A series of thoughts part 5: Intentions and Fear.

Never pick up strangers. Why? Why not? Because you don't know what their intentions are. You don't have any reason to trust them. You may know a little about them, but you don't understand anything about them. You don't know what their intentions are. Fear. You don't know, and it scares you. We, as modern society have become consumed with fear, and become more solitary as the days go by. We don't talk to our neighbors, we don't make friends with the locals at the market, we don't really do that sort of thing anymore. Not saying it doesn't happen, but it's far more rare now than it has been in the past.

We've become almost consumed with fear. Don't talk to strangers, don't look at them, don't pick them up, don't do anything to them. They might just attack you. Or be a terrorist. Or be a wanted murderer. Of course, because you know nothing about them. Might as well prepare for the worst and just assume they might be bad. In case. If they're great and nice people, it'd be great if you struck up a conversation. If they weren't, you might wish you never spoke to them at all. Better safe than sorry, right? But the thing that makes us so afraid, is we don't know what their intentions are.

Of course, this isn't EVERYONE, there's always exceptions to the rule (not that this is a rule or anything, it's just how the saying goes), but it's why we don't put out our personal information out on the internet, it's why we have multiple levels of securty for our bank account, why we have home security, car alarms, etc. Because there ARE people out there waiting to exploit us. There are people who do prey on the kindness of strangers. We can't tell them apart though, so it's better safe than sorry, and everyone is one of those people, until we get a chance to know them. But a lot of the time, we don't even want to go that far.

For some people, it's easier than others to openly trust people. And for some, it's easier to trust them online becasue it's not such a commitment. What I mean is, if they're an ass, you can just stop talking to them, block them, change your e-mail, etc. If it was in real life, it might be a bit more work. Changing your phone number and moving is a lot more work than backing up your blog, moving it to a new blog and changing your e-mail.

A series of thoughts part 4: Right or Easy

Do you often find yourself doing what's right most of the time, or what's easy? Most of time we take the easy route, we're all guilty of it. Small things, you might not even think about. The difference between stopping to help someone pick up some groceries they dropped, or to hold a door open for someone. Now, this is completely just my opinion on the topic. Right? What's right? It's completely an opinion. But I think it would be good to hold doors to help people, to help people who you don't even know when you see that they need help.

But of course, it could be a smaller thing, that doesn't involve anyone else. Putting things back into their place? Putting off doing something until later? Dropping off a movie you borrowed from your friend? Do you finish doing your chores before you go to bed, or do you do it tomorrow? You can always do it later. Eh, whatever. Right? Apathy is far easier than actively putting forth effort.

Apathy... people are becoming more apathetic to what's going on around them. More so than before. I can't tell you for sure why though, there could be a number of factors or reasons. How many people have protested the War in Iraq in the United States? If a coworker is being mistreated, do you stand up for them or do you just let it play out? Don't want to get involved? We're all guilty of sitting back and doing nothing. I know I'm guilty of it. But I try to do the right thing whenever I can. The right thing? My bad. I meant, I try to do what I think is right. I try to help those who need help, those who cannot help themself. I don't do it all the time, because sometimes, I fall victim to Apathy too, everyone does.

Don't let it take hold of you, not for long. The more often you do nothing, the easier it is to do nothing, and the more often you will do nothing. Idle hands are the devil's playground, as they say, right?

A series of thoughts part 3: Free Will

I know I'll step on a few toes by writing this post, so I apolagize ahead of time my intentions are not to hurt any of you. It was hard to write it, and even harder to post it. I started this post a few days ago, but haven't been able to sit down and write it. I've been working on it a little at a time, day today.

*sigh*

I don't believe in Fate, Destiny, Karma, any of those things. Sometimes I wish I did, it would make things far easier if I did, but I don't. I don't believe in any Religion either. A shocker, I know. Having seen the first two parts of these series of posts, you can tell that I think... way too much. Religion, Fate, Destiny, Karma, they're great ideas, and I wish I could believe in them. For me, to believe in such things means there is no Free Will, only the illusion of Free Will. If everything we did happns for a reason, if there is another force controlling what happens, then we really don't have any control of what we do in our lives. All our struggle, was preplanned and all our suffering was meant to be.

