BokZg's Xanga

Prop 8 (yeah, I'm tired of hearing about it too but...)

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:58:24 GMT

I was trying to stay away from any sort of discussion about Prop 8 because any sort of argument about it inevitably involves two things that people are most irrational/illogical about: religion and politics. However, I came across a statement on a forum that I couldn't let stand, and I typed out a reply. Since I haven't posted on this thing in forever, I thought I'd toss in my two cents here as well.

Original Post:

Homosexuality is a sin, and marriage is a holy thing, it shouldnt of never been allowed in the first place. a Preist that host gay marriages is making a mockery of everything hes supposed to stand for, and im not talking out of my ass homosexuality IS A SIN read the bible

My Response:

And this is exactly the kind of narrow-minded, self-centered point of view that allowed Prop 8 to pass.

"I believe in Christianity, therefore everyone must also believe in Christianity. If I believe everything people tell me about what the Bible says is true, then everyone should believe everything I am told about the Bible is true. The only kind of marriage I recognize is the kind that involves a man and a woman and is presided over by a priest, therefore everyone else should not recognize any other kind of alleged non-Christian 'marriage'."

Marriage is a concept that is beyond any single religion or faith. The idea that the Christian faith should somehow define what the US should recognize as a valid marriage is about as far from the idea of freedom of religion as you can get. The Constitution specifically prohibits the establishment of a national or official US religion, and specifically allows for each citizen to follow whatever set of beliefs he or she wishes too. What part of that in any way suggests that the government, state or federal, has the power to deny two persons the right to marry as a result of the way ONE religion (or ANY religion) defines the term "marriage"? As far as I know, marriage is a concept present in many societies, many of which have nothing to do with Christianity or the Bible.

People get married in the US under different faiths (or even no faith at all) all the time, and yet the government has no issue recognizing those marriages. Marriage between a neo-nazi and a pagan? No problemo. Marriage between a Jew and a Muslim? Go right ahead. Marriage between two secular, non-religious people? Just sign on the dotted line. Marriage involving oaths based upon a fictional religion/faith/philosophy, i.e. Star Wars, Lord of the Rings? Live on in geeky matrimony. But marriage between two people of the same gender? Noooooooo, that's not marriage as it was intended to be defined. The rest of those? Yeah, that's what marriage was always supposed to be about.

Whatever faith or non-faith you choose to adopt, the FACT remains that marriage has become a non-religious, secular institution that serves a non-religious, secular purpose in the US. People get married for a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with religion or faith, such as tax benefits, marital property rights, immigration status, etc. The notion that gay marriage should not be recognized because of any religion, let alone one, ignores the facts and reality surrounding marriage in the present in the US.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:54:49 GMT

You will be remembered.

Thoughts on happiness

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:10:44 GMT

"Modern man has brought this whole world to an awe-inspiring threshold of the future. He has reached new and astonishing peaks of scientific success. He has produced machines that think and instruments that peer into the unfathomable ranges of interstellar space. He has built gigantic bridges to span the seas andMartin Luther King, Jr. gargantuan buildings to kiss the skies. His airplanes and spaceships have dwarfed distance, placed time in chains, and carved highways through the stratosphere. This is a dazzling picture of modern man's scientific and technological progress.

Yet, in spite of these spectacular strides in science and technology, and still unlimited ones to come, something basic is missing. There is a sort of poverty of the spirit which stands in glaring contrast to our scientific and technological abundance. The richer we have become materially, the poorer we have become morally and spiritually. We have learned to fly the air like birds and swim the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers.

Every man lives in two realms, the internal and the external. The internal is that realm of spiritual ends expressed in art, literature, morals, and religion. The external is that complex of devices, techniques, mechanisms, and instrumentalities by means of which we live. Our problem today is that we have allowed the internal to become lost in the external. We have allowed the means by which we live to outdistance the ends for which we live. So much of modern life can be summarized in that arresting dictum of the poet Thoreau: 'Improved means to an unimproved end.' This is the serious predicament, the deep and haunting problem confronting modern man. If we are to survive today, our moral and spiritual "lag" must be eliminated. Enlarged material powers spell enlarged peril if there is not proportionate growth of the soul. When the "without" of man's nature subjugates the "within," dark storm clouds begin to form in the world."

