Random Thoughts

So, as I was eating some not-particularly-great shrimp just now, I had the thought: Would an animal be upset if it realized it would not be very tasty? That it, if the animal were looking down from animal heaven and saw me eating it, would it be sad to know I wasn't really enjoying the food?

Which brings me to another random thought. In the whole scheme of things, does it mean that the animal's life wasn't as worthwhile as another animal because it wasn't nearly as tasty? Say, the cow that became hamburger at McDonald's. Would it be jealous of a cow that turned into filet mignon? And what if it was the same cow, only parts of it were sent to different places. Would that make the cow happy or not?

And that leads me to my final point. Am I really appreciating the life that was taken so I could have something to eat? Do I take time—as many Native American cultures do—to thank that animal for becoming a delectable pork chop? Or do I just eat and never take time to appreciate that my food was once an animal? Or would I rather just avoid that thought altogether because it is rather sad to think of it being slaughtered?

What do you think?

P.S. I warned you it was random.

Better than fiction

What would you do if you met the hero or heroine of a novel you were writing? What would you say?

I just finished watching (for the umpteenth time) Stranger than Fiction, and that is exactly what happens to a prominent author. The man she was about to kill in her story finds her and asks her not to kill him.

How would you react to seeing them, standing there in the flesh?

I think I would be utterly fascinated, almost like a new mother glorying at a perfect child. I would want to look at her, hold her, comfort her for all the grief I put her through. I would ask her to stick with me through the story, wait to see the end. And I would be so proud that something that came solely from my thoughts had shaped into such a strong and beautiful person.

The thing I love most about this movie, though, is how hopeful and life-affirming it is. For a man who doesn't go outside his daily routine, to break that and finally live is such an amazing thing to me. How often do I get stuck in the humdrum aspects of my life and wish it were more exciting, more engaging? The only one who can take the fault for that is myself.

I cry every time I see him find passion for life while knowing he only has a short while left. I have an unknowable time on this planet. Am I living like the end was near? Am I jumping in feet first, damning the consequences as long as it is what I deem right and best?

Sadly, most often I am not. So my plea to all—including myself—is to live. Seek adventure, take a new road, learn to love living and forget the things that make it seem not worthwhile. Find the joy you can in the time you have. It's worth it.

A case of mistaken intent

It doesn't matter what you say. What matters is what they hear.

Or read, as the case may be.

I forget where I originally heard that, years ago, but it rings truer in this Internet age than I can ever remember. We move so fast—type fast, respond fast, think fast—that often the nuances of language are missed or ignored. Especially on internet forums, chat rooms, and email, there are so many ways to misconstrue what another has written.

So whose responsibility is it to avoid misunderstandings?

Everyone's, really. Both reader and writer have the obligation to:

1) write clearly and cleanly, taking care to avoid phrases that might be misunderstood or be hurtful;
2) read things carefully so the intended meaning is understood;
3) not jump to conclusions about what the other person meant;
4) ask questions if something isn't apparent or if there is a possibility of offense;
5) not shoot off a quick response that will make the situation even worse;
6) quickly and carefully resolve any issues that arise if there is a misinterpretation;
7) not hold a grudge or keep bringing it up once the misunderstanding has been resolved.

I'm not perfect at this, by a long shot, which is why I think it so important to be careful in what we say and write. I'm committing to be more thoughtful before I write or say something that could be construed as offensive, even if I'm only joking. Hurt feelings are hard to repair, so it's best to avoid the situation if at all possible.

Any thoughts on this?