Escaping the Good

 Going Mental  No Responses »
Oct 182024
 

Escapism is one of my coping mechanisms for getting through life. When reality is too much, the world of a book, a different culture, a cafe, or a new environment of some kind can serve to justify the escape.

While it might be easy to explain it away as something positive, the truth is that there is a darkness below the layers of disguise.

It is not necessarily a consuming shadow, but recently it was suggested to me that I might be running away—from the good benefits of regular physio or yoga sessions that are advantageous to my back pain, from the idea of a settled mind, from establishing friendships and roots….

Although I am not certain it is that deep, I am giving it some space in my head to ponder.

Mostly, I think that we just planned a lot of travel that has caught up with us both physically and mentally. For me, my spine issues were not part of the life plan, so activities addressing the issues around my physical health had to take a secondary role for now. At the same time, I refuse to live life as a chronically ill or restrained individual. Life, as I want it to be, will continue no matter any physical conditions that arise. There’s plenty of time later in life to sit still.

That being said, there is nothing wrong with taking a moment to pause and think about these words. Is there resonance in them? Am I escaping the message that may be sent via these others’ words? Or, am I just fine and merely a sounding board for their own opinions or ideas that apply to their own lives?

Whatever the case may be, it is not important as to how or why these thoughts and words have blown in my direction. They have been received. They are being considered. Any revelations that arise will be taken on board for future adjustments.

In the meantime, we have a lot of escaping ahead for the remainder of the calendar year and I will enjoy it fully. Still, I am also planning next year and how to be more present in our home and community. So, stay tuned as reflection and adjustments sprinkle the air.

~T🔥🐉♋️

Thoughts on AI, copyright, etc.

 Going Mental  No Responses »
Jul 242023
 

This is really a kind of stream of consciousness post on the topic as I’m formulating my thoughts to post on my writing spaces.

Teachers around the world are in a bit of an uproar over the current dominance of AI bots that are getting a lot of attention these days. Some teachers feel threatened and blame the advancement of technology. Some teachers are interested in it while some embrace what it could do to help them. Everywhere, educators are training themselves how to use programs that can detect whether a student has used AI to help write a paper or do an assignment.

People in the 40s and above are conversing over the “scariness” of AI to personalize their online experiences or even produce text pieces in their professions. Again, it is a fear-based response with their feeling of threat.

The entertainment industry has protested that using AI is a threat to their jobs and copyright issues. Yet, they have no qualms about putting their work out into the media/Internet-sphere where AI takes it sources from.

So, it is a bit of a quandary, isn’t it?

As with most issues, I stand in the middle. I see both sides. I agree with aspects of the yeas and the nays.

In education, we cannot stop advancement. The whole point of education is to promote the advancement of the youth to create, imagine, theorize and apply to a better future. So, why do so many educators want to hold on to the past? It’s the ego – I had to study and write my own papers, so should you. I didn’t have the convenience and help of technology, so I had to think for myself and create myself – so you should, too. But, why? Shouldn’t we instead encourage ways to make the most of the technology AND bring forward the more traditional ways?

In age, there is not a lot that can be done other than to just have an open mind. We don’t seem to mind watching TV programs with commercials convincing us to buy or take prescription meds for just about any minor or major ailment without considering how we are being brainwashed into believing we need them. We don’t mind when stores put certain items on sale to convince us to buy something we may not necessarily need. So, why is it scary that our online advertisements are for things that we mention we might actually need, instead? Why is it scary that a machine can analyze and filter information in seconds to make things more convenient for us? Isn’t this what we wish for everyday – easier and faster?

In entertainment, well, I get it. My livelihood does not depend on me getting credit for my work. I have not yet experienced finding copies of my own work out there or losing out because a machine has done it faster and cheaper. Still, I sort of feel that whatever I “agree” to put out into the public space is always going to be up for grabs. I would hope that there is some overseeing of giving credit where credit is due, but this is hard to monitor. I fully support the fact that the government has to create some more viable policies to ensure that the individuals do not suffer. Yet, if you’re gonna be in the public eye, why is a machine any worse than a person “borrowing” your words that you’ve put out into the space already?

It’s still a quandary.

It’s interesting anyway and I’m sure that even just 50 years ago, we never would have imagined having such a conversation. When we watched The Terminator it was just a sci-fi wishy washy idea that machines would take over control of the world. Now, here we are….

~T 🔥🐉♋️

At What Point?

 Going Mental  2 Responses »
Jun 302022
 

A result of having so many visitors is having a lot of varied conversations observing not only styles of communication, but also hearing and seeing responses that reflect one’s personality and view on life.

One of my recent ponderings, that is somewhat related to conversations I’ve witnessed, is the question – At what point does an individual feel that something is enough to change their habits for the purpose of having a better life?

When I asked a recent guest this, his response was that it is when one is faced with a sense of mortality. Basically, a near-death or exposed to death kind of situation.

I feel that this is still an inadequate answer because I have not had this kind of experience, yet I have a strong desire to reflect upon myself to adjust my habits so that I am not prohibiting myself from living the best that I can whether it be with my health, my safety/livelihood, or my relationships. While I have long accepted that I do not think like the majority of people, I also have never accepted that I am alone in how I think nor that I might be wrong…. 😑

Obviously, people who do not want to die before they are ready – if they are ever so – will make adjustments to their way of life, if faced with their mortality, until they begin to take life for granted again and return to their “normal” way of life.

As an example, I think back to my grandpa H, who had a heart attack due to a lifetime of unhealthy living. When he came out of the hospital, he temporarily vowed to change his habits. In the end, it was too late as he was taken from us by an aneurysm after being lazy again with his walking and eating. While, on the one hand, we could say that he enjoyed his life and that it doesn’t really matter when one goes; on the other hand, we could argue that he could have continued to enjoy life for many more years than he did. Who is correct? Does it matter? 🤷🏽‍♀️

Personally, I am OK with death. It is a part of the life cycle and when one’s time comes, it is what it is. For me, I am ready anytime as I am very content with the life I have led and the one that I lead. Still, I do not live recklessly nor do I want to have a suffering kind of death – like with cancer. So, I take care of myself and I generally ensure that I do not cause others to worry about my behaviors leading to untimely death (for the living). To be honest, I don’t really know the reason why I think this way, which is why I am curious about those who don’t.

Still, if it is true that most people are not ready to die right now, then why do people continue to smoke when they obviously have bad health; text while driving; drive too fast at the risk of hurting not only themselves but others; drink to excess regularly; etc.?

Now, I’m not questioning one’s desire to have a good time, drown out sorrows, avoid facing personal or external issues, and various other reasons that one might choose to do any or more of the above. I am questioning at what point would it take for someone to want to change their life or to see that such behaviors might not contribute to a longer-lasting and fulfilling way of life? Or, maybe the question back to me is what is a fulfilling way of life and why can’t it be doing the above? 🤔

Anyway, I am honestly not judging nor condemning. Mostly, I’m curious and pondering. 🤯 These are the kinds of conversations I like to have…. 😬🤪

~T 🔥🐉♋️

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