- Martin Luther King, Jr., excerpt from speech given when receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964

The part of this speech that caught my attention the most was the third paragraph speaking of how people have allowed the "internal" to become lost in the "external." Thoreau's words ("Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which it was already but too easy to arrive at."; Thoreau, Walden) follow that same point. The point, to me, is that people have become preoccupied with superficial things in life that ultimately do not matter. Whether it's "bling", cool electronics, pretty shoes/bags, a mansion, or any other form of extravagance, it seems like too many people have forgotten that they are all simply a means to an end, not the end itself.

My dad once told me that if he could somehow buy true happiness with money, that he would take that deal anytime without hesitation. His point was that true happiness is so hard to come by, and his implication with his "if" was that money did not always get you true happiness. That statement from my dad struck me as particularly profound when he said it to me (although I didn't really understand the implications at the young age at which he told me), and has always lingered at the back of my mind to this day. After thinking about it for a while, I have to agree with both his statement and its implications, because I too believe that true happiness is a precious thing that money pales in comparison to.

What leads me to those conclusions are the facts that one can never have "enough" money, and there will always be better and/or nicer things to purchase and own. I've known and know of many people who appear to have everything a person could ask for (a large house, a nice car, expensive belongings, etc.) but remain unhappy and unsatisfied with their lives. On the other end, I've known and know of many people who appear to live a very mediocre life in terms of material value, but who are very happy and satisfied with their lives. I can't help but take this as evidence that money and material objects do not bring happiness by themselves, but that they are simply a means to achieving it.

Don't get me wrong though, I'm not saying that I think money is worthless and that I wouldn't take it if you gave it to me (I'm not THAT idealistic). Money has very real value in that it gives people security, opportunity, and an increased ability to dictate one's own life. However, I think many people neglect the fact that money, like so many of those "external" things that MLK speaks of, are merely tools we use to achieve our goals, means to our ends. So many people get caught up in "the race" to obtain money and other material things that they forget that obtaining those things is only the first step towards true happiness. It's not wrong to want more money and more material things, but only wanting those things limits one's life in terms of achieving happiness.

I'm not making this post to preach to anyone, or to tell anyone that they're living their life wrong, I'm mostly just thinking out loud. I have never been a person who has been very preoccupied with material things, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Every once in a while I am tempted to purchase some material thing that seems pretty cool and that many people seem to want (if they all want it, maybe I should too?), but I usually decide against it after considering the matter for very long. Things like expensive cars, iPods, advanced gadgets like digital cameras or flatscreen TVs, name brand clothing, etc. all have appealed to me at various times, but I usually end up concluding that I could very easily do without those things and that they would give me very temporary happiness or enjoyment, thus making the typically large expenditures of money (and thus my time and effort) not worth the cost of acquisition. Sometimes I think I'm depriving myself of things unnecessarily, but then what my dad told me years ago and speeches/quotes from people like MLK or Thoreau remind me that I'm not really depriving myself of anything unless a purchase will bring a worthwhile amount of happiness to me or to those I care about.

Summary (for people like Jon):
My opinion:
Time/Effort -> Money -> Expenditures/Purchases/etc. -> Happiness
What I see and disagree with (missing the last step):
Time/Effort -> Money/Expenditures/Purchases/etc./Happiness?

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:30:11 GMT

This amuses me.

Craigslist Ad

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 23:23:52 GMT

Craigslist ad for a rich man:

What am I doing wrong?

Okay, I'm tired of beating around the bush. I'm a beautiful
(spectacularly beautiful) 25 year old girl. I'm articulate and classy.
I'm not from New York. I'm looking to get married to a guy who makes
at least half a million a year. I know how that sounds, but keep in
mind that a million a year is middle class in New York City, so I
don't think I'm overreaching at all.

