinker” category, and all kinds of assumptions are made about our willingness/ability to do anything other than think.
To Geek Is To Love
To be a geek or a nerd is to know how to love something. There are so many things to love as a geek, so many places to throw our curiosity and enthusiasm. Geeky love is vast and inclusive.
Hope (And Parts Of Speech)
Go big or small with your hope. Go pro or maintain your amateur status. Hope out loud or whisper it to yourself. Just hope. You probably already are.
You, Me, And The Vacuum
I have a question, and I’m asking in earnest, without cheek, snark, or hidden agenda: What do you like?
Grendel Storms The Mead Hall
Grendel has returned to the mead hall, good people, and it’s about to get messy. We weren’t exactly in a state of bliss as a kingdom to begin with, but it’s getting worse.
Why We Still Need Shakespeare
Here he is, the darling of Western literature, with 38 plays and 154 poems, all oozing with introspection on what it means to be a human being, with humour and empathy and ruthlessly honest critique.
Too Young To Vote?
I’m posing this question, not because it’s an interesting “what if” or because I’m trying to stir the pot, but because I think it’s important:
How young is too young to vote?
Philosophy As (Useful) Pain
So, if being philosophical doesn’t promise any sort of delight, and it demands so much of my time and mental real estate, then what’s the point? Why not elect to be another happy wanderer, and just turn it off?
Notes On Being (Too) Thankful
My worry is that being full-on thankful sometimes dulls or obscures the other part, the part where we recognize that there’s a lot that we ought not be thankful for, all the things that need fixing and improving.
I Don’t Know. And I’m Not Sorry.
It’s all good as long as we feel one key thing—that not knowing isn’t a roadblock or a failing. It doesn’t make us less or deficient. Not knowing isn’t the end of anything, it’s just the beginning. It may, in fact, be just the sort of beginning we all need right now.
Hang In There, Kiddo: Embracing Neoteny
What bliss to be able to grow serious and responsible without being too serious and responsible. How wonderful to know that I have the infrastructure necessary to preserve my imagination and my silly sense of humour. It’s been good for me to hold off a little on the whole maturation business, maybe even a gift, and I’m grateful for it.
Parenting Through All of…This
Parenting right now is hard, in so many ways and on so many levels. But as I tell my kid, and probably many others tell theirs, we can do hard things. In these unprecedented times, we can parent in unprecedented ways, and raise unprecedented kids who find unprecedented ways to live. They’re smart enough, and so are we.
The Dog’s Nose: A Metaphor for Better Thinking
If we allowed ourselves to think the way a dog uses their nose, with complexity, depth and discernment, think of the ripple effect it might have. What if we chose to see our world in detail, to marvel at it at a granular level, to take the time to sort, analyze and digest it, small bite by small bite. What if we allowed ourselves to notice all the things that we ordinarily choose to miss, the diverse, the interesting, the useful, and the beautiful?
Art Is Dark Stuff…Just Like We Need It to Be
And no, it’s not going to match the couch or fit on the wall. All the best things don’t.
It’s Now Your Job to Be Weird. So get to work.
So, this is, as Mr. Thompson says, when we weirdos “turn pro.” If you’re a weirdo who’s been maintaining your amateur status, it’s time to level up. If weird has been a hobby for you up until now, it’s time you got certified. If you’ve had a little weird on the back burner, but haven’t felt the gumption or guts to bring it out, cough it up.
Why, More Than Ever, There Are No Stupid Questions.
You can ask. It’s okay.
You can say the quiet part loud.
There’s room for lots of different ideas.
It’s not wrong to wonder.
Curiosity is a good thing.
You’re not a jerk or a pain for asking. You just want to understand.