February 6, 2005
A Fatalist
As I grow older I become increasingly enamored of the concept of Fatalism. Not necessarily the construct that our fates are predetermined, and unavoidable, but certainly the idea that there are external forces that determine significant outcomes in our lives.
The idea that we control our lives is at once arrogant beyond belief, and naive to a fault. I'm not saying we can't control a large measure of our existence, but those externalities are the true factors in our lives. Consider: there is always the possibility of a criminal around the corner, an accountant who will embezzle your retirement, a drunk driver careening toward your family. Any of these things can happen, and you can't control that.
Sometimes a giant shitball will just fall in your lap, like a daisy cutter, and fuck up your world. Externalities. You can't control them. That is a dangerous conceit. The best you can do is control the day to day, and avoid those shitbombs when possible. But it's not like they send an invitation before they arrive.
And so, as I wizen, my youthful optimism is supplanted by a grim case of Fatalism. Once you've seen enough bad things happen to people for no reason you finally realize you aren't driving your life, you're strapped in the passenger seat with a tenuous grip on the steering wheel.
That's my opinion, anyway.
I wonder if there's a relationship between (valid, well articulated) concerns like this and OCD?
In my case, not necessarily yours.
Posted by: Patton at February 6, 2005 9:29 PMThe fact that most of us see the effects of grim reality all around us and still get out of bed in the morning is a testament that most of are freakin' optimists after all.
Posted by: Christina at February 6, 2005 9:58 PMThat's not optimism. That's survival.
Posted by: Velociman at February 6, 2005 10:03 PM'Tis a grim and foreboding post indeed... Your post is the blogosphere's equivalent of the evil eye... why would you ever discuss this stuff in public forum? Certainly your words tempt those very Fates that you fear.
We must sprinkle a bit of hoodoo dust round the "Rhino Pen," to ward off any negative vibes.
Keep your Mojo workin' to keep the wolf away from your door.
In bocca al lupo!
Posted by: torchpraise at February 6, 2005 10:47 PMjesus...now i know where to go when i want to be cheered up...
Posted by: mr. helpful at February 6, 2005 11:01 PMIt need not be so grim and foreboding if you're not wedded to the idea that you do, or should be able to, control all aspects of your life.
Another option is the peaceful acceptance of the fact that a certain unpredictability is just "the way things are". It's really a matter of making peace with your ultimate destiny. Faced with death, everything else that happens between now and then is just small potatoes.
"The best laid plans of mice and men..."
Posted by: Desert Cat at February 7, 2005 2:02 AMQueenie,are you reading this? Sylacauga, Alabama, is the town, the only town, in which a woman lying in bed minding her own business was struck by a meteorite. Left a big bruise on her hip. Good thing her house had a stout roof, slowed the rock down, a bit.
Posted by: Justthisguy at February 7, 2005 3:10 AMAnd no, Queenie, I did not purposively rat out yer location; Google shows many instances of yer claiming to live in Sylacauga.
Myself, I suspect you live closer to, if not actually inside, Bombingham.
Posted by: Justthisguy at February 7, 2005 3:24 AMDid you work any whores this week? You should have made a killing. Be sure to save one for me. I need a nice black one with about 10 pounds of lips so she can change my luck. It has gone to shit, Cat.
Posted by: Catfish at February 7, 2005 3:43 AMMe thinks it all boils down to "shit happens"
I agree with vman's opinion. Strap in, hold on, and enjoy the ride!
Yeah. Yep. Gotcha. People who know me personally, tend to find me an optimist. Fuck...they couldn't be more wrong. I try to tell them differently, but they still fucking call me "Sunshine."
Posted by: Sadie at February 7, 2005 5:51 AM.. damn, brother.. peace... roll with the punches.. but, whatever you do, keep smiling... it doesn't have to always be a happy smile either... sometimes an evil grin works.. if you stop grinning, the wolves will REALLY dive in..
Posted by: Eric at February 7, 2005 7:14 AMI agree with your thoughts, but the question arises, what befell Veloc to bring on such an humble philosophic? STD? DUI? You took New England and the points?
Posted by: rankin' rob at February 7, 2005 1:13 PMI am not fatalistic. I am a realist. Life is a dance and you don't get to call the tunes. God does not exist and luck is neither good nor bad. It's only shit happening. Life doesn't give a lovely fuck about you. It just IS, and that's all.
See? I'm really an optomist.
Posted by: Acidman at February 7, 2005 3:18 PMWell, while you're waiting on external forces to shape your reality, you can take a few minutes to stick your foot out and trip a few people. Become THEIR external force.
Posted by: jack straw at February 7, 2005 10:36 PMOptomist? Reminds me, I need new specs.
Posted by: Justthisguy at February 8, 2005 12:26 AMpreach it, preacha!
Posted by: Jamie at March 5, 2007 12:23 PM