Are there any guys who make 500K or more on this board? Any wives?
Could you send me some tips? I dated a business man who makes average
around 200 - 250. But that's where I seem to hit a roadblock. 250,000
won't get me to central park west. I know a woman in my yoga class who
was married to an investment banker and lives in Tribeca, and she's
not as pretty as I am, nor is she a great genius. So what is she doing
right? How do I get to her level?

Here are my questions specifically:

- Where do you single rich men hang out? Give me specifics- bars,
restaurants, gyms

-What are you looking for in a mate? Be honest guys, you won't hurt my feelings

- Is there an age range I should be targeting (I'm 25)?

- Why are some of the women living lavish lifestyles on the upper east
side so plain? I've seen really 'plain jane' boring types who have
nothing to offer married to incredibly wealthy guys. I've seen drop
dead
gorgeous girls in singles bars in the east village. What's the story there?

- Jobs I should look out for? Everyone knows - lawyer, investment
banker, doctor. How much do those guys really make? And where do they
hang out? Where do the hedge fund guys hang out?

- How you decide marriage vs. just a girlfriend? I am looking for MARRIAGE ONLY

Please hold your insults - I'm putting myself out there in an honest
way. Most beautiful women are superficial; at least I'm being up front
about it. I wouldn't be searching for these kind of guys if I wasn't
able to match them - in looks, culture, sophistication, and keeping a
nice home and hearth.

it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
PostingID: 432279810

The Answer

Dear Pers-431649184:

I read your posting with great interest and have thought meaningfully
about your dilemma. I offer the following analysis of your
predicament. Firstly, I'm not wasting your time, I qualify as a guy
who fits your
bill; that is I make more than $500K per year. That said here's how I see it.

Your offer, from the prospective of a guy like me, is plain and simple
a crappy business deal. Here's why. Cutting through all the B.S., what
you suggest is a simple trade: you bring your looks to the party and I
bring my money. Fine, simple. But here's the rub, your looks will fade
and my money will likely continue into perpetuity...in fact, it is
very likely that my income increases but it is an absolute certainty
that you won't be getting any more beautiful!

So, in economic terms you are a depreciating asset and I am an earning
asset. Not only are you a depreciating asset, your depreciation
accelerates! Let me explain, you're 25 now and will likely stay pretty
hot for the next 5 years, but less so each year. Then the fade begins
in earnest. By 35 stick a fork in you!

So in Wall Street terms, we would call you a trading position, not a
buy and hold...hence the rub...marriage. It doesn't make good business
sense to "buy you" (which is what you're asking) so I'd rather lease.
In case you think I'm being cruel, I would say the following. If my
money were to go away, so would you, so when your beauty fades I need
an out. It's as simple as that. So a deal that makes sense is dating,
not marriage.

Separately, I was taught early in my career about efficient markets.
So, I wonder why a girl as "articulate, classy and spectacularly
beautiful" as you has been unable to find your sugar daddy. I find it
hard to
believe that if you are as gorgeous as you say you are that the $500K
hasn't found you, if not only for a tryout.

By the way, you could always find a way to make your own money and
then we wouldn't need to have this difficult conversation.

With all that said, I must say you're going about it the right way.
Classic "pump and dump." I hope this is helpful, and if you want to
enter into some sort of lease, let me know.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 20:59:12 GMT

An answer to a question that has been dwelling in my mind for a long time...

Why do some toilets have a "break" in the front?

Toilet seats with a "break" in the front are called "open front" seats. The open front toilet seats afford the users more sanitary conditions and a greater sense of comfort than their residential closed-front cousins.

I'm not sure why it's more sanitary (nothing to drip on from stream?) or how it's more comfortable, but at least I can rest easy knowing why it's there.

100% Perfect Girl

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:50:01 GMT

One beautiful April morning, on a narrow side street in Tokyo's fashionable Harujuku neighborhood, I walked past the 100% perfect girl.

