What you describe I call "malignant boredom." (I used to call it toxic boredom but that ain't strong enough.)
Often it flows from the thwarting of women's intelligence. That energy must go somewhere, and if it finds no appropriate natural outlet it will destroy everything downstream. I saw that with my mother, and with my then-mother-in-law. They did everything possible to destroy their children, under the guise of weeping or solicitous love, and each did a remarkably potent job.
Other times it flows from the ambitions of mediocre men bereft of truly potent creativity. All they can exert is control and there are always many willing henchfolk to help them in the interests of patronage rewards.
No one likes an independent thinker. They're the useful evil in any community. They're rarely allowed a natural lifespan.
Like Jeff Goldblum said in Jurassic Park "Life finds a way".
When people are thwarted or suppressed, whether internally or through external forces, that energy has to go somewhere. Some people aim it at the ones closest to them. That's one of the things the author of The Artist's Way discusses. Actually both points you mention, she brilliantly dissects, specifically people who have some desire to be creative but are too scared to pursue it and end up trying to control other creatives simply because they themselves have chosen to be mediocre.
To me, that's a politician, among others. These are very mediocre people who seek control because they're far too weak and scared to actually do something on their own.
I spent most of my life being afraid that I was a fine perceptive critic but had no original creativity of my own and that recognizing the faults in others' work was pretty much of useless utility, in the scheme of things. Finally I knew I'd better put up or shut up so I'd at least have some legitimacy, if only on comments threads...
This may make you laugh and shudder in equal proportion, but what got me completing, submitting and having stories accepted for publication was a forty bucks phone consultation with a psychic recommended by a friend.
I'd called him for other purposes but he asked me if I wanted to know anything else and I asked if I'd ever get a novel published, and he said "No."
"But I can see you having success with short stories," he added.
And researching markets taught me that the kids these days call short short stories "flash fiction," and you gotta end when you've reached the wordcount limit, and that taught me discipline, and I was extremely fortunate that the second site I submitted to had a review process--a handful of slush readers and assistant editors, and then two or three top editors to put pending acceptances through an even tougher ringer--that was like a crash MFA course whose instructors were split between those who were baffled by or disliked my voice, and those who loved it.
They published me for around 4 years straight with a little hiatus when they banned me, and then they banned me again, because of that irascible habit of calling 'em as I see 'em.
But I owe them everything, because of what I learned from them. And now, with the way the past 5 or so years have gone, I can understand why a medium-size mainstream webzine with no billionaire bucks behind it in this poisonous cyberworld can't afford to allow unfettered speech when a mob can be gathered in an instant to slander and destroy anyone.
So I was just resting, awhile, on past glory, which makes one extremely lazy, and I've never been so glad in my life to have been spoken to in the equivalent of a mild but purposeful caning as I was by you and Bill.
I don't think we are the minority at all. It just feels like it because we are the minority of people with the courage to overcome the pressure around us and stand on principle. Most people really do agree on most things when it comes to life, it's only a few hot button issues that causes disagreement. And as a so-called "Boomer" I can say that not all of us have gone along with madness over our lifetimes. Some of us have been screaming liberty our entire lives and the group "Rush" was just one band that we listened to. It was our rebel music. Glad those lyrics impacted you the way it did some of us back in the day. :-). Great post.
I do subscribe to the idea that there's something like a 30% - 45% - 25% split in society.
We're the 30%. There's a soft middle, the 45%, and then there's a radical fringe that is so loud and often connected it makes the rest of the pie chart seem inconsequential. That soft middle will always be both the hope and the disappointment, because they're by and large the bots that will move wherever the machine tells them.
As I thought about this song, I wondered what Neil Peart would have done during Covid. What did the Getty and Alex do? Did they become Covid cultists? It made me very sad and frustrated to see people like Rage Against The Machine become part of the machine, and it would be equally sad if Rush, after raging against the machine in the 70s and 80s, fell in.
