@S3C - @Aalasteir (Q) - Index
Q: Describe your life?
Don't have much of one. I wrote at the dawn of this decade that the 2010s were a lost decade.. Well we are nearing halfway point of the 2020s and I guess I was in for a rude awakening. Not because of COVID or any traumatic events ( there are a few moderate ones and several minor ones that build up like Chinese water torture) but in the sense that most creative pursuits have become a chore for me and I've been on the same uneventful routine for the past five years. I work a lot because I enjoy my job but partially because I don't have much better to do. I'm kinda old, single, no kids and all my good friends don't live on this continent. I essentially live in a boarding house with minimal interaction with my roommates and I try to be there little as possible. Family is hours away. I don't do anything interesting on the weekends. I think most people in my shoes would lose their minds, but I'm not trying to portray this as too much of a woe is me pity party. I've adopted a philosophy of all I need is good health and everything else is a bonus.
Q: What do you think about yourself, and why do you believe you think the way you do?
An uncomfortable question. The notion of 'one has to love thyself' makes me cringe. I'm an indifferent vessel in this f*cked up world. So my thoughts about myself: I'm neutral. I think this way due to chemical interactions and past experiences, just like everyone else. I've grown further apart in wavelength with my family as I've grown older, and I think that plays a big part in that.
To end this question on a positive note though, I'll pat myself for being above average or at least satisfactory enough in the departments of creativity, dedication, and humor. That's my belief based on experience. I hope people find my poasts at least as funny as I do. If I didn't find them funny myself I wouldn't post them.
Q: What are activities and subjects you like, although you rarely talk about?
I can give you several more interesting topics: but the honest most answer is basketball. Namely NBA basketball. I'm pretty much an encyclopedia. Most of my friends are not interested in sports though. And there's probably better things we can talk about. Thing is this interest doesn't suit me at all, I'm a small unathletic dude that rocks a desk job. I'm pretty bad at it although I guess I was okay in my youth. I was team manager for a basketball team once and I was so out of place physically and personality wise.
Q: What are some obscure facts about you?
I don't think I have enough clout to warrant possession of obscure facts. I guess I'll say what comes to mind at the moment. I'm a sensitive guy who cares about what other people think. Not so much what they think about me or from an ego point of view, but that I don't intend hard feelings and want to help people reach their desired destinations. If I've rubbed someone the wrong way or people have questions feel free to stop by my page or shoot a PM. I fancy myself as an educator- and I think largely the education system as I've experienced is backwards. I understand people have different learning styles. But it seems the whole fire-hose lecture for an hour and students rush to take notes is not the optimal use of both the pupil and instructor's time. The pupil can read a powerpoint on their own, don't need to see a professional for that. What I find more valuable is coming to a session to share what they've learned, prepare good questions to pose to the instructor and fostering group discussion. I'm big on probing people with guiding questions and exercises. I'm big on people thinking of brainstorming questions they can ask me or in general. I push people to look at things a little more philosophically. It does take a little more effort, introspection, and doing the 'reading' part of homework in earnest- and some don't like that, which I get. I have on my NewGrounds profile 'Bureaucrat / Wannabe NG Motivational Speaker' which is stated for humor's sake- bureaucrat is entirely ironic but the motivational speaker part really isn't. I'm autotelic in most things I do.
Q: What are some misconceptions you feel people have about the BSS?
I've never really thought about that. I guess one misconception that may be common regards the now locked politics forum. While I agree this place is better off sealed...despite all the heated discussions there, I imagine the regulars would kick it with each other hours and pop some beers together or something, conflicting viewpoints and all.
Q: How did you get interested in basketball? Is it primarily NBA? And why? What was your experience being a team manager for the basketball team, and why did you feel out of place physically and personality-wise?
I was very young and I think it was my first real interest. Basketball is a fast paced high scoring team game that arguably requires the most finesse out of the major sports. I always wanted to be a professional basketball player more than anything but reality started to fade as I entered puberty. I still maintain my fantasies and head cannons though. It's primarily the NBA because that's the premier league and where I started following. I'm interested in the WNBA and international leagues too though. The basketball manager role was a good experience. We had one of the worst records but it was still fun to cheer them on and help with video/stats/practices. As I mentioned I'm a small unathletic guy- basketball players tend to be tall and toned. There's a certain personality that athletes carry, not necessarily a more macho or confident quality, it's hard to describe. It's different than engineering and artsy types. So I felt out of place but we all got along of course.
Q: How do you feel the Internet has impacted your life?
You might as well ask me how air or water has impacted my life...
