Contents of O:
We have all been raised on
the validity of objective truth. Science has us all fooled with its simple
machines, which seem so easy to objectively describe. The dream of science is to
reduce the entire world to a series of these simple machines, all interacting in
a predictable, objective manner. Until this dream is realized, we are left with
the world as we experience it - a complex, often seemingly unpredictable place.
As we are not aware of the complex set of multiple objective truths which
make up each of our unique human minds, we are faced with a lingering reality: we
are all subjective. Perhaps our subjectivity is the result of individual
objective brain chemistries, but until [or unless] we are capable of decoding
these differences, we are left with the reality: we are all subjective.
None of us can ever make the exact same appraisal of something as the person
next to us, because we are physiologically, psychologically and cognitively
different.
This may seem like a problem. Because, if objectivity is not feasible,
there is no truth. This bothers our scientific sensibility: ćthere must be
some absolute, quantifiable, objective truth to be discovered - if not, how will
we know how to live?ä.
Objectivity is not needed; in fact, its mythical reality can hinder our
progress towards our real goal: what works best. Because, as subjective
beings, we maintain the advantage of multiple perspectives. Our
individual subjectivities grant us each a unique look at a problem, and allow us
to stray from the confusing and perhaps impossible quest for analytical
solutions based on discovering objective truths. Sometimes it is better to
muddle through, as subjective partisans, in an animated debate over what
works best rather than wait for the human mind to catch up with the
objective complexity of the universe.
Since I was a small child I
wanted to be famous. I was going to be a baseball player in Elementary School,
and by High School I was destined to be a professional skateboarder. Needless to
say, neither of these dreams, or any other dream of grand notoriety, have come
true. I certainly have accepted that I wonāt be playing for the Yankees, and I
no longer bother to think that Iāll even be sponsored for skateboarding... but
I would be lying if I claimed that this dream of fame had died completely.
Although I donāt make it a priority, I certainly hope that as many people as
possible will find what I do compelling. This, too, is a dream unfulfilled. I
love bands like Propagandhi or Fugazi, who reach huge audiences, and I must
admit I am a little bit envious of their position. But thereās something sour
about their existence; despite being truly progressive, neither band has been
able to avoid the pitfalls of wide distribution. Primarily, their message (as
product) is limited by their popularity. Even the masterpiece Propagandhi LP Less
Talk More Rock is a necessarily brief and condensed work; moving units
means mass production and standard packaging, which saps the soul out of even
the most organic of projects. So in our obscurity lies a certain advantage;
because selling 1000 of these will meet our most optimistic expectations,
weāve been able to release an absurdly impractical work. You now hold it in
your hands, and perhaps this is the point. We meet on equal footing, as we are
equally obscure. And unlike some famous mega-band with all that power and
influence that comes with thousands of adoring fans, we actually have a chance
of engaging in a dialogue, even to become friends! I cannot say honestly that I
have given up my dreams of fame; but if these dreams never materialize, I know
that what I am doing is important, and revel in the opportunities that obscurity
affords.
Please consider, for a moment, a person for whom you have ultimate admiration, and you know it. You can tell because it pisses you off so much when that person doesnāt agree with you; youāre upset because you realize that thereās a pretty good chance that if that person doesnāt agree, you might be wrong. Not too many people have this effect on you. Skip to a new person. This person has the most absurd sense of humor, one which often has you rolling with laughter, but moreover has you mimicking said sense of humor all day long. Skip to a new person. This person has unbounded enthusiasm for the most bizarre things in life, but is somehow very capable of translating this enthusiasm to you. Skip to a new person. This person creates things which not only awe you, but inspire you to attempt awesome things yourself. Skip to a new person. This person is a person with whom you could comfortably talk for days, because you know that this person actually cares about the discussion at hand. Now, synthesize these people into one; I sometimes find it hard to believe that all these people could be my one friend Richard Opalsky.