Schrödinger's Cat: Killed By Curiosity

Curiosity is defined as "a state in which you want to learn more about something". If that is true, then I question why you want to learn about that. There must, undoubtedly, be a reason for why you are curious about something; a cause for the effect and action of asking the question.

Simply giving the excuse of "I'm just curious" does not make sense. There is a reason why you're curious about that particular subject, whether you realize it or not. Most times the aforementioned phrased is used to hide the true reason, usually because the true reason is something that the questioner does not which to reveal.

If I ask you when your birthday is, it is most likely due to a few reasons, such as: I wish to celebrate your aging an additional year, I want to know if I'm older than you, or I may just wish to ask the question in order to tell you when mine is in order to exchange information and "bond". However, if I were asking you the question due to the last reason, then I would most definitely be less likely to explain that that is the actual reason, but instead try to nonchalantly pass it off as me just being curious, even though this is not the case.

Alternately, a person may say that they asked something because of a given reason, but they were "mainly curious". This is often times used to deflect focus away from the true reason they asked the question which they gave. They aren't actually lying to you in either case too; in both they are genuinely curious, but they just don't wish to share the actual reason for their curiosity with you.

Now, there is another aspect of curiosity to deal with: being too curious. There are many times when someone will ask you a plethora of question, continually quoting curiosity as the reason for their inquisitiveness. I've just dealt with the illogic of citing curiosity as the cause for your actions (it may be true, but does not accurately reflect the real reason why you ask the question) and I will now address the issue of the problems it causes.

Humans, for the most part, are curious creatures. We wish to know why things work the way they do, how things happen, who people are, what ifs, and an innumerable list of other things. Science has arisen and explained many mysteries of our universe due to our endeavor for answers, and while these are established facts, it can still be irritating to have a person grill you on a subject. Truly, no one expects the Spanish Inquisition.

Someone who is overly curious can be consider nosy, and this is a reputation which can be disastrous to obtain. Few people wish to confide in someone considered nosy, for fear that they will be brutally dissected and be left with nothing more than what they started with, spare a filling of panic and unwanted openness. Consequently, most will stray from someone known to be nosy and only venture close when wishing to acquire information upon another person. The nosy person is then left without lasting friendships, except for the few other people who allow themselves to be associated with such a person (and they are usually of a similar nature). The main downside of this association is that you could be dissected at a moment's notice, and feel used.

Perhaps all that can be gained from this idea is both an understanding into why we say that we are just curious about a subject, and fair warning to those who are nosy or associate themselves with those who are. I think that we should all be able to admit why we ask a question, or at least be able to explain why if the questionee inquires.

It's better to let another know why they are being questioned than to just give the excuse that you're curious. It is far nicer to know that you wish to find out about their birthday so that you can do something nice for them upon that day than to just have the inquiry dismissed with "I'm just curious". Truly, honesty is paramount in so much.

Psst!

Why do we have secrets? What's the point? Why would I not want to tell you, the reader, something?

Well, it could be because I'm timid or embarrassed about the secret in question. I may be afraid that you'll make fun of me for my Pokemon playing. You could shun me, call me names, etc. But am I afraid because that is what will happen, or because it's what I believe will happen?

If there is no legitimacy to my claim, then I am being afraid over nothing. Conversely though, if it is a certainty that you will reject me as a friend for playing Pokemon, then I have to decide which I value more: honesty and openness, or your friendship.

Luckily, there may be some way to find out why you dislike Pokemon to the extent that you would end our friendship. If it is because you once had a traumatic experience involving someone who played Pokemon, then I could try to explain how I'm not like that other person. By gaining understanding, we can keep our friendship intact and not let it fall apart over such a little misunderstanding.

Personally, I feel that we should not have secrets. The only reason we keep secrets is due to insecurities, be it our own or others. I wouldn't tell you that I sleep with a teddy bear that my great-grandmother made me when I was very young if I was insecure about it. If I thought you would judge me and say that I was a child for doing that then I’d keep it a secret from you.

In the end though, if you're comfortable about who you are and what you do, why should others change that? If they don't accept you for who you are, then why should you conform to suit them? Unless you can be shown that your Pokemon addiction, style of dressing, or drinking of WD40-enriched water is a bad thing, then there's no reason for you to stop.

Someone told me recently that they keep some secrets so they can tell them to friends who they trust as a sign of that trust. Personally, I innately trust everyone unless they show me a reason why I shouldn't. However, when I get to know people more, then I'll give them "full access" as it were. Many times I'll even say "You can ask me anything you know."

The worst part though, is when people are insecure about the strangest things. As most people are getting e-mails about "enlarging their penis size", I think that we can conclude that the majority of males feel inadequate in that regard. But why? Unless you're a stripper, or just wish to have sex for fun, then it doesn't really matter. Would you want to marry someone who, after happily spending months with you in a relationship, suddenly thinks less of you because of your penis size? I personally wouldn't wish to marry someone so conceited.

