New to the game

why categories?

Published on January 20, 2004 By new-age nomad In Misc

I have always had a problem with putting people (or things) into categories. I don't know that I'll ever be able to pick anything in the categorie list but "misc". I recently read an article written by a guy named Dan K. on this site about "The dissapearance of black and white". Although I find him to be extremely intelligent and very intriguing, the blog upset me for the most part. Why do people feel such a prominent need to put everything into a box?

As for myself, I am a devout Christian (please don't judge me because of it), but I have many quirks you wouldn't expect in today's ever present definition of the word "Christian". It has been mutilated into this mind-numbing "honk if you love Jesus" catastrophe. It's just another clique at my school. I don't want to be a part of that. What happened to individualism? Me? I have a lip ring which I had done when I was 16 after being a Christian for 4 years. I have a very odd taste in music; there is nothing I would turn down. Music is my life---music is life. I come from a family of abuse, drugs, sex (and rock and roll---excuse the cliche, haha). My mother lives on the streets, and my dad lives in a trailor in Tennessee. I see my circumstances as a way to build me up rather than a way to tear me down.

I don't mean to speak of myself as the perfect package of teenage rebellion, because, yes I am rebellious, but in the true sense of the word. I rebel not against right, but against wrong. I rebel not against what America thinks is wrong, but what I know to be wrong. Dan, if you ever read this, please know that people like you inspire me to be who I am. After having gone to 33 schools in my life, I have learned a thing or two about diversity and acceptence. And, although I like to see myself as the most real person I know, I know it's all a cherade. I am a fake, a phony. I am artificially flavored-you might say.

I hope this gives many of you a chance to get to know me. I will be writing much in the days to come. Dan, keep on doing what you do. Thank you.

Trinitie Tiearra Garrison

Comments

Dan Kaschel

on Jan 21, 2004

Wow... where do I start. First of all, I'm flattered. Maybe I shouldn't be, but I am because that's the kind of person I am. I'm glad that my expression of though, which I thoroughly enjoy in every respect, has been appreciated at another level.

I know exactly what you mean by categories; I have exactly the same problem. There should be more of them, at the very least. Does anybody actually use channels to find articles? I sure don't... but as for black and white, I'm simply saying that everything can be eventually reduced to multiple boolean values. The fact that in a given situation there might be an infinity of such values thus making the theory impractical by nature is irrelevant; it simply asserts that there really is a right and a wrong.

Ditto for most of the Christian statements. If there's one American institution I hate, it's the church. The church has given Christians the worst name possible. It's like people can't figure out that among Christians, there are the weak, the strong, the stupid, the smart, and in brief every sort of person. I don't rebel, but I do my own thing. I avoid clothing fads not to rebel but because they cost more and they're usually not all that comfortable. My taste in music is also quite eclectic, ranging from heavy metal (From Autumn to Ashes) to light acoustic emo (Dashboard).

And Trinitie, don't be fooled. Everybody's a charade, when it comes down to it. The reason is that you can't be real until you know who you are, and nobody has really got themselves figured out. It's something you need to get used to. Meanwhile, try to figure yourself out, and you'll become more real if you have the courage to be yourself.

My most sincere regards. Take it easy.

~Dan

SundaysLost23

on Jan 24, 2004

Once again, beautiful. Yes, I am reading you in backward order. I say reading you because blogging is like an introduction to oneself. Some of us like to skip introductions and get right down to what we're thinking. Others just want to leave small, insignificant details, because we want terribly to be known, but not to be tracked by the mysterious boogie man of internet stalking. I admire that you can be so honest about your self image, because in reading what you've said, I can honestly relate, and know that I am, indeed, normal. I also think I'm artificial. Not in the plastic, man-made body sense, or perhaps not in the Quinn Morgendorfer since either. Just a feeling that perhaps I try too hard to be who I think I am. Is this how you feel, too? Or have I misunderstood?

new-age nomad

on Jan 24, 2004

Yes, Sunday, you have pinpointed how I feel in "I try too hard to be who I think I am." I believe that statement was profound and once again, I thank you for reading my thoughts. Molto Amore! Trinitie

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