Source: Boycotting the big boys in favor of small businesses doesn’t work.
E-Racing Relationships
Source: E-Racing Relationships
Boycotting the big boys in favor of small businesses doesn’t work.
You have probably heard the phrase “shop local,” or “make sure you only buy locally grown products,” something along those lines. Although reasons vary, one main reason is that people believe the corporate giants and franchises have become corrupt, and buying from our friendly neighborhood people will force the hands of those darn elitists. Well, I’m here to rain on your parade. You see, if you actually dethroned the giants, you’d actually have a very expensive parade to bask in your glory. And that’s the problem.
For all you small business supporters, have you ever taken a business course? The very first sentence any college student hears in a business course is “the goal of a business is to make money.” If your goal isn’t money, you’re not a business. From the local organic store to the giant Wal-Mart, the objective is to take your money, justly or unjustly, one way or another.
That’s fine. It’s also fine that people say corporate giants are completely corrupt and are owned by corrupt people who prey on unsuspecting victims. Again, I can’t argue with you on that. This is all true to some extent. Where I have a very serious problem is that we trust that our local alternative can’t possibly be corrupt. If the primary focus is to make money, the only thing preventing corruption is limitations and being under the lens of a more centralized microscope. We would buy locally owned organic food because science taught us it was healthier. What happened? The bigger regional stores brought organic on board, paying off the local farmers, who accepted. I personally love my locally owned board game store and the games that go along with it. Other than Apples to Apples, Magic the Gathering, and Settlers of Catan, you couldn’t find these games anywhere. But surprise surprise, the local business board games went booming, and what happened? The corporate giant Barnes & Noble went right after these game designers. You can now find Italian game designer Antoine Bauza’s 7 Wonders and Hanabi in your local bookstore, when he once claimed to be a strong promoter of local businesses.
It is not corporate giants that are corrupt. It is people who are corrupt. You and I are not immune to corruption, just as much as a businessman, a freelancer, a small business owner, or a homeless man isn’t. We can all lose our value system in the blink of an eye.
I used to watch WWF wrestling shows as a kid, and I remember one character, The Million Dollar Man, who would always berate his opponents by buying them and saying, “Everybody has a price.” Everyone hated him because they hated mean rich people. But they also couldn’t stop watching him because they knew he was right, and they wanted to see someone shut him up.
What this all boils down to is not that we shouldn’t be supporting corporations. It boils down to the simple fact that we are jealous that they got the good money instead of us. It has nothing to do with poor ethics on them and everything to do with selfish attitude of us. If we benefited financially from their successes, we wouldn’t say a word, but since we lost the battle, we think somehow our voice must be heard and they must be stopped. But in an instant you and I can become “they” very quickly.
E-Racing Relationships
We live in a world of technology that intrudes every aspect of our life. When I was a child, I didn’t know what Internet was. I never dreamed of a day when relationships could be formed or deleted at the click of a button. My relationships, good or bad, were the result of my physical interactions at school and around my home. I lived out in the countryside, so friendships were minimal. I was isolated, secluded, practically a hermit. Being shy and fearful of everything didn’t help matters. My world consisted of toads, plumbers, and princesses inside a virtual 8-bit 2-dimensional world. You see, we like to blame the Internet and Facebook for our lack of ability to socialize. The simple truth is, we never learned how to. We learned how to defeat the evil big bully that steals our woman; we learned how to press a bunch of buttons on a controller that made all the hardest challenges become like a 2-piece puzzle. This is the way we’ve treated life–to make things as easy as possible, because it’s just too hard.
While in elementary school. I encountered a bully. I say a bully, because he constantly tried to find ways to beat me up, and I was just as much a monster, if not more. In reality, it was I who made the first mistake. I don’t recall exactly what I said, but I know it offended him. I had asked him perhaps if he was Japanese, or maybe Chinese or Japanese–not knowing it would offend him. At the time, I didn’t know. He was of Chinese descent. I didn’t know then that there has been some historical anomosity between the Japanese and Chinese, based on what they believe about their cultures–although that anomosity varies from person to person. To make matters worse, I never thought about trying to understand his culture, or why he felt this way. I simply felt like he should forgive me if I apologize and meant it (and I did). I remember his words clearly. “That’s not good enough.” And he’s right. It wasn’t, and isn’t. Our friendship was ended, and the next couple years became ever-tormenting days as we never worked things out. Although it’s too late now and I have no idea where he is now, I have thought about patching things up, even though I have no idea how it would go.
