Formal Fallacy

PERCHANCE TO DREAM

I am taking a momentary break from my… break… to share a very powerful dream I had last night. First off, I want to acknowledge that the process of dreaming is not fully understood and that there are dozens if not hundreds of different theories about the purpose of dreams. Still, it is always interesting and fascinating to look at a dream as if it were a riddle posed by our unconscious. So with that in mind, I’m going to share my dream and then attempt to interpret the symbols with the help of an online dream dictionary.

The dream:

I was in a glass house full of mirrors. It was snowing lightly outside. The phone rang. I answered. I don’t remember who was on the other end of the phone call, but they warned me that the winds were going to pick up to hurricane strength. I started to close wooden blinds when the hurricane force winds hit and turned the gentle snow into a blizzard. The snowflakes became the size of baseballs that smashed through the glass walls. The glass house began to crack and implode. The blizzard grew even stronger. More glass broke. The mirrors shattered. Meanwhile, I’m in the middle, and shards of glass and mirror are slicing through me, impaling my arms and face. By the time the snow stops, the entire glass house is destroyed and I’m covered in glass shards and blood. My mouth is full of sharp fragments of glass and mirror. I limp out of the ruins and into the woods, where it is somehow spring. The snow is melting. I see a cracked but intact mirror. I look at myself, bloodied and covered in glass. I open my mouth to speak but my tongue is cut and unable to move. I knelt down in the woods and died. Then I was reborn and back in the glass house again.

That’s when I woke up. It was 1:15 am. I knew immediately that the dream was something powerful, and the proof is how vividly I remember it at 8:15 the following morning. At first glance, the dream probably seems incredibly disturbing. I mean, I DIED in my dream. That can’t be good, right? Well, before we cast hasty judgments, let’s see what the dream dictionary says about the symbols.

The Interpretation:

• Glass: Passivity and protection. An invisible emotional barrier.
• Mirror: Suggests that I am pondering thoughts about my inner self and contemplating strengthening and changing aspects of my character.
• Snow: Signifies inhibitions, repressed/unexpressed emotions. Watching the snow fall represents a clean start and a fresh, new perspective. It is indicative of spiritual peace and tranquility.
• Phone: A phone call in a dream is a message from the unconscious.
• Hurricane: Sudden or unexpected changes occurring in my life. To be caught in a hurricane represents that both my mental and emotional forces are building up inside and making themselves known.
• Blizzard: Suggests that I am feeling emotionally cold and frigid.
• Broken Glass: Change.
• Broken Mirror: Suggests that I am breaking an old image of myself. Putting an end to old habits and ways.
• Blood: Represents life, love, and passion as well as disappointments.
• Woods: Life, fertility, rejuvenation, and spring. Also symbolizes the unknown and the unconscious. Dreams of walking through the woods signifies a return to an aspect of oneself that is innocent and spiritual.
• Death: Inner changes, transformation, self-discovery, and positive development that is happening within oneself or in one’s life. Although such dreams bring about feelings of fear and anxiety, to die in one’s dream is actually considered a positive symbol. Dreams of experiencing your own death usually means that big changes are ahead. Moving on to new beginnings and leaving the past behind.
• Rebirth: Entering a new stage in life. Looking toward the future without dwelling on the past.

Wow. So a dream that initially seemed so negative and borderline nightmare was actually a massively positive message about inner growth, self-discovery, and change. I could talk more about what this dream means to me, but I think I’ve made it pretty clear.

If any of you are interested in interpreting your dreams, you can check out www.dreammoods.com, which is where I found most of my information.

Chris

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Thermal Excercise

So…

I’m trying to do things that make me feel good. Make my body feel good. Make my mind feel good. I’ve been doing things like working out and writing in my blog (sort of an online journal). I read that journal writing is especially helpful for men because we have fewer methods of expressing and dealing with our emotions. I gave it a shot yesterday and was surprised at how well I felt afterwards.

So I looked up more things about how to make your body feel good, and I came across one that is amazing for several reasons.

Taking a cold shower.

Seems simple enough, but there is a problem. The term “cold shower” has become cliché. Everyone has heard of it, mostly as a way to curb sexual cravings, but that’s myth. Since it is such a stereotype, we will no longer call it a cold shower. Instead, think of it as Thermal Exercise.

There is a scientific study going on right now at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine that hypothesizes that human depression may be caused by “a lifestyle that lacks certain physiological stressors that have been experienced by primates through millions of years of evolution, such as brief changes in body temperature (e.g. cold swim), and this lack of “thermal exercise” may cause inadequate functioning of the brain.”

Another quote says: “Exposure to cold is known to activate the sympathetic nervous system and increase the blood level of beta-endorphin and noradrenaline and to increase synaptic release of noradrenaline in the brain as well. Additionally, due to the high density of cold receptors in the skin, a cold shower is expected to send an overwhelming amount of electrical impulses from peripheral nerve endings to the brain, which could result in an anti-depressive effect.”

So I looked up beta-endorphin. Turns out the stuff has approximately 80 times the analgesic potency of morphine! It is believed to boost the immune system, slow the growth of cancer cells, promote a feeling of well being (you would think so if it is 80 times as powerful as morphine), and increase relaxation.

