A Few Things I Don't Get

As finals are beginning to wind down and I'm met with some genuine free time, I am compelling myself to post more than once every month. It may be delusional but I'm going to try to get back to a weekly pattern. So I have been mulling around a bit while not working on those final school projects attempting to find a subject to post on. I've considered a post on the death penalty... oh, you fell asleep too? Or something on my past thanksgiving experiences, or even something on the fast approaching Christmas holiday, but I've already beat that to death.

Then it hit me, I've already done it plenty of times before, so why not dedicate an entire post to it? From salads to Marie Calender's pies; from holiday shopping to the week staring on Sunday; from baseball to Romo-mania; from college life to our societies view of love, I've filled this blog with my riffs on pop culture. I've already ripped the BCS. Let's keep this thing going. Who knows, maybe this could become a regular end of the year tradition. (Oh yeah, traditions and the year ending in December... I hate those too)

A Few Things I Just Don't Get:

-World of Warcraft (WOW)
I believe I've already dogged on the multitude of "fantasy" fanatics out there. Ahh yes, shall I revisit my words verbatim?

"I've never been a big fan of the whole mythology craze and I've had a hard time understanding why some people can get so infatuated with it. None of it is real; it is all completely made up and based on nothing of actuality. Where the heck did "elves" come from and why do some people seem to act as if they are real? I've come to theorize that the reason why so many love the supernatural is that it gives them a world in which they can at least fantasize about extra-ordinary power. In some extreme cases, it can be down right silly, but all of us are attracted to it to some extent. I see that the concept comes from God and his incredible power, but as always, the fascination can lead to the desire for self-empowerment."

A little preachy I know; I get that way sometimes. Regardless of the deeper spiritual correlations, I simply don't get the infatuation with the fundamentally fictional. Sure I'm like most everyone else, I like some good fiction in movies and books, but it still has to be believable for me. I can respect Tolkien as classic and genuinely good literature but as far as that whole genre, it really doesn't appeal to me at all. I guess I just despise supernatural storytelling because it can often negatively affect the writing, especially in terms of creativity. Oh no, our heroes are in a seemingly impossible situation, lets just overlook all those commonly held physical laws of nature and make up some quick fix out of nowhere and call it magic.

I don't get it and I don't particularly like it. It's probably the biggest reason why reacted so differently to the first two installments of Pirates of the Caribbean. I understand the allure of the unbelievable in entertainment; I call it the "Die Hard syndrome." However, I guess I find most of them to be believable to a point and the rest just appeals to the adrenalin factor. The ever increasing fantasy genre takes it too far for me all to often. It's probably why I simply don't enjoy the SciFi channel... at all.

Anyway, back to the game at hand. I don't even like the game classification; the whole role playing thing seems pretty stupid to me. Why would I want to spend hours "upgrading" some online character while engaging in less than enthralling combat? (Oh yeah, and they're all characters of fantasy; we all know how I feel about that) Am I the only one (and I know I'm not) who remembers the original Warcraft (or my favorite and slightly more believable Starcraft)? Those games were alright; I didn't mind playing them. I'm sorry, I enjoy real time strategy and first person shooters but I draw the line at role playing; it's down right boring.


And am I the only one who thinks that the game just looks absolutely retarded? I'm sorry, but for a game that involves itself in "epic" battles of fantasy with brutish and monsterish races it looks ridiculously bad and down right childish and comical. I swear, the first time I saw it being played I thought it was one of those late 90's educational games that teaches children basic math and grammar. If I have 3 elves and you give me 4 more elves...

What really bothers me is the prevalence of addiction right now. I'll admit it, on some weeks in the summer months I've spent 6 hours straight playing some ridiculously trivial game like Civ or Sim City, but after I pry loose my fingers from the sweaty mouse and let my eyes readjust to reality's light, I kick myself for wasting countless hours and promise myself to never play the game again. Admitting is the first step people. Honestly, I can understand the whole addiction to upgrading in gaming. By far my most favorite gaming activity would be Madden's franchise mode or NCAA's dynasty mode. I absolutely love turning the worst team in the league into a juggernaut in just 3-5 years and then moving on to the next cream puff. Now that is fun; but enough of that, I'm supposed to be on a tirade.

-The Religious Hullabaloo Over The Golden Compass
Keeping on the subject of fantasy, I'm getting pretty sick of "my" contingent's constant boycotting and whining over "anti-Christian" content. I can see where the movement is coming from and I don't have a problem with warning parents about the Golden Compass series' apparent anti-God undertones, but as always, people take it too far. Younger children are highly impressionable and I strongly support parents who screen what their kids see and hear. However, all the conspiracy theories on how Hollywood is plotting to jam atheism down our collective throats are getting kind of old. There are no grand conspiracies and even if there were, it shouldn't be that big of a surprise. Christ himself warned us that his own name would be persecuted.


