(Kind Of) Cliff Crisis
Dadaism stood far above where anyone could reach him, swaying dangerously in the sudden and violent winds that rose up from the canyon below. Pragmatism had given up, Geology had wandered off, but Surrealism anxiously watched his unstable mentor. Existentialism walked up behind him, laying a bracing hand on his shoulder.
“He’ll come down,” Existentialism said, “Stop worrying so much. At the end of the day, he’ll be fine and you’ll have an ulcer.”
Surrealism nodded, swallowing a lump in his throat and walking away. Sure now that he was alone, Existentialism walked directly up to the perilously perched Dadaism and shoved him, one-handed, back onto safe ground. Dadaism laughed and glared in succession.
Showing posts with label pragmatism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pragmatism. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Monday, October 19, 2009
Male-ish Bonding
Male-ish Bonding
When Intellectualism stormed away from Conservatism, Daoism felt he could help. The only reason he didn’t was that he simply was never going to. A man may be strong enough to jump in the midst of crocodiles and manage to wrestle one down, but if he had any sense he would keep his feet on the ground. Silently, Pragmatism walked up behind Daoism, putting a hand on his shoulder in silent agreement and pouring him another cup of wine.
When Intellectualism stormed away from Conservatism, Daoism felt he could help. The only reason he didn’t was that he simply was never going to. A man may be strong enough to jump in the midst of crocodiles and manage to wrestle one down, but if he had any sense he would keep his feet on the ground. Silently, Pragmatism walked up behind Daoism, putting a hand on his shoulder in silent agreement and pouring him another cup of wine.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Dadaism Seizes the Narrative
Dadaism Seizes the Narrative
Hedonism lit more cigarettes than usual. Existentialism understood. He, too, could wait until the tense midmorning left him.
He felt like an asshole.
He felt like a winner.
He wasn't at home.
“You see how I can use Intellectualism to completely hijack a story line?”
Pragmatism frowned, “Great job, Dadaism, but you’re the only one amused.”
A grin painted onto a dirty canvas was Dadaism’s face: “Logic. Two things constructed the same must be similar to each other in some respect. Amused rhymes with confused.”
Pragmatism considered playing along to end it, something about Dadaism needing to become “disabused” of his obnoxious ideas, but inevitably took the simpler route. He called Geology for a ride home.
Hedonism lit more cigarettes than usual. Existentialism understood. He, too, could wait until the tense midmorning left him.
He felt like an asshole.
He felt like a winner.
He wasn't at home.
“You see how I can use Intellectualism to completely hijack a story line?”
Pragmatism frowned, “Great job, Dadaism, but you’re the only one amused.”
A grin painted onto a dirty canvas was Dadaism’s face: “Logic. Two things constructed the same must be similar to each other in some respect. Amused rhymes with confused.”
Pragmatism considered playing along to end it, something about Dadaism needing to become “disabused” of his obnoxious ideas, but inevitably took the simpler route. He called Geology for a ride home.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Pacifism Copes
Cast:
Pacifism—belief in opposing war and violence
Pragmatism—belief in finding practical solutions to problems
Pacifism Copes
At least the alley was empty.
“Oh my god, I’m going to die from being annoyed…I don’t want to die from being annoyed…I’m so annoyed…”
Pacifism felt like bugs were crawling up his arms. Criticized, yes, and so snake-like were their tongues—
He slammed his head back on the brick wall behind him. He was ready to explode, and even his inner monologue had given out. His thoughts made no sense.
“Bad day?”
His eyes shot open. A waiter from the party had come outside to smoke a cigarette.
He stared at him as if he were the first person Pacifism had ever seen. He noticed the mole on the side of the man’s neck, his right eye, which hung slightly lower than his left and his not unattractively mismatched nostrils.
“I’m a little frustrated right now,” replied Pacifism, surprised by the grit in his throat.
“You’ll be all right,” said the waiter, leaning against the brick wall, “I’m sure you will.”
Uneasy, Pacifism stumbled back into the melee of a social gathering he had previously escaped from. Pragmatism, seeing he was disturbed, laid a placating hand on his upper arm. Mumbling an excuse about the bathroom, Pacifism shirked the hand, avoiding all possible contact.
Pacifism—belief in opposing war and violence
Pragmatism—belief in finding practical solutions to problems
Pacifism Copes
At least the alley was empty.
“Oh my god, I’m going to die from being annoyed…I don’t want to die from being annoyed…I’m so annoyed…”
Pacifism felt like bugs were crawling up his arms. Criticized, yes, and so snake-like were their tongues—
He slammed his head back on the brick wall behind him. He was ready to explode, and even his inner monologue had given out. His thoughts made no sense.
“Bad day?”
His eyes shot open. A waiter from the party had come outside to smoke a cigarette.
He stared at him as if he were the first person Pacifism had ever seen. He noticed the mole on the side of the man’s neck, his right eye, which hung slightly lower than his left and his not unattractively mismatched nostrils.
“I’m a little frustrated right now,” replied Pacifism, surprised by the grit in his throat.
“You’ll be all right,” said the waiter, leaning against the brick wall, “I’m sure you will.”
