Dr. Horrible - The Musical is on in 5 days! Unfortunately, so is my Law assignment.
Hello blog which has not seen the light of day in a while.
I find it incredibly amusing that out of my siblings, I am the only one who is not having love-problems.
Heh.
Feels good to be different for a change. It's very refreshing to not be obsessed with whoever happens to the the boy of my year.
So. Work. Onwards!
Showing posts with label questionable ethics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label questionable ethics. Show all posts
Sunday, 31 May 2009
Friday, 27 March 2009
Hey, it's ok to lie to avoid hurting someone's feelings right?
I'm not going to see 1.5 spot, because I can't be bothered. Sure I feel guilty about declining one of the parts, and sure I feel guilty that I'm not more involved in the club. That doesn't make me anymore inclined to make plans to go see it. So I'm going to lie and say that I was busy. It's not so bad, because I don't know the people in the drama club that well.
And also, one of my new psych buddies at uni is having relationship problems. It wasn't my place to ask, but I did. And there's so many problems I don't even know where to begin to help her out.
I figure she's a girl, so she'll be needed some kind of emotional reassurance. She wants someone to tell her it'll all be ok, and that it will all work out. So I did.
I lied. Most highschool relationships don't survive the transition to uni. This also includes friendships. Most long-distance relationships don't work out. Most people realise that they don't actually know their partner that well after the initial flood of hormones goes away.
Statistically, her relationship is destined to fail. I could work out the probability of it happening.
Friendships don't really last into uni either. It's either a success (π) or fail (1-π). The success rate is approximately 2/15. The Bernoulli distribution indicates that in general, there's a right skew, i.e. you lose most of your friends. I actually punched this into Excel, and that's what I got.
It's kind of sad really.
We tell each other lies everyday. It gives us hope and happiness. Without happiness we are depressed. Without either happiness nor hope, we are suicidal. Hence we tell each other lies to keep each other alive.
But hey, that's ok. Because in the long run, surviving is all that matters.
And also, one of my new psych buddies at uni is having relationship problems. It wasn't my place to ask, but I did. And there's so many problems I don't even know where to begin to help her out.
I figure she's a girl, so she'll be needed some kind of emotional reassurance. She wants someone to tell her it'll all be ok, and that it will all work out. So I did.
I lied. Most highschool relationships don't survive the transition to uni. This also includes friendships. Most long-distance relationships don't work out. Most people realise that they don't actually know their partner that well after the initial flood of hormones goes away.
Statistically, her relationship is destined to fail. I could work out the probability of it happening.
Friendships don't really last into uni either. It's either a success (π) or fail (1-π). The success rate is approximately 2/15. The Bernoulli distribution indicates that in general, there's a right skew, i.e. you lose most of your friends. I actually punched this into Excel, and that's what I got.
It's kind of sad really.
We tell each other lies everyday. It gives us hope and happiness. Without happiness we are depressed. Without either happiness nor hope, we are suicidal. Hence we tell each other lies to keep each other alive.
But hey, that's ok. Because in the long run, surviving is all that matters.
Sunday, 15 March 2009
A series of increasingly uncomfortable conversations.
A topic that comes up surprisingly often these days between my parents and I, unfortunately, is sex. I think the reason this topic is coming up so often is because
1) I'm in uni with a variety of people, instead of your standard Asian nerds.
2) I can drink alcohol
3) I go out a lot more where they can't monitor my behaviour
And hence they panic and freak out.
It's extraordinarily awkward to talk about *certain* things with your parents. I'd come up with some kind of metaphor or analogy, but the truth is I cannot think of anything more awkward than that.
The hard and fast line they are trying to put across is "NO SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE". That also includes anything beyond hugging and, the recently conceded, kissing. My dad in particular wants me to stay as pure as the driven snow until I get married, and my mum wants me to stay "innocent" and I would stay that way if I steered clear of carnal knowledge.
Why?
Well, there are a multitude of reasons I suppose.
For example, according to the major religions of the world, there are reasons for abstinence.
Christianity forbids premarital sex. Some strands of Judeo-Christian religions also frown upon affection between married couples. I haven't read enough of the bible to explain this uet, but I'm fairly certain that's the case.
In Buddhism, one of the precepts, that is the behavioural guides for righteous living, is not to indulge in physical excess. This I do know the reason for. The causes of suffering, according to Buddhism, is desire for things that are physical, or tangible. This desire ties us to the world, hence be freed of this existence, and will be reborn again into the cycle of suffering.