I'm not challenging the fact that this series doesn't contain an agenda, I just don't understand the frenzy over an all-out boycott. Do you really expect to go through your entire life without ever facing a differing opinion than your own? This Christian isolationism really pisses me off. Apparently they don't really want to reach the world with the gospel that much. As I've said, I understand parental discretion, but if I'm not mistaken, this movie targets tweens and teens who, in my opinion are old enough to not be swayed by every little dissenting world view. The teenage years are an important time for an individual to begin to witness differing opinions while still under guidance of parental figures. In other words, by the time their children are teenagers, parents should move beyond simply telling their offspring what to believe, but instead tell them why they believe what they do and answer questions about everything else out there. Some believers attempt to construct a complete "Christian culture" to dwell in, the Ned Flanders bubble as I call it. That's a bubble I'd like to pop.

-Trial News Coverage
Micheal Vick is the latest in a long string of celebrity and non-celebrity trial frenzies that frustrate the hell out of me. I don't mind so much the occasional story on an IMPORTANT happening, but all to often the media flock to the courthouses and fill the waves with nonstop headlines about nothing. It doesn't matter if there's ever actually any progress in the trial, the coverage never stops. Every aspect of the proceedings is talked to death and I really don't care about the entire thing. I didn't care about OJ, I didn't care about Robert Blake, I didn't care about Paris Hilton, I didn't care about the yogurt shop murderers (that may just be an Austin thing) and I don't care about Micheal Vick. Maybe I'm in the extreme minority cause it seems as if everyone cares, but who knows, that may just be more media hype. Give me something of meaning, give me something not so continually morbid.

Disclaimer: There, I'm done for know. For those who do enjoy WOW and trial proceedings or really don't want to see Golden Compass, hey that's your thing. I don't understand it but to each his own. I'm sure most people would lift an eye at many of my habits. Please don't take it personally, I just don't understand you!

More Or Less An Answer

I had originally waited an extra week or two before posting a follow-up to the "riddle" because of the lack of comments or any kind of recognition of existence from the usual suspects. What is now a month old post was meant to be at least some kind of communication to the outside world while I focused on homework and it seems that even my simple scramble for content was more than what most have been contributing lately. My wait is up and now the once casually considered and now undoubtedly forgotten riddle will entertain an answer, or at least my attempt at one.

I had wondered how to best present you with my written puzzle. Oh, I guess I should tell you now that, yes, I did write it. A bit deceptive I know, but I wanted to see what the reaction was with a presumed mystery writer. In short, this little riddle was the product of endless hours of late night term paper writing and out of the shear exhaustion came words from seemingly nowhere. Funny how being fed up of writing could actually lead to more writing, but the words kept flowing and I have been perfecting it ever since. My Dad thought it sounded like C.S. Lewis and I liken being compared to such a masterful author.

Of the smattering of commenters out there, a few of you had intriguing answers. Namely Jake Franko's response; I'd like to hear his explanation further. If we're going for winners though, Faith's answer was technically closest. (of course, that conclusion is dependent on whether there is any concrete answer at all; that's namely why I posted this paper, to see the notions and thinking processes of others; who am I to set in stone any one answer to such a subjective piece?) However, before I just hand you an answer, let's dissect this riddle a bit and make light of little nuggets that I find especially intriguing.


"If you wish to be stupid, I will kill you on site. Depicting you as an utter fool for humanity to perceive, mocking, criticizing, silencing. Or I shall simply distance every ear. For stupidity amongst men, like morality, is merely for the majority to conclude and can quite easily be their justification for your insanity."

If you were perceptive enough, you should have caught the first big clue near the end of this segment pertaining to the line "amongst men." The use of the word kill may be a little strong, as it is really more of a social death, but I still think that it can be associated with the essence of killing.

We've all seen examples of the last line occur to some extent. A radical fringe group makes claims that are so beyond the mainstream that most of the human community simply mocks their extreme views and largely pays no attention. However, when this issue seeps into the debate over ethical conduct and morality, a large part of mankind resorts to majority rule, or even moral relativism, which ultimately unravels any kind of universal truth. I often wonder how atheists can justify the solidity of basic right and wrong with no higher power or supreme creator of life. When we are the highest forms of existence, justice and law fall apart.


"Betraying the body that built you up, you assert the embedded evil we all hastily seek to destroy hidden somewhere in ourselves. The deepest of fears is that you will embody our most secret of thoughts, screaming them to others, our truest of feelings and longings. For this, we must suppress you with every ounce of strength. You are the quintessence of just sentiment and your cadence trembles the mind from whence you escaped. As a shadow amongst the long lost titans, we cannot stand here while you blast us with the undesirable truth. There is no greater terror than bringing told what we all know somewhere close to or everlasting souls; it can never be brought to full illumination."