Uneasy, Pacifism stumbled back into the melee of a social gathering he had previously escaped from. Pragmatism, seeing he was disturbed, laid a placating hand on his upper arm. Mumbling an excuse about the bathroom, Pacifism shirked the hand, avoiding all possible contact.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Living with Existentialism
Cast:
Existentialism-- "A philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one's acts." (Answers.com)
Pragmatism-- doctrine emphasizing practical solutions
Living with Existentialism
Existentialism had been on the couch for three days, and Pragmatism doubted his patience would last much longer. He needed to switch roommates so badly.
"Get up," he said, hitting Existentialism's foot. With wide eyes, Existentialism looked up at him.
"It's for the best, you know. That she moves on."
"Stop that," Pragmatism wondered whether a pillow or a bucket of ice water would wake up or shut up the depressed Existentialism better.
"And that I deal with these feelings, and learn them-- Psychology's so beautiful, you know, and so cruel."
"You are overreacting. Did you know that?" Pragmatism sat down on the coffee table, a paternal air about him, "She didn't say she would never see you again."
Pragmatism hadn't planned on being a therapist this morning. He hadn't wanted to, and he was silly for indulging his roommate for as long as he had. Existentialism smiled a melancholy smile and patted Pragmatism's hand where it lay on the back of the couch.
Seriously. A new roommate.
Existentialism-- "A philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one's acts." (Answers.com)
Pragmatism-- doctrine emphasizing practical solutions
Living with Existentialism
Existentialism had been on the couch for three days, and Pragmatism doubted his patience would last much longer. He needed to switch roommates so badly.
"Get up," he said, hitting Existentialism's foot. With wide eyes, Existentialism looked up at him.
"It's for the best, you know. That she moves on."
"Stop that," Pragmatism wondered whether a pillow or a bucket of ice water would wake up or shut up the depressed Existentialism better.
"And that I deal with these feelings, and learn them-- Psychology's so beautiful, you know, and so cruel."
"You are overreacting. Did you know that?" Pragmatism sat down on the coffee table, a paternal air about him, "She didn't say she would never see you again."
Pragmatism hadn't planned on being a therapist this morning. He hadn't wanted to, and he was silly for indulging his roommate for as long as he had. Existentialism smiled a melancholy smile and patted Pragmatism's hand where it lay on the back of the couch.
Seriously. A new roommate.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Nihilism Propagates
Cast:
Stylometry-- studying literature by means of statistical analysis
Pragmatism—“a practical approach to problems and affairs” or a doctrine “marked by the doctrines that the meaning of conceptions is to be sought in their practical bearings” (Merriam-Webster)
Nihilism—the belief in nothing
Utilitarianism— “a doctrine that the useful is the good and that the determining consideration of right conduct should be the usefulness of its consequences”
(Merriam-Webster)
Psychology—the study of the mind
Nihilism Propagates
Stylometry had been sharing her observations about the length of sentences in David Hume’s work versus that of Charles Dickens’ when those assembled had decided desperately to change the subject. Pragmatism, backed by a slightly tired Utilitarianism, had started an argument about the inconvenience of believing in nothing when the individual clearly was when Nihilism rose, seemingly put out.
“Where are you going?” Pragmatism leaned back in his seat with his black, milked tea.
“I have to go spend time with my kid.”
Pragmatism could hardly believe himself, “Why do you have a kid?”
Nihilism shot him a scathing look, “How do kids normally come about? I had sex with Epistemology. I thought at the time that I could learn something, but in the end she knows about as much as the rest of you.”
“Which is?” asked Psychology, amused and already sure of the answer.
“Nothing.”
After he left, no one felt like continuing a conversation wherein the primary antagonist had disappeared. Psychology appeared thoughtful, examining a split end of her honey-colored hair with vague interest.
“He’s probably very angry in bed,” she commented. Utilitarianism was made singularly uncomfortable by this forward comment, and wandered out of the room.
Stylometry-- studying literature by means of statistical analysis
Pragmatism—“a practical approach to problems and affairs” or a doctrine “marked by the doctrines that the meaning of conceptions is to be sought in their practical bearings” (Merriam-Webster)
Nihilism—the belief in nothing
Utilitarianism— “a doctrine that the useful is the good and that the determining consideration of right conduct should be the usefulness of its consequences”
(Merriam-Webster)
Psychology—the study of the mind
Nihilism Propagates
Stylometry had been sharing her observations about the length of sentences in David Hume’s work versus that of Charles Dickens’ when those assembled had decided desperately to change the subject. Pragmatism, backed by a slightly tired Utilitarianism, had started an argument about the inconvenience of believing in nothing when the individual clearly was when Nihilism rose, seemingly put out.
“Where are you going?” Pragmatism leaned back in his seat with his black, milked tea.
“I have to go spend time with my kid.”
Pragmatism could hardly believe himself, “Why do you have a kid?”
Nihilism shot him a scathing look, “How do kids normally come about? I had sex with Epistemology. I thought at the time that I could learn something, but in the end she knows about as much as the rest of you.”
“Which is?” asked Psychology, amused and already sure of the answer.
“Nothing.”
After he left, no one felt like continuing a conversation wherein the primary antagonist had disappeared. Psychology appeared thoughtful, examining a split end of her honey-colored hair with vague interest.
“He’s probably very angry in bed,” she commented. Utilitarianism was made singularly uncomfortable by this forward comment, and wandered out of the room.
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