According to the law, sex between consenting heterosexuals over the age of 16 is legal, sex between consenting homosexuals over the age of 18 is legal, sex between a 15 year old and a 18 year old is illegal, sex between two 16 year old males is illegal and all sorts of other fun things. Law, as I've been learning in Law, is not necessarily tied to morals.
Socially, it is less acceptable for a woman to have multiple sexual partners than a man. I think this stems from this society being somewhat religious.
Biologically speaking (again), sex stimulates chemicals that screw up with rational thought processes. I like thinking. I like having control. Anything that would prevent me from thinking clearly and depriving me of what little control I have over my life's situation surely would be detrimental.
So there's a wide range of reasons for why I shouldn't have sex.
Now, as far as I've heard, sex is a pleasurable experience. Explained on a technical level it seems a little messy. Biologically it used to be necessary for this to occur in order for reproduction to occur. But with the introduction of contraception, abortion, IVF etc, this is not necessarily the case.
Humans all experience desire at some stage, unless there is something neurologically wrong with them. Now this is just in general, as the word desire encompasses many facets.
As far as I'm concerned, sex is a base kind of pleasure. It is a purely physical sensation. However, as human beings, we ARE physical beings, despite having opposable thumbs and a brain, and all the kerfuffle raised over the years how Homo Sapiens are somehow separate to animals. Hence, if we are entitled to pleasures such as reading, writing, music, art etc, we should also be entitled to the most controversial physical pleasures as well.
I don't intend on getting married. And if I do get married, it will not follow the conventions of a typical marriage according to either religious norms nor shall it follow the norms my parents propose. Hence, it will be regarded as an invalid "marriage" by both society and my parents.
From this, it follows that I will never have sexual relations with anyone.
Now this is something I intensely disagree with.
I feel as though the only thing preventing me from choosing how to live my life is fear of some sanction, whether it is from a religious, social or moral power. Hence, this unnamed power is preventing me from having some form of control over my life, and this is the collar that chafes at my neck.
The problem with my parents just telling me to not have sex is that the reasons they give for it are a little arbitary. Most of the reasons I've listed here I've had to come up with for myself.
In the end, I've decided on a set of guidelines for my own behaviour, that is not quite in accordance to the values my parents and parts of my society espouse. I just hope that there aren't too many negative consequences from that, and if there are consequences I hope I can deal with them.
YARRRRR.
1) I'm in uni with a variety of people, instead of your standard Asian nerds.
2) I can drink alcohol
3) I go out a lot more where they can't monitor my behaviour
And hence they panic and freak out.
It's extraordinarily awkward to talk about *certain* things with your parents. I'd come up with some kind of metaphor or analogy, but the truth is I cannot think of anything more awkward than that.
The hard and fast line they are trying to put across is "NO SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE". That also includes anything beyond hugging and, the recently conceded, kissing. My dad in particular wants me to stay as pure as the driven snow until I get married, and my mum wants me to stay "innocent" and I would stay that way if I steered clear of carnal knowledge.
Why?
Well, there are a multitude of reasons I suppose.
For example, according to the major religions of the world, there are reasons for abstinence.
Christianity forbids premarital sex. Some strands of Judeo-Christian religions also frown upon affection between married couples. I haven't read enough of the bible to explain this uet, but I'm fairly certain that's the case.
In Buddhism, one of the precepts, that is the behavioural guides for righteous living, is not to indulge in physical excess. This I do know the reason for. The causes of suffering, according to Buddhism, is desire for things that are physical, or tangible. This desire ties us to the world, hence be freed of this existence, and will be reborn again into the cycle of suffering.
According to the law, sex between consenting heterosexuals over the age of 16 is legal, sex between consenting homosexuals over the age of 18 is legal, sex between a 15 year old and a 18 year old is illegal, sex between two 16 year old males is illegal and all sorts of other fun things. Law, as I've been learning in Law, is not necessarily tied to morals.
Socially, it is less acceptable for a woman to have multiple sexual partners than a man. I think this stems from this society being somewhat religious.
Biologically speaking (again), sex stimulates chemicals that screw up with rational thought processes. I like thinking. I like having control. Anything that would prevent me from thinking clearly and depriving me of what little control I have over my life's situation surely would be detrimental.
So there's a wide range of reasons for why I shouldn't have sex.