Funny thing, though. Whether or not you believe in Jesus, I do. The reason it’s important for me to say that is because after learning about Jesus and God I learned one very important thing: Love; real love, is unconditional. It does not expect things. Even so, I expected. I prayed God would find a way for me to make amends with this boy I had had quarrels with. God answered with screaming shouts of grace, and never gave me what I wanted and what I thought He wanted, but He gave me what He wanted. Many will think that it’s all just coincidence–perhaps it is, but at some point you realize that you’re being changed and you have no idea how it happened.
After college and moving out on my own, I lived in an apartment for several years, where I am still living. Over those years the roommates have shifted a few times. I think I’ve had about 10 roommates, and 6 of them have been from China. One might say, “well you live near a diverse University, it only makes sense” True, but there was never a guarantee that I would live at this apartment at these times under these conditions and that they would also find this apartment at these times. Anyways, the whole point of this is to say that despite my childhood ignorance, I learned that learning is the best form of a healthy relationship. I would consider 2 of those roommates very good friends, and most of the others at least ok friends. Did you know that sending a Christmas gift in a white enveleope can be offensive? Do you know how they celebrate Chinese New Year? Do you know how they have to put up with countless people making fun of their driving, despite the fact that they’re nice enough to offer rides (and by the way, he isn’t a bad driver)? Do you know in addition to sushi and rice, they also like chicken wings? Did you know that the word “they” isn’t even a fair term because THEY are all different? We always say they’re just the same as everyone else, and that is the most false statement in history. they are all different, like you and I are different. This is the message I want to send to you: instead of changing the attitude of a thousand bigots, try focusing on loving one person at a time. Don’t learn about them as if they were some tribe from your history books; instead learn from them as if they were your friend.
Why you should engage in discussion, even if you hate the viewpoint.
Why you should engage in discussion, even if you hate the viewpoint.
So, I recently came across a situation that got me thinking. I genuinely want to be a part of society, and I genuinely want to either change it for the better, or let society change me for the better. In life, you will have disagreements all the time, We live in a society of people who love to air their opinions and have no shame in letting the world know (even me writing this is a prime example).
We may remember the recent racial gun shooting case, where there were divided opinions. Homosexuality was a very divided topic between activists vs. Christians.
There are debates about men liking under 18 in America whereas the age of consent is 16 in other countries.
Throughout these issues, it seems one constant remains: whatever side is the majority, just puts their offenders on the ignore list. When heated controversy arrives, the method to win is to disengage. This is neither healthy nor a step in the right direction for your cause.
I shared my opinion about Pride & prejudice with someone, and gave them my reasons. They promptly said I was insensitive, stereotyping, and insulting women, and then ignored me from then on (which, by the way, only proves my point that looking for a Darcy is unrealistic because the same person who wants a Mr, Darcy, will likely be too offended to give him a chance; not saying that I fit Darcy’s character, but it certainly only reinforced my belief on P&P, which we’ll get to). I find it totally fine that she shared these opinions, that’s great, but the problem is that she’s not willing to engage on why I’m so insulting, stereotypical, etc. Believe it or not, I would have at least listened. I may have countered with arguments with why I disagree, but I also may have considered her view as well. If all you do is say, “you’re a jerk, you’re a swear word, you have no idea what you’re talking about,” then educate me. Just putting it off only leads to a viewpoint of confirming what I already suspected, because it comes off as you have no argument, you’re just taking offense. When that happens, it leads me to a decision of I’m right and you’re wrong, EVEN IF I am wrong and you’re right.
When the homosexuality debate came about in regards to gay marriage, I was a bit taken aback at how it was handled, by both sides. It seemed like both Christians and homosexuals were expressing the sentiment, “this is why we’re right, oh that’s your view? Well whatever, goodbye.” Again, this isn’t healthy. I would have liked to hear more arguments. For example, one argument was that animals engage in homosexual behavior, and animals are natural. It sort of made sense, but after thinking about it, I also thought, well, animals also kill each other, mate with seventeen different partners a week, and some animals practice cannibalism (or whatever the word is for when animals eat each other). So I thought, that doesn’t mean humans should take the example of animals (understand I’m not trying to take a side on that issue, it is merely for the effect of what I’m trying to explain). Christians often complain that they were bullied into silence when trying to express their viewpoint. We don’t want to engage. Again, educate them, don’t just say they’re idiots.
