Cynicism
04.30.04 (6:28 am) [edit]
I was surfing the blog rollers list this morning and you will never believe what I discovered. Cynicism. In huge quantities.
Apparently it's cool to be cynical online now. Am I completely oblivious to all thats going on in the world? Of course not. But there are enough people on the net journaling about wars, misery, politics and the such. Someone has to journal happy, yes?
It's no wonder that I surround myself with happy people that love to laugh and be positive. Can we [u]please[/u] explore the idea of bringing back the love? Warmth, friendliness and compassion may be a thing of the past.
If my posts sometimes sound like they are lecturing, they are not. I quite simply get enthusiastic about my topics. If you think I sound too happy and must be hiding the fact that I was abandoned at the age of 3 and raised by wolves... nope, that's not it either.
I'm discovering the joys of life.
This is my journey, but you are welcome to come along for the ride.
Finding the joy,
~Jenn
ps. I reserve the right, as the author of this blog, to continue to rant on occasion. Sometimes it has to be done. It's part of the process. :wink:
[LINE]
A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin.
H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.
Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900), Lady Windermere's Fan, 1892, Act III
Cynicism is not realistic and tough. It's unrealistic and kind of cowardly because it means you don't have to try.
Peggy Noonan (1950 - ), in Good Housekeepin
Apparently it's cool to be cynical online now. Am I completely oblivious to all thats going on in the world? Of course not. But there are enough people on the net journaling about wars, misery, politics and the such. Someone has to journal happy, yes?
It's no wonder that I surround myself with happy people that love to laugh and be positive. Can we [u]please[/u] explore the idea of bringing back the love? Warmth, friendliness and compassion may be a thing of the past.
If my posts sometimes sound like they are lecturing, they are not. I quite simply get enthusiastic about my topics. If you think I sound too happy and must be hiding the fact that I was abandoned at the age of 3 and raised by wolves... nope, that's not it either.
I'm discovering the joys of life.
This is my journey, but you are welcome to come along for the ride.
Finding the joy,
~Jenn
ps. I reserve the right, as the author of this blog, to continue to rant on occasion. Sometimes it has to be done. It's part of the process. :wink:
[LINE]
A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin.
H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.
Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900), Lady Windermere's Fan, 1892, Act III
Cynicism is not realistic and tough. It's unrealistic and kind of cowardly because it means you don't have to try.
Peggy Noonan (1950 - ), in Good Housekeepin
posted by: chicalookate (reply)
post date: 04.30.04 (6:41 am)
I want to always be able to find the joy in life. There has to be a balance. I can't read ranting blogs all the time... once in awhile is fine, but not everyday. We can be the positive forces. Great quotes!!
posted by: ScubaDiva (reply)
post date: 04.30.04 (6:41 am)
Cynical? In blogs? Really? I can't imagine! Certainly, I will never fall into that trap.
LMAO
TGIF
posted by: JennsAbsent (reply)
post date: 04.30.04 (7:03 am)
Reply to: chicalookate
You said it better than I could Kate. I don't mind reading an occasional rant, as a matter of fact; I find them amusing at times! (Hell, I even rant myself.) This is more about finding something to love about yourself, and letting others be able to see that part of you.
posted by: dumblondegirl (reply)
post date: 04.30.04 (7:03 am)
Good post, Jenn. I agree. We need to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative...
God that sounds familiar. Was that a theme song from an 80's TV show?
posted by: JennsAbsent (reply)
post date: 04.30.04 (7:07 am)
Reply to: ScubaDiva
LOL Scuba..
If you consider yourself a cynic, then I consider you the exception to the rule. I find you amusing and engaging. Keep up the good work.
posted by: chicalookate (reply)
post date: 04.30.04 (7:10 am)
I thought you said it just right. We should be the Anti Cynicism Police.... :D
posted by: JennsAbsent (reply)
post date: 04.30.04 (7:22 am)
Reply to: dumblondegirl
Alrighty then. I guess it's official. I'm NOT the only one out there that feels this way. Thanks Cindy and Kate! I agree, we need to bring back the love. Can we do that and not sugar-coat everything? HELL YES.
posted by: JennsAbsent (reply)
post date: 04.30.04 (7:24 am)
Reply to: chicalookate
LOL!! How bout the "joy-joy" club. ;-)
posted by: SASHASMOMMA (reply)
post date: 04.30.04 (7:30 am)
Reply to: JennsAbsent
I find, that as a "newbie" I am exploring different blogs on a daily basis. If its not happy...I dont want to read it. Not that we all don't have crappy days and need to vent about something. But, when thats all they blog about...its not for me. I like to surround myself around positive people and positive places. I find that you are for the most part up-beat and its one of the reasons I visit often.
posted by: JennsAbsent (reply)
post date: 04.30.04 (9:00 am)
Reply to: SASHASMOMMA
Thanks April! I'm glad that I come across as a positive person. I definitely have my bad days. That comes with being bi-polar, but I try to keep my tongue in check on those days; Inevidably I will regret things I say when I'm in those moods.