Now, as far as I've heard, sex is a pleasurable experience. Explained on a technical level it seems a little messy. Biologically it used to be necessary for this to occur in order for reproduction to occur. But with the introduction of contraception, abortion, IVF etc, this is not necessarily the case.
Humans all experience desire at some stage, unless there is something neurologically wrong with them. Now this is just in general, as the word desire encompasses many facets.
As far as I'm concerned, sex is a base kind of pleasure. It is a purely physical sensation. However, as human beings, we ARE physical beings, despite having opposable thumbs and a brain, and all the kerfuffle raised over the years how Homo Sapiens are somehow separate to animals. Hence, if we are entitled to pleasures such as reading, writing, music, art etc, we should also be entitled to the most controversial physical pleasures as well.
I don't intend on getting married. And if I do get married, it will not follow the conventions of a typical marriage according to either religious norms nor shall it follow the norms my parents propose. Hence, it will be regarded as an invalid "marriage" by both society and my parents.
From this, it follows that I will never have sexual relations with anyone.
Now this is something I intensely disagree with.
I feel as though the only thing preventing me from choosing how to live my life is fear of some sanction, whether it is from a religious, social or moral power. Hence, this unnamed power is preventing me from having some form of control over my life, and this is the collar that chafes at my neck.
The problem with my parents just telling me to not have sex is that the reasons they give for it are a little arbitary. Most of the reasons I've listed here I've had to come up with for myself.
In the end, I've decided on a set of guidelines for my own behaviour, that is not quite in accordance to the values my parents and parts of my society espouse. I just hope that there aren't too many negative consequences from that, and if there are consequences I hope I can deal with them.
YARRRRR.
Sunday, 25 January 2009
None of us were angels...
Three subheadings today, instead of numbered, scattered points.
1. Projected self image
I found my Johari/Nohari windows again recently.
4 people think that I'm able, brave, caring, cheerful, dependable, dignified, energetic, helpful, ingenious, kind, loving, modest, powerful, reflective, sensible, trustworthy, warm and witty.
The same 4 people also think that I can be intolerant, insecure, withdrawn, hostile, unhelpful, cruel, ignorant, irrational, imperceptive, chaotic, embarrassed, loud, panicky, dispassionate, inattentive.
Most of the time, people I know are too nice to point out my negative characteristics. The only people I know that point out my negative traits are my close friends and family. And I value them for it, because they are quite aware that I'm human, and that I'm fallible.
I find it disconcerting when people idealise me or express romantic interest. Because I know that they're overlooking the negative traits that I have that I know would definitely make them run 100 kilometres in the other direction if they actually figured out that I can be quite... well not as perfect as they thought.
That's why I run 100 kilometres in the opposite direction when people view me in such a distorted light. Because they're so very, very incorrect in their perceptions of who I am, and I usually I don't want to prove them wrong. For a while now, I've been humouring people who are like that. Which is wrong, because I hate lying to them and pretending to be something I'm not.
2. Yes Man
I watched Jim Carrey's newest on Thursday with a bunch of friends who weren't a) overseas, b) at the beach, c) on bible camp. It was funny in a slapstick way I think... Carrey's humour has become less... sharp (?) over the years... some moments in the film that were supposed to be funny fell flat... some bits were kind of disturbing... but overall it was quite entertaining.
The message I got out of this film was that you shouldn't be afraid to grab life by the wrists and run. That letting yourself do the things you want to do is as straightforward as just saying yes.
I wish I could live that kind of life... but if I did that at this current moment it would hurt my parents. Because they wouldn't understand, and they'll think I'm frivolously wasting my life.
3. Nana
I started reading the manga, and I've watched the live-action film (courtesy of Youtube ^^). It's a shoujo manga, so it pretty much falls under all the conventions of the genre (ext 1 english... yay... how i love thee), so don't look for anything new. I haven't watched much of the anime yet.
The music from the live-action is what drew me into the series. The songs from both Nana (feat. Mika Nakashima) and Reira (feat. Yuna Ito) released accompanying the film are quite good. The only one I don't really like is "My medicine" by Nana, because it just sounds weird after the verses. Other than Glamourous Sky, Isolation is a pretty good song, which is surpising that 3/4 of the tracks are fairly strong.
hmm... it's late... bed time...
Sunday, 11 January 2009
The 10 legged inter-species horizontal cha cha
The cockamouse is a hybrid creature, part cockroach, part mouse. It exists only in the fictional realms of "How I met your mother" in Ted, Marshall and Lily's apartment.