They're so good, but have been relegated to that place where I know them, I know of them, I love them, but never took a second pass beyond what's played on the radio. I'm so glad to be taking the deep dive now, and I'm also so glad to know at any point, a deep dive into what was right on the surface all along is possible, because that keeps the world fresh and alive.
No, they won't. But we can't be violent in return. We need to tear down the ideas and systems through better ideas and systems, not through violent aggression. That's just one of the things they're WAITING for. See January 6th as an example.
God bless Neil Peart and his Brillant lyrics. RIP!
As someone who seems to be part of your generation, I grew up a longtime Rush fan and I have love "Subdivisions" for years. I grew up in a small West Virginia town that reflected everything that song sadly discussed. I also read "The Artists Way" years ago and it impacted me tremendously at the time.
That's all a way of saying that your post hit me at a time that is very meaningful to me. From out of nowhere! My long-time spouse just passed away (not COVID) and I find myself spending a lot of time reminiscing, being sad and getting angry. Angry that we have let the world become what is has become. Righteous anger. Please, everyone, do what you can to fight for what really matters. Your family, your friends, your heart, your country, your society, your God.
In short, thank you for a wildly impactful post that echoes in a way you can't possibly imagine. Even if just for one person.
I'm glad this found you at the right time in the right way. I'm sorry for your loss. I can't imagine how alone that must make you feel right now, along with angry, frustrated, etc. Let me know what I can do, neighbor (I'm in Pittsburgh).
There's a real sweetness to this post.
What you describe I call "malignant boredom." (I used to call it toxic boredom but that ain't strong enough.)
Often it flows from the thwarting of women's intelligence. That energy must go somewhere, and if it finds no appropriate natural outlet it will destroy everything downstream. I saw that with my mother, and with my then-mother-in-law. They did everything possible to destroy their children, under the guise of weeping or solicitous love, and each did a remarkably potent job.
Other times it flows from the ambitions of mediocre men bereft of truly potent creativity. All they can exert is control and there are always many willing henchfolk to help them in the interests of patronage rewards.
No one likes an independent thinker. They're the useful evil in any community. They're rarely allowed a natural lifespan.
Great comment.
Like Jeff Goldblum said in Jurassic Park "Life finds a way".
When people are thwarted or suppressed, whether internally or through external forces, that energy has to go somewhere. Some people aim it at the ones closest to them. That's one of the things the author of The Artist's Way discusses. Actually both points you mention, she brilliantly dissects, specifically people who have some desire to be creative but are too scared to pursue it and end up trying to control other creatives simply because they themselves have chosen to be mediocre.
To me, that's a politician, among others. These are very mediocre people who seek control because they're far too weak and scared to actually do something on their own.
I spent most of my life being afraid that I was a fine perceptive critic but had no original creativity of my own and that recognizing the faults in others' work was pretty much of useless utility, in the scheme of things. Finally I knew I'd better put up or shut up so I'd at least have some legitimacy, if only on comments threads...
Have you read The Artist's Way? I would highly recommend it, and you can download it from that link above.
I get this comment. I had to urge you to create your own thing on here. I can sense that struggle in you, or at least the scars from that struggle.
This may make you laugh and shudder in equal proportion, but what got me completing, submitting and having stories accepted for publication was a forty bucks phone consultation with a psychic recommended by a friend.
I'd called him for other purposes but he asked me if I wanted to know anything else and I asked if I'd ever get a novel published, and he said "No."
"But I can see you having success with short stories," he added.
And researching markets taught me that the kids these days call short short stories "flash fiction," and you gotta end when you've reached the wordcount limit, and that taught me discipline, and I was extremely fortunate that the second site I submitted to had a review process--a handful of slush readers and assistant editors, and then two or three top editors to put pending acceptances through an even tougher ringer--that was like a crash MFA course whose instructors were split between those who were baffled by or disliked my voice, and those who loved it.
They published me for around 4 years straight with a little hiatus when they banned me, and then they banned me again, because of that irascible habit of calling 'em as I see 'em.