Much like the word "kill" in the first line, The use of the word "evil" is a bit strong, but I tend to think that, in a way, from evil's standpoint, good is seen as evil. (I just kind of gave you a pretty big clue there)

Going off the concept of universal truth, when we, living in sin, are told that we are, thusly, living in evil, a large amount of us tend to get defensive. We try to suppress it and hold on to the comfort and supposed satisfaction. Isn't it quite true when we say that "the truth isn't pretty?"


"I am the most noted giver of good news and delight, whether it be ramblings or fully fictitious rants, I supply them to you and your shallow yearnings. You demand little of me, so I provide even less, only imparting just the amount that will leave you gasping for a breath of some lasting fulfillment. You cannot face me in my full state of being, for I am everywhere a soul seeks satisfaction, however momentary it may be. You can never be free from my abundance of slightest deceptions as long as those to careless to place worth in an essence somewhere past the temporal choose to follow me to an immortal wasteland."

As humans, it can be easy to follow the little pleasures of life. Most are quite harmless in moderation, but we can quite easily become addicted to them and before we know it, we've fallen into the pit of self gratification. The worst part is that these sources of satisfaction never last and we are always left with the want for just a little more. It consumes us more and more until we are completely wasted beings, having never been contented. We end up destroying our lives, shredding our bonds with others and with God.


"The self-proclaimed wise are in my front pocket; they are addicted to my meaningless praise and pedestals. Never underestimate the ignorant in mass; for they are led into the pit with ease, their unity is their downfall."

I have always been weary of a prevailing mindset which seems to permeate most institutions of "higher learning." It is the attitude that greater intelligence equals plain superiority and it is a trap that many of us can fall into. Although it may not be as acknowledged as it was with the high classes of earlier centuries, we today can still find ourselves glorifying what we have made ourselves. The root of this is pride and like before, can become an addiction that leads to nothingness.

Yet with all the individualism today, there is still the urge to conform and be apart of that all important majority. Peer pressure is only the beginning.


"Come, I have trinkets and comforts, dazzling and inviting; albeit lasting as a spark in the wind. If it is fantasy, or the supernatural you fancy, behold my empty objects of anonymity. They promise you the mystical power you seek. If nothing less, let me busy you with my numerous pursuits, for they are the modern definition of livelihood."

I've never been a big fan of the whole mythology craze and I've had a hard time understanding why some people can get so infatuated with it. None of it is real; it is all completely made up and based on nothing of actuality. Where the heck did "elves" come from and why do some people seem to act as if they are real? I've come to theorize that the reason why so many love the supernatural is that it gives them a world in which they can at least fantasize about extra-ordinary power. In some extreme cases, it can be down right silly, but all of us are attracted to it to some extent. I see that the concept comes from God and his incredible power, but as always, the fascination can lead to the desire for self-empowerment.

As society continues to progress, we continue to find ourselves to be more rapt up in the minute details than ever before. It has become a lifestyle to try to "get the most out of life" and see how much we can stack up. Technology has made life's basics easier and less time consuming, so now we think we need to fill in the excess. Instead we fall into fast paced rut that never slows down or fulfills our essential need for joy.


"You should learn to embrace me, so many have. Give me the burden of responsibility and truth; they are of little use for you and are safest in my hands. A few will tell you to fear me; they call me “The Beast.” But that cannot impart remotely what it is you face. “The Beast” created me; it is him you should fear. I am no more than his pawn on this vast stage of the cosmos and beyond. Are you prepared to face me? Can you muster the strength to leave me? The only way to conquer me is to destroy it; everything, the essence of it all, the entire physical world with all its substance and senses departing with me. This is no mere riddle mind you. The knowledge of my existence, let alone my stifling power is an exceptional commodity. Can you live without me? Have you ever truly lived with me?"

Who Am I?

I hope that through my elongated analysis that you've come closer to the answer. It's so much to process and take in that your brain often can just shut down and, shall I say, demand to move on and just post a random comment. My hope is that you've made it this far and even if you are still clueless, you can still read the ultimate answer and then jump back to the riddle. Just like math, plug in the answer and then see if it works out. More than anything, I want feedback. Did it make sense? Could it be better said another way? Do other answers ultimately apply?

Faith, you were very close when you guessed "Satan," but I made sure to rule out that conclusion with the "The Beast created me" line. Well, I really can't prolong it any longer.

I Am The World

Now for some clarification. When I say the world I mean more of the collection of humanity fully under the power of the devil. It is less the people who physically make up this "world," but the abstract entity moving as one tool, being directed by the evil one. Hence all the switching of pronouns, as it can be seen in many different forms. This definition certainly isn't foreign to today's evangelical church circle and it is much the same concept as I presented.

The other question that I will leave for you to ponder is "who are you as the reader," or "who is the author addressing?" Other than that, I will end this for now as I am thoroughly exhausted; and I'm sure you are as well.