Then I looked up noradrenaline: Noradrenaline is synthesized from dopamine. It affects the part of the brain that governs attention and responding actions. It also increases heart rate, triggers the release of glucose from energy stores, increases blood flow to the skeletal muscle, and directly underlies the flight-or-fight response. It is one of the primary ingredients in many ADD/ADHD medications such as Ritalin and Adderal. It is also used in antidepressants as well as in medication for hypotension.

So the way I see it, after millions of years of evolving, humans learned how to survive through ice ages by not only adapting to the cold weather, but by using it to release natural chemicals in the brain that are very, very powerful drugs. Then we invented the hot shower, hot chocolate, blankets, fire places, central heating, and all sorts of other things to keep us at a comfortable temperature while preventing our bodies from releasing the very chemicals that make us feel good.

I think this is one of the reasons people like cold weather sports so much. Skiing, Ice Skating, Sledding. It is why kids love to go outside and play in the snow. So the question is, have you had your thermal exercise today? I know I have.

Chris

Posted in movies, science | 1 Comment »

Is this really happening?

Remember that saying, a picture is worth a thousand words?  Is that still true in the age of Photoshop?  Once, in the not too distant past, people could trust what they see with their own eyes.  Or, at least they thought they could.

My dad emailed me a video today.  If it is real, it is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen.  My initial reaction to the video was, “that’s not real.”  I’m sure most people had the same reaction.

Is the video real?  I don’t know.  Quite possibly, but that doesn’t mean I believe it.  Was it Photoshopped?

Photo manipulation is as old as photography itself.   Joseph Stalin would frequently alter photographs to remove unwanted faces, mostly for political and propaganda purposes.  This is something completely different than the video above.  The video above is intended to impress, while these photographs were intended to PROVE. 

In 2005, when Martha Stewart was released from prison, photographs of her were altered to make her appear slimmer, as though she lost weight while behind bars.  Time magazine changed the color saturation of OJ Simpson’s mug shot to make his skin appear darker.  National Geographic moved the Pyramids closer together so they could get all three to fit on the cover of their magazine.

While the plane video was intended to impress, the Stalin photographs to prove, these last three examples were presented as FACT.  People had no reason to question them, and the effects were mostly subliminal. 

All examples of photo manipulation are harmful in one way or another.  The photographs presented as fact are dangerous because people don’t question them.  A doctored mug shot of OJ with darker skin only heightens racial stereotypes.  Same goes for the Stalin photographs, where he was able to remove people who disagreed with him to present a unified front. 

The plane video, if false, is dangerous for a different reason.  Okay, let’s assume the video is real.  Videos LIKE the one above that ARE doctored are dangerous specifically because people are so used to them that they don’t believe video evidence.

All three examples are dangerous because some people can’t tell which is the real and which is the fake.  Some Stalin supporters believed the original photographs were fakes.  Another example is a couple of Frenchmen who took the 911 videos of the planes crashing into the Trade Center and removed the planes, leaving only the explosions.  Conspiracy Theorists then saw these videos, believed them, and then went on to believe that the videos that DO show the planes were the ones that were doctored.

Now, I don’t know if this post fits the new direction I talked about yesterday, but it is something that has been on my mind for a while.

Belief.

What do we believe in, what do we base that belief on, and how do we know that belief is grounded in reality when reality is so easily manipulated?  Substitute reality with truth and the question works just as well.

Take the political elections as an example.  Emails have been floating around claiming Obama is a Muslim.  Some people actually believe a chain email over physical evidence.  They’ll even believe that chain letter over their own Presidential nominee.  Or take this video.  One that is NOT real.  One that is not only ridiculous, but absolutely disgusting.  Yet, as we all know, some people will believe it is real.

Has perceptive reality become actual reality?  The surreal become real?  Fiction become truth ?  Vice become Versa?

Chris

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I’m back.

Sort of.

I haven’t posted in a while.  I haven’t posted consistently in forever.  There are reasons behind this.

1.    My career, however young it may be, is writing.  As strange as it may sound, it is rather difficult to write for fun when I’m behind writing professionally.  Think of Tiger Woods.  How often does TW hit the links for fun, riding around in a golf cart with some buddies and some beers?  That’s what this website is like, minus the golf cart, the buddies, and the beers.

2.    I’m not sure what to say.  This will take some explaining, but first, let me sum up.  When I write fiction, I dramatize (aka, disguise) my opinions and beliefs through characters, conflicts, and metaphors.  However, websites like this require the exact opposite sort of writing.  Plain simple English where I tell the world how I feel.  Now… let me explain…

I’ve been reading Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.  The Roman Emperor wrote Meditations for himself, as a source of self improvement and guidance, and apparently never intended them to be published.  They are basically a series of quotes where he expressed, rather clearly, his own personal philosophy.  Examples…

Not to feel exasperated or defeated or despondent because your days aren’t packed with wise and moral actions. But to get back up when you fail, to celebrate behaving like a human–however imperfectly–and fully embrace the pursuit you’ve embarked on.