I may have spent too much time watching TV with my family. Till about 2am in fact.
It feels rather odd to watch a TV show, with my dad in particular, that expresses values that are so clearly opposing to my parent's. I.e. The show espouses comparatively liberal views on sex.
Because my parents have a very traditional viewpoint on pretty much everything. And they think that people who don't hold the same values they do are beneath them. So far they don't know that I don't actually think like they do, adn I have done (and plan to do) things that goes against what they have been teaching me (even until now).
It feels odd.
I may have spent too much time watching TV with my family. Till about 2am in fact.
It feels rather odd to watch a TV show, with my dad in particular, that expresses values that are so clearly opposing to my parent's. I.e. The show espouses comparatively liberal views on sex.
Because my parents have a very traditional viewpoint on pretty much everything. And they think that people who don't hold the same values they do are beneath them. So far they don't know that I don't actually think like they do, adn I have done (and plan to do) things that goes against what they have been teaching me (even until now).
It feels odd.
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
I am a sell out.
This time last year, I was heatedly arguing with my dad about how people who put Medicine as their first choice, and Law as their second were complete an utter money-grubbing, soulless, spineless children who were control either by their parents, or by their desire for power and money. Because surely, someone who truly wanted to do Medicine would be altruistic and interested in Science. Whereas, a Lawyer, would be interested in upholding Justice, but not necessarily for altruistic reasons, and would be more interested in the Arts. Two completely different subjects right? So if you were truly interested in one, you couldn't be interested in both.
I was wrong.
Medicine appeals to me because since year 10, I've wanted to be a psychiatrist.
Law appeals to me because since year 9, I've wanted to be a criminal psychologist.
I don't actually care about how much money I make. I don't care about how my parents will be able to boast about how they have a Doctor/Lawyer in the family.
I'm thinking that those two course will interest me intellectually, and I will enjoy the career that comes out of the degree.
But since I completely dismissed people who put those down as preferences one after the other, I am a hypocrite.
On a slightly related note:
I have 27 hours and 16 minutes to change my preferences.
Gah.
I was wrong.
Medicine appeals to me because since year 10, I've wanted to be a psychiatrist.
Law appeals to me because since year 9, I've wanted to be a criminal psychologist.
I don't actually care about how much money I make. I don't care about how my parents will be able to boast about how they have a Doctor/Lawyer in the family.
I'm thinking that those two course will interest me intellectually, and I will enjoy the career that comes out of the degree.
But since I completely dismissed people who put those down as preferences one after the other, I am a hypocrite.
On a slightly related note:
I have 27 hours and 16 minutes to change my preferences.
Gah.
Monday, 5 January 2009
Conclusions on 2008, Resolutions for 2009 and general musings.
1) People judge you on your deeds, not your thoughts. You could be very well meaning, and do a heap of things that are strangely hurtful, and people would think you're awful. On the same token, you could be an evil git, and do a lot of altruistic things and people would think you're nice.
2) I am not an awful person. Sure, I do some exceeding stupid things, but I don't do them because I'm horrible, I do them because I don't think.
3) Said exceedingly stupid thing: Talking to Doraemon (named thus because of oddly round head), about Lief, and telling him pretty much everything. Now at the time I did this, I did not think that I should stop, nor did I think that I was doing anything wrong. In fact, it felt really good to have an outsider's point of view on everything. It's just unfortunate that he happens to be Lief's mortal enemy, and that everyone else in the room heard too. Now that was the stupid part that was really really dumb and will come back to bite me in the ass.
3) I do manipulate people to get what I want. That is probably wrong, but that doesn't actually stop me from doing it.
4) Like I said, I'm not actually an awful person, despite me going on about how evil I am. I actually say that I'm evil so that when I do something wrong, I can say "I told you so. You just didn't believe me." Also, after I've done something wrong that only I've noticed, I tell myself that I'm awful so that I don't actually have to do anything to fix the problem. It eases the guilt. I have a great logic centre.
5) I used to talk to Lief all the time. He was my deposit box for crazy talk. In fact he was pretty much the only person I could talk to about sex, love, and criminal behaviour completely without any discomfort, or fear of being judged. But now I've stopped talking to him, because he pushed me too far, and I haven't closed the gap between us.
In fact, I think the further the distance between myself and Lief, the better. Because I don't have the strength to deal with him anymore. So when he calls me, I lie, I omit facts, I don't tell him everything. He thinks that I'm drifting away from him, and he'd be right.