Not in the sense that the internet is an essential need, but that it has become ubiquitous. I might as well be a cyborg in a digital fantasy at this point.
So: the internet is great, it has everything, which is equally awesome, overwhelming, and despondent. I am not saying things were better, but I miss the days of going to a book store or the magazine section to find the cheat codes for a video game, sending physical letters, going to the library for a book, renting a video or being surprised what would come on next on the radio or television. You had to work harder for things, and there were more specialized roles and skills because everything wasn't instantly available. Largely, it was easier to find self-worth in the world. I kind of feel bad for those that haven't experienced a society that isn't intertwined with the internet...I think AI's going to bring the same kind of paradigm shift in a few years. It'll bring us to new exciting new places, but will force a lot of traditional and wholesome activities into obsolescence.
Q: The story of your profile picture
It's a character from the movie Encanto. Can't remember his name. I've had some variant of this profile picture for over two years now. I guess I chose it because I want to impart some goofy brown uncle type energy on the BBS.
Q: What are the biggest mental health struggles for men from your perspective, and how do you think they could overcome them?
That's way to broad of question for me to respectfully and empathetically answer so I won't postulate anything unless we narrow down the domain here. Out of the mental health struggles I have, none of them really are unique to being a male. People are people, I like having a penis and balls but I don't really think about traditional general roles or feel beholden to be 'macho' or a 'provider' or 'stoic'. If I did, I probably wouldn't be dodging this question.
Q: Have you always been a sensitive person who cares about what others think?
I don't think so. I've grown more sensitive with age and am a little more careful when I post. This also means apologizing more if I feel I have crossed the line.
Q: Why do you see yourself as an educator?
I think my answer in the starter questions covers this. But I've always enjoyed teaching and watching people grow. I think it gives me an excuse to spread my philosophies. As someone who isn't particularly smart, I think this gives the footing to empathize well with people of diverse learning styles. It's a discovery to find out where an individual's hangups lie, and it's fun to watch people struggle- not being sadistic here, it's just their brain lifting weights. Moreover being able to describe a subject to others enriches our own understanding of the subject. So if I like playing guitar for example, of course I'm gonna be happy to impart any wisdom to others and learn more about guitar myself along the way.
Q: Why is the bureaucrat part entirely ironic, but the motivational speaker part is not?
In jest, I have had self-deprecating titles in my blurb for a while now. Previous one was talentless hack or something. I dislike bureaucracy because I believe it constipates productivity, hampers creativity, discourages thinking outside of the box, and limits people who want to work the extra mile or bend the rules a bit from getting stuff done. As for the motivational speaker part, don't you find that one would declaring to be a motivational speaker on a Pennsylvanian animation website kinda silly? It's one of the things I'm equally sincere and silly about and as time has moved I more and more like the ring to it.
Q: Why do you think the politics forum is better off sealed? Why do you imagine the regulars would hang out and share some beers together while discussing conflicting viewpoints?
Probably because it was attracting drama at an inappropriate place (NewGrounds is site for making good content, not gossiping. Gossip is largely what those that discuss 'politics' do). Tom & staff have better things to focus on. Since general and politics was closed it seems like the other forums related to NewGrounds domain matter are more lively and active, but maybe that's just me. And it's not like we can't socialize in the 'lounge' topics, the supporter party, or userpages. If you want to make a difference in people's lives or meaningfully discuss political policy, go to a local town meeting or volunteer or something. Change starts from the ground up, not by arguing about what goes on in Washington on an internet forum.
And I meant the politics regulars would share beers DESPITE having conflicting views, not that they would discuss such controversial matters over alcohol. I'd hope not!
Q: Your experience with making music
if I was an artist I'd paint, if I was a writer I'd rate, but I'm a musician by heart so I made music to reach the almighty...
I guess this Miles Davis quote sums it up nicely:
If I can’t hear my tone, I can’t play. If I can’t play, then I won’t get paid. If I don’t get paid, then I lose the house, you know?
It’s like a chain reaction. If I lose my tone, I can’t fuck, can’t make love, can’t do nothin’. I’ll just walk into the ocean and die, if I lose my tone.
Q: Your advice for life
Everyone has a scientific, athletic, spiritual, and poetic side, we all need to continually nourish these facets of our being. Be consistent with our hobbies. We should aim to compress the window where we are growing old to die, live an inconsequential existence, to spend our last moments hypnotized by daytime TV. Don't be afraid to be audacious and adventurous. Treat everything with sincerity, cherish each moment for within a moment it will all be gone. We all have different circumstances and talents, but one thing that each individual can guarantee and doesn't cost resources is honesty and hard work.