Tell you the truth, she's not that good-looking. She doesn't stand out in any way. Her clothes are nothing special. The back of her hair is still bent out of shape from sleep. She isn't young, either - must be near thirty, not even close to a "girl," properly speaking. But still, I know from fifty yards away: She's the 100% perfect girl for me. The moment I see her, there's a rumbling in my chest, and my mouth is as dry as a desert.

Maybe you have your own particular favorite type of girl - one with slim ankles, say, or big eyes, or graceful fingers, or you're drawn for no good reason to girls who take their time with every meal. I have my own preferences, of course. Sometimes in a restaurant I'll catch myself staring at the girl at the next table to mine because I like the shape of her nose.

But no one can insist that his 100% perfect girl correspond to some preconceived type. Much as I like noses, I can't recall the shape of hers - or even if she had one. All I can remember for sure is that she was no great beauty. It's weird.

"Yesterday on the street I passed the 100% girl," I tell someone.

"Yeah?" he says. "Good-looking?"

"Not really."

"Your favorite type, then?"

"I don't know. I can't seem to remember anything about her - the shape of her eyes or the size of her breasts."

"Strange."

"Yeah. Strange."

"So anyhow," he says, already bored, "what did you do? Talk to her? Follow her?"

"Nah. Just passed her on the street."

She's walking east to west, and I west to east. It's a really nice April morning.

Wish I could talk to her. Half an hour would be plenty: just ask her about herself, tell her about myself, and - what I'd really like to do - explain to her the complexities of fate that have led to our passing each other on a side street in Harajuku on a beautiful April morning in 1981. This was something sure to be crammed full of warm secrets, like an antique clock build when peace filled the world.

After talking, we'd have lunch somewhere, maybe see a Woody Allen movie, stop by a hotel bar for cocktails. With any kind of luck, we might end up in bed.

Potentiality knocks on the door of my heart.

Now the distance between us has narrowed to fifteen yards.

How can I approach her? What should I say?

"Good morning, miss. Do you think you could spare half an hour for a little conversation?"

Ridiculous. I'd sound like an insurance salesman.

"Pardon me, but would you happen to know if there is an all-night cleaners in the neighborhood?"

No, this is just as ridiculous. I'm not carrying any laundry, for one thing. Who's going to buy a line like that?

Maybe the simple truth would do. "Good morning. You are the 100% perfect girl for me."

No, she wouldn't believe it. Or even if she did, she might not want to talk to me. Sorry, she could say, I might be the 100% perfect girl for you, but you're not the 100% boy for me. It could happen. And if I found myself in that situation, I'd probably go to pieces. I'd never recover from the shock. I'm thirty-two, and that's what growing older is all about.

We pass in front of a flower shop. A small, warm air mass touches my skin. The asphalt is damp, and I catch the scent of roses. I can't bring myself to speak to her. She wears a white sweater, and in her right hand she holds a crisp white envelope lacking only a stamp. So: She's written somebody a letter, maybe spent the whole night writing, to judge from the sleepy look in her eyes. The envelope could contain every secret she's ever had.

I take a few more strides and turn: She's lost in the crowd.

Now, of course, I know exactly what I should have said to her. It would have been a long speech, though, far too long for me to have delivered it properly. The ideas I come up with are never very practical.

Oh, well. It would have started "Once upon a time" and ended "A sad story, don't you think?"

Once upon a time, there lived a boy and a girl. The boy was eighteen and the girl sixteen. He was not unusually handsome, and she was not especially beautiful. They were just an ordinary lonely boy and an ordinary lonely girl, like all the others. But they believed with their whole hearts that somewhere in the world there lived the 100% perfect boy and the 100% perfect girl for them. Yes, they believed in a miracle. And that miracle actually happened.

One day the two came upon each other on the corner of a street.

"This is amazing," he said. "I've been looking for you all my life. You may not believe this, but you're the 100% perfect girl for me."

"And you," she said to him, "are the 100% perfect boy for me, exactly as I'd pictured you in every detail. It's like a dream."

They sat on a park bench, held hands, and told each other their stories hour after hour. They were not lonely anymore. They had found and been found by their 100% perfect other. What a wonderful thing it is to find and be found by your 100% perfect other. It's a miracle, a cosmic miracle.