So now I don't have anyone to talk to about everything to. So I blog. And even then, I don't say everything in the one blog. I have a few dirty socks strewn all around the corners of the internet. I'm sure if you could be bothered, you could dig around and find out all the crazy things I think and feel, but then you'd be just as crazy as I am. It's probably not quite right to pour my heart and soul into an electronic journal, but I find it easier to express myself in written text, where I can edit my words, a lot easier than calling someone up, and thinking of things to say on the spot.
6) I have put on weight. And much that I hate to say it, this fact is draining my confidence. I used to like the way I look, but now all I can see in the mirror are tuck-shop-lady arms, a belly large enough to warrant questions about the due date of my baby, and my gelatinous thighs. There are some days when I feel ok about myself (particularly before I've eaten anything at all). I actually spend an hour trying to find clothes to wear everyday that don't make me look like a beached whale.
7) I don't blog for sympathy, or compliments. I was never given sympathy as a child, and I don't want or need it now. I don't want compliments, unless I've actually done something to deserve it. And these days, I don't feel like I deserve any compliments.
8) I'm not doing a very good job of behaving like an adult. You know, analytical thinking before making decisions, diplomacy, compromise that sort of thing. I am getting better at cooking a cleaning. I can do the dishes in less than half and hour now. =/
New Year's Resolution 1: Think before doing things.
New Year's Resolution 2: Think before saying things.
New Year's Resolution 3: Stop manipulating people.
New Year's Resolution 4: If I do something awful, and I feel guilty, I should do something to fix it, or deal with the consequences. If I've done something awful, and I don't care, then I should just forget it.
New Year's Resolution 5: Learn how to be less socially retarded in general.
New Year's Resolution 6: Eat less junk food, and have less soft drinks. Try to avoid Burger franchises.
New Year's Resolution 7: Take better care of my skin
New Year's Resolution 8: Exercise regularly.
New Year's Resolution 9: Be able to skim a kilometre.
New Year's Resolution 10: Save up $10, 000
So here's to the New Year. I hope that each year will be better than the last. And it should be. I can legally drink, have gay sex (not that I'm into that thing, and not that I'm a man that is gay and would be looking to have gay sex), go clubbing, visit pubs, visit casinos, buy lottery tickets, gamble (gambling is grotty, and addiction to it is likely to be hereditary), smoke (not that I would smoke. Smoking is also grotty, and I'd probably die while doing it), and become a registered member of certain rock climbing venues. Here's to being lucky in love, finding the path I want to take career wise, and starting up my hobbies of singing, dancing and general artsy stuff.
2) I am not an awful person. Sure, I do some exceeding stupid things, but I don't do them because I'm horrible, I do them because I don't think.
3) Said exceedingly stupid thing: Talking to Doraemon (named thus because of oddly round head), about Lief, and telling him pretty much everything. Now at the time I did this, I did not think that I should stop, nor did I think that I was doing anything wrong. In fact, it felt really good to have an outsider's point of view on everything. It's just unfortunate that he happens to be Lief's mortal enemy, and that everyone else in the room heard too. Now that was the stupid part that was really really dumb and will come back to bite me in the ass.
3) I do manipulate people to get what I want. That is probably wrong, but that doesn't actually stop me from doing it.
4) Like I said, I'm not actually an awful person, despite me going on about how evil I am. I actually say that I'm evil so that when I do something wrong, I can say "I told you so. You just didn't believe me." Also, after I've done something wrong that only I've noticed, I tell myself that I'm awful so that I don't actually have to do anything to fix the problem. It eases the guilt. I have a great logic centre.
5) I used to talk to Lief all the time. He was my deposit box for crazy talk. In fact he was pretty much the only person I could talk to about sex, love, and criminal behaviour completely without any discomfort, or fear of being judged. But now I've stopped talking to him, because he pushed me too far, and I haven't closed the gap between us.
In fact, I think the further the distance between myself and Lief, the better. Because I don't have the strength to deal with him anymore. So when he calls me, I lie, I omit facts, I don't tell him everything. He thinks that I'm drifting away from him, and he'd be right.
So now I don't have anyone to talk to about everything to. So I blog. And even then, I don't say everything in the one blog. I have a few dirty socks strewn all around the corners of the internet. I'm sure if you could be bothered, you could dig around and find out all the crazy things I think and feel, but then you'd be just as crazy as I am. It's probably not quite right to pour my heart and soul into an electronic journal, but I find it easier to express myself in written text, where I can edit my words, a lot easier than calling someone up, and thinking of things to say on the spot.
