People might find this to be surprising, but the above phrase annoys me. It's beyond an annoyance really. If you suggest that I do something because they feel like it's God's will, then I immediately perceive their IQ to be about 20 points lower. Why? There are two reasons. One is because I find that statement to be extremely condescending, rude, and arrogant, unless the statement is about some broad idea that everyone knows about (i.e. You should help those in need because it's God's will). Two is because this statement leaves no room for argument and compromise.
For the life of me, I can't see how people aren't offended (sorry for the double negative). Here are the premises:
1. I know what the almighty supernatural being (God) wants
2. You do not know what God wants
3. Therefore you should do as I (he) say(s)
Let's take this statement for an example: "I was praying yesterday, and God spoke to me saying that you should come back to California" (I made up this silly example).
The first premise is obviously true. The second premise is implied. If we both knew what the almighty wanted, then the person wouldn't have to tell me anything. If someone is trying to change my behavior by telling me what God had said, it necessarily implies that I do not know what God wants. I emphasize change because that means we are at a disagreement, and if I'm at a disagreement with a person who knows exactly what God wants, then I must obviously do not know what God wants. I'm always tempted to say, "well, I prayed too and God told me the exact opposite thing."
To be even more honest, and blasphemous, whenever people told me to listen to God, I had no idea what they were talking about. I can honestly tell you that I tried so hard, but I only ended up talking to myself and listening to my conscious, which all humans innately have.
Premise three is also quite obviously true. I know that many people don't mean it to be this way, but the phrase "it's God's will," or anything close to it, is really an attempt to subjugate another human being by using a higher authority as an excuse. I'm not okay with that.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Saturday, February 23, 2013
www.fredpaik.com
oh and on a second note, I re-posted my website. It used to be called www.topaintwithlight.com, but now it's www.fredpaik.com. I guess I grew more narcissistic over the years.
Unfortunately, it does not work with iOS, and it only works on certain android phones. Oh well.
Unfortunately, it does not work with iOS, and it only works on certain android phones. Oh well.
up with which I will not put
I always try to memorize this phrase to zap some over zealous grammar police, but to no avail. Hopefully I will be able to memorize it for good this time.
If you don't know what I'm talking about, here is the myth (which is probably not true). One of Winston Churchill's aid corrected his speech, saying that he should not end a sentence with a preposition. So Churchill wrote back a memo, saying, "this is the kind of tedious nonsense up with which I will not put."
Isn't it one of the best ripostes ever? take the clause 'which I will not put up with,' and move the two prepositions (though up is not necessarily a preposition) like a traditional grammarian would suggest, and you get the whacked out sentence: "up with which I will not put!"
If you don't know what I'm talking about, here is the myth (which is probably not true). One of Winston Churchill's aid corrected his speech, saying that he should not end a sentence with a preposition. So Churchill wrote back a memo, saying, "this is the kind of tedious nonsense up with which I will not put."
Isn't it one of the best ripostes ever? take the clause 'which I will not put up with,' and move the two prepositions (though up is not necessarily a preposition) like a traditional grammarian would suggest, and you get the whacked out sentence: "up with which I will not put!"
Sunday, February 17, 2013
to not be a bitch
Before I start, I'm annoying myself by splitting infinitives these days. But then "not to be a bitch" sounds different for some reason, closer to "not to be rude but," sort of statement. May be I should've just said to be not a bitch.
I had this epiphany as I was traveling across South East Asia, because I was a little sissy and a pushover to people in uniform. This first occurred when I was in an airport in Laos, at a Thai airline counter. The lady insisted that I check my bag, which turned out to be double the allotted weight (my bag was 14kg). I insisted that I didn't want to check it, and whether my bag is in cargo or on the overhead bin makes no difference to the airline. She was stubborn, and after about 30 seconds of quibble, I lost.
Now, what would a strong minded person, who refuses to take no for an answer, have done? He would've politely asked, if there were any rules about the article of clothing a passenger can wear, (the answer is no), and proceed to wear every single piece of clothing he possibly could. I didn't do that.
Second instance was also in an airport. In Bangkok, I was going through the security, when they asked to see the contents of my unchecked bag. Now, keep in mind that I went through 9 airports and border crossings during this trip, and this was my last stop. The problem was my shampoo and sun block, which were in a 125ml container. Now I didn't care about the shampoo but I had bought the sun block for nearly 10 dollars, so naturally, I was pissed. I decided to stand my ground, but after about a minute, when security guards inched closer, I threw away both of them, because I didn't want to check my bag.
If you haven't noticed already, I absolutely hate checking bags.
But my preferences aside, what would a strong minded person have done? He would've said, "okay, I'll check my bag," and would've proceed to a different airport security. I think there were about four different security checks in the BKK airport, and if I was able to go through 8 airports and border crossings, I think at least one of them would've let me keep my sun block.
Okay, so here are my resolutions. To be not a bitch, and to not split infinitives. damn.