As they sat and talked, however, a tiny, tiny sliver of doubt took root in their hearts: Was it really all right for one's dreams to come true so easily?

And so, when there came a momentary lull in their conversation, the boy said to the girl, "Let's test ourselves - just once. If we really are each other's 100% perfect lovers, then sometime, somewhere, we will meet again without fail. And when that happens, and we know that we are the 100% perfect ones, we'll marry then and there. What do you think?"

"Yes," she said, "that is exactly what we should do."

And so they parted, she to the east, and he to the west.

The test they had agreed upon, however, was utterly unnecessary. They should never have undertaken it, because they really and truly were each other's 100% perfect lovers, and it was a miracle that they had ever met. But it was impossible for them to know this, young as they were. The cold, indifferent waves of fate proceeded to toss them unmercifully.

One winter, both the boy and the girl came down with the season's terrible inluenza, and after drifting for weeks between life and death they lost all memory of their earlier years. When they awoke, their heads were as empty as the young D. H. Lawrence's piggy bank.

They were two bright, determined young people, however, and through their unremitting efforts they were able to acquire once again the knowledge and feeling that qualified them to return as full-fledged members of society. Heaven be praised, they became truly upstanding citizens who knew how to transfer from one subway line to another, who were fully capable of sending a special-delivery letter at the post office. Indeed, they even experienced love again, sometimes as much as 75% or even 85% love.

Time passed with shocking swiftness, and soon the boy was thirty-two, the girl thirty.

One beautiful April morning, in search of a cup of coffee to start the day, the boy was walking from west to east, while the girl, intending to send a special-delivery letter, was walking from east to west, but along the same narrow street in the Harajuku neighborhood of Tokyo. They passed each other in the very center of the street. The faintest gleam of their lost memories glimmered for the briefest moment in their hearts. Each felt a rumbling in their chest. And they knew:

She is the 100% perfect girl for me.

He is the 100% perfect boy for me.

But the glow of their memories was far too weak, and their thoughts no longer had the clarity of fouteen years earlier. Without a word, they passed each other, disappearing into the crowd. Forever.

A sad story, don't you think?

Yes, that's it, that is what I should have said to her.

-Haruki Murakami (on seeing the 100% perfect girl one beautiful April morning)

Link: http://www.mat.upm.es/~jcm/murakami-perfect.html

Pedestrian, Not A Car!

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 22:51:59 GMT

One thing that irks me to no end is when bicycylists utilize the left turn lane to make a left turn. What, in their delusional, twisted minds, makes them think that they should be using a turning lane that is meant for cars to go left at an intersection?

When they're going straight, they're supposed to stick to the right side of the road, as much out of the way of cars as possible, much like a pedestrian. Why is this? Because, like a pedestrian, they are a lot slower than even the crappiest of cars and they will get crushed if they get touched by a moving car. This is for the good of the drivers by not encumbering a DRIVING lane (notice: not "riding" or "cycling".. "driving"), and good for the bicyclists/pedestrians because they stay out of harm's way.

With that said, why is it that bicyclists suddenly get the urge to behave like car drivers when they need to go left at an intersection? Why is it that they go from their designated spot on the right side of the road, as far out of the way of cars as possible, all the way to the center of the street, the point as far to the left as you can go without going the wrong way? What possible rationale can there be for this ridiculous practice? Let's analyze:

Car drivers:

Pros

-NONE! There's a friggin bicyclist in your lane who is going slower than a car would without stepping on the gas.

Cons

-Get slowed down by the moron on two wheels

-Could potentially hit the ass when he crosses from the right side of the street to the middle or when they ride in between cars to weave over to the front of the intersection to make that left turn

-Have to stare at the spandex wedgie-inducing, cheek-huggers that pass for bicyclist bottom wear that's usually at the perfect height to be in your direct area of vision. This leaves no imagination as to what the person's ass or balls look like. Thanks for the view Ballsy McCrackster.