6) I have put on weight. And much that I hate to say it, this fact is draining my confidence. I used to like the way I look, but now all I can see in the mirror are tuck-shop-lady arms, a belly large enough to warrant questions about the due date of my baby, and my gelatinous thighs. There are some days when I feel ok about myself (particularly before I've eaten anything at all). I actually spend an hour trying to find clothes to wear everyday that don't make me look like a beached whale.
7) I don't blog for sympathy, or compliments. I was never given sympathy as a child, and I don't want or need it now. I don't want compliments, unless I've actually done something to deserve it. And these days, I don't feel like I deserve any compliments.
8) I'm not doing a very good job of behaving like an adult. You know, analytical thinking before making decisions, diplomacy, compromise that sort of thing. I am getting better at cooking a cleaning. I can do the dishes in less than half and hour now. =/
New Year's Resolution 1: Think before doing things.
New Year's Resolution 2: Think before saying things.
New Year's Resolution 3: Stop manipulating people.
New Year's Resolution 4: If I do something awful, and I feel guilty, I should do something to fix it, or deal with the consequences. If I've done something awful, and I don't care, then I should just forget it.
New Year's Resolution 5: Learn how to be less socially retarded in general.
New Year's Resolution 6: Eat less junk food, and have less soft drinks. Try to avoid Burger franchises.
New Year's Resolution 7: Take better care of my skin
New Year's Resolution 8: Exercise regularly.
New Year's Resolution 9: Be able to skim a kilometre.
New Year's Resolution 10: Save up $10, 000
So here's to the New Year. I hope that each year will be better than the last. And it should be. I can legally drink, have gay sex (not that I'm into that thing, and not that I'm a man that is gay and would be looking to have gay sex), go clubbing, visit pubs, visit casinos, buy lottery tickets, gamble (gambling is grotty, and addiction to it is likely to be hereditary), smoke (not that I would smoke. Smoking is also grotty, and I'd probably die while doing it), and become a registered member of certain rock climbing venues. Here's to being lucky in love, finding the path I want to take career wise, and starting up my hobbies of singing, dancing and general artsy stuff.
Saturday, 3 January 2009
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
9th wedding in the family
So my cousin Londonette is finally getting married. She has found a nice strapping English lad who works in the entertainment industry (as a DJ, a promoter and a bouncer), who's quite tall, well built, bald, and a good chess player. Let's call him Kasparov.
Londonette and Kasparov are getting married sometime in August in Thailand. Now my parents are refusing to attend said wedding. I asked if it was because it was Thailand and that it was kind of like they were eloping.
Actually, they're refusing to go because she ran off to London for five years, and because she's marrying a guy who's English like Stephen K. Amos is English. Except he's not gay. Or a comedian.
Yeah.
Wrap your head around that.
I think the next boy I bring home will be a pinoi.
Londonette and Kasparov are getting married sometime in August in Thailand. Now my parents are refusing to attend said wedding. I asked if it was because it was Thailand and that it was kind of like they were eloping.
Actually, they're refusing to go because she ran off to London for five years, and because she's marrying a guy who's English like Stephen K. Amos is English. Except he's not gay. Or a comedian.
Yeah.
Wrap your head around that.
I think the next boy I bring home will be a pinoi.
Friday, 26 December 2008
WTF is Christmas.
So apparently, it's Jesus' birthday. Jesus is a pretty cool guy, you know what with the turning water into wine, walking on said water, raising the dead, healing the sick, coming back from the dead amd what not. So yeah, Christmas is a pretty important day right? It's understandable to celebrate His birth yeah?
Unfortunately, for someone who doesn't particularly believe in a god, Christmas doesn't really have a meaning, aside from the fact that I get a free holiday where people all around me throw parties that either I'm not invited to, or that I am invited to, but to which I can't go.
Christmas makes me feel uncomfortable. I'm supposed to get presents for people, based on some tradition based off of a person that may or may not exist. Then I receive gifts that I'm supposed to like. Then I'm supposed to be happy about the fact that I'm celebrating some dead guy's birthday, without the help of alcohol, because alcohol gives me an allergic reaction.
Then I get messages from people wishing me a Merry Christmas, who normally wouldn't give a shit about me on any other day. Then I'm supposed to turn right back and wish them a happy holiday, and pretend to give a shit about them too.