But I owe them everything, because of what I learned from them. And now, with the way the past 5 or so years have gone, I can understand why a medium-size mainstream webzine with no billionaire bucks behind it in this poisonous cyberworld can't afford to allow unfettered speech when a mob can be gathered in an instant to slander and destroy anyone.
So I was just resting, awhile, on past glory, which makes one extremely lazy, and I've never been so glad in my life to have been spoken to in the equivalent of a mild but purposeful caning as I was by you and Bill.
I don't think we are the minority at all. It just feels like it because we are the minority of people with the courage to overcome the pressure around us and stand on principle. Most people really do agree on most things when it comes to life, it's only a few hot button issues that causes disagreement. And as a so-called "Boomer" I can say that not all of us have gone along with madness over our lifetimes. Some of us have been screaming liberty our entire lives and the group "Rush" was just one band that we listened to. It was our rebel music. Glad those lyrics impacted you the way it did some of us back in the day. :-). Great post.
I do subscribe to the idea that there's something like a 30% - 45% - 25% split in society.
We're the 30%. There's a soft middle, the 45%, and then there's a radical fringe that is so loud and often connected it makes the rest of the pie chart seem inconsequential. That soft middle will always be both the hope and the disappointment, because they're by and large the bots that will move wherever the machine tells them.
As I thought about this song, I wondered what Neil Peart would have done during Covid. What did the Getty and Alex do? Did they become Covid cultists? It made me very sad and frustrated to see people like Rage Against The Machine become part of the machine, and it would be equally sad if Rush, after raging against the machine in the 70s and 80s, fell in.
Rush, the most talented 3 man band ever…. The lyrics in many of their songs are deep, check out “Trees” - one of my favorites.
They're so good, but have been relegated to that place where I know them, I know of them, I love them, but never took a second pass beyond what's played on the radio. I'm so glad to be taking the deep dive now, and I'm also so glad to know at any point, a deep dive into what was right on the surface all along is possible, because that keeps the world fresh and alive.
our abusers wont be peaceful though, they proved that time and again. the latest example was the shooting at a 16 year old farmer during a protest
No, they won't. But we can't be violent in return. We need to tear down the ideas and systems through better ideas and systems, not through violent aggression. That's just one of the things they're WAITING for. See January 6th as an example.
God bless Neil Peart and his Brillant lyrics. RIP!
As someone who seems to be part of your generation, I grew up a longtime Rush fan and I have love "Subdivisions" for years. I grew up in a small West Virginia town that reflected everything that song sadly discussed. I also read "The Artists Way" years ago and it impacted me tremendously at the time.
That's all a way of saying that your post hit me at a time that is very meaningful to me. From out of nowhere! My long-time spouse just passed away (not COVID) and I find myself spending a lot of time reminiscing, being sad and getting angry. Angry that we have let the world become what is has become. Righteous anger. Please, everyone, do what you can to fight for what really matters. Your family, your friends, your heart, your country, your society, your God.
In short, thank you for a wildly impactful post that echoes in a way you can't possibly imagine. Even if just for one person.
Thank you!
I'm glad this found you at the right time in the right way. I'm sorry for your loss. I can't imagine how alone that must make you feel right now, along with angry, frustrated, etc. Let me know what I can do, neighbor (I'm in Pittsburgh).
Thank you for that. Here’s how you (and others) can help. Keep writing. Keep speaking. Keep fighting. And most of all, keep loving.
They are evil. We fight evil with real Love!
Done and done!
I'm very sorry you are enduring this anguish.
🙏
I love Rush, and perhaps their 80s synth-heavy albums especially.
Tough times demand tough talk, demand tough hearts, demand tough songs, demand.
(Force Ten)
So much poison in power, the principles get left out
So much mind on the matter, the spirit gets forgotten about
Like a righteous inspiration overlooked in haste
Like a teardrop in the ocean, a diamond in the waste
Some worldviews are spacious
And some are merely spaced
Against the run-of-the-mill
Static as it seems
We break the surface tension with our wild kinetic dreams
(Grand Designs)
Wonderful! Thank you💗
Thanks Kelliann!
What stuck out to you in this? How was this helpful?