Haha, I wonder if some messages are better received at unusual times? I'm so glad to hear they resonate with you! Knowing I'm not totally shouting into the void keeps me going--thank you!
so a good few years after I abandoned books, walking out to buy cigarettes and never returning, this writing of yours is nourishing a want in me to go back to books again. Not sure if it will happen yet, but anyhow. Obliged, I guess.
I am a little puzzled at anyone who is looking for meaning or purpose or vindication from the world. Its like asking the universe to sing you a song, or tell you a joke. So with meaning -> sometimes you get the joke, or know the tune, and sometimes it passes you by. Finding out what makes a tune good, or a joke funny, & honing them and refining your craft is a both a hermetic & a social enterprise, and I guess its the same with living a meaningful, purposeful life, even when all three - life, jokes and music are all inconsequential, from a certain perspective. If sisyphus were to make someone laugh over and over again, despite them slowly sobering up between sets, or if he was singing a child to sleep over and over again despite their morning wakening, it would not seem so obvious a punishment. I think the punishment is that sisyphus is alone, and that he cannot adapt, cannot change his methods. Its as if he always tells a joke that falls flat and is doomed to always repeat it verbatim, with the same inflection, delivery,
& timing.
When I feel shit is going sisyphean its a warning to me, and to any of us, that we need to change things - which he couldn't do. We can. As with the slow masochistic grind of reading books a few years ago - I left it behind. And now, I guess in part to your weird & güd, it doesn't seem so uphill.
I love the way you interpret the myth of Sisyphus! It's an interesting analysis to consider his loneliness as part of his punishment. Very well put, thanks for adding this aspect to the idea for me!
I'm glad my newsletter might tempt you back into books! Also glad my newsletter can help level that Sisyphian hill even slightly. I appreciate your comment!
Every good moral panic has a Foxy-woxy -my new display name- willing to shamelessly profit off gullible fowl. Keep an eye out for those who want you to cough up money, power, your intellect or praise to fix some new existential crisis or you might just get your neck snapped. That story made me laugh a lot and also took me back to picture books. Sweet sweet picture books!
If the whole world hated you it would at least be a win to survive till the end of the day, a triumphant personal narrative to cap each night. But it's a whole lot worse than the world hating you, the world simply doesn't care if you live or die, succeed or fail, gorge or starve. The answer to everything is the same each and every night. "..."
Yes, good old picture books! I'd forgotten about the story of Henny Penny until I started writing on the idea of moral panic. As usual, we've been here before....
"It's a lot worse than the world hating you, the world simply doesn't care..." wonderfully said. I believe that apathy, not even hostility but pure apathy, is what drives humans more insane than anything else can. Like Zizek has pointed out, hate is not so distant from love, but apathy is its true opposite.
I love reading your letters! This one was particularly striking to me, as I've been thinking about how to create meaning in my own life. I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but I'm currently reading Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. Your letter bears some resemblance to ideas he brings up in his book. Thank you for your thought provoking letter! Have a wonderful week (:
So great that you brought up Cal Newport! I actually read his book Deep Work. Digital Minimalism was in my queue but I forgot about it. I actually need it more than ever now so I'm going to check it sooner than later. Glad you mentioned it! It'll be interesting for me to see that similarity to my own writing that you noted.
Also, I'm glad this idea resonates with you in regards to finding your own meaning. I'd say that is the most crucial and urgent task facing us today in our modern lives. Absurdism and the Myth of Sisyphus are great frameworks for understanding some of the approaches we can take to that.
Hope it helps and so thrilled you're enjoying the newsletter!
Having only recently run across your mind unfolding on the screen I want to thank you for sharing into the void. Your ideas and turn of phrase utterly thoughtful and enjoyable!
Thank you so much for the kind words! It's also a joy to know there are other people like yourself interested in these ideas and that resonate with my words. Thank you for reading and taking the time to send me this lovely message!
Your letters always come to me at weird times in the UK, but my God, do they speak what I feel.