If this were true, then children who have died in accidents were meant to be born, live for a few years, and die, never to truely experience life. Why? Why is that child less deserving of a full life? Because some outside force decided it was so? Was it a god? Was it karma? Was it fate? I don't want to believe that, that those who suffer for no reason were meant to suffer because someone, or something decided that they should. If this is true, if someone is making descisions for me and I have no real say as to what I do in my life, then why do I bother trying? If I killed myself right now, it would have been fate? Destiny? Then we should never mourn anything that happens, if these things are real. When we get into accidents or lose our loved ones, we shouldn't cry or feel bad because it was suppose to happen. If someone breaks into your house, don't get mad at them. It's not their fault, destiny made them break into your house. All the worst things that have ever happened to you, you were meant to suffer. All your greatest accomplishments mean nothing, because you were destined to do it. If this is the case, why bother doing anything? Why try at all?

Now, I know some (or many) of you don't agree with me, and you'll probably let me know it too. I don't mind. I don't intend to change your ways of thinking, or to make you agree with me. If you do agree with me, I want it to be of your own Free Will, not to be forced. I don't want to make you agree. I may tell try to convince you, but I will never lie or be untruthful when discussing. I will always tell both sides and allow you to think for yourself. Not that I will try to convince you, these sort of things aren't so easily changed in one's mind.

A series of thoughts part 2: Understanding Why

Do you understand why things happen, or do you just know? Do you understand the reasoning behind the things people do, or do you just see what's on the surface? It's the difference between manslaughter and murder. One is with intent, one is without. You might have done the exact same thing, but it's why you did it that matters more. What your intentions are.

If you go to a movie, and you hear someone's phone ringing during the movie. What do you think? "Oh, that bastard." Or something similar? Sure, nobody likes it, but what if he had a good reason? What if he wasn't a careless selfish ass who left his phone on? What if his father is in the hospital and his friends took him out for a good time since he's been moping at home for several days? What if his phone is on in case of an emergency call? Do you know? Would you like to find out or would you rather just assume that you already know why? When you see a preacher on TV. Is he really trying to save your soul, or is he in the buisness as a power trip? Maybe it's for the money? Do you know? Or, maybe he really is completely honest and truely trying to help you?

Now, I'm not saying that this is always the case, and that yes, most of the time they are just an asshole who left their phone off because they were careless or seflish. But you think you know, but do you really? Do you understand why? What you do, is important. Why you did it, can be more important. Maybe you helped a coworker with a problem they had. But, did you do it to genuinely help them, or did you do it to impress another coworker? Did you only listen to your friend to try to get on their good side, or did you genuinely care? Why is just as important, if not more important, than what. Do you understand why things happen, or do you just know?

A series of thoughts part 1: Knowing and Understanding

It's a big difference, knowing and understanding. It's not something many people think about, but it makes all the difference. People know a lot of things, people understand a lot less. People know that gravity pulls things down. Nobody understands why it happens though. A lot of times, people know that someone is mad, but they may not understand why they're mad. It's the difference, especially with people, between knowing someone, and understanding them. People know that their computer works, but they don't really understand. People know that they're going to die, but not everyone understand.

I know that when I turn on the faucet, that water will come out. I don't understand how it works. I don't understand how the water gets from rivers and dams, through the water filtering plant, and all that. I know when I turn on the stove, the gas comes out, and the spark ignites the gas and creates flame. Where does the gas come from? I don't understand how it works. How does the dam work? How does the water filtering work? How do they manage water pressure controls so sensetive? How does the gas get to my house? Where does my money go when I spend it? Pay taxes? I know it changes a lot of hands, but whos, and why? How does my car work? I know it takes me places, but I don't understand how it does it.

It's a big difference, knowing and understanding. It's not something many people think about, but it makes all the difference. Do you know, or do you understand?

Planar Chaos (Set 2 of 3 from the Time Spiral Block)

Planar Chaos - Dominaria, the center of the multiverse has suffered massive damage throughout the millenia. Time unraveled, and the past became the present. Things that were, suddenly weren't, and things that never existed, suddenly was. And now, the laws of the world, the very foundation of all life and magic have changed. The lines have blurred, and the colors have bled into each other. What does this mean? Everything you know could be wrong.

What does this mean, in game terms? Colors have bled into each other before, but not like this. Sure, color bleed between allies are common, but some colors have crossed over, like Body Double, where black has bled into blue Ball Lightning? Not anymore. Wrath of God? Damnation. What you know has also changed. History itself is being reexamined, rewritten, reinterpreted. 'What if', when one of the most powerful creatures ever created was not an Angel of Wrath, but an Angel of Fury?

More to be discussed as the information is revealed. The prerelease is on January 20-21st, and is released on February 1st.

Tasha and I, officially are not together anymore, and I don't think we ever will be again. We are just too different when it comes to some things. Ce la vie. I do still love her, and we are still friends, but we will not work as a couple, and I don't think we'll ever work as a couple, at least, not right now.