Monday, January 12, 2009

Of Blogs and Profiles and Labels

A while back somebody suggested that I revise my blog profile, which currently is just a continuation of the mission statement. He said it would warm things up a bit if new viewers knew something more about me.

I thought about doing that for quite a while, and decided to leave things as they are. Who I am, what I believe: Anyone who reads will figure that out soon enough if they care. Where I came from, all the things that drove me out here, all that backstory shit: In the end, who cares? What difference does it make, really? I'm nobody special. I'm just that guy you met once, in that place. I don't have any big, impressive credentials. Maybe you've fallen into a time warp or something and I'm you, twenty or thirty years from now. Probably not.

But you can picture that if you want. I'm just this going-on-old beardo who lives alone in the boonies. I've got my share of scars and neuroses. If you want to put a political label on me, you can call me an anarchist. But beyond that I can't be much help because every time I try to nail down what that means it comes out as a thick stack of negatives. Those Starbucks-trashing hooligans in the Northwest call themselves anarchists, but I just see a bunch of vague soupy-socialists who like to break things. I don't begin to identify with them, and they wouldn't have much use for me, which is just fine. I can get along with some of the more intellectual types I meet; the Agorists and such. But every time I try to wrap my head around whatever they're selling it just comes out as a utopian mish-mash, though I'm sure that's not the way they see it. Randians just make me sad; their glorious leader came up with one good idea - not half as original as she thought or claimed, but good - and they tried to wrap their whole lives around it and hid themselves away from all its implications. Now the only thing her "intellectual heirs" seem sure of is that they really hate religion. Me, I don't hate religion. I even tried it on once, but it didn't fit. Be as religious as you like, if it comforts you. I prefer bourbon.

But you know, as I sit here and think about it there is something I could offer as a workable creed worth following, if you're looking for such a thing. I'm going to go get it and come back to talk about it in another post.

1 comment:

PintofStout said...

I see you found some Agorists out there in the great aether! To counter the intellectual anarchists, I find Edward Abbey's strictly emotional anarchy to be refreshing. He doesn't try to figure it all out, but just goes with his gut. (he talks extensively about your current habitat, as well).

Cheers.