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I recently ran across another member's journal who was discussing a topic on Chaos. I assume he wanted people to believe he'd written it as he didn't source the material or the author.



It was a fairly interesting article which people should read (found here: http://www.eff.org/Net_culture/New_science/Complexity_chaos/chaos.def).



But I'm curious as to what people think about taking credit for other's work. Usually plagiarism can get you in plenty of trouble - but what about here in your journal? Is it allowed to slide or is it something that is just as 'frowned upon' as it is elsewhere?

So what is it about this time of year that makes people think it's time to be all warm and fuzzy? And why in the hell is it that if they run across someone (namely me) that isn't in the happy holiday cheery mood they assume there has to be something wrong?



I reject the holiday season and it's nonstop marketing schemes. I don't want to buy the latest fad for my kid to prove I love her. I don't care about little baby Jesus' birth (which was in spring) and I don't care about the Winter Solstice. I don't want to be forced to spend the day with my family, whom I strive to avoid the rest of the year, and I don't want a guilt trip for saying so.



So am I the only one that feels this way? Could there possibly be someone else out there that is sick and tired of being forced to celebrate?



I do prefer the late fall and winter seasons, they are the end of the cycle and most things die off allowing for new growth in the spring. That's much of how I look at this time of year for myself. It is a way to reflect on the past year - to reexamine any goals I set and look into any mistakes I made. It also gives me a chance to look at the next year and plan it, setting goals and finding ways to avoid similar mistakes. But I don't think that is worth a huge celebration.



I guess I just see it as a very personal time of year and I resent the fact that the general concensus is that I should be out spending my $700.00 - which is what they expect the average (good) American to be spending this holiday.



That said - if anyone wants to buy me presents I won't turn them away.

Taking people for granted is just something that happens from time to time. We've all got our own shit to deal with and we can all sometimes forget to show a little thanks, or even acknowledgement, for something someone has done for us.



This is why I think it's important every now and then to stop and take stock on a relationship, whether it's with a friend, a significant other or family member. Sometimes the appreciation isn't shown, even if you see it as an unspoken thing that just 'is'. There are times you need to check in with that someone and make sure they know you appreciate all they've done for you.



Everyone should be capable of doing this. If you can't, then you run the risk of the other person feeling used and taken for granted - and in time, leaving the relationship.



It's all about give and take, people - it can't be one sided. Anyone interested in building more than some fly by night acquaintance needs to be able to understand this. So stop, take stock, and see how much you've been giving in return for all the taking you've been doing.

There's this thing thing called willful ignorance - pisses me off to no end. It's when you see all the facts staring you in the face, somewhere in that head of yours you know you're wrong, but you are so locked in your own paradigm that you refuse to admit that it's possible you just might be wrong.

What is it about people that makes it so hard to admit that what they choose to believe or fight for is completely baseless and without an ounce of truth?

Take for example Creationism, or, "Intelligent Design". Everything we have points to evolution, yet we've got mobs of willfully ignorant people bleating to get it into our schools. By pure faith alone they know how this world came into existance - and no smart assed scientist is going to change their minds, damnit.

This is what's wrong with the world today - at least in part - way too much willful ignorance. And it's not just on large scales like the Intelligent Design thing, it's on all levels, down to you and your interactions with your friends. We simply choose to ignore facts and basic logic and go with what we want to hear - truth be damned.

Stop it, people.