wednes | Declarations by Wednes

BP can fuck off. I'm declaring it. My Jurassic Park analogy notwithstanding, I honestly think their "plan" all along has been to twiddle their thumbs until the fucking thing runs dry. And for that, I say fuck them in the ear until they deaf--just like they're deaf to the cries of the planet, the livelihoods they've destroyed, and animals they've killed through sheer arrogance and apathy. Not exactly an unusual sentiment, but there you are. In other "Duh" news, State of Arizona is also welcome to go fuck itself. Please and thank you.

That kid who destroyed ACORN is at it again, making people he doesn't like look bad with a combination of lies, douchbaggery, and clever editing. Fuck that kid and his minion, and fuck that little minion's wrist. If you go out of your way to antagonize someone, and then cry like a bitch because they pushed you out of their way--go fuck yourself *cue dancers*. I'm sick of people behaving like total assholes that turn all weepy and accusatory when their dicketry isn't well-received. Poor, poor you.

Podcast still moving ahead swimmingly. New promos went out this week. The chick doing the voice of Mikey's Mama has a wild accent. She's southern, but has lived in MI for a while so she's losing her accent a bit. It's kinda fun and kinda ridiculous. You'll have to tell me how it sounds when I post chaps 5-6 later tonight. Looks like I'll be recording with "Fran" tomorrow afternoon, so that'll be good. She's a smoker, so she's got exactly the vocal quality I'm seeking for Fran. Still waiting to hear back from iTunes. I submitted my podcast for review on Thursday last, still no confirmation or link. EDIT: Spoke too soon! right after posting this, my Email showed up from iTunes and I am APPROVED!!!!

I'll be a guest co-host on ParaWomen Radio next week. They've been gracious enough to have me on a few times to talk about my books. This time I'll be filling in for one of the regular co-hosts who is on vacation. Not sure who the guests will be yet, but should be a riot all the same. Ladies of Villainy is still going well over at the Extraordinary Women of Paranormal and Horror. There's another chick writing there named BellaDonna Drakul who I enjoy very much. The fetching and chill-worthy

kissdbyagnome is over there was well.

Finally, I'd like to bring up the subject of Pleasure. Things that feel good. As you may know, I'm someone who is prone to addiction and excess. It makes sense for me that I follow a path that allows for some indulgence and doesn't equate forgoing pleasure with overall morality. Seems like there's some debate about this in the world at large. You're a smart bunch, so I'll ask: do you think that abstaining from things that give you pleasure makes you a more moral person? What does hedonism mean to you? Is it really so bad to do things simply because they feel good? Are most things that feel good actually bad for you--or is it all too subjective to generalize? So many of the limits we put on ourselves, the criminalization of sexuality for example--it's all just so goddamn arbitrary and nonsensical. Grrrrrr.

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I think that people who deprive themselves of things that give them simple pleasures are probably addicted to feeling self-righteous and superior.

If it is morally right to deprive ourselves of pleasure, then we should all wear blindfolds so that we don't see flowers, and should eat diets without fresh fruit or vegetables. We should never settle ourselves into comfortable beds and sleep. Like sex, these are pleasures that, if there is a creator, must have been created to be enjoyed. Not to do so is just rude!

See, THIS guy knows what I'm talkin' about.

:-]

Thanks!

You're welcome. If it matters, I'm a gal though ;-)

I meant "guy" in the generic sense.
But thanks for the clarification. :-]

Agreed with

laplor. I think that for some people indulging in pleasure is detrimental to their well-being and quality of life, but usually by that point it becomes less pleasure and more necessity. If indulgence in your pleasurable activity of choice doesn't affect your quality of life - and not what someone else thinks is your quality of life, but what YOU think is your quality of life - then by all means, indulge & enjoy it!

Also, I agree that the state of Arizona can go fuck itself. I WAS looking at potentially going to grad school in AZ, but now it's completely off the list. (Besides, NMSU has a program I'd be more interested in anyway. TAKE THAT, RACISTS!)

