Many years ago, I used to rant. Before this blog, and a few years before my stint on LiveJournal, I used to write rants. In fact, that was all I would write, for some reason. I don’t remember being a particularly angst-ridden teenager; I think it was more about being smart. ‘Ooh, he has such passionate and informed opinions!’ — who cares if I swore a lot and used viscerally-tinged analogy like a foamingly rabid dog, eh?
Somewhere along the line, probably at university, I learnt how to vocalize my thoughts in a more intelligent fashion. I think it’s because I was suddenly surrounded by thousands of people that I’d never argued with. That’s not to say I was particularly challenged at university, but after 16 years of same-old-same-old it was refreshing. The main thing, for me, is differing view points and opinions. Part of me (the scientist) hopes that ‘absolute knowledge’ is attainable; but the realist knows that there is just the world – and myriad interpretations thereof. We all see the world differently, and machines and measuring devices see the world in yet other unfathomable ways.
It has become my job (or purpose) to gather up all of those views and opinions to create a valid representation or model of the world we live in. After all, what good is science if human nature doesn’t agree with it? There might be some joyous, divine apotheosis of science and the amalgamation of views in the future — but that’s the future. For now, I will try to understand humankind’s interpretation of the universe we occupy. It’ll take a while, and it’ll involve a lot of travel, but fortunately I’m a patient man that likes taking photos — that’s three birds with one stone!
But back to the topic at hand. Somehow, somewhere, somewhen, I lost my anger. I have buckets of aggression, but no anger. Unbridled passion, but no anger. I haven’t a clue where it’s gone. Most of you have never experienced me when I ‘get going’ in real life — it’s pretty odd, I get louder, I speak faster and with more intent… but I smile as I do it! Get this: I can’t grimace or frown. I’ve tried to frown many times, but it just doesn’t work. I don’t actually have the muscles for it.
I wonder if this is what the Buddhist idea of Nirvana feels like. (I’m not going to flesh that idea out any further… at least not today…)
I don’t know where this is going. It was meant to be something about why I’m so calm, and seemingly rather wise. I think this post stems from the fact that someone recently misconstrued my aggression for anger, which irked me because they’re very different emotions. I’ve never hit anyone, for example; nor have I ever been in a fight. You only need to look at the differing derivations: anger comes from Ancient Greek ‘to choke or squeeze’; aggression comes from Latin ‘to approach, address, attack’. Anger is all about sadness, sorrow and a rage that doesn’t abate. Aggression is about meeting the world head on, sometimes with a resounding clash.
Why strangle someone when you can just address the situation instead?
That makes me sound rather boring and sensible.
Abi
Mar 8, 2010
Ok, I get it now.
chiefy
Mar 8, 2010
Um. I think that’s a good thing. You’ve become a bit more rational I guess.
Emily Jane
Mar 8, 2010
“Why strangle someone when you can just address the situation instead?” Awesome. Although I can see the frustration of your future kids already lol
sebastian
Mar 8, 2010
Yeah… interacting with other people is always quite an interesting experience.
I imagine, for them, it’s a bit like beating against a brick wall.
I might have to let the kids win occasionally…
Sara Strand
Mar 8, 2010
It’s really fun to argue with kids. It’s amazing how good they are at it. Sometimes I walk away feeling like I just got owned.
MentalSarcasm
Mar 8, 2010
Doesn’t strangling someone use more muscles than frowning? Maybe your body now thinks frowning is a waste of useful energy? XD
sebastian
Mar 9, 2010
Kids tend to just shut up and stare at me, Sara… something about being impossibly big… babies especially. They just go REALLY quiet. It’s real awe, I suppose.
I wouldn’t know, Sarcasm… I’ve never even throttled someone in an arrrgh-it’s-that-time-of-the-month way!
SillyJaime
Mar 9, 2010
Sometimes I still get worked up, but it’s very rare these days. I’ve been told a few times that I’m fearsome when I’m passionate and angry. In fact, I can’t even put a finger on why anger always came out when I was feeling like that, except to maybe say that it helped me get my passionate feelings to the surface.
andhari
Mar 9, 2010
Hmm, I still rant. Although it’s already so much more low key than it used to.
Man, I was angsty.