Diary of a Deipnosophist

Royal Rigmarole

So yeah, I’m jumping on the wagon. Not the one going to London to watch the wedding but the one traveling quickly in the opposite direction. I, like a huge proportion of the population, am disgusted at the amount of media time and attention this mundane task has received. People get married all the time, the only difference here is that one of the people taking part has been ridiculously privileged and rewarded from birth, for no reason.

What I did like was the buzz. Enough people cared to make the atmosphere pleasant. I walked a bit around my town; I saw at least 4 official road closures for street parties. It always makes me smile when I see people making an effort so socialise with all the people on the street, things should be like they were.

My street did not have a party. I think this was a shame, we don’t really know our neighbours like we should. Do you know your neighbours? Could you have a BBQ and invite them all? It is the curse of living in a reserved country like England. Unless you have a really good reason, you don’t disturb anyone and sometime, not even then.

So to conclude, nobody gives a shit about two people that don’t matter and I want a street party.

Over and out.

Dreamscape

Last night I had the biggest and most detailed dream to date, or I just remembered more of it that normal.

I have just been away for a week in the Lake District climbing mountains and camping by tarns. I didn’t record any of the dreams I had while I was away and I also didn’t sleep very well. I think that this caused a build-up of lost REM sleep that caused me to dream more than normal. That or my subconscious wanted to make up for the fact that there were a few days missing in my dream journal.

Anyway, it was a blend of pedal powered go-carts, my little sister, rockets, magic, merlin and lecture theatres. It was all quite wonderfully weird but does make you think, how on earth did I not question this reality whilst I was in it?

I shall right this one up, because it was so detailed I believe it is worthy. Check back here soon for the craziest story you are ever likely to read.

A Deipnosophist’s Dreams

Do you dream? How often do you dream?

Everybody dreams, every time they go to sleep. You will dream maybe 2 or 3 times in a normal night. If you answered less than this, it’s because you can’t remember them not because you don’t have them. If you would like to rememebr your dreams then the best idea is to keep a dream journal. This is what I am doing as of last night.

I objective is to be able to have lucid dreams, where I am concious that I am dreaming and able to control the dream much the way they do in ‘Inception’. I have no idea if this is truly possible but if it is, I want it.

I have read back the dreams I have had a few days later, some of them are really crazy. I may post one or two here in the future, they’re pretty funny. Let me know if you want me to post them.

Anyway, even if I never manage to lucid dream, I will still have a book full of random stories all of which read like an acid trip. I might right them up properly one day.

Anonymous asked: "The definition of Communism somewhat differs depending on where you look. It does not require people to become mindless drones, devoid of personality and individuality."

It should be pointed out that when people say Communism, they tend to mean Marxism. Marxism, however, does require people to give up all economic freedom for the sake of collectivism, and in essence does create a system that punishes individuality, because (as the previous anonymous poster pointed out) absolute conformity for the greater good is required. In the same way utilitarianism punishes minorities who don't conform to the wishes of the majority, Marxism punishes individuals who don't conform to the same economic and social ideals. In essence, devoid of personality? Not necessarily, but devoid of individuality? Almost certainly yes.

Of course then you get yourself into the debate as to what is most important, because saying Marxism doesn't work because it punishes individualism relies on the assumption that one puts individualism before numerous other factors. Many would argue that the upholding of basic liberties and freedoms is the hallmark of a good society, whereas others would argue that equality of outcome and equal distribution of goods is, but this is a whole other debate that is probably best to avoid getting into.

(I'm not the same poster as the last one, by the way)

Communism not against the individual but it is the only real celebration of individualism possible and It aims to achieve this through positive freedom. Under communism people are supposed to have the liberty and the capability to do whatever they wish, as long as this does not inhibit the liberty and capability of others to do the same.

Anonymous asked: 1) Education doesn't have to be paid for at the point-of-service (to borrow the term usually applied to healthcare), and can therefore be funded privately via loans which can be paid pack after education is complete. University education in the UK is currently partially funded in this way for most students, and although the state functions as the loan provider, this is by no means necessary.
2) While it is apparent from the relative performance of the healthcare systems used in the world (past and present) that this is one of the few areas where a state monopoly (or at least state dominance) is superior to a privately controlled system, it is nonetheless possible to run both.
2.1) As of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act 1986, ambulances and hospitals must provide emergency medical treatment to anyone who requires it, regardless of their ability to pay
3) If people need services that the state provide (i.e. they exist for the greater good) then there must be a demand for them. If they are not provided by the state then this demand does not go away, and it therefore benefits individuals to fill those gaps – there is no need for taxation to make up for a lack of goodwill towards others as self-interest leads them to work for the “greater good” without coercion.
4) Not really much to do with the rest of the post, but it would feel wrong to leave the statement that communism is “perfect in theory” uncontested. As the most extreme form of collectivism, communism requires all individuals to act for the “greater good” of the collective. Since there can only be one “greater good”, absolute conformity to the collective opinion is required, forcing individuals to give up liberties as essential as freedom of thought. As this situation (which is repulsive to the individualists who make up the majority of the post-enlightenment West) is required for communism to exist, I certainly wouldn’t call it “perfect in theory”.
I should also add that I don’t wish to contest the idea that the world is better off with taxes, simply the idea that it would not be able to function without them.

