Sunday, October 30, 2011

#26 Myopia


You ever hear two people who wear eyeglasses compete for who's more "seriously blind"? It's like because nature burdens you with some kind of a genetic deficiency you have to reclaim it and own it or whatever; wear your blindness like a badge and declaim for all the world how comparatively blind you are.

And god forbid, you're blind-dueling with some kind of next-level Poindextrose 20/1000 freak and all of sudden you feel completely humiliated, b/c this stupid deficiency you hang your identity on is all of sudden not such a big deal anymore and now, who are you? Who the heck are you? You're no one, just some vaguely near-sighted naif with no job and an irrational attachment to your own weaknesses.

Here's a thought. Instead of reclaiming our weaknesses, let's all play to our strengths. The fact is, yeah, it sucks, you have to wear glasses, but that doesn't mean you have be the blindest boy on the block. Focus on what you're truly good at, like throwing knives or using a lathe or putting away groceries or banging pots and pans together or crossing in the middle of the street no matter the flow of traffic or playing free cell or Ponzi-scheming or strawberry-rhubarb pie. And the next time someone asks you what your prescription is tell them the truth.

It's Klonopin.

2 comments:

  1. I've been waiting for a blog like this. Keep blogging!

    Here's some other stuff you're supposed to like:

    *Critically acclaimed bands/artists (e.g. Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, and other classic rockers...)

    *Facebook.

    *New video games and technology. ("We've learned from the past, now let's forget it")

    *Stuff that other people like.

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  2. Thanks for the vote of support! I should keep blogging!

    Stuff that other people like is kinda covered in the "liking stuff" (#11). Facebook kinda covered in "the dislike button (#20), and bands/artists in "prince" (#5). It's tricky b/c I kind of think you are allowed to dislike Bruce & Dylan (I've heard lots of people, myself included, discuss not really liking them and I think it's kind of OK). It's really a level of sacrosanct that belongs to only a few and it's because even people who have no business liking the person SAY they do (and even convince themselves that they do to the extent that it because indistinguishable from genuine like) for reasons it is kind of the mission of this blog to distill. It's like not liking Springsteen is kind of fine, but not liking Prince is tantamount to not liking sexiness and that's just not OK at all (see #5). Choosing topics is tricky, and not at all intuitive. I'm also loath to retread subject areas that I've already covered (i.e. another musician).

    Finally, just as a matter of observation, I think it's kind of not only OK to dislike FaceBook it's kind of NOT OK to unapologetically LIKE FaceBook anymore. It's like you have to say, "well yes, it's kind of ridiculous and there's so much stupid stuff on it, but...".

    To that end, "Not Liking FaceBook" may, in fact, end up being an interesting topic and I'll definitely consider the others as well. Thanks again!

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