Seriously.

Be sure to keep me updated on the latest grad school news.

I think asceticism or deprivation, if done right, is less about smug superiority or morality, and more about building inner strength. It's not that giving in to my craving for chai is a bad thing. I certainly don't need one every day, though. Lent (which I still participate in some years, even though I no longer really identify as Catholic) is about proving to yourself that you are strong enough to go without something you feel you need (but know you don't), not about proving to others you're better for going without. And after forty days, you've proven your point (hopefully) and can go back to enjoying your favorite indulgence.

Knowing that you don't need the things you could "quit anytime you wanted"... that it really is a conscious decision you make to continue with them, is empowering, and something of a relief. You know your "vices" don't rule you. You have strength over them. You have a joint/drink/bowl of ice cream after work because you want it, not because you need it.

Ah, I think what you're describing is discipline. And I'm for it. For shizzle. In the last 10 years or so, I've become a dynamo of focus in pursuit of the life I want. A lot of things kept me from it for a long time. Yet, I still need to kick back and indulge.

I think the mindset that pleasure is sinful is the main thing that forces people away from the religions that espouse it. Guilt can put a huge damper on life. But a religion that preached morality through discipline rather than the "all or nothing" approach would make more sense than the AA derivative most people are taught.

fo' sho'. I just don't like people thinking that all religious people abstain from things because of a holier-than-thou attitude (which is itself a sin in every religion I've studied), or that religious abstention must be permanent or sin-related, that kind of thing. I gave up drinking for Lent 4 years ago. I forgot to take it up again. Someday I will, but it's just not that big a deal to me. I really don't mind if other people drink, but I don't. I don't judge others for drinking, but I really wish my mom would stop pushing booze on me and then saying "What, you think I'm a lush? Is that it?" when I say "no thanks, I still don't drink."

And sometimes not drinking or not eating meat or not smoking is as simple as not liking lasagna. It's just not to your taste, but why would you care whether other people want to? It's not always a judgment on you.

This stewed in my brain overnight, so there may be some dreamtime logic here, but I think the urge to indulge AND the urge to withhold enjoyment is all about the human need to rationalize. Our brains insist! that we have a Good Reason for all we do. I think it actually starts with our nature and that manifests as dogma and misplaced "morality." The smug and righteous among us, who would look down their noses at our ability to fully rationalize our hedonism, just do not have the imagination it takes to rationalize and therefore enjoy the things in life that don't come with a built in "because." The example of fresh fruits and veg above (a good one!) for instance... fresh veg is *good* for you, therefore ok. If we ate them purely for pleasure there would be someone fighting against it just because to their mind there is no justification for it. This explains the criminalization of sexuality too - a lot if not most of the fun stuff doesn't actually lead to reproduction and is therefore unacceptable to the minds who can't fathom pleasure as its own goal and reward.

When I was a young punk I often referred to myself as a secular hedonist, to my great amusement and no one else's. :D

You're def onto something here, in re: rationalization. We do spend a ridiculous amount of time fretting about what other people think of us. Some people spend an equal amount of time obsessing about other people and their goings-on. They you get all that guilt and judgment that modern American religions are famous for. Sad.

I talk about religious abuse in my latest novel, and a bit about it in my newest book as well. When something that is supposed to be helpful and provide guidance becomes an instrument of torture, it's time to reassess. I honestly believe we'd have less serial killers if there had been no Christianity.

Agreed on your declarations. They should all go fuck themselves now.

Is it really so bad to do things simply because they feel good? Nope. That's puritanical bullshit to think we shouldn't have any fun just for fun's sake. But like others have said, if the fun gets in the way of what you really want to do with your life, time to assess and rethink.

I don't want to get all self-righteous or anything, but it makes so much sense to me to follow a simple path:

Decide what kind of person you want to be. Spend the rest of your life endeavoring to be that person--while stopping to reassess on occasion to make sure you haven't changed your mind about anything. Time permitting, bring as much light as possible into the world.

Works for me. : )

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