Gary's Corner

[Lacewing]

I wish I had a pretty girlfriend. She and I would have nothing to talk about.

Why is that?

Because I've studied nothing for a long time and have a lot to say about it. I wish I could find a pretty girlfriend to talk to about what I've learned about nothing.

What's in it for her?

[Gary Childress]

Why is that?

Because I've studied nothing for a long time and have a lot to say about it. I wish I could find a pretty girlfriend to talk to about what I've learned about nothing.

What's in it for her?

A greater understanding of nothing.

[Lacewing]

Because I've studied nothing for a long time and have a lot to say about it. I wish I could find a pretty girlfriend to talk to about what I've learned about nothing.

What's in it for her?

A greater understanding of nothing.

Well, we can get that every day from everything... so I don't think your offering is intriguing enough.

Hey, have you watched the Age of Disclosure documentary on Amazon Prime? Now there's something potentially interesting to talk about. I'd like to hear what you think if you watch it.

[Gary Childress]

What's in it for her?

A greater understanding of nothing.

Well, we can get that every day from everything... so I don't think your offering is intriguing enough.

Hey, have you watched the Age of Disclosure documentary on Amazon Prime? Now there's something potentially interesting to talk about. I'd like to hear what you think if you watch it.

Such is life.

I haven't seen the documentary, no. I don't watch much TV. But if a pretty girl wants to go to the movies, I'd love to accompany her. I'll pay, and she can be the boss. Is that worth anything?

[Lacewing]

Hey, have you watched the Age of Disclosure documentary on Amazon Prime? Now there's something potentially interesting to talk about. I'd like to hear what you think if you watch it.

I haven't seen the documentary, no. I don't watch much TV. But if a pretty girl wants to go to the movies, I'd love to accompany her. I'll pay, and she can be the boss. Is that worth anything?

Why don't you put out an ad in your community:

"Awkward guy with nothing to say seeks pretty girl for going to the movies. I'll pay and you can be the boss."

You might get a response! Nothing ventured, nothing gained... right?

Every few weeks, you could change the ad:

"Awkward guy with nothing to say seeks pretty girl to go to dinner. I'll pay and you can be the boss."
"...to go to a concert"
"...to go bowling"
etc.

You could become a local phenomenon! Creative awkward guy becomes sought-after companion in town.

[Gary Childress]

Hey, have you watched the Age of Disclosure documentary on Amazon Prime? Now there's something potentially interesting to talk about. I'd like to hear what you think if you watch it.

I haven't seen the documentary, no. I don't watch much TV. But if a pretty girl wants to go to the movies, I'd love to accompany her. I'll pay, and she can be the boss. Is that worth anything?

Why don't you put out an ad in your community:

"Awkward guy with nothing to say seeks pretty girl for going to the movies. I'll pay and you can be the boss."

You might get a response! Nothing ventured, nothing gained... right?

Every few weeks, you could change the ad:

"Awkward guy with nothing to say seeks pretty girl to go to dinner. I'll pay and you can be the boss."
"...to go to a concert"
"...to go bowling"
etc.

You could become a local phenomenon! Creative awkward guy becomes sought-after companion in town.

Hmm. You might have a good point there. I'm on the dating app Bumble right now. So far, I've only had two hits (I need to pay the app before I can see who they are); maybe I'll try that too.

[Lacewing]

Why don't you put out an ad in your community:

"Awkward guy with nothing to say seeks pretty girl for going to the movies. I'll pay and you can be the boss."

Hmm. You might have a good point there. I'm on the dating app Bumble right now. So far, I've only had two hits (I need to pay the app before I can see who they are); maybe I'll try that too.

I suggest: Be as honest as possible from the start, but be positive (nobody wants a drag)... and don't fall in love (just to beat yourself up with their potential rejection).

Surf the waves like you're in Hawaii on a beautiful day!

[Gary Childress]

Why don't you put out an ad in your community:

"Awkward guy with nothing to say seeks pretty girl for going to the movies. I'll pay and you can be the boss."

Hmm. You might have a good point there. I'm on the dating app Bumble right now. So far, I've only had two hits (I need to pay the app before I can see who they are); maybe I'll try that too.