Why can't we all just be a little bit more open and a tad more accepting? If all learn how to love each other for who they are a bit more, then there'd be less war, hatred, and violence. The world would become a better place. We wouldn't see gang violence nearly as much. So open up. Show people that you're no one to be afraid of, and in turn, they'll trust you.

This openness and trust will nurture acceptance, bringing love and a feeling of belonging to blossom. The world can become a better place, if you just tell your secrets. Just be warned: Most people don't want to know about your penis size. You can keep that to yourself.

A lack of much, a need for so much more

As we enter into the fall, so much changes. The colours of the leaves, the weather and the geese, as well as a myriad of other things. But there are a few things that are more subtle, yet striking, like the fact that this is all a slow segue to winter.

Winter is a time of joy for most students, as there are snow days, Christmas, and the annual favourite: two weeks off from school. Still, there is often times much to be desired from winter, as in most cases it lasts too long for its own good.

I have to say that this is similar to making or meeting a new friend. You know that you're going to meet this person for a while, and your excitement builds in anticipation. If you know about it for long enough, it can build rather slowly.

You notice the first bit of colour on the trees which is not green, and your friend tells you that you're getting together in a few months. You look forward in anticipation for both the coming of Christmas and that of your friend. Eventually, as time progresses, you start to cross of the days until you meet your friend, and in another room your sibling counts the days to Christmas through an advent calendar.

Finally, you meet your friend and show them all the presents you got for Christmas. Both of you are elated. However, now comes the hard part. With the initial meeting over, and you putting so much into it, what's left? There's nothing that can parallel your feelings up to the encounter, and surely you'll have to wait until the two of you meet again for such excitement to relapse.

Like in any story, you now have the denouement. The joy you first felt at meeting the person is somewhat seen through. Your presents lose their novelty, and just become stuff. Life, is once again, mundane.

Often times, when you make something to be bigger than it is, you're disappointed afterwards, and are left with a feeling of despair. How could I have been so stupid to make such a big deal out of it in the first place? Why did I look forward too it so much? Many times, this leads to the personal degrading of opinion of that which has disappointed you.

The friend who once you couldn't wait to have arrive is now nothing special. In fact, they betrayed you. They made his or her self look greater than he or she actually was. It wasn't your fault. Your friend let you down. Christmas let you down.

But it'll start again the next time. You'll get suckered in by the commercialism, the hype. Sure, deep down you know your expectations are false, that no one can be that good, no Christmas that perfect. But still, you hope. A year's past, and this time you vow it will all be different.

It's possible to change. It's possible to not be left angry at Christmas and your family, or the friend who turned out to not be as good as you thought. But it's hard. The first, as always, is understanding that is needed.

Once you understand why you were disappointed, and so do the other people involved, be it your family, friend, or friends, then you can work from there. Next, show that you understand why they're hurt by what you did. Finally, patch things up.

Sure, there will be difficulties. You're still disappointed, and they're still mad, but you get through that. Unless, unfortunately, the emotions are so strong that you can't. You may be so mad at them for being "deceived" or your friend/family may be so mad at you for the pain your disappointment and anger brought them that neither of you wants to talk to the other.

In these times, you'll cite "reasons" for why you're doing what you're doing. These reasons range from "They lied to me!", "I thought they were different!", and "They're not worth my time!" to "I hurt them.", "I talk to them when they've changed.", and "I'm not worth their time."

You have to look at these reasons to see if they are valid. Did they lie to you, or did you just expect more than they could give? If you thought they were different, was it that you were ignoring everything that told you otherwise? If it that they're not worth your time, or is it that you don't have the time to spare and the effort to put in to change your feelings about them?

Did you hurt them, or did was it his or her fault that he or she was hurt? How can you talk to them when they've changed if your not letting them talk to you? If you're not worth their time, then why did they spend it on you in the first place?

Hate, despair, and all the other emotions of that intensity can lead you to doing things, which, in hindsight, are wrong. While it is not possible to override intense emotions when they are going on, look back on the situation and assess if the emotions were warranted. Look at the reasons why you wanted to be friends with the person in the first place, and then at the reasons why you don't want to now. What if you're wrong? What if the negative reasons don't exist?

Ultimately, what if they're really how you saw them to begin with? Can you go on without being sure? Can you go on wondering if you truly know the person, or understand why they did what they did, or if they even did it?

Regret, guilt, and longing are some of the most lasting and powerful emotions that you feel. It only makes sense to reduce them. Go out there, and mend some fences. Or better yet, tear them down all together.

It's about time

I have not posted a blog in a while, and I think that this situation should be rectified. In an effort to do this, I will try to fix up this blog and other things in the future. Which brings me to today's post: Fate.

I had a very long winded and well thought out argument stating that fate existed. The unfortunate part was that this was not the best explained, and required a great leap of faith. It was not until yesterday that I came up with this very simple logic which does a lot more than my initial theory ever did.

The past is fixed. Today is just tomorrow's yesterday. If the past is fixed, and tomorrow we will remember today as yesterday, then today is the future's past, and is therefore set. And if the past and future are both set, then fate exists.

I rest my case.