Honestly, I'm not too worried about either the creep of nihilism or the failure to recognize it. Embracing nihilism is painful; religion (and I mean in no way to question the validity of faith here) is a great answer to that pain. So is capitalism and consumerism (our "modern religion") -- let's distract ourselves with "getting and spending" so we don't have to contemplate the potential emptiness of existence. In a world where most people have to worry about where their next meal is coming from, I count myself so lucky to have even a moment to reflect on the nature of existence. I'm glad a few others, like you, also have the time and think it's worth while.
As for that "Am I living in the future tense of a past present?" I like that very much -- fate/destiny translated (as a good writer should) through a literary analog. I sometimes feel like I'm living a "posthumous existence" (Keats' phrase, not mine): as though I'm a ghost moving through a reality that doesn't touch me. My present is always a past that's over and done. Perhaps I should swear off booze . . . .
I am theorizing that everything takes place in the future of course and moves to the present... then back to the future where it then becomes the past present. Booze aside,intended action (thought, such a reaching to grasp a spoon) is a future imagery/intent only brought to the present by actually grasping the spoon, whereupon it becomes a past present.
I too have equated moving through reality as a shade does, and for many years.
December 11, 2009 at 11:22 AM
As I have informed the blog-readers here, I am about crafting my memoirs. I try to write 2 pages a day and look to publish these in about 1.5-2 years IF I AM STILL ALIVE BY THEN. :)
In my 42 years of involvement in this industry, as IFW member, TSR employee, owner and operator of 2 companies, convention chairman for GENCON, friend and student of EGG, and generally as an inquisitive, curious and deep thinker, I feel that there is a lot of territory to be covered within these memories and a lot to be derived from them by those who eventually read these: The history of this game industry, the advent of fantasy in games, my shared experiences with EGG, Dave Arneson and others of note from 1968 onward, as well as my insights into art and its processes on many levels, as well as inspirations and thoughts which continue to incite and extend the creative thinking process, the latter which I feel is sorely lacking in our industry today when compared with the past.
Here are some extracts which you might find strange, enjoyable, or utterly useless:
"It is not the creep of nihilsim that worries me, but the human condition which cannot recognize it."...
"Stating and restating problems is a negative illusion; solutions are positive realities."
"David Arneson always appeared to my inner sense as a fervent and excitable boy. There was absolutely no way of escaping wanting to play with him."...
"Am I living in the future tense of a past present?"
5 Comments
Close this window Jump to comment formSounds like it will be an interesting read. Keep writing!
December 11, 2009 at 7:14 AM
+1
Looking forward to it. :)
December 11, 2009 at 8:53 AM
Tantalizing posts, Rob. I love aphorisms.
Honestly, I'm not too worried about either the creep of nihilism or the failure to recognize it. Embracing nihilism is painful; religion (and I mean in no way to question the validity of faith here) is a great answer to that pain. So is capitalism and consumerism (our "modern religion") -- let's distract ourselves with "getting and spending" so we don't have to contemplate the potential emptiness of existence. In a world where most people have to worry about where their next meal is coming from, I count myself so lucky to have even a moment to reflect on the nature of existence. I'm glad a few others, like you, also have the time and think it's worth while.
December 11, 2009 at 10:36 AM
As for that "Am I living in the future tense of a past present?" I like that very much -- fate/destiny translated (as a good writer should) through a literary analog. I sometimes feel like I'm living a "posthumous existence" (Keats' phrase, not mine): as though I'm a ghost moving through a reality that doesn't touch me. My present is always a past that's over and done. Perhaps I should swear off booze . . . .
December 11, 2009 at 10:52 AM
I am theorizing that everything takes place in the future of course and moves to the present... then back to the future where it then becomes the past present. Booze aside,intended action (thought, such a reaching to grasp a spoon) is a future imagery/intent only brought to the present by actually grasping the spoon, whereupon it becomes a past present.
I too have equated moving through reality as a shade does, and for many years.
December 11, 2009 at 11:22 AM