Seems extremely pointless. Maybe other atheists feel like this too. Which is why it's probably tempting for them to join a church so they can join in the community spirit around Christmas time. But that pretty much makes them hypocrites.
Maybe religion acts as a kind of buffer to life's disappointments. Had a shit life? God planned it that way to make you the person you are. Someone you love died? God wanted his lamb back. Got a crap UAI? God planned that too. All those hours you spend playing DOTA had absolutely nothing to do with that. Predestination. You can take comfort in the fact that someone bigger than you is guiding your life while you yourself have no fucking idea why you live on this shithole called earth, why every day inflicts some kind of suffering upon you, and why you still push on despite said shittiness.
I guess believing in a god gives you someone to talk to when you're lonely and in need of solace. I mean, He's always listening, and as a plus He loves you unconditionally right?
It's kind of funny how some of my Christian friends believe in both Predestination and Free will. Because if you think about it, converting to Christianity requires Free will right? God created man with Free will. However, everything is predestined, so you converting to Christianity was already planned. But this negates the whole Free will thing.
Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to imply is that some people convert to Christianity because they feel cold and alone on Christmas, and they want to feel like they belong somewhere. That may or may not be a bad thing.
I myself do not feel cold or alone enough to want to do that. But it is tempting. But, surprisingly, I do have my morals, and I try not to do hypocritical things. But I do feel pretty crap right now.
Unfortunately, for someone who doesn't particularly believe in a god, Christmas doesn't really have a meaning, aside from the fact that I get a free holiday where people all around me throw parties that either I'm not invited to, or that I am invited to, but to which I can't go.
Christmas makes me feel uncomfortable. I'm supposed to get presents for people, based on some tradition based off of a person that may or may not exist. Then I receive gifts that I'm supposed to like. Then I'm supposed to be happy about the fact that I'm celebrating some dead guy's birthday, without the help of alcohol, because alcohol gives me an allergic reaction.
Then I get messages from people wishing me a Merry Christmas, who normally wouldn't give a shit about me on any other day. Then I'm supposed to turn right back and wish them a happy holiday, and pretend to give a shit about them too.
Seems extremely pointless. Maybe other atheists feel like this too. Which is why it's probably tempting for them to join a church so they can join in the community spirit around Christmas time. But that pretty much makes them hypocrites.
Maybe religion acts as a kind of buffer to life's disappointments. Had a shit life? God planned it that way to make you the person you are. Someone you love died? God wanted his lamb back. Got a crap UAI? God planned that too. All those hours you spend playing DOTA had absolutely nothing to do with that. Predestination. You can take comfort in the fact that someone bigger than you is guiding your life while you yourself have no fucking idea why you live on this shithole called earth, why every day inflicts some kind of suffering upon you, and why you still push on despite said shittiness.
I guess believing in a god gives you someone to talk to when you're lonely and in need of solace. I mean, He's always listening, and as a plus He loves you unconditionally right?
It's kind of funny how some of my Christian friends believe in both Predestination and Free will. Because if you think about it, converting to Christianity requires Free will right? God created man with Free will. However, everything is predestined, so you converting to Christianity was already planned. But this negates the whole Free will thing.
Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to imply is that some people convert to Christianity because they feel cold and alone on Christmas, and they want to feel like they belong somewhere. That may or may not be a bad thing.
I myself do not feel cold or alone enough to want to do that. But it is tempting. But, surprisingly, I do have my morals, and I try not to do hypocritical things. But I do feel pretty crap right now.
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Ethics - OR - How I completely smacked that interview in the face
All that reading on ethics (I think I spent 6 hours or so on that alone) came in handy afterall. There were a lot of ethical reasoning/dilemma stations today, or stations which required reasonable thought that stemmed from ethical reasoning.
Unfortunately when it came to stations that were supposed to be nice ones, I choked. "Why do you want to be a doctor?" Well I'm interested in human behaviour and their actions, especially when things go wrong. I'm a problem solver, so fixing problems is what I want to do for the rest of my life. "Any other reasons?" ... Is that not a good enough reason? Um... to... save... lives? To... help... people... and stuff... *mumble mumble* WTF Are you telling me that my reason for becoming a doctor isn't good enough for you? Well you can go to "Your time is up for this station. Please exit the room and wait outside the door of your next station. Thank you."
*phew*
Another "nice" one. You had to pick out of a choice of 4 emotions, the emotion that best represented that in the eyes of the picture given. I had already done this question in this quiz: ==> http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sex/index_cookie.shtml. But there were 36 of them to do in 7 minutes and it took too long >< damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn
And then another one where I had to deal with a crying patient.
