[[How has been]]

Monday, June 23, 2014

[[The laziness of postmodern thinking]]

I think, the thinking that there is no absolute truth, by and large, is a very lazy way of thinking. By this I am talking about most people that hold this thinking, not all, there are some that concluded such after a really long search but most didnt even bother searching. (Tada, disclaimer, now if you do hold this thinking think of yourself as the minority that I wasn't criticising and not feel offended.)

To accept no truth, with everything being relative is like just scratching the surface. It is like the base conclusion. The easiest conclusion, in my opinion. It is in essence saying nothing and refusing to say anything other than what is blatantly obvious. People believe in different things, that is a fact. To say people believe in different things therefore it is true to them is also blatantly obvious. It is not saying anything. To stop there is like no effort at all. Instead of exploring if there is a truth they just erect this wall and say ok I accept this fact (as if as it is a massive concession on their part), please dont bother me, I dont wanna think about it. THATS IT.

Now time for lousy, possibly exaggerated metaphors but with some truth in them. It is like saying I hold apples to be red to be the truth, I know people out there say apple is a fruit, or oranges are orange, bananas are black or so on and so forth. No problem, they can believe that, but I am content with apple being red I dont have an opinion on the color of bananas or the other aspects of apples. It is incredibly myopic and all. It does not accept nor reject yet gives no reason for this action. Even better, some people will not even hold anything to be the truth. I hold apples to be red, but you hold apples to be blue, perhaps apples are red-blue due to mechanism unknown. I know not how such reasoning is even viable to a rational being. It is pure laziness. Even lazier, I dont wanna look at an apple, you can debate what color it is to your friends all you want, (it is not a I see and have no apple) but please dont ask me my opinion on the apple.

All these wouldnt matter if it were some obscure branch of knowledge. Of course I dont know how a space shuttle works in it's entirety though I believe it to be something about burning hydrogen with oxygen and stuff. And I am content with other people knowing about them, yet not I. Yet the workings of a space shuttle hardly affect me. The truth about one's being certainly affects him/her. It affects one so so so so so so so drastically. The very actions taken will be leagues apart. Yet people can be content to merely survive based on zero thinking with survival and basic, abstract 'happiness' being the elusive goal. I dont know about you, but that's madness to me. To survive without a rational to survive, to be happy as an end to itself without any underlying reason. I dont get it at all.

It is like digging a hole because other people are all digging a hole (digging a hole here will denote living) but without knowing why you are digging a hole. Not to find gold not to build a trench to hide in, but just digging for the sake of making a hole. No sense at all.

I think a few years ago I liked to say people living without a reason should consider killing themselves or similar. I was young and foolish with an utter disregard for the sanctity of a human life! But yeah, people living without a reason, a good reason that makes sense, and in a defensible way, should think about why they are living.

On something with that vital importance as truth, concluding at face value is not the best thing to do (Not concluding is the best, sarcasm mine). One should, rationally, amass the largest amount of knowledge to ensure as far as possible that one's choice is the right one. After amassing this knowledge to the best of one's ability and concluding that it doesnt matter is at least more rational than not searching and concluding (though i think the conclusion is kinda mad, at least one has thought.)

Everyone should have a why, read some philosophy.

Completely fictitious example
What do you aim for in life? To be happy. Why do you wanna be happy? I dont know, would you rather be sad? No but why do you wanna be happy? Just because lor. Why not take drugs? so on and so forth.

[[I wrote this at]]*|11:09 PM|

Sunday, June 22, 2014

[[]]

The world tempts me so, oh it tempts me so.
It is like not eating the cake before you to get a banquet later, a top-notch banquet.

[[I wrote this at]]*|10:26 PM|

Saturday, June 21, 2014

[[On believing in God]]

There are many differences that a person upon believing in God should have. Observable differences. For the purposes of this post lets stick to the Abrahamic God that includes Judeo-Christianity and Islam. For one, they are all the God of Abraham. For more, there are common threads amongst all of them, basic assumptions that can be made e.g God is omnipotent, creator of the universe,

Anyway, one who believes in God will have no fear of death. In fact, one can even with cautious optimism look forward to death. Death is but the beginning. The start of something better, a claim made with quiet confidence of course. This means that life is not an end to itself. Once there is this ascertained for sure, the time scope becomes very different. One will no longer aim to maximise for this life, but for eternity. But that is a separate point I guess.

One will have no fear of spirits, omens or like bad luck. Knowing that there is a just God controlling everything removes a lot of fear. I think it gives a certain kind of confidence, again, to live. For the believer knows that the ultimate power is for him, as opposed to against him. Whatever spirits that are malicious can exist and can try to attack the believer but the believer is assured that they will not prevail. That means that they do not have to pander to the spirits. Do not have to fear the spirits. Do not have to fear uncertainty. There is only God to fear and his righteous judgement. That very much simplifies things eh. As compared to trying to placate every single power.