Do not act as if thou wert going to live ten thousand years.  Death hangs over thee.  While thou livest, while it is in thy power, be good.

Here are some quotes ABOUT Meditations.(These quotes were found on Wikipedia, FYI.)

Marcus Aurelius wrote down what was in his heart just as it was, not obscured by any consciousness of the presence of listeners or any striving after effect.

Is as much intensity of feeling…as in most of the nobler modern books of religion, only with a sterner power controlling it.  People fail to understand Marcus, not because of his lack of self-expression, but because it is hard for most men to breathe at that intense height of spiritual life, or, at least, to breathe soberly.

My point:  While I’m proud of my skill in writing fiction, I fail miserably in exactly the sort of writing that is required in a website such as this.  I use the words website and post because I hate the word blog.  Too similar to the word blob. 

Most writing teachers use the phrase writing muscle to distinguish the difference between forms of writing.  Drama requires a different muscle than comedy.  Fiction requires a different muscle than non-fiction.  And blogs (ugh) require a different muscle than fiction AND non-fiction.  They require the exact same muscle Marcus used in writing Meditations.  A muscle that I have yet to develop, a muscle that is decidedly weak, and a muscle that I desperately want to strengthen.  One of the hardest things for me to do is to write down “what is in my heart just as it is, not obscured by any consciousness of the presence of listeners or any striving after effect.”

All of this was inspired by the elections.  People talk about who they’re voting for and who they’re not voting for.  I find this fascinating.  Most people can tell you why they’re NOT voting for someone, but they have a much harder time telling you why they ARE voting for someone.  The canidates are the exact same.  They can tell you why you shouldn’t vote for their opponent, but have a harder time saying why you should vote for them.  

I had a conversation with two people over the weekend about their choice for president (this wasn’t our first conversation on the topic).  They are both voting for McCain, even though they are two very socially liberal people.  They told me all the things they didn’t like about Obama, but not once did they mention one of his policies.  Now, some people might jump to the racism conclusion, but that’s not the case.  I’ll vouch for the social integrity of these two people, which is probably why we could have this conversation in a very civil tone.  The truth is they don’t KNOW why they prefer McCain.  They just do. 

Personally, I think this is because most people lack the skill of Marcus Aurelius.  Marcus was able to say exactly “what was in his heart” because he took the time and energy to DISCOVER what was in his heart.

I understand people have a general understanding of what they believe.  They know whether they are pro-life or pro-choice.  Either they believe life begins at conception or they don’t.  But WHY do they believe life begins at conception?  Or why don’t they?  Do they realize that this debate is as old as the bible itself?  Umberto Eco, one of my favorite writers, has a chapter in his book Turning Back the Clock called On the Soul of the Embryo where he chronicled this debate.  I’m paraphrasing, and probably missing Eco’s point, but originally, Origen claimed the embryo had a soul right from the beginning, but the Church initially disagreed because Genesis 2.7  says “And the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”  So the bible states we don’t have a soul until we take our first breath.  But obviously the Church couldn’t stand for that.  Tertullian then formed the idea that the soul was transmitted via semen (how do you like that, female readers?).  However, that idea was shot down because it implied that sex was holy.  So Thomas Aquinas decided that the human soul develops as the baby develops, that our souls have different stages.  This idea was again contradicted by… sigh… I’m going to avoid a debate I don’t want to start, and instead I will attempt to return to my point.   

I use the pro-life and pro-choice argument as an example of people looking for a simple answer to a very complex philosophical question that in truth has no answer.  How can we tell for CERTAIN when life begins?  How can we MEASURE when we first have a soul?  Do we have a soul?  What is a soul?  A lot of people have answers to these questions, but what FACTS support those answers?  And why do people believe one way and not another?  I guarantee you, that if the Romans had a debate on choice, Marcus Aurelius would not only know what was in his heart, but would be able to write it down with an intensity of emotion and spirit that would take your breath away even if you disagreed with him.

I said I would attempt to return to my point.  I halfway succeeded.  I’ll try again.  This post isn’t about people who are pro-life or pro-choice, it is about me.  Specifically, me as a writer.  I can tell you where I stand on the issue.  I can tell you when I believe life begins.  But I can’t tell you WHY I believe life begins when I think it does.  Worse, especially for someone who considers himself a writer, I guarantee I am unable to convince someone on the other side of the fence to come around and check out how green the grass is on my side.  Can you? Why can’t I do and write these things?  Because I’m not Marcus Aurelius.

Finally, after 1,200 words (or 700 words more than a post should have) I reach my point:  I want to be Marcus Aurelius.  I want to know what is in my heart.  I want to be able to say what is in my heart with the breath of clarity and passion that will force those who disagree to stop and listen.  If I can do this without the veil of fictional drama and metaphor, then that will only lift the drama and metaphor I write to the levels I aim to achieve.  I think this is the purpose of my website, or at least, the purpose I am now giving it.  This is the true reason why I haven’t posted consistently in well over two months.  That two month hiatus has probably lost the readers I was starting to build, but since I am taking this website in a new direction, perhaps it will lead me to new readers.

We’ll see.

Chris

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