"The map isn't the destination." Describing an emotion isn't the same as feeling it. That's part of why it's so difficult for most people to articulate why a song makes them feel good. Sure, there's the usual "It was playing when we danced at the prom", or "It sounds so upbeat and happy", but one person's joymaking earcandy may be another's "OMG TURN IT OFF IT SUCKS!"
And thus, true strength isn't a function of how many arguments about taste you're intent on "winning", but the conviction to express why you earnestly love something — even if someone else might not.
We see this expressive void not just in music, but many aspects of human life. Take computer user interfaces, for example: if something in the whole whole just isn't right, chances are unless the user is an HCI expert, they can't put their finger on what exactly it is. They haven't the language or skills to describe, but that doesn't make it any less wrong (to them).
I'm bold to point out that the people who can make the connections and cross the bridges are (and always are) going to be deeply desired. They're also people who don't limit themselves to words, but seek out each & every medium that they can use to deliver their message. Just like if you can translate jokes between multiple languages, there's immense value in that. The world needs more Rosetta Stones — great explainers! — especially because there's so many of these expressive voids.
Don't think well-educated/learned people are automatically better off, either. As I've read earlier, the curse of knowledge is that the more you know, the more constricted you are by what you've learned. Especially if you paid a lot of $$$ for that info, you'll defend your investment, which is different from applying the info. You become ingrained in your ways, and it's hard to peek outside. So even if you have decades of accumulated brilliance, being willing to make a fresh start and be a fool (for a little while — you'll learn quickly enough) is irreplaceable.
by prakhar
It's scary to act like a child when you've been groomed all your life to be a grown-up. But look at who's really living life. The opposite is retardaculous, really: the power suits we wear and the titles on our business cards matter not a whit in the face of sheer fun.
Being alive isn't about formalities and fake faces: it's about smiling and laying in the grass with your friends, as if you had another chance. And you do.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
"the power suits we wear and the titles on our business cards matter not a whit in the face of sheer fun."
Except the power suits and the holders of business card at LL are taking away the fun, right now.
"it's about smiling and laying in the grass with your friends, as if you had another chance. And you do."
Sure you do. If you pay a 67% increase for it.
@Ariadne: This post, of course, isn't about that. I'm really sorry I can't do more to help with that here, since this is my personal blog (and not a place for official Linden Lab communication) — but can I help you with something else?
I'm sorry – I know your post wasn't about… *that*. But, y'know, I love communication. I make those 'bridges' you talk about or at least I try: I'm a pro translator and writer and born optimist so yes, getting a message across is important to me too.
I would love to smile and lay in the grass with friends – and will do, in RL. Often. But your illustrious employers are snatching the virtual grass from under our feet.
I love your enthusiasm: LL needs people like that. But it also needs enthusiastic, creative, communicating residents and the ONLY damn thing anybody seems to be talking about is how they feel betrayed. Me included. Like countless others I threw myself into creating a 'happy place'to go to, to have fun – fun that so many of us crave.
I'm sorry to bring it up on your blog – really. Yes, I guess I'll recover and plough on (probably next to a Gothic castle or a strip club)but oh man, those two phrases of yours I quoted were too much of a 'connection' for comfort.
@Ariadne: Quite alright, I appreciate you taking the time to share, because…
I'm in absolute agreement about fostering more positivity in our communities, and think there's a LOT of room to grow. That's why I often encourage my coworkers to simply BE HUMAN and show their personalities — to ward off the suckiness of "corporate drone mentality" which is prone to creep in if a company's employees aren't proactive about building trust.