In all honesty, I don't find a thing wrong with a good rant. It's the constant bitching about things that we as humans have the absolute power to change, improve and grow from.
posted by: Cyberpal (reply)
post date: 04.30.04 (12:33 pm)
I'm a bit of a cynic... in as much as I dont make any apologies for it...I can see what you mean. Just that being a Cynic doesn't necessarily equate to being a coward or unrealistic! Quite the opposite if you ask me, but then again I am biased! :)
posted by: JennsAbsent (reply)
post date: 04.30.04 (1:02 pm)
Reply to: Cyberpal
The thing is CP, I don't consider you a cynic. You always have a "glass half-full" attitude from what I can tell. You don't need to make ANY excuses, we love you the way you are. (Even tho I will disagree that you're cynical) ;-)
posted by: Cyberpal (reply)
post date: 04.30.04 (1:05 pm)
Reply to: JennsAbsent
Awwh! shucks!! Stop it! you've gone an done it now! You wanna see a grown man well up with tears? Not a pretty sight!!
Thx Jenn, luv you too just the way you are ;)
posted by: JennsAbsent (reply)
post date: 04.30.04 (1:52 pm)
Reply to: Cyberpal
Muah!
posted by: JennsAbsent (reply)
post date: 04.30.04 (1:53 pm)
**That was on the cheek for those gossips that will assume we're now procreating**
;-)
posted by: SSWarrior (reply)
post date: 04.30.04 (3:19 pm)
ok i'll try ;)
posted by: qutepie2 (reply)
post date: 04.30.04 (6:10 pm)
You are more then welcome to be the happy/positive person of the bunch!! It is much needed.
"What the world needs now is love... sweet love."
posted by: musicalhair (reply)
post date: 04.30.04 (9:24 pm)
I guess I'm one of the "cynics", but I'd rather define cynic as someone predisposed to doubting-- or maybe that is skeptic. I guess better than cynic I'm just lazy, or I'd get a dictionary and find out. I don't really think I'm a cynic, I try to believe everything, like everything I hear is a puzzle piece and that they'll all fit together, but when pieces don't fit then there is a problem. (like the bible says, Love belives all things, or something like that)
I think people have to "blog" in a way that is real to them. I stumbled on to blogs via the Janeane Garofalo radio show, so the political bend to it was what I first saw.
I think it is a modern version of the city forums in classical culture where people would discuss or just vent their opinions about the events of the day. It was the primary vehicle of their democracies, and we'll be better off as blogging grows.
But blogs are also an artform and, yours is successful because you've got the knack of turning your life into something people can read far away and gain insight to themselves. That is a talent. That plus the ranking of Sex Goddess (in your more recent blog entry), and you should be feeling pretty proud.
I'd think if the cynicism as a symptom of something worse that is ailing society, venting that might be part of the solution.
posted by: JennsAbsent (reply)
post date: 05.01.04 (12:25 pm)
Reply to: musicalhair
I agree that venting is a good thing, and I do quite a bit of that myself. (See the latest entry. LOL)
I also see a growing trend of young people and older people alike just ranting for the sake of ranting. Like it's fun to just see everything negatively.
The political slant is hard for me to comment on, because I'm so out of touch with the subject matter. I don't know enough to understand if it's a rant or just an opinion being stated. Does that make sense?
It does seem that more and more blogs I read have negative content as the main subject matter. I guess it just depresses me... or bores me. lol.
posted by: librarianguish (reply)
post date: 05.02.04 (10:00 am)
I'm like you - I pretty much want my blog to be positive (with a good rant thrown in now and then). There are so many that take the cynical route, so why should I? I'd rather right about the good things I experience, or the odd little things I notice from time to time.
I especially like your art work here! Although I don't do scrapbooking myself, I enjoy looking at the amazing creations people are making these days. I'm a beader, and when I finally get my hands on a digital camera I'll be posting pictures of my work.
Glad to make your acquaintance!
posted by: musicalhair (reply)
post date: 05.02.04 (1:20 pm)
All really great comments and, even though I'm guilty of what we're calling cynicism, I agree.
I've met a lot of people that I agree with along my cynical lines, but then find that they don't want to fix things or try to make things better or believe they can't. That "gets my goat" so to speak.
My latest blog (If I may be so bold to promote) talks about this and was initailly inspired by what I read here. It took off as I was browsing meetup.com, and if you're into metaphysical nonsense at all you might see a kind of explaination of some cynicism.
