Tag: criticism

I’m reading books.

The prompt for today is about what book I’m reading, which seems well timed. I started gathering reader suggestions a little while ago, and I’m working my way through that list right now. Feel free to add to it by suggesting books in the comments of that post. Maybe you would also like to read along with me if you see one that interests you.

The main book I’m working on at the moment is Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. I’m not very far into it yet. The book is interesting, but it brought back a few unpleasant childhood memories. I witnessed the same hyper competitiveness and bullying that is being depicted in the book back in school. I wasn’t overly competitive growing up, so I avoided most of that myself, but I definitely saw it around me. I wrote something about it in a previous post about the first fight I ever witnessed.

Fighting and bullying is really the ugly side of humanity. Most people grow out of the violence when they reach an age where they can get in trouble with the law for assault and battery, but some people don’t learn their lesson until they experience jail time. Unfortunately, those who manage to quell their need to hit others, often end up channeling their hatred into other negative pursuits, like office politics instance.

Unfortunately, I have had to deal with office politics half my adult life, and quite frankly, it disgusts me. It seems like there’s always at least one person who spends most of their time criticizing and bringing people down because of extreme envy. To be honest, I’d just like to do my job and go home. I’m not there to beat anyone. I’m honestly one of those people who hope we all win. Work should be about completing the tasks you are assigned, not a childish game for egomaniacs. That’s my opinion anyway.

From what I’ve read so far, Ender’s Game sort of reminds me of another book I read called Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Both books describe a group of boys in a highly competitive environment. I’m not sure how Ender’s Game will turn out, but hopefully not like Lord of the Flies. Things got really out of hand in that book. I would say it’s a pretty good book if you want to know how a group of unsupervised boys would turn out on a deserted island. It’s a classic tale, and probably pretty accurate.

Lord of the Flies

At the dawn of the next world war, a plane crashes on an uncharted island, stranding a group of schoolboys. At first, with no adult supervision, their freedom is something to celebrate. This far from civilization they can do anything they want. Anything. But as order collapses, as strange howls echo in the night, as terror begins its reign, the hope of adventure seems as far removed from reality as the hope of being rescued.

What books are you currently reading? Have you read Ender’s Game or Lord of the Flies? What’s your favorite book? Did you witness bullying in your school? How do you cope with office politics? Have you ever been around someone who constantly spues negativity? Do you know someone who bad mouths everyone who gets in their way? Let’s start a conversation, and don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe!

It wasn’t for me.

I remember there used to be a time when there wasn’t an internet, but I honestly don’t like to think about it. It was a time when everyone was expected to do everything in person or through paper. It was a time when people couldn’t work from home very easily. It was an era that predates blogging and many forms of self-publication. It was really not for me. I was born for the internet, and I spend a ridiculous amount of time there.

Some people like to blame the internet for everything, and there are some negative aspects, but if you really think about it, it has made the world a better place. Here are some things it has added.

  • Better connection to other people. Before the internet, it really wasn’t that easy to keep up with people you went to school with, or family that moved out of state. I remember my grandmother actually had to write to her cousins on paper and use snail mail. That definitely wasn’t optimal, though it did build anticipation and teach patience.
  • The internet allows for anonymity. Some people see this as an evil aspect of the internet, but I think it is absolutely critical. Societies and governments tend to silence and chastise people who criticize them out of fear that if enough people gather together, they will overthrow them. Without anonymity, those people would not be able to state the truth about their society or government.
  • It is more inclusive. The internet is pretty much everywhere now. Before it, you had to really work hard to connect with people outside your local community or state. The world has become much smaller and striking up a conversation with someone across the globe is trivial now.
  • The information age opened up tons of jobs that allow you to work from home, or anywhere there is an internet connection. You can literally work from the beach if you like. You can travel the world if you like, taking your work with you. You also don’t have to worry about that dreaded commute anymore. The only highway you have to be on is the information superhighway.
  • It provided an outlet for tons of creative minds. There are so many creators out there now. It’s almost becoming an expectation in our society. Without the ability to self-publish, you would have to get everything approved by a bureaucratic publishing system and advertising was pretty slow and expensive. Now, you just create an account on social media and start sharing.
  • Of course, the best part of having the internet is that you get to read this amazing blog. 🙂

So, what’s your favorite thing about the internet? Could you live without it? Tell me about it in the comments, and don’t forget to like and subscribe.