I suggest: Be as honest as possible from the start, but be positive (nobody wants a drag)... and don't fall in love (just to beat yourself up with their potential rejection).

Surf the waves like you're in Hawaii on a beautiful day!

[Gary Childress]

So if universal health care is unsustainable according to the laws of economics; and the universe (by necessity) must be something created by a sentient being that we traditionally call God; if both of those statements are true, then does that mean that God created a universe where the rules of nature and the human world dictate that universal healthcare is unsustainable?

Or (if there is a God) did God just create a systematic universe ad hoc and only realize later that he had created one in which all humans cannot possibly (according to the way the laws of economics work) receive decent medical care?

[Gary Childress]

Maybe God's purpose for idiots is for us to expose what idiots they are so that progress can happen? I knew God had a "plan" all along! Thank God for idiots! [/sarcasm]

[Gary Childress]

Can human beings change for the better? Certainly, we can change for the worse when something bad happens. But do positive events bring positive change? Sometimes it seems like we are all doomed to perpetually continue to make our mistakes.

[Lacewing]

Can human beings change for the better?

Of course. People turn themselves and their lives around all the time.

Sometimes it seems like we are all doomed to perpetually make our mistakes.

We do seem to go round and round a bit. I think it naturally takes repetition and practice to evolve our behavior and expand our abilities (just like children must do while learning and growing). Also, we need updating. Reprogramming ourselves continually requires thorough attention to remove old programming that interferes with our goals. Maybe we tend to think that being an adult somehow signifies our completed state... rather than seeing ourselves as surfing life's waves... not toward a destination, but to get better for the experience. Ya know?

[Gary Childress]

Can human beings change for the better?

Of course. People turn themselves and their lives around all the time.

Sometimes it seems like we are all doomed to perpetually make our mistakes.

We do seem to go round and round a bit. I think it naturally takes repetition and practice to evolve our behavior and expand our abilities (just like children must do while learning and growing). Also, we need updating. Reprogramming ourselves continually requires thorough attention to remove old programming that interferes with our goals. Maybe we tend to think that being an adult somehow signifies our completed state... rather than seeing ourselves as surfing on life's waves... not toward a destination, but to get better for the experience. Ya know?

Well, you have the right idea. The only thing that comes out of my brain is darkness and pessimism. I seem to be a lost cause. My will tells me one thing, the world would be better off without me. That's not an opinion, it's a fact.

I was told by a therapist once that schizophrenia seems to be a process where the mind starts uncontrollably pruning neural connections. It's as though my own biology is working to shut me down early. Maybe life is designed to fix itself, and it seems that I'm a problem to society that needs to be fixed or removed. Maybe that's our "benevolent" God at work on everyone else's behalf. No worries here. There's nothing about this world that makes me want to stay here perpetually (other than habit and fear of the unknown). In all truth, the sooner I'm out, the better. And there's nothing about God's screwed-up world that I will miss when I'm gone, because I will be gone. There won't be a me to miss it.

[Gary Childress]

Life is actually more enjoyable when the fear of death leaves us. I think when we get older, life, in its mercy, takes away the fear and terror of death. When I was a young kid, I had horrendous fears of death that gave me anxiety. Once in a while, I'll get a psychosis or get in a funk where the unnerving fear of it returns.

[Lacewing]

The only thing that comes out of my brain is darkness and pessimism.

Maybe sometimes. But I've seen you be upbeat and hopeful at times too. You have a good mind! You're clever and funny.

Maybe when things seem dark, it seems like they've always been dark?

the world would be better off without me

The world might be better off without most of us.

Maybe life is designed to fix itself, and it seems that I'm a problem to society that needs to be fixed or removed.

Life doesn't seem to do a very good job of removing problems to society. So, it must not be personally about you. It's interesting that you seem to pit yourself against the world? Or maybe you want someone/something to blame for feeling tortured? It would be hard to be railing against something invisible and untouchable.

In all truth, the sooner I'm out, the better. And there's nothing about God's screwed-up world that I will miss when I'm gone, because I will be gone.

Yes, you will be gone... we all will... and that will be that... so whatever.

I think about people I love who've died... and how they've gone ahead of me on that trail. They did it! Someday I will too. It helps to be okay with that. While we're here, we get to do the best we can until it's over... and I don't think there's anyone to blame.