I recently watched a film entitled “Are All Men Pedophiles?” in which the director analyzes why he believed America is wrong for setting the age of consent to 18 when most societies hold it at 16.He contests that this was a modern change based on education, and not on maturity level, and that it’s normal for men to be attracted to 16 and 17 (referred to as hebephilia). As you could probably guess, the comments on IMDB shout how much they are offended at his nonsense, but very few of them give a rational, researched answer. If I were to make the argument, I would contest that girls that age have too many responsibilities as it is, that their education should be important, that there are emotional consequences for being with a girl so young; while they SAY they are emotionally mature, it seems more common that they find themselves heartbroken when rejected by a more “mature” or older man. Again, all I’m saying is that we need to be honest and not compromise our talk when someone comes off as rude or mean, because honestly, it really just means they are passionate about their view. Again, educate them.
There is difference between someone who just starts attacking you, saying you’re a swear word or so and so, and someone who just really takes offense to your VIEW. It’s ok to back off from someone who is just calling you names or whatever, and I also think it’s ok to take a break, and say something like, “ok, look, I’d like to talk about this, but let’s do it later so we can gather some thoughts and cool down.” Totally ok with that. Responding to a legitimate viewpoint as “YOURE AN IDIOT” gets you nowhere.
If you want to change the world you live in, you have to teach the world you live in.
Why Mr. Darcy is quite possibly the villain of Pride & Prejudice (Why Mr. Darcy is bad)
Why Mr. Darcy is quite possibly the villain of Pride & Prejudice (Why Mr. Darcy is bad)
It is a fairly common agreement that throughout a great length of the beginning of Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen presents Mr. Darcy as proud, shrewd, mean, and in many senses a jerk. It is this character that convinces Elizabeth Bennett that he is a vile man, one of the worst. This is fine. The problem begins when we are led to believe that Mr. Darcy is actually a good person deep down, and that he has changed. This is a very real flaw of the book that has caused an unrealistic fantasy of women that they will not let go. The end result has been countless devastations, broken hearts, and failed relationships that were doomed from the start.
So, why is Mr. Darcy not all that great in the end? Some reasons are personal opinion, while others are analytical holes in the plot.
1. Mr. Darcy is not loyal in the end. He was friends with Wickham when he chooses to be. He disregarded Wickham as a child, and only when he saw what he could obtain by helping Wickham, did he return to talking to Wickham. He pretended to be Wickham’s friend so he could obtain the hand Elizabeth. His payment for the Wickham wedding is wildly regarded as generous. I contend that it is deceitful and manipulative. He spent money he already had to convince Elizabeth of his love. Not only this, but he did so by sneaking his way into approval of Lizzy’s syster Lydia. This is an age old trick of men–to convince the family of your interest that they are good by giving them what they want. Again, this is manipulation.
2. Women contend that the reason Mr. Darcy is so wildly admired is because he listens and changes. This is a very big misconception. Mr. Darcy listens when he discovers a way in which to impress Elizabeth. He realizes he can win Elizabeth’s affection by being something he is not. This is not a character change of heart, it a man pretending or acting. Again, this is manipulation, not love.
3. He never changed his condescending speech or tone really. By the first proposal it is apparent, but in the second, he says he loves Lizzy, but if she does not take him, this would be the last time he would speak to her. The problem with this is that HE ALREADY SAID THAT BEFORE!! He does not take no for an answer.
4. He is a stalker. How convenient he just always happens to show up where Lizzy is. The first time is fine–random acquaintances happen often. But what about the Collins house? Ok, yes, he had family ties to Lady Catherine, so yes, he had reason to be at the house–but he intentionally went to Lizzie’s bedroom. How do you not know that is a private room in which a lady does not want to be bothered? He even says, “I did not wish to disturb your privacy.” Then what was he doing in her bedroom?
5. He viciously punishes those who do not agree with him, and lets his emotion control his action. This is evident in his breaking up of Jane & Bingley.
6. If pride is the flaw of Darcy that needed to be changed, then women can date any man they choose; every man has pride. Pride is not exclusive to Mr. Darcy. Besides this, pride can be both a flaw and a virtue.