Haha, I wonder if some messages are better received at unusual times? I'm so glad to hear they resonate with you! Knowing I'm not totally shouting into the void keeps me going--thank you!
Well there's nothing like a reassurance on moral panic in the early hours of the morning, when you're still awake and worrying about moral panic. :)
so a good few years after I abandoned books, walking out to buy cigarettes and never returning, this writing of yours is nourishing a want in me to go back to books again. Not sure if it will happen yet, but anyhow. Obliged, I guess.
I am a little puzzled at anyone who is looking for meaning or purpose or vindication from the world. Its like asking the universe to sing you a song, or tell you a joke. So with meaning -> sometimes you get the joke, or know the tune, and sometimes it passes you by. Finding out what makes a tune good, or a joke funny, & honing them and refining your craft is a both a hermetic & a social enterprise, and I guess its the same with living a meaningful, purposeful life, even when all three - life, jokes and music are all inconsequential, from a certain perspective. If sisyphus were to make someone laugh over and over again, despite them slowly sobering up between sets, or if he was singing a child to sleep over and over again despite their morning wakening, it would not seem so obvious a punishment. I think the punishment is that sisyphus is alone, and that he cannot adapt, cannot change his methods. Its as if he always tells a joke that falls flat and is doomed to always repeat it verbatim, with the same inflection, delivery,
& timing.
When I feel shit is going sisyphean its a warning to me, and to any of us, that we need to change things - which he couldn't do. We can. As with the slow masochistic grind of reading books a few years ago - I left it behind. And now, I guess in part to your weird & güd, it doesn't seem so uphill.
I love the way you interpret the myth of Sisyphus! It's an interesting analysis to consider his loneliness as part of his punishment. Very well put, thanks for adding this aspect to the idea for me!
I'm glad my newsletter might tempt you back into books! Also glad my newsletter can help level that Sisyphian hill even slightly. I appreciate your comment!
Every good moral panic has a Foxy-woxy -my new display name- willing to shamelessly profit off gullible fowl. Keep an eye out for those who want you to cough up money, power, your intellect or praise to fix some new existential crisis or you might just get your neck snapped. That story made me laugh a lot and also took me back to picture books. Sweet sweet picture books!
If the whole world hated you it would at least be a win to survive till the end of the day, a triumphant personal narrative to cap each night. But it's a whole lot worse than the world hating you, the world simply doesn't care if you live or die, succeed or fail, gorge or starve. The answer to everything is the same each and every night. "..."
Yes, good old picture books! I'd forgotten about the story of Henny Penny until I started writing on the idea of moral panic. As usual, we've been here before....
"It's a lot worse than the world hating you, the world simply doesn't care..." wonderfully said. I believe that apathy, not even hostility but pure apathy, is what drives humans more insane than anything else can. Like Zizek has pointed out, hate is not so distant from love, but apathy is its true opposite.
I love reading your letters! This one was particularly striking to me, as I've been thinking about how to create meaning in my own life. I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but I'm currently reading Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. Your letter bears some resemblance to ideas he brings up in his book. Thank you for your thought provoking letter! Have a wonderful week (:
P.S. Totally looking of the Myth of Sisyphus now!
So great that you brought up Cal Newport! I actually read his book Deep Work. Digital Minimalism was in my queue but I forgot about it. I actually need it more than ever now so I'm going to check it sooner than later. Glad you mentioned it! It'll be interesting for me to see that similarity to my own writing that you noted.
Also, I'm glad this idea resonates with you in regards to finding your own meaning. I'd say that is the most crucial and urgent task facing us today in our modern lives. Absurdism and the Myth of Sisyphus are great frameworks for understanding some of the approaches we can take to that.
Hope it helps and so thrilled you're enjoying the newsletter!
Having only recently run across your mind unfolding on the screen I want to thank you for sharing into the void. Your ideas and turn of phrase utterly thoughtful and enjoyable!
Thank you so much for the kind words! It's also a joy to know there are other people like yourself interested in these ideas and that resonate with my words. Thank you for reading and taking the time to send me this lovely message!