I had this epiphany as I was traveling across South East Asia, because I was a little sissy and a pushover to people in uniform. This first occurred when I was in an airport in Laos, at a Thai airline counter. The lady insisted that I check my bag, which turned out to be double the allotted weight (my bag was 14kg). I insisted that I didn't want to check it, and whether my bag is in cargo or on the overhead bin makes no difference to the airline. She was stubborn, and after about 30 seconds of quibble, I lost.
Now, what would a strong minded person, who refuses to take no for an answer, have done? He would've politely asked, if there were any rules about the article of clothing a passenger can wear, (the answer is no), and proceed to wear every single piece of clothing he possibly could. I didn't do that.
Second instance was also in an airport. In Bangkok, I was going through the security, when they asked to see the contents of my unchecked bag. Now, keep in mind that I went through 9 airports and border crossings during this trip, and this was my last stop. The problem was my shampoo and sun block, which were in a 125ml container. Now I didn't care about the shampoo but I had bought the sun block for nearly 10 dollars, so naturally, I was pissed. I decided to stand my ground, but after about a minute, when security guards inched closer, I threw away both of them, because I didn't want to check my bag.
If you haven't noticed already, I absolutely hate checking bags.
But my preferences aside, what would a strong minded person have done? He would've said, "okay, I'll check my bag," and would've proceed to a different airport security. I think there were about four different security checks in the BKK airport, and if I was able to go through 8 airports and border crossings, I think at least one of them would've let me keep my sun block.
Okay, so here are my resolutions. To be not a bitch, and to not split infinitives. damn.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
okay, since the 365 day challenge is obviously a miserable failure and no one ever reads this (quite literally, I'm writing to thin air here), I had a bright idea of making yet another blog. How ingenious.
But, it makes sense this time. A lot more sense than this one. Tomorrow, I shall unveil the project through facebook, and I'm just going to turn this blog into a normal one, though I really don't have much time to write (or update 2~3 blogs at once), I'll try again.
But, it makes sense this time. A lot more sense than this one. Tomorrow, I shall unveil the project through facebook, and I'm just going to turn this blog into a normal one, though I really don't have much time to write (or update 2~3 blogs at once), I'll try again.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
365 Day Challenge Day 27 - Escalator
Some people like to take spectacular pictures of spectacular places. I don't. To me, a picture of an amazing place will pretty much look amazing regardless of the photographer; it will take a novice or someone real special to screw it up. I'm sure most landscape photographers are horribly offended by what I just said, though they don't need to be. All I'm saying is that I'm oblivious to all the intricate details that make up a good landscape photo because I'm ignorant, and I'm ignorant because I don't care for landscapes.
When someone becomes infatuated with something, all the little details can mean the world to them. For the rest of the non-infatuated population - we just don't get it.
In fact, I have tremendous respect for landscape photographers. It's just that I don't really experience any catharsis from looking at say, Ansel Adams's work. But whenever I look at Steve McCurry's or Alex Webb's photos, I often put my hands no my head in despair and think to myself, "why can't I take pictures that are half as good?"
So what kind of photographs am I into?
My favorite type of photography is one that portrays humanness. One that triggers a deep feeling within us precisely because we are human beings. These pictures don't necessarily have to be of starving children taken in Africa, but in a developed country, the opportunities are more scarce I think.
My next favorite type is one that sees situations and things in a different perspective. What most people see as a banal moment, I can sometimes point out something interesting, by changing the perspective or focusing on a certain detail.
Yes, I like pictures like this one. Nothing too special, but I like it a lot.
When someone becomes infatuated with something, all the little details can mean the world to them. For the rest of the non-infatuated population - we just don't get it.
In fact, I have tremendous respect for landscape photographers. It's just that I don't really experience any catharsis from looking at say, Ansel Adams's work. But whenever I look at Steve McCurry's or Alex Webb's photos, I often put my hands no my head in despair and think to myself, "why can't I take pictures that are half as good?"
So what kind of photographs am I into?
My favorite type of photography is one that portrays humanness. One that triggers a deep feeling within us precisely because we are human beings. These pictures don't necessarily have to be of starving children taken in Africa, but in a developed country, the opportunities are more scarce I think.
My next favorite type is one that sees situations and things in a different perspective. What most people see as a banal moment, I can sometimes point out something interesting, by changing the perspective or focusing on a certain detail.
Yes, I like pictures like this one. Nothing too special, but I like it a lot.
365 Day Challenge Day 26 - Lidija
One of the reasons why I stopped doing the 365 Day challenge was because it took too long to resize the photos to 800 pixels. Bigger pictures tend to be more flattering and even the x-large picture setting on blogspot annoys me quite a bit because it's not large enough. And to resize the pictures everyday... it's just too annoying, although I can just take gazillion pictures and resize them all at once in lightroom. But what would be the point of the 365 day challenge if I'm going to take 365 photos in one day?
Anyways, here's a picture of one of the most beautiful persons I know - just objectively speaking from a photographer whose job is to study faces. I have no idea why she is not a model, especially when she's tall enough to be one.
*Now that I look at it, it's not TOO bad. I'll just do this and hope I will continue with the challenge.
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