1)The education system, for higher education, used to be free. Completely funded by the government. Then it became heavily subsidised. Now, from 2012, almost the full cost of the education is being shown to the student. They loan system does work. It allows students to borrow money to pay for their education. It however does not allow you to borrow all the money that you need. I’m unsure increasing the amount this is done is a good thing. If the loans for all education are to be like the ones currently available for university students then you would not need to pay them back until you earn more than £xx,xxx per annum. I don’t think we should increase the amount of money being borrowed that needn’t be paid back.

2) While it is true that the health service would continue to function if it were privatised. It would not serve those in less fortunate financial circumstances to the same degree as everyone else. While you are correct that it is possible to run both, only one way does not entrench class divide.

2.1) As it should be. However, how do the hospitals pay for the emergency medical treatment? If the only people who needed the emergency treatment were unable to pay would it continue to exist? or would it disappear due to a lack of funding? The cost of these things are funded out of the money paid by the richer people needing health care. This is not abolishment of taxes but hiding it.

3) Although people may fill these gaps with a service to fill their own pocket. It is going to be at the expense of those requiring that service. If a few hundred people attend a service that is funded by everyone in that town then the cost goes almost unnoticed. However, if an individual, working for personal gain, is providing that service and the money is no longer coming from the masses then it is coming from the few who need that service. This either making the service unusable for the poor or the cost far more apparent for those who have no other choice. Also, if a company is set up to fill a gap left by the state post tax abolishment do you think it will be not-for-profit? The service will, of course, be more expensive because the users are paying to line the pockets of the provider.

4) The definition of Communism somewhat differs depending on where you look. It does not require people to become mindless drones, devoid of personality and individuality. (This however was not part of the original discussion)

You have some really good arguments and I think you are right. The world would not cease functioning but would function to a lesser standard and therefore is hardly worth consideration.

Anonymous asked: "Without taxes, the world would stop." - Not necessarily.

Genuine, non-aggressive interaction. wow. This is an interment first! Thank you for your comment, and yes, I think you are correct, to a small degree.

Society would be fine if there were no taxes but only if humanity wasn’t so deeply flawed.

At the moment, taxes pay for compulsory education (up to A levels). This education allows people to get better jobs and in turn to pay their taxes so that the next generation can be educated. If there were no taxes, you would have to pay your own way through the school system. It would only take one weak person in your family to get addicted to something or to require expensive medical care for you to be unable to put your children through school. As soon as that happens they get badly paid jobs due to them being uneducated. They are then unable to pay for their children’s education therefore starting a cascade of uneducated people.

Taxes pay for medical care. Without them we would be like America where the doctor will check your wallet before checking your pulse. This is not what I want for my children. A world where people are denied medical attention because they can’t afford to pay it is not a world I want to live in. If you think about it it’s just another way of saying “let’s kill off the poor folk”.

Taxes help us by taking the money needed for our general welfare away from us before we can waste it or lose it. By paying your taxes you are contributing to the greater good which is something that people would not do if they were not forced to.

Essentially you are right. Without taxes a world would not stop. But it would need to be a world full of genuinely nice, strong willed and healthy individuals. 

It’s a bit like communism. It is perfect in theory. But only in theory.

Note to haters:

If you do not like my blog, do not read it. I am willing to answer any questions not full of hate or written in complete capitals. I will read every message and I will mentally rip you shreds instead.

This is my blog, you will not ruin this, you have no effect on the world.

Go stew in your own insignificance Haters because the world can do without you.

blogcerberus asked: WHERE IS YOUR FACE? WHOS THE ANONYMUS ONE NOW? WHAT IS USEFUL ABOUT TELLING ME I NEED TO BE MORE LIKE YOU? YOU USE BIG WORDS SO YOU SEEM BIG I SAY WHAT I MEAN. I DONT NEED YOU TO TELL ME TO REACH OUT TO DEAF PEOPLE I PREY FOR THE HOMELESS AND I PAY TAXES SO THEY CAN BUY POT AND SIT ON THEIR ASSES

Lets answer your questions first:

My face is on the front of my skull, just where it has always been.

I’m not sure who the anonymous one is, it’s not me and it’s clearly not you. Andy McNab perhaps?