A believer will have utmost confidence in himself. He knows that people do not control his life and all things are allowed by God. With that, the fear of other people becomes more or less removed. For his life is not in the power of man or governments or bullies or whatnot, but in the hand of God. He knows that status in the world is given by God and that all glory and all status goes to him and not man in the bigger scheme of things. Hence he is insured of his self worth, the same as all other humans and greater than the rest of creation, while keeping in perspective God's infinitely greater worth. This assurance also ensures he does not become too proud for he knows he is not greater, but equal in the eyes that matter.

A believer will also be virtuous and upright not for his own gain but because it is mandated by God. As such, a believer should have a single-minded focus and be theoretically incorruptible.

Ok thats it for today.

Surprisingly (or perhaps, unsurprisingly if you are more updated), these points are taken and loosely paraphrased with some interjections of my own from the book towards understanding Islam. I think the points are pertinent and applicable to Christianity too.

[[I wrote this at]]*|1:20 AM|

Saturday, June 14, 2014

[[On legalising drugs]]

Anyway, I was thinking, perhaps my country should legalise drugs. Perhaps regulate it the way gambling is done (like having singapore pools and the casinos). Of course if people who take drugs

From the way I see it, legalising drugs makes sense in many ways.

First of all, I feel that the state does not have that large a right to interfere in the private decisions of it's citizens. Why does one not have the right to sniff glue intentionally yet if unintentionally while say, super gluing my shoe, it is allowed? Does a member of society lose his right to self-harm? Lose the right to his (come, lets assume he for the purposes of this article) own body? (come now, it was a rhetorical question (clearly to help the less understanding reader, not you.))

Point 1a. Society attempting to prevent self-harm is impossible. It is impossible to define self-harm and practically speaking. Is watching tv self-harm? I would say yes, it turns your brain into mush and muddles your thinking, gives you images that are altered, not the truth. Not too much different from drugs eh? Watching tv also might cause seizures to boot. So do we ban tv? Eating fried food too. So on and so forth. Where does one draw the line? How much self-harm is acceptable? Just sayin, oxygen oxidises our bodies away too. So it is much more possible to allow self harm eh. I dont see why certain kinds of self-harm can be permissible while others are not. So the argument is if self-harm should be banned it should be banned all the time which would not be feasible therefore it should not be banned. Why would lesser self harm make self harm right if it was right? (woo here I go making things black and white) (of course I dont have to raise alcohol and tobacco right? right.)

Point 1b. Society attempting to prevent self-harm is undesirable. In economic terms, why would one make the rational decision to do anything? Because it is the best decision that would maximise his own happiness or whatnot, whatever rationale you use. Basically it is the best to the person. Removing this option of self harm would make people that want to self harm sadder and less well off, their top option is gone while not affecting the rest that choose not to self-harm. Replace self harm with drugs, restricting drugs will make those that want to take drugs less happy while not affecting those that do not want to take drugs. What I am saying is that to there is a happiness cost (if you will), to ban something. So if all things were equal and no positive negative externalities and whatnot, society to achieve optimal happiness should always not ban things, not criminalise things. Let me give you an example, if society banned climbing trees, a large number of people will not be affected, those not prone to tree climbing while the select group of tree climbers would be sad. As tree climbers are part of society, society as a whole will be worse off. So, if society believes people are rational, (if not rational perhaps lock them up or give them treatment or whatnot), they will maximise their own happiness or whatever is important to them by themselves intrinsically, society should not force decisions on them as it will lead to some being less happy or whatnot.

Point 1bii. If in the case they are hoodwinked by imperfect information and all would not educating them be the correct way to go about it? Anyway there should be personal responsibility for decisions, personal responsibility to get your own information. Afterall society cannot make decisions for everyone in the interests of protecting them from their own stupidity. That would be a heavy handed totalitarian regime. FOR FREEDOM!

This is in terms of private decision making, which is the large point 1. So now, perhaps lets open the scope a little wider.

Large point 2, while negative externalities do proceed from drug taking, banning drug taking does not eliminate negative externalities. This is because banning drugs, criminalising drugs does not equal to no drug use. Clearly because not everyone is a law abiding citizen. The question is whether banning drugs improves the situation. And I shall claim that not necessarily.

Point 2a. Banning drugs is costly. There is a price to pay on fighting the war on drugs. Policemen have to be employed, checks on policemen have to be employed, raids have to be done .etc. The entire budget of the CNB could probably be slashed to a quarter if drugs were legalized. Money spent on the war on drugs is money not spent on education, healthcare, defence .etc. All these money could be put to better use. So there is this resource that is used to ban, there is implicit cost in banning, it starts with a negative. The next best alternative must be forfeited. So you have to consider whether say, forfeiting a hospital a year is worth the war on drugs. And that is only the monetary cost. What about the cost of lives say when law enforcement is shot at. Or the injuries that go about with this duty in enforcing the ban? Very costly to society as a whole. (if drug are taxed then surprise! we might have even more money for like education and whatnot.)