I slammed the rest of the staions though. Take that!
I feel really drained right now.
Unfortunately when it came to stations that were supposed to be nice ones, I choked. "Why do you want to be a doctor?" Well I'm interested in human behaviour and their actions, especially when things go wrong. I'm a problem solver, so fixing problems is what I want to do for the rest of my life. "Any other reasons?" ... Is that not a good enough reason? Um... to... save... lives? To... help... people... and stuff... *mumble mumble* WTF Are you telling me that my reason for becoming a doctor isn't good enough for you? Well you can go to "Your time is up for this station. Please exit the room and wait outside the door of your next station. Thank you."
*phew*
Another "nice" one. You had to pick out of a choice of 4 emotions, the emotion that best represented that in the eyes of the picture given. I had already done this question in this quiz: ==> http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sex/index_cookie.shtml. But there were 36 of them to do in 7 minutes and it took too long >< damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn
And then another one where I had to deal with a crying patient.
I slammed the rest of the staions though. Take that!
I feel really drained right now.
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
Ethics - OR- Why I shouldn't become a doctor.
So. My interview that partially determines whether or not I will be accepted into the Med course at UWS is tomorrow. Instead of researching how the Australian healthcare system works, the course requirements etc, I am sitting here blogging. Maybe it's because I'm not wholehearted sure I want to become a doctor. I know that if I want something desperately enough I will get it. I usually get what I want (more on that later).
I know that I've wanted to become either a psychologist or a psychiatrist for a long time. Probably since Lief walked into my life actually. I find people, their behaviour, their habits, their ways of thinking very interesting, and I'd like to work in a career where I can learn something I'm interested in.
I've been looking at the questions that I may be asked tomorrow. For example:
I know that I've wanted to become either a psychologist or a psychiatrist for a long time. Probably since Lief walked into my life actually. I find people, their behaviour, their habits, their ways of thinking very interesting, and I'd like to work in a career where I can learn something I'm interested in.
I've been looking at the questions that I may be asked tomorrow. For example:
Dr Cheung recommends homeopathic medicines to
his patients. There is no scientific evidence or
widely accepted theory to suggest that homeopathic
medicines work, and Dr Cheung doesn’t believe
them to. He recommends homeopathic medicine
to people with mild and non-specific symptoms
such as fatigue, headaches and muscle aches,
because he believes that it will do no harm, but will
give them reassurance.
his patients. There is no scientific evidence or
widely accepted theory to suggest that homeopathic
medicines work, and Dr Cheung doesn’t believe
them to. He recommends homeopathic medicine
to people with mild and non-specific symptoms
such as fatigue, headaches and muscle aches,
because he believes that it will do no harm, but will
give them reassurance.
Consider the ethical problems that Dr Cheung’s
behaviour might pose. Discuss these issues with the
interviewer.
Well, ethically speaking, it's wrong to lie. Experimenting with a placebo on a patient without consent is unethical. If he wanted to reassure the patient, then he should consult with the patient about how the homeopathic remedy hasn't been scientifically proven, but it's an alternative to Western medicine.
Those are the answers given by a few prospective medical students.
I looked at the question, and couldn't find the dilemma.
I think I may be trouble. My ethics are questionable at best. Given a choice between letting a group of innocents die, and a letting one innocent die, I would usually choose one innocent
behaviour might pose. Discuss these issues with the
interviewer.
The above was taken from:
Kevin W Eva, Jack Rosenfeld, Harold I Reiter, Geoffrey R Norman (2004)
An admissions OSCE: the multiple mini-interview
Medical Education 38 (3), 314–326.
Kevin W Eva, Jack Rosenfeld, Harold I Reiter, Geoffrey R Norman (2004)
An admissions OSCE: the multiple mini-interview
Medical Education 38 (3), 314–326.
Well, ethically speaking, it's wrong to lie. Experimenting with a placebo on a patient without consent is unethical. If he wanted to reassure the patient, then he should consult with the patient about how the homeopathic remedy hasn't been scientifically proven, but it's an alternative to Western medicine.
Those are the answers given by a few prospective medical students.
I looked at the question, and couldn't find the dilemma.
I think I may be trouble. My ethics are questionable at best. Given a choice between letting a group of innocents die, and a letting one innocent die, I would usually choose one innocent
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