I took this photo the other night whilst waiting for a tram. I had been out for dinner for a friend's birthday, and it was time for me to call it a night, as I could already feel myself getting too negative. Not super whiny negative, just getting into the weeds of more serious topics and I am trying to catch myself when I do so. Not that they would have minded perhaps, but still, I don't always want to be "that guy".
I took the photo on my phone and cropped it further.
I don't like mess.
I generally don't like too much going on in an image and a lot of the ones I take have a lot of negative space that gives the eyes a rest, as well as puts more focus on the subject. A lot of the images I take that I like have a big split of negative space that separates two sides of the image, rarely will it be in the centre. I just don't like images or movies or anything really, where things are too busy. A lot of the movies and shows these days move too fast for me, not so I don't understand, but that I don't get a chance to think about what is happening.
Space to think.
Over the last couple decades "safe spaces" have become a thing, where people have some kind of expectation that there should be places in public areas where they will not be challenged in anyway. I get creating home as a safe space, but I don't think it is sensible to expect to have safe spaces in public, especially from ideas. Yep, physically we should all be safe in public also, but the fact is, that isn't the case, and pretending it is so is going to lead to bad individual outcomes. Same for expecting to be safe from ideas.
It gets even more ludicrous expecting it online from anonymous strangers.
At least from my personal experiences and observations, we seem to have lost the ability to discuss topics in public, whether with strangers or friends. It is like the majority of people are tiptoeing around subjects, and the ones who aren't are purposely being inflammatory for attention and twisted pleasure. The art of the discussion seems dead, with the majority only talking about what they think isn't going to create any mess.
I hate mess too.
But conversational mess is different - I love it. I am not saying that I am particularly good in these conversations, but I really like being part of discussions where there are multiple views, complexities, caveats, and nuances. The types of conversations where a strong opinion could be softened, because a perspective came to light that hadn't been considered before. The type of point that makes a person go quiet and think.
A negative space.
We seem to have been brainwashed into believing that we should always feel good, which means we can only hear what we already agree with, or want to hear. But I believe that most of our growth can't be done in those areas, because we have already filled in the space. Instead, we need that negative space to put focus on the positive and ask the question, is this the only way?
We have filled our attention up with irrelevant content that we like and agree with, and we carry the distractions everywhere we go. We don't give our mind a chance to truly think about what we believe, what we have done, or what other avenues there may be. We are surrounded with clutter and like information hoarders, we are sitting in our own filth. Our world is getting smaller, as our minds are continually filled with junk, with spring never arriving for us to go through what we have collected, and clean out what we don't need.
We have put so much energy into positivity, but we are unhappier than ever.
And at least to me, it is obvious why. Because when we surround ourselves with all that we want in an environment that will never stay the same, eventually we are going to have to face the reality, that negativity is something we are going to have to learn to live with.
Taraz
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I don't mind discussions so much, but when it becomes a debate then I am out. I've never been good at arguing, I tend to prefer equilibrium.
I believe the trick is in talking more loudly than others. ;)
Actually, argument keeps a conversation going. Being in the same side makes it a little boring I guess
I agree. The problem is not argument, but when the loud sentiments and raw emotions get mixed/involved with the arguments then that's the time to exit. I think bozz was talking about this situation/condition.
It would seem so sometimes!
🙂
Same here.
It doesn't help that the algorithms feed us what they think we want to see and hear as well.
Well said.
We put ourselves in a box, and they are too happy to keep us there.
I don't really care much for picking safe topics, that is boring :) On the other hand if you try to get information or content the media surrounds you with a bubble of similar content be it YouTube or Google News to the point that you have to make conscious effort to break out of that bubble...
And conscious effort rarely happens when convenience is so much easier.
A question came in my mind after reading this and if possible and you can get the data then do write about it...
Question: We used to read books on different topics while growing up and they were not junk (I think, you'll agree) even the ones on fiction - They were the food for the brain. What is the current statistics of the book reading habbits from age 8 to onward?
Is this because we have more to compare to as the citizen of the global village?
Saying this because, we didn't have that much to compare to before the global village and we were more happy comparing the living standards of our little world without having too much inferiority complex. At least a large number of population were so.
Don't know. The books my daughter reads are more entertainment, without too much thought. But we read books together that I read as a kid, and also classics from a hundred years back. Most of what she consumes is pretty good, but I think that many don't even read now.
Possible, but I think it is more a mix of comfort zones and a drive for "identity" combined with focusing on our feelings, expecting to always feel good.
First: I thought so too.
Second: That seems logical and correct considering how we have become the slave of modern day facilities. I am not saying that is completely wrong but, you are right, we should get out of our comfort zone now and then.
Hmmm, I honestly think many people don’t actually want open conversations. They want controlled conversations where the conclusion is already socially approved beforehand, at least from my tiny experience
Yeah, I agree with you. I think it is for a few reasons like;
I think that growth generally happens when we confront tough ideas instead of avoiding them.
Perhaps in the past, kids were confronted more often and with more serios things.
Wow I really love this photo, its looks so captivating and original, I really love how the environment looks an hoping to visit this kind of a beautiful place someday 😊
In fact, the world has become so unsafe and noisy lately. This dispensation, people just like talking about something whether reasonable or not. It is very rare these days to find productive ideas building discussion. It is just empty stories or entertainment and the likes everywhere (even in social media). The only safe space I have is when I'm alone concentrating on my work in my shop or at home