Above us, Only Sky

Politics, Philosophy, Science, and Everything Else.

Friday, November 26, 2004

Jeckil and Hyde

So my roomate is doing a very good impression of an alcoholic. I'm not really sure if I'm dramatizing this, he is going through a rough breakup, so it could easily be a phase. But there are a couple of things that concern me. First of all, he drinks every single night. Second, there is a real and recognizable personality change after the first few. Third, he does it to relieve stress, to help him forget about bad stuff that is going on.
At this point I'm not sure if there is anything I can, or should, do. I'm trying not to facilitate him. I don't drink with him when it seems like he's losing control, though I do have a beer or two with him several times a week. I suppose if I stopped drinking entirely in protest that might have some effect, but I feel that would be something of an overreaction. First of all, he's not yet into any really serious problems, nothing criminal, he's holding down a job, ect. Second, why should I modify my life for his sickness?
I think really what upsets me is that I have no control over the situation. I can't not spend time with him, we live together, so we're bound to see each other a lot of the time. I can't stop him, or even impress upon him that it is a problem. I'm basically helpless, which is probably what upsets me the most. I don't like to be out of control. This is probably why I'm not susceptable to the same problem, my hangovers are accompanied by enough guilt that I can't use the 'hair of the dog' to fix them. This quality is probably why I don't feel much kinship with him, I can't imagine going on a downward spiral like he is, my problems all stem from too much risk aversion rather than too little. I knew this about him when I decided to move in. It was a quality I wanted more of- the ability to take more risks. The fact that I'm seeing the worst side of that doesn't change that I need to learn more of it, but it might make it very hard for me. After all, emotionally, how can I model myself after someone when the precise characteristic I want to follow is the one creating a behavior I can't stand?

Maybe I should talk to him. I really should. He's very fond of plain speaking. I can use the fact that he punched a hole in the wall to bring it up. I really should confront him, and at least mention that I'm not too happy with the current situation. To think I moved in with this guy because my previous roomate was uncommunicative. The devil you know. So I guess I'll see.

Saturday, November 06, 2004

Opening Rant

I considered calling this Blog 'Surviving the Theocracy', in reaction to the Bush re-election, but it didn't inspire me. I suppose I realized I wouldn't be able to sustain a lavel of contempt for a certain foriegn government long enough to actually make a blog worth making. So listening to the John Lenin song 'Imagine', I found a name that would reflect a broader spectrum of my interests. Thus this blog is both dedicated to a sustained attack against Bush and virtually everything he represents, but also my support for a variety of things that have little or nothing to do with American politics.

So, here is my statement of purpose: to blog, and by blogging, to clarify in my own mind what I beleive, as well as creating a dialogue with others about those thoughts. I'd like to say this is purely apersonal exercise, that if no one reads it I'll get just as much out of it- but that would be a lie. I want others to read, and to respond to, what I say here. If I didn't I'd just write it all in a word document on my hard drive.

Politically, I am about as far left as it is possible to reasonably be on social issues, and much more centrist, possibly a little right of centre, on fiscal issues. I believe that we, the world, society, what have you, have a very long way to go before we can be really proud of our society, yet I also see the progress we have made from centuries and decades past, and I am pleased enough. We must do what we can for everyone who cannot do for themselves- but to commit to doing more than we can do is as harmful as ignoring our responsibilities in the first place. This is all deliberately vague and broad, but on purpose, for to go into specific details would be the work of many months, not one post.

I am a Canadian, a Philosopher, a Student, a wanna-be blogger, and Idealist, a Realist, an Atheist, and a Shit disturber.

If you think the Bible is anything more than an interesting insight into the thoughts of the easily brainwashed, don't ever bother to read my blog, it won't have anything you'll agree with.

My claim to authority on any subject is my own use of critical thinking. If you have evidence that shows me to be wrong or can point out a logical flaw in my arguements, I welcome your input. If you 'don't agree' with me but can't say why, please go away. By electing Bush, the ignorant people of the world have shown they have power. I don't have the charisma to convince someone of something if they won't listen to reason, so I won't bother to try.

Thus it begins.