(SORT OF a joke...) But according to the Luboffs

[tedsingingfox]

...as songwriters, it is our right (even our DUTY) to pay close attention to the conversations that go on around us. That's supposed to be one of our best sources of lyrical concepts.There may be some merit to that concept. No, no... there truly IS some merit to the idea.But what happens when you've become so jaded that you think all the people you hear talking around you are nothing but idiotic, retarded morons without the sense God gave a potato? The more I pay attention to what "they" are saying, the more I want to become a hermit in a cave somewhere... And that's AFTER beating the crap out of them and then screaming at their lifeless bodies to let them know WHY they're laying there, unconscious and bleeding.Again, I am NOT a violent person. As a matter of fact, I'm one of the biggest pacifists I know. I cringe at the thought of confrontation, and have only struck ONE other person --on purpose-- in my entire life. And it made me so sick to my stomach that I threw up for hours afterward.But I'm seriously worried for the future of the human race, if "these people" are supposed to be what I use for inspiration.Am I the only one who thinks we're in trouble? OR, there's also the flipside to this, which is:Ted, you seriously need some way to vent on a regular basis. Help me to see a bigger, better picture... PLEASE.

[hummingbird]

If it bothers you that much, stop listening. Look elsewhere for inspiration, as in literature, in poetry, in plays, in movies, in the life section of the newspaper.How does one practice serenity? Start by waking up early and writing morning pages... 3 pages, stream of consciousness, without stopping.Throughout the day, when ever you think of it, put your attention on your breath, and feel it as it fills your lungs, and feel it as it releases. Give thanks for the life that comes with each breath.As you go about your daily business... be present and conscious with yourself. Look at the things around you with wonder, especially the natural things, like flowers and trees, earth and sky.Practice these moments of quiet stillness with yourself... and recognize that when many people talk, they are just verbalizing the chatter/clatter of their mind-speak and ego-centered living... not revealing the soul within. Let go of judgement and accept that that is where they are on their journey. Focus on your own path.

[ibanez468]

Well said H'bird, well said!

[geo]

Apr 26, 2008, 5:03pm, tedsingingfox wrote:...as songwriters, it is our right (even our DUTY) to pay close attention to the conversations that go on around us. That's supposed to be one of our best sources of lyrical concepts.There may be some merit to that concept. No, no... there truly IS some merit to the idea.But what happens when you've become so jaded that you think all the people you hear talking around you are nothing but idiotic, retarded morons without the sense God gave a potato? The more I pay attention to what "they" are saying, the more I want to become a hermit in a cave somewhere... And that's AFTER beating the crap out of them and then screaming at their lifeless bodies to let them know WHY they're laying there, unconscious and bleeding.Again, I am NOT a violent person. As a matter of fact, I'm one of the biggest pacifists I know. I cringe at the thought of confrontation, and have only struck ONE other person --on purpose-- in my entire life. And it made me so sick to my stomach that I threw up for hours afterward.But I'm seriously worried for the future of the human race, if "these people" are supposed to be what I use for inspiration.Am I the only one who thinks we're in trouble? OR, there's also the flipside to this, which is:Ted, you seriously need some way to vent on a regular basis. Help me to see a bigger, better picture... PLEASE.Sorry, too busy agreeing with you... the wife and I have long said we are two hermits who found each other... so no you're not alone. Lack of work ethic, or ethics period, lack of personal responsibility, lack of common sense, lack of common decency, intolerance for those who are "different" this is but the tip of the iceberg for me.... my way of dealing is I view myself as a social commentator, I don't listen to them, just comment on the absurdity of their actions, nothing wrong with that, no law says it has to be all sunshine and roses.... Geo

[devin]

Ted, I've read the same book, I think. Pat & Pete put it in "101 Mistakes...", if I'm not mistaken? Eavesdropping only puts us in touch with a sub-set of society...the part that likes to talk too loud. There are even more people that don't broadcast their lives....quietly, considerately (<-- OK, is that a word?), doing their thing...and we don't hear them.It's like my daily commute. There must be 1000 drivers that don't cheese me off, but I always remember the wing-nuts.Vikki's got it hooked up with the "just be" approach. I've always been fascinated by how often my mind is just cranking ideas, opinions, or justifications for things. Bringing stillness into one's life is a hard thing to do. Trying out what Vikki said above is actually really cool.If I spend all my time worrying about tomorrow, or remembering the past, I'll miss today.