Good god, I wouldn’t wish anybody was more like me. What use would that be? We need a range of people in the world to make it function. Every tier of society is important along with every person.

I like my words, some of them are big, yes. I however do not think that it makes me “BIG”. I would say it makes me articulate.

If you don’t need me to tell you to reach out to deaf people then it means you already are. A big thank you from me and my deaf friends. Many of them, along with myself, would like to shake your hand for doing such a noble thing.

I’m very glad that you pay your taxes as it is a legal and moral obligation. Without taxes, the world would stop.

I didn’t quite catch the meaning of the last part of your message, I assume it means that you do some sort of work at a shelter for homeless people. Again a very noble activity. A big thank you from me and the rest of humanity.

You are a very angry person. However, directing your hate at me will get you nowhere. If you don’t need me telling you anything, I suggest that you stop reading my blog. I am touched, that even though you hate the subject matter, the writing keeps you engaged and coming back for more.

I look forward to the day you muster the courage to write your own blog for others to critique. When the day arrives I will be an avid reader because your heart seems to be in the right place.

The Deafening Silence

Last Friday I went to a deaf pub. It was a normal evening and I really enjoyed myself.

The pub was packed, everywhere you looked you could see people and movement. But, at the same time, you could hear the gentle music being played in the background. I am not used to seeing so many people make so little noise. It was weird to say the least.

I need to point out here that I do know sign language. I’m doing night class in the stuff and loving every minute of it. Everybody in the deaf community is kind and accepting to the many mistakes one makes when starting out in a new language. They are just happy that someone is making an effort to communicate with them.

I think that everyone should make an effort to learn sign language, to make deaf people a true and equal part of our society. With people from other countries we can always hide behind the lazy excuse “Well, they’re coming to England, they should learn English” or “I’m only here for a week, I’ll just find someone who speaks English”. You can’t do that for deaf people, you either learn their language or they get ignored completely and cut off from the world.

As a nation, we are willing to be accommodating (most of us) so long as it takes no effort on out part. Originally we were happy to offer jobs to immigrant workers because we were too lazy to do those jobs ourselves or we deemed them too demeaning. We accept physically disabled people because that only requires us to sign a petition for ramps to be put in at the library or for us to park slightly farther from Tesco. That, however, is where we draw the line. We, as a nation have decided that we are not going to learn sign language. We have decided that accommodating a whole sub-culture is too much effort.

It wouldn’t take much to add sign language to the curriculum. If we teach it to kids while they are young it will help to teach them acceptance. While they are young they pick up language so easily you can barely say you’re teaching them. Teaching sign language to a child also encourages it’s motor skills to develop meaning that they will be a more coordinated and collected person later in life. Knowing more than one language promotes organisation and makes learning extra languages much easier, even later in life.

I will continue to learn sign language as long as i can find someone to teach me. I will teach my kids sign language, if I’m blessed enough to have any.

What are you doing to reach out?

Euphemistic Prepositions

By this is mean the slang we user to define relationships and activities within relationships. They are generally used by or when concerning a younger person.

For example, “going out”. This can be replaced completely in every sentence by the word dating, but we don’t. Is it out natural British reserve coupled with the awkwardness of teenage love that denies us the use of this common word. Our Britishness stops us from saying were dating because we don’t want other people to realise that they aren’t and should therefore somehow feel bad. As a teenager we are reluctant to relinquish our childhood by dating, a very adult activity in the sense that it is looking for someone to marry. With relinquishing our childhood comes adulthood and responsibility and the general end of fun.

There are many more examples of Euphemistic Prepositions. For example, “Making out”, “Getting off”, “Doing it” “Get in!” etc.

Each of these commonly used phrases is used predominantly by younger people reluctant to say in blatant terms, I have found someone’s company I enjoy. We are in a relationship, we kiss passionately and have intercourse. I think some time in the future I might like to marry this person.

These phrases are used by people, however subconsciously, that are immature and un-willing to grow up.

The other thing that annoys me is people who say, one day into a relationship, “I love you”. You obviously don’t you massive idiot. You may well do, sometime in the future, but you can’t, not already. You might have a strong sense that they are awesome and that you very much enjoy their company. Love is a very strong word that encompasses a deep desire to be with someone at any time no matter what mood either of you are in and regardless of what is happening in either of your lives.

Younger people tend to drop “I love you” into a relationship far to early. It ruins everything or it doesn’t and then become a completely meaningless phrase. People do it for a need to feel more adult than they are, mature, older people love therefore if I love then I am mature and grown-up. No. This is a concious lie to yourself, you must know that you don’t know them nearly enough to say you love them. You may indeed love spending time with them, but that is different.

So there it is, people who are too scared to grow up use euphemistically vague phrases to describe intimate acts and people who want to seem more grown up than they are tell people that they love them when they clearly can’t.