Repeating ‘isms’ isn’t so smart. ‘Cuz truth doesn’t dwell in opinion. Dissolution tearing us all apart. Repeating ‘isms’ isn’t so smart. Propagandists eagerly employ their art, Hoping you’ll become their minion. Repeating ‘isms’ isn’t so smart. ‘Cuz truth doesn’t dwell in opinion.
So be advised -apply your brain. Investigate and question. “Experts” have a lot they’ll gain. So be advised-apply your brain. Mindless compliance rewards no gain. Don’t fall for every suggestion. So be advised- apply your brain. Investigate and question.
I revisit this question now and then. There was a trendy campaign by budding ‘super-moms’, around the time when my first granddaughter was born, to vilify a cartoon character.
In their defense, they imagined themselves having the long sought perfect recipe for ‘creating’ the next Einstein. Little did they realize that Einstein was born, not created. But, however frustrating, newbie Moms have only good intentions.
Having watched many episodes of Spongebob at the time, I was often scratching my head and wondering, “What’s wrong with Spongebob?”
For those who have never had the pleasure of watching, I’ll list Spongebob’s major characteristics:
He’s innocent and a bit naive. He loves his pet snail and dotes on him. He’s an eager and trustworthy employee at the “Krusty Krab”. He’s a loyal friend to Patrick (a bit of a ‘special needs’ character). He always projected a positive attitude that never quit.
So, what was the cult following of Moms finding fault with? The most often repeated complaint about the cartoon was that it was “mindless”. Here’s a modern-day response I wish I had known…IT’S a CARTOON, KAREN!
But there I was, watching, laughing at, and enjoying Spongebob with my grandchild supposedly doing her great harm? For years, we’ve even quoted that cartoon as its subliminal wisdom came through to anyone who bothered to watch it.
I don’t know whether any of the Moms who were loudest about their Spongebob boycott ever ‘saw the light’ but it seems ominously a silent arena now when it comes to newer cartoons promoting ‘gender fluidity’ and out right intolerance of “non-woke” themes.
It was a startling glimpse into the upside-down future we’re now dealing with for sure.
I’m seeing a lot of memes declaring that we need to be getting rid of negative thoughts. What are negative thoughts?
I’m truly confused when subjective terms are thrown around. Some others that confuse me are “kind”, “poor”, “rich”, and “hate”. What’s extra confounding is the frequent nodding of heads in unison when these terms are used as if everybody knows what they mean but me.
I’d agree that any thoughts we tell ourselves that offer crippling doubt about our own worthiness to pursue happiness are negative. Self-destructive thoughts aren’t good for us.
But I sense there’s some other measure of “What’s negative?” floating around. It seems to be connected to anything contradictory to the thoughts of others or any notice of problematic things. In fact, sometimes it has been used to describe all thoughts that would take someone away from a “mellow comfortably numb” state of mind. That is a great place to visit but who’d want to live there? It’s even been suggested that your life will improve if you spend more time there AND it’s also suggested that our lives actually improve when we try not to recognize and address our problems because “It’s not so bad”. DUH… I don’t think so. Am I on the wrong planet? lol
Well, that odd mindset explains the increasing volume of recreational drug use in our country in a nutshell, doesn’t it? People actively stripping our individual freedoms from us love when we spend a large amount of time sweeping all those troublesome questions and concerns from our thoughts. If I listen closely, I can hear them, “Comfortably numb minds for all. Just relax, we’ve got this.”
I guess not wanting to know about or having to deal with problems is the new-age kind of “freedom”. Excuse me, I just had a dizzy spell…because THAT “thought” is the most frightening and “negative” one I’ve had all day. đŠ
I want to know who the creator of the meme below is and ask him, “What IS a negative thought?” and “How long have you worked for the communists?” đ
Silvia hated change and was meticulous about maintaining order. The lockdowns had thrown her for a loop! No schedules… no consistency… and constant unease had affected her both mentally and physically. Nothing appeared ‘normal’. She felt her heart taking extra beats and started dropping everything she touched. Silvia was falling apart.
Now, the political disagreements in Congress had become too much for her to take!
“To Hell with changes! Leave it alone!” she wailed at the TV. Every part of her needed mundane, mindless, ‘normalcy’ to return.
She finally fell asleep in the fetal position waking just in time to make it to her therapist appointment. That was her only constant these days. As she settled into her usual chair in the safety of ‘her’ waiting room the receptionist announced that her doctor had taken a sudden leave of absence.
As she ran from the room wailing, the hallway floor began to move on its own and she collapsed.
Silvia was immediately rolled to the 9th floor Psych ward. Lying in the bed next to her, she recognized her therapist.
A telemarketer called a few days ago. He was promoting a new organization and hoping to sell wholesome family films.
The idea was admirable. No one can argue, against the fact, that there are too many images of violence and “adult” subject matter available to children on prime time television. Soon enough, it became clear that he was reading a script.
It was a time, in my work day, when I was getting my day care charges ready to go home so I was distracted and rushed. My manners have always kept me from just hanging up, so I listened. I also always figure that the person,calling, is earning a living and deserves, at least, a few moments.
As I listened, he repeatedly said,” Studies show…” . Then, he started saying that Spongebob was an example of mindless broadcasting to be avoided because “Studies show, this is also a poor choice.”
He had my interest, at first. But frustrated from not being able to get a word in and the time constraints…after all, I was “on the job”… made me lose my patience. This is what I told him:
“I believe you are promoting a worthy cause and this call is your job, but when you have said repeatedly, “studies show” and have expected that you could convince me without telling me where the studies were conducted, who did them, and how many people were studied, suggest that you are the mindless one here or you believe that I am. I grew up watching the Three Stooges and never once was tempted to hit someone with a hammer. There is definitely too much violence on TV, sir. The greater problem, in my opinion, is the cultural break down of the American family. If you have any interest in the success of your organization, I suggest you change your speech and get real. I have no extra money to invest and I thank you for trying, good-bye.”
Now, I wonder, how many people are willing to believe the rhetoric “studies show” without pause? Â I don’t really want to know because it scares me too much to consider further.
The original Three Stooges in Soup to Nuts (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Since so many other online writers have blogs dedicated to their writings, Iâve decided to jump onto the bandwagon. All posts published here will be either fiction or poetry, some new, and some previously published on various places on the Internet. Some of my works are conventional, and some are quirky. All fiction posted here, except for fan fiction, will include the letters "rose" somewhere, as a tribute to my Baba.
Sillyfrog's Blog 