Rock 'n' Roll Personality Disorder: A Twelve Step Plan

Comments (8)

1. 

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   kristiana says Nice Mark, right down to the Van Gogh. "The problems arising through a misinterpretation of our forms of language have the character of depth. They are deep disquietudes; their roots are as deep in us as the forms of our language and their significance is as great as the importance of our language.---- Let us ask ourselves: why do we feel a grammatical joke to be deep? (And that is what the depth of philosophy is.)" -Ludwig Wittgenstein "The concept of a style does not correspond to an historical fact but answers a need: it creates a mode of understanding." -Charles Rosen So far quotes I like have not stirred up much conversation :( But I can't talk about Wittgenstein for too long without getting in over my head, or finding words are not enough ;)

   Permalink posted 11/28/2006
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   carmensandiego says I relate to words or music when I find myself thinking, "I've been there." Empathy is definitely a factor in how and/or why we react the way we do to certain things. My biggest inspiration in writing came from seeing myself in a particular character in a particular book. The music I listen to most is that which, to me, sounds as if it was written from my own perspective. Pain and anger are emotions to which everyone can relate. Unfortunately, I don't think happiness and love are quite as universal. The want for them is, but obtaining them is not.

   Permalink posted 11/28/2006
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   kristiana says Oh, I believe they are as universal, Carmen. Happiness is over-rated though - do most people even know what would make them happy? I would prefer to think of it as being at-peace or something to that affect. But loss - knowing we will lose the world one day, that we can lose our loved ones in a moment - this is what makes our fragile relationships that much more beautiful, no? Empathy is not about anger and pain, or simply relating - it is feeling tenderness towards others, simply because they too exist. Woah, well, enough of that.

   Permalink posted 11/28/2006
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   carmensandiego says I didn't say love and happiness weren't universal, Kristiana. People wanting love and happiness is likely universal; however, not everyone can achieve them. Whether you exist in an environment devoid of love, or if you have some mental block preventing you from experiencing these feelings, it is just a sad fact of life that not everyone experiences love and happiness. Pain and anger are far easier to deal with because they don't involve trust. They don't involve laying your heart on the line. And I think you may be confusing empathy with sympathy. The differences are slight, but they are there. That's my $.02. I'm not commenting on this anymore, because it could go on forever. It's a particularly subjective topic.

   Permalink posted 11/28/2006
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   kristiana says It sure is - but no, I am not confusing empathy and sympathy, they have been a favorite subject for quite some time. As you say, the difference is indeed slight, in fact they can be said to be synonyms. Oh, but then we could get into a debate about Cartesian Dualism and this could go on forever. I can only assume you thought I was looking to argue, when really I was just looking for a dialogue. Now I will retreat back to my lonely, painful corner of the mogosphere (wink wink - just kidding around. this darn internet thingymajiggy, and the inifinite possibilities for misunderstandings. But hey - we don't know each other, so how could you know what the chances are that I would be confusing these 2 words?) ps - i did read every word of your post, and got the whole "wanting" as opposed to "getting" thing.

   Permalink posted 11/28/2006
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   kristiana says Empathy, n., sympathetic understanding of another person or an object (psychol.) --- Gk., 'affection, passion', 'in a state of emotion, much affected'....; used as a loan translation of G. 'Einfuhlung', which was coined by the German philosopher Rudolf Hermann Lotze (1817-81) in Mikrokosmus (1858), fr. 'ein', in, into, and 'Fuhling', feeling. -Klein's Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary ps - I love words, find language fascinating. That may have been hinted at by the Wittgenstein quote at the top.

   Permalink posted 11/28/2006
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   kristiana says Oh, and Mark - about that style thing? There is SUCH a need for more New Wave romantic knights out there.

   Permalink posted 11/28/2006
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   grove says I agree with your young writing student, and I'd also add that great art tends to come from people who have been hurt and are finding a way to work through the pain. My husband and I have argued a few times about this; he thinks artists who haven't yet "worked through" the pain come across as immature or whiny in their songs/films/books/paintings. I think as long as the process has begun and the artist has SOME perspective on the pain (and of course some talent doesn't hurt), the work is likely to have merit.

   Permalink posted 11/29/2006

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