7. Darcy’s character (supposedly) changed in only a year’s time. Character improvements takes far more time than one year, At the Collins house, he shows his effort to change. Yes, many men have tried to change themselves–but that is not a character improvement. His attempts were very forced, and quite obvious that while he was trying, he was likely to return to his former self.
8. Mr. Darcy never really changed that much. Lizzie Bennett says “he is not proud, he is as stubborn as I am!” These are the same thing with different words–it is not a character improvement, it only shows Darcy does not give up. Like how he does not take no for an answer. Stubborn just means he won’t stop until he has what he wants–basically a selfish man–not selfless. Even so, selfishness is again a trait exhibited by every human being on earth; if selfishness is the jerk factor, then women can date any man.
9. Any man who is as persistent as Mr. Darcy in modern society are met with legal threats of restraining orders, not admiration.
10. The book’s view is that money is a key factor to love and happiness. I would strongly contest this. I would imagine that Lydia & Wickham would have been quite the happier couple, so long as they worked together and worked hard to overcome their obstacles. Lizzie’s goals would always have to be to convince people of how misunderstood Darcy is, tolerate the insults thrown at her by those who despise Darcy, spend her time in constant agony over when Darcy tells her off instead of praise her. That sounds like a miserable life, not a loving one.
On Race; Why We Actually Are All Different and Not the Same
Credit to Miguel Coimbra
This is a topic that I have a hard time talking about, simply because I am afraid to share all the true details; the ones that haunt my past (and to some degree, current) self. I, admittedly, have acted in racist manners before, sometimes realizing it, and sometimes not realizing it. Let me say this: Watching a movie that encourages racial relations is not enough; hearing a sermon on loving other races is not enough; seeing a YouTube clip is not enough. The only way to bring racism (or any prejudice) to an end is to engage with those people as you would anyone else that you love. Sounds simple, right? Well, it’s not always that easy, as is the case with most endeavors.
What’s the most-used sentiment when it comes to racial equality? In my opinion, it is the statement, “We are all the same.” I don’t find this to be true. In regards to having rights, and being treated equally, we should all be treated with the same respect. But in regards to personality, we are all different, and this is where most people make a wrong statement. We are not the same. Not all Asians like noodles. Not all blacks like chicken. Not all those of Hispanic descent like enchiladas. Not all blacks like basketball. Not all Asians like Yao Ming. Not all Latinos like soccer. Even on writing this, there are people who prefer I use the term “African-American” and then there are those who prefer the term “black.” I cannot differentiate between all the preferences without first communicating with someone what they prefer.
So, why exactly am I writing about race relations? Well, the best way to answer that is to bring through my journey. It seems to me that race relations has been the most prominent theme in my life, in both good and bad ways.
(This article was started on September 9/19/14, and will be continued shortly)
A Blast From the Past – Revisiting Atari’s 2600 First-Year Release Cartridge Games
I have been working on a project lately – that is rating every video game I can get my hands on, based on personal opinion mostly, although encouraging user input to re-review to change my opinion. While I have only had a few hits and votes here and there, the webpage has been very entertaining. I only remember starting with the NES, so getting to play old-school Atari isn’t really nostalgic for me; it’s the first time I’ve played them (I did get to play Pitfall as a bonus stage from the SNES version of Pitfall, that is the only exception). By and large, I think the Atari just has too many games for such a simple system. At the same time, one must understand that this was the basis and foundation for the games that would later come to fruition. Without Atari, who knows if the Nintendo competition would try ti infiltrate the market? Even more so, one of my favorite SNES games was Pitfall–this would not have happened without an original. Most sports games, in particular the NES versions, found their beginnings with the Atari models leading their inspiration. Admittedly, I have played a few non-1977 releases, including Space Invaders & Pac-Man, but the first release of 1977 was what would determine the fate of the Atari’s success. I have to say, looking at the games, they seem to have inspired my cellphone games and apps you may see on tablets or Iphones. These games really are the games that started it all, and I dare say without them , the smartphone craze would not be nearly as successful. Some games are now downloadable apps, such as Combat; but I have the most fun with a game called Surround. It is basically a 2-player version of a game called Snake, which appeared on one of my Nokia Phones many years later. These games aren’t story-based, but they make a nice way to kill some time nowadays, especially if you can find a phone app rendition, or are lucky enough to have an Atari at home.
Random Thoughts on Life 