I have always had a strong interest in the mechanics and process of thought, particularly on how it relates to communities, groups or masses. We all have thoughts – most we keep to ourselves; some we share; a few we scream to the world. We often think that our thoughts are completely unique. On the edges they may be, but at their core they are very much like the thoughts of those near or far from us.
About a year ago I decided to start a little online experiment that is centered on thought (particularly shared thought). I created a web site titled Think.as.MANY. The site currently has two components (or apps), Think.like.ME? and Think.of.a.STORY. Here’s a screenshot of the main page:
Think.like.ME? enables a visitor to enter a thought (a statement, question, anything – excluding profanity). In return the visitor is presented with other thoughts that have been entered prior that are similar. This is all done anonymously. The visitor can also browse through existing thoughts, and traverse through similar thoughts (thought tree). The idea is to see how thoughts are alike (or not). As more thoughts are added, the experiment becomes more realistic. Also, I have built a simple Android app for this. You can find it in the Android Market with the name think.like.ME?.
Think.of.a.STORY is about building a continuous story. Each visitor contributes part of the story on each visit. It’s a concept that has been done often in the past, but I thought it might be fun and interesting to visual the result across the vast Internet.
With both of these apps, the more participation the better. I encourage you to visit, participate and share with others.
Check out the updated ThinkAsMany with with a new story feature. You can find the site at www.thinkasmany.com.
Look at him,
Standing there like a statue without onlookers.
His future is dormant.
Hist thoughts are captured by the present
Why doesn’t he wake up?
Why doesn’t he dream?
Maybe he really is a statue.
I like oranges, how about you?
If you like oranges, then I like you.
They are so good, you can’t help but like them.
I know you will, if you try them.
If you don’t like oranges as much as I do,
Then I must say that there is something wrong with you.
I don’t like plums, how about you?
If you don’t like plums, then I like you.
They are a bit distasteful, and looks shady to me.
If you take a quick try, you will also see.
Don’t tell me you like plums, because if you do,
I really can’t help but not like you.
I hate avocados, how about you?
If you hate avocados, then I like you.
They are the worst of the bunch – no good at all.
I’m sure you will agree that they make your skin crawl.
If you don’t hate avocados – unlikely as is seems,
Then you must be crazy – and not just in your dreams.
If you like avocados – I don’t quite see how that could be true,
Then, without question, I do hate you.
The very title of this post implies two ideas which I do not believe in – truth and absolute (see my previous posts) – so you can guess what my answer to that question would be – No.
As with everything else in life, the measure of selflessness among us humans (I can’t really speak for the animals; shouldn’t speak for all humans either, but I will be so bold as to try) falls somewhere between (but not on) the two extremes – absolutely selfless and absolutely selfish. More-so, I believe that the innate instinct of humans for self-preservation pushes that measure much more towards the selfish extreme. There are moments when individuals or groups may slide significantly towards the selfless extreme – if only to satisfy our selfish need to feel good about ourselves – but that visit usually doesn’t last very long. And there are also times of stress and despair that individuals bunker-down on the selfish side of life – sometimes for too long a time.
It’s OK though. Absolute selflessness can only really work if absolutely everyone is absolutely selfless. In this “conceptual” state, I believe we reach what some call Nirvana. On the flip side, absolute selfishness by absolutely everyone can only lead to complete destruction.
So, the best that we can do is to strive for Nirvana, although it is unlikely we will ever get there. And we should capitalize on those rare moments that push a large number of us towards the selfless extreme.
Sometimes I sit and wonder why,
I have two arms and cannot fly.
I really wish that when I die,
I return as a bird and wander the sky.
I want to change, not just to be.
I want to examine, not just to see.
I want to go, not just to stay.
I want to relax, not just to lay.
I want to know that what i want may not be what I get.
I want to know that what I get has barely happened just yet.
I believe in faith, or using beliefs to guide one’s life.
I believe in the individual, but also in the individual’s responsibilities to the community.
I believe in evolution, but also believe in the divine creation of time – this is my belief.
I do not believe in absolutes.
I believe that no one is right and no one is wrong.
I believe in the awesome power of the human mind.
I believe in the resilience of the human body.
I believe that words, by themselves, are insignificant;
But when supported by our viewpoints they can elevate to magnificence, or sink to the lowest depths of despair.
I believe in the magic of a single instance in time – ever present, yet never captured.
I may not believe in your beliefs,
But I believe in your right to have them.
I believe in a fully connected physical world – we are but collections of atomic and sub-atomic particles floating in a sea of other particles;
Where we end and others begin disappears the deeper we go.
I believe that morality, however ill-defined and impossibly elusive it is, will shape our future existence.
I believe in the idea of me.
I think I have figured out why we humans seem to always have conflict – we are lacking a common enemy. I suggest that we make that common enemy the black hole.
Let us blame the black hole for …
- our hunger,
- our diseases,
- our joblessness,
- our evils,
- our misfortunes,
- our greed,
- our ignorance,
- our hatred.
Let us ALL HATE the black hole, for it is the bane of our existence, and nothing else. I long for the day when the damn black hole no longer ruins our lives and cause us to turn on each other. Let us work together to solve this black hole problem of ours.
We shall hunt them down together. We shall plan and strategize their demise together. We shall eradicate them from existence together. And when the very last one of those stinking black holes is gone forever, we shall rejoice together.
And then we can get on with the business of true living … together.