Bicyclists:

Pros

-Get to feel like they're a car (inferiority complex?)

-Get to abuse the fact that drivers will inevitably at fault if they ever run a bicyclist over, and thus force all cars to get out of their way, despite intruding upon the automobile domain, i.e. driving lanes

-Show off balls and crack to unfortunate drivers they stop in front of

Cons

-Could die from either being run over, clipped, passed by too quickly by a car

-Killed intentionally by a driver who, like me, hates their presence in driving lanes and/or has been driving into a homicidal rage by being forced to stare and ass crack and balls at an intersection for the length of a red light

Seems pretty clear to me after this thorough analysis that bicyclists need to stay out of the driving lanes, even when making left turns, to be considerate to car drivers and to avoid getting killed or horribly maimed in a variety of ways. Solution? Use the crosswalk like pedestrians do! Why? Same reason why pedestrians use them and same reasons why they are in the same situation as pedestrians in relation to cars even when going straight.

Oh how I LOATHE bicyclists in left turn lanes....

Guide on How To Keep A Girl

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:58:22 GMT

1. When she asks how she looks, shrug and say "could be better."
This will keep her on her toes, and girls love that.

2. Never hold her hand. This can be interpreted as a sign of weakness.
If she grabs your hand, squeeze hers really hard until she cries (this
will impress her by showing her what a strong man you are).

3. Once a month, sneak up on her from behind and knock her over. Girls
are like dogs; they love to be roughed up.

4. Call her in the middle of the night to ask if she's sleeping. If
she is, say "you better be." Repeat this 4 or 5 times until morning. This will
show her you care.

5. When she is upset about something, suggest to her that it might be
her fault. This will pave the way for her own personal improvement, and
every girl needs some improvement.

6. Recognize the small things, as they usually mean the most. Then
when she's sleeping, steal all her small things and break them, because
jewelry is for wussies and Asian ladies.

7. If you're talking to another girl, make sure she's looking. When
she is, stare into her eyes, mouth the words "**** you" and grab the other
girl's ass. Girls love competition.

8. Tell her you're taking her out to dinner. Drive for miles so she
thinks it's going to be really special. Then take her to a burning tire yard.
When she starts to get upset, tell her you were just kidding and now you're
really going to take her to dinner. Then drive her home. When she
starts crying and asks why you would do something like that, lean over and
whisper very quietly into her ear "…because I can."

9. Introduce her to your friends as "some chick." Women love those
special nicknames.

10. Play with her hair. Play with it HARD.

11. Warm her up when she's cold…and not by giving her your jacket,
because then you might get cold. Rather, look her in the eye and say
"if you don't stop bitching about the cold right now, you're going to be
bitching about a black eye." The best way to get warm is with fear.

12. Take her to a party. When you get there, she'll have to go to the
bathroom (they always do). Leave immediately. Come back right when the
party is dying and yell at her the whole way home for ditching you all
night.

13. Make her laugh. A good way to do this is if she has a small pet.
Kick the pet. Guys always find stuff like that funny…why shouldn't girls?

14. Let her fall asleep in your arms. When she's fast asleep, wait 10
minutes, then jump up and scream in her ear. Repeat until she goes
home and you can use your arms for more important things (like basketball).

15. Spit often. I hear girls like guys that spit.

16. If you care about her, never ever tell her. This will only give
her self-confidence, then you can never turn her into the object she deep
down desires to be.

17. Every time you're in her house, steal one of her shoes, earrings
or anything else that comes in pairs. Only take one of the pair. This
way, she'll go crazy.

18. Take her out to dinner. Right when she's about to order, interrupt
and say "no, she's not hungry." Make her watch you eat. Girls love a guy
that speaks for her.

19. Look her in the eyes and smile. Then punch her in the face. Girls
love a spontaneous guy.

20. Give her one of your t-shirts, and make sure it has your smell on
it (but not a sexy cologne smell…a bad smell. You know what I'm talking
about).