[sgs4u]

Apr 26, 2008, 5:03pm, tedsingingfox wrote:But what happens when you've become so jaded that you think all the people you hear talking around you are nothing but idiotic, retarded morons without the sense God gave a potato? Well, we all have bad days pal. This particular post of yours reads like someone just quit smoking. I can certainly understand why Vikki's response is about serenity. If you can go there, and it's effective for you, then do it. But, sometimes... peace ain't all it cracks up to be. Wisdom has many faces, and they're not all clean shaven. Many people use their anger with the world, to make it a better place. Many others learn how to diffuse it. Sometimes a good cry is all that's necessary, to move thru the pain. Personally, when I feel like I'm gonna lose it, I get some exercise. Or I find something safe to smash. Like Geo said, life's not all sunshine and roses. I think it can be, but not for all of us. I am also a "hermit that lives in a cave" that resembles a studio, that doubles as my church.Hopefully, you are now in better spirits than yesterday. But if you suppress the other feeling's right to exist, it'll squirt out of you at an inopportune moments. Like a public forum. hehe Wait a minute, maybe I'm talking about me... Big picture, little picture it's all the same. It's your movie, called "Know thyself."I guess I'll go order the Luboff's book now!

[milfus]

yeah, the general public and me stopped getting along awhile agomy response to the dull ass conversations about random flotsam just tune em out, and make your own words when they bother yathen its like a puppet show, a really mean, embarassing, puppet show =0)of course this is from the guy who is known to rub his butt on the tv screen when a news anchor says something that pisses him off, cause shes still saying it, but she had an ass on her face, so what does she know

[squids]

I don't know.....I'm Buddhist and the biggest struggle for me is mindfulness. Being in the now is awesome, as long as the now isn't when you're in dreadful pain or terrified or under physical attack. It takes monks decades to learn the self-control to turn that sort of pain off. It would probably take Americans a lifetime.I do know this, though.......we aren't our thoughts. And we aren't always what we say aloud. I'm bettin', in general, we're rarely what we say. It's true, there are probably some people who perhaps need to grow a soul, (as it were), but it was kinda my impression a while ago that bars and churches are places where people go to find some pain relief, so maybe it's a job hazard, Ted.You can always come to the boards for inspiration. I find it lying around all ovah the place here.

[milfus]

yeah see, im a taoist, i TRY to end every conflict with love, but you know, i slip up, and honestly, I dont see the harm in making random people say stupid stuff they wont know about. I kind of am my thoughts anymore, to promote honesty and what not, I actually type stream of conciousness, thats why most of my posts are run on sentences with commas, cause thats my internal dialog pausing. I have been trying to improve it, but if I have to choose between honesty and grammar.....honesty every time.

[silvercord]

"mental judo"Hey Ted, thanks for venting with us...i'd like to share something with you and fellow taxi cats!i find an analogue of my personality and capacity forpatience when I'm driving my cycle on the streets of Seoul.There is always traffic (other thoughts, ideas( or lack of;) and behaviors)on the road( life).sometimes i forget to see the difference between the vehicles(people) and the traffic (said people having said thoughts ideas and behaviours...a car cuts me off, potentially dangerous to my exposed andvenerable motorcycle(i.e. my horse of steel!)i get angry that said car has no care or concern about my path.i speed up, thinking oh yeah, punk car, i have throttle! and i zoompast him at speeds of....of... stupidness...!and then i slow down and realize someones own acts of unconsciousness have made me identify with my ownand i did the same.so now, it sounds a bit crazy, but when a person does thingsthat would usually make be go nucking futs, i welcome it asa way to center myself, i welcome it as a way to remind myselfthat reacting to stupid things(unconsciousness) that people dois just as bad.i have tested this in different ways,i call it practicing mental judo. those that have that pent up angerand leash it out to the word at the mildest stimuli often need tosee that anger reflected back, its an unconscious way of gettingattention, seeking like energy. let the things that drive you insane be a door, a reminder, to stepaside and let that crazed mad bull of human unconsciousness charge past in your wake.: )