Sometimes discussions lead to strange ideas, usually for the other person. Over the course of emailing someone the topic of pain had come up. I had made the following comment: physical manifestation of emotional pain as a form of coping with that that you cannot deal with. thats my tattoos, my piercings. Granted that is my OWN reasoning for it usually. However I’m not sure this holds true for everyone. In fact I’d say that is rather an exception than a norm. I know of several people that have tattoos and pierces that got them for totally different reasons. While it still might be an emotional reason, it is not a painful emotion. But they do still serve as a method of memory I’m sure.

Anyhow thats not even the fun part of the email. But to get to that there will be a slight disconnect in ideas, subject, and topic flow here so that we can jump to the idea stereotypes.

I had a teacher admit that stereotypes are based on truths. This actually does two things; it validates my thoughts on this, and makes me think I should have gone for higher education (lord knows my writing skills could use it). Seriously though, anyone that attempts to tell you that stereotypes are not based on truths is full of crap. The problem realizing if the truths are sound and valid. While it may be a stereotype that a certain race or type of person has a predisposition towards violence and criminal activity, you must ask yourself if those truths are valid. If you can find flaw in the source of a stereotype then you can find exceptions to the stereotype and maybe open your eyes a little.

Broken down in to ideas that don’t connect, but should make sense…
One of the traits of being human is recognition of patterns. It helps keep us alive and make reasonable assumptions.
We learn by observing patterns.
These patterns become stereotypes. They are perfectly normal and natural.

The problem is when you take a stereotype and you apply it in a negative way and fail to realize that sometimes patterns are broken and the stereotype does not hold true. Or since standing on the shoulders of a giant you will see further, allow me to just link to a comic that explains it very nicely.

Seems pretty easy to say in reality. Drug addicts do it at NA, alcoholics do it at AA. I guess it’s fitting I do it on the internet, as I’m apparently addicted to electronics and the internet. The weirdos at a treatment center will tell you that addiction has something to do with having a behavior that has negative consequences and yet you still engage in them.

Thats pretty simple really. I’ve spent entire nights and days stuck to a computer, working or playing video games. I’ve allowed electronics/computers and work to cause stress in relationships. I’ve come to depend on them to feel normal. I’ve gotten in trouble with them. I’ve broken laws with them.

It’s come up in thinking several times over the past month. Usually when I open my laptop  for the third or fourth time in couple hours. Why? Oh for nothing more than to check the news and my email. Given that the news don’t change that much and I really don’t get that much email, it’s kinda pointless. It’s terrible really. Falling asleep with the glow of a screen, or falling asleep on your keyboard.

Yeah, seems like a joke and all right? Wish it was, but it’s no surprise to me that they have actually started to notice that it is indeed something that people can become addicted to. There is however one thing that I will NEVER do. Online dating. Surprisingly though, both my Dad and Step-Dad have both done so and ended up married. Just so that we’re clear on this… crawling over broken shards of glass and hot coals while being violently violated so I could beg an ex for a chance would be more favorable than the concept of online dating.

Ehh I think my dog just farted.