21. When it's raining, keep asking her if she's crying. She'll say
"no, it's just the rain." Ten minutes later, turn to her and just scream at
her to stop crying. Girls like a tough man.

22. Titty twisters and plenty of them.

23. If you're listening to music, and she asks to hear it, tell her
no. This way she'll think you're mysterious.

24. Remember her birthday, but don't get her anything. Teach her that
material objects arent important. The only thing that's important is
that she keeps you happy, and your happiness is the greatest present she
can ever get.

25. When she gives you a present on your birthday, Christmas or just
whenever, take it and tell her you love it. Then, next time you know
she's coming over on a trash day, leave the trash can open and have the
present visibly sticking out of the can. Girls actually don't like this one
that much, but guys think it's funny.

26. If she's mad at you for not calling her when you say you will,
promise her that you will call her at a certain time of the day. This will
make sure that she waits by the phone. Tell her when you call that you're
going to tell her a special surprise. Now she'll be really excited. Don't
call

Analysis -> Categorization?

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 04:09:30 GMT

I consider myself to be an analytical person. I'm pretty good at breaking things down into their components and figuring out how they work. I have a good knack for dissecting people's arguments or opinions and pointing out their merits or weaknesses. Plus, I'm technically a lawyer and it's supposed to be our analytical thinking that really separates us from the masses (or so we're told).

One byproduct of being so analytical with how I view the world is a tendency to want to recognize tendencies and traits of things, like people, in an effort to better understand them. Once those tendencies are pointed out, the next logical step is to compare and contrast those traits against different things. After that, it's hard to not start grouping similar things and sticking them in categories, allowing you to analyze and reach conclusions more quickly regarding any new unknown things that you encounter in the future or to just better understand things you've already encountered but haven't quite gotten a good grasp of. With people this usually leads to the dreaded stereotyping.

I try not to categorize or stereotype people, but I can't help myself. When I meet someone I immediately start analyzing them and breaking down any observable traits or tendencies, which I then use to compare them to people I've met before to make initial conclusions as to what kind of people they are and what I can expect from them. I try not to let these initial conclusions affect me too much as they're based off of a lot of assumption and conjecture, and because I want to avoid closing or narrowing my mind or perspective, but I have to admit that I can sometimes forget and treat them as more conclusive than they really are. It's just something my mind does automatically without any conscious thought, a sort of mental reflex.

I'm sure I'm not the only person who does this, everyone does it to some extent. However, I consider myself to a bit more extreme in my analysis, and thus also more likely to conclude too much off of what is mainly guesswork based off of my own limited experience. I like to think of myself as an open-minded person and so I try to rein in this tendency, but it does still come out here and there. Occasionally thoughts pop up like "he's Korean... must like to drink, smoke, and sing..." or "she's from San Marino... probably rich and spoiled..." Being a hardcore Christian throws up red flags because of the extensive experience with them has left me with a general bad taste in my mouth for zealous religious types. Same goes for people who are very political.

The problem with this categorization is that categories have defined boundaries and tend to put things in a black/white, as opposed to shades of gray, perspective. Smart or dumb, stubborn or laid-back, pleasant or annoying, liberal or conservative, etc., etc. They're all two ends of each respective spectrum and you miss a lot of what's out there if you view the world in only those extremes. Only movies and books are in black and white, reality exists almost entirely in shades of gray. The older I get the more I see this to be true, and the more complicated the world gets.

So what's the point of all this? I'm not really sure. I view this site as a place for me to just blabber whatever happens to be going through my mind at a given time, I usually don't much thought, if any at all, into these posts beforehand. All I know is that on one hand being analytical has helped me a lot in helping me become a lawyer, be able to think critically and understand things around me, on the other, it occasionally leads me to jump to conclusions and make things that seem clearly defined when they're not, sometimes causing me to overthink situations and occasionally even keep me from just trying something or just seeing how it'll turn out. None of us know how we will react in any given situation until we've actually been in it, no matter how much analysis and thinking done beforehand, and it's a waste of life to not seize opportunities because you presume to know what's at the end of the road before taking a single step down it.