Point 2b. Banning drugs have negative externalities. When an item is banned, due to the practicalities of it, a black market is formed. Lawlessness increases. Clearly no law= no lawlessness. Black market for drugs causes a market for drug dealers. Drug dealers then drug syndicates and drug cartels. You get what I mean. The banning of drugs cause the market to go underground which fuels, monetarily, many other undesirable things. I think the prohibition is the closest example. Crimes, especially organised crimes spiked, fueled by the lucrative smuggling/bootlegging. Again, very costly. (This is especially as the money goes into the underworld, it is a huge economic cost.)

Point 2c. Legalising drugs have positive externalities. Legalising drugs will remove the social stigma against drug addicts. Perhaps then they can integrate better back into society if they made the decision to kick the habit and successfully do so. Afterall there is no criminal record for a computer game addict or a korean drama addict why should there be a stigma against drug addicts? Additionally, drug addicts will be able to seek help to kick the addiction more openly without being afraid of a jail term or social reprisal. Perhaps overdoses will be less frequent if more education can be done on safe drug usage. (which cannot be done now as it would be seen as condoning drugs.)

Thirdly, drugs are great! There is a reason why drugs were created and why people, again I stress rational people want to take drugs. Not only do they cure ails and all, they also give something to some people. Maybe the easing of headaches, hallucinations and whatnot. This is actually largely similar to point 1b.

I think the fight shouldn't be against drugs. It should be what causes people to take drugs, the root cause. If that is boredom, loss of purpose, societal issues then tackle the issues. Drug use is perhaps only a symptom. Legalising drugs can do so much more to control the symptom and perhaps free up resources to take on the root causes.

[[I wrote this at]]*|11:40 PM|

Thursday, June 12, 2014

[[]]

So much has happened.
My mind has been quite occupied. Hmm, time is flying. My holidays are always over. The once formidable looking 8 months have been whittled down so swiftly, so swiftly... I feel sad that my holidays are over, though I am glad I spent them thus.
I wish I could love God more and act as such more. I wish there could be more of him and less of me in my cognition.
When I glimpse into my earlier posts like a few years earlier they are really cringe worthy. I never knew I was that retarded a person. Perhaps I have de-retarded over the years, started moving. Perhaps.

There are many internal things that I find hard to express in words. Thoughts and feelings. Maybe I am being a better being after all. I am 'being' (as a verb) more.

And I realise I shouldn't want to be entertained. What is the point in being entertained? Childish whims? Am I that important a person with so much excess time that I have to be constantly stoked and fed for fear of boredom? Entertainment for entertainment's sake is fine, meaning that perhaps to unwind and all or derive some laughter after sombre events. Why should entertainment become my de facto time waster? I dislike the passivity and patheticness of being entertained. Like a baby. Perhaps when I start to fear boredom I could pray or read the bible or read my notes or plan events with others or such. This fear of boredom is terribly unhealthy.

Of course, entertainment for entertainment's means that there is something to takeaway from said entertainment more than just being amused and burning time.

That being said, I think I shall delete temple run. Perhaps. Time to live some stuffs that are said eh! Like how to really be passionate about something.

[[I wrote this at]]*|10:32 PM|

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

[[]]

Hi all!
I think I skipped a post. I would plead busyness but I shant, because it is a lame and stupid excuse. Afterall, I had enough time to be updated (almost) on my social media and some other internet junk to rot my brain at just the right rate.
Anyway, these past two weeks have been thought provoking as I thought it would be. Not so much in the intellectual reasoning way though there are some, but more in the being of a person.
I think all the other participants are a great inspiration to me. I admire some, much of what they have done, what they have done right. Things that I have yet to master. Things like a much more contrite heart, a humble spirit, an attitude that gives glory to God. Juxtaposing myself against them, fellow fallen beings, and my overwhelming pride rears its ugly head again.
Hais, hais, it is always a cause for concern. I really need to be stricter on myself. Stop cutting myself so much slack. If I do not cut other people much slack why should I cut myself so much slack. Yet it is not something that I can do by myself, I have to put down the superman attitude of overcoming my own pride and let God help me. Let God get the glory of a humble spirit, for I cannot achieve it in my fallen sinful state.
Or perhaps it is just perspective for I can see the problems in myself but perhaps not others. Perhaps as others have seen me as decent I see others as decent. But still, no harm in holding oneself to tighter standards, especially internal standards that by the grace and mercy of God, I can hope to accomplish.
In other news, I have seen, just today how much needs to be done in society again. These eyes of the heart that society and the devil longs to close. They do a good job by creating many paradigms, many selfish, individualistic ways of thought that unconsciously sift out whatever we may have to see.
Still, I am overwhelmed by the amount that needs to be done and hence I do nothing. Or maybe something but not with the right reasons. Perhaps I shall, do something afterall. Soon.

[[I wrote this at]]*|11:52 PM|