Proof I over-analyze the most random things
“I’m a bleeding-heart humanist.” That’s what she called herself.
It’s been over a year since I read it and I’m not exactly sure why, but I’ve continued to remember that turn of phrase in this girl’s Facebook profile.
Maybe because I doubt that a person who is truly a so-called bleeding-heart humanist would go around proclaiming herself as such to everyone. Like how a person can’t legitimately proclaim to be a philosopher just because he or she philosophizes—it’s other people who recognize that person as a philosopher, otherwise it’s like you’re just posing. You see what I mean?
Or maybe, I just inherently doubt all people who claim to be something when there is rarely a term that can fully accommodate all interpretations and nuances…especially when our perception of things change as we continually add layers of knowledge to our experience.
You can even take “Laid-back Buddhist,” for example. Since, you know, I do “claim” to be one myself.
I chose it because it’s so open to interpretation and can be self-defined. Am I really Buddhist? Yes, in a lot more ways than people initially expect. But am I Buddhist in the traditional sense? Heck no. And what in the world is “laid-back” Buddhism even supposed to mean? That I have an easy-going nature which likes to question traditional thought or that I’m just plain lazy???
Ha! Damned if I know.
To be honest, I probably choose to poke fun at myself because I’m still in the midst of figuring things out. In gaining self-awareness, there’s this other method that I also like to use: defining myself by first figuring out what I’m not…
And for one thing, I don’t think I’d ever call myself a bleeding-heart humanist.
- It can be such a superficial label, sounding too close to something that’s just the politically correct thing to say. In which case, a person isn’t actually a humanist but simply being one for others, by their definitions. Doesn’t that go against the whole humanistic ideal of self-concept and reaching full self-potential? Labeling yourself can sometimes be a constriction. I think that’s why I often anti-label myself (i.e. by what I’m sure I’m definitely not).
- I see no point in adding “bleeding-heart.” If humanism were solely based on empathy, you might as well be honest and call it pity. Using a different adjective like “active humanist” or “proactive humanist” would make more sense to my mind.
- If a person were a true humanist (granted, there are many different interpretations possible), he or she would actually be existentialist. Basically humanism, existentialism is just less optimistic and in many ways, more altruistic. At least, in my opinion. Very Jean-Paul Sartre? Yeah, a bit.
Hm, I ought to consider converting to “Laid-back Buddhist Existentialism.” Ooh, or how’s “The Buddhist Existentialist”? Uhh, “The Existentially Laid-back Buddhist”?!
Gah, all manage to sound absurdly pretentious! And rather confusing, even to me. So, I’ll stay true to my roots and opt for the most laid-back choice: keep the original. Proof that going in circles somehow always brings me back to square one.
I don’t know if I should feel relieved or just throw my hands up in the ironic absurdity of it all.
February 11th, 2008 at 12:31 am
Laid-back Buddhist Existentialism.com would definitely be an insanely long domain name, not to mention good luck to the people with poor spelling, haha. I’m often nitpicking these things as well, but it can really go on forever. You see someone describe themselves and then think “but are you REALLY? Hmm…”
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February 11th, 2008 at 12:33 am
Holly: Hahaha, exactly my sentiments. If I often question my own motives, of course I’m gonna analyze and doubt other people’s behavior. How often is a person the “real deal”? Most times I think people don’t know it, I think that’s why I question the motives of a person who self-publicizes as such.
February 11th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Yeah, you spend a bunch of time thinking about something only to end up right back where you started. I know the feeling.
I’ve been told my more than one person that I “think too much.” Is that such a bad thing? Seems to me that a lot of problems in the world are largely because people aren’t thinking.
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February 11th, 2008 at 12:48 am
Dan, totally agreed…a lot times, the problem is because people just don’t want to have to think. It can be all too convenient to react or just accept.
Hm…I can see how thinking too much might be seen as a bad thing, sort of like worrying too much (but then again, I’ll freely admit my younger sister gets her perfect grades because she worries way more about it than yours truly probably ought to).
Hahaha, I get “insightful” quite a bit. Perhaps that’s just a polite way of saying, “Wow, you really thought about this, huh?” or “Wow, you have quick reactive BS-skills!” I personally like to think it means, “Hot damn, you’re smart.” But then the surprised tone would make me think, “So wait, do I not look intelligent? I mean, otherwise why would you be so surprised?”
…uhh…okay, there I go, starting to think too much again…
February 11th, 2008 at 1:39 am
Are you sure studying for psych didn’t spark this “random” analysis? How about “Existing Laid-back Human”? It’s shorter and easier to spell than “Laid-back Buddhist Existentialism.” And I didn’t realize there are squares in circles. Not really sure what kind of circles you’ve been drawing… =P
Just for the record, I think you choose to make fun of yourself because all the cool people are making fun of you (i.e. me).
February 11th, 2008 at 1:57 am
HAHAHA. Consider it abstract art.
Oh, and I’m positive studying for ab-psych triggered this train of thought. You psychic, you.
Also for the record, other people “gossip” but only the really cool people “analyze”!
February 11th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
“To be honest, I probably choose to poke fun at myself because I’m still in the midst of figuring things out. In gaining self-awareness, there’s this other method that I also like to use: defining myself by first figuring out what I’m not…”
I’VE SPENT ALOT OF TIME FIGURING OUT WHAT I AM NOT…I STILL DONT KNOW WHAT I AM.
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February 11th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
lols, but at the very least we get to know what we aren’t, right??
That’s my rationalizing consolation.
February 11th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Oh, really? I would’ve thought it was the “special” kind.
Other people “gossip,” the really cool people “analyze,” and those in a league of their own do both with style (i.e. us). (”analossip”?)
February 11th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Hahaha, actually that was my first impulse response!!! But you see I wanted to prove that you can’t read my mind
“Analossip”? Puh-lease, you’re killing me with the accidental innuendo.
(because yes…I’m immature like that)
(and yes…you know you are, too)
February 11th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
On second thought. Knowing you, I’m starting to doubt whether it was accidental at all. =P
February 11th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
“(because yes…I’m immature like that)
(and yes…you know you are, too)”
Well I was about to laugh after the first phrase but after glancing at the second I decided not to compromise my maturity level.
“Analossip” with style. Whatever do you mean?
I think you should sign on AIM so we could stop having a conversation on your comments section. If not just to say “Hi.”
February 11th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Just stopped in to say hi, I am drowning in grad school so do not get around as often as I’d like. The place looks beautiful.
I use the term humanist in my about page on my blog for a long time in order to help explain myself to people who would write and question why I didn’t call myself a feminist…not worth trying to explain they don’t come under the same realm. Humanist is a close as I can get but existentialism is too solid a philosophy for me.
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February 12th, 2008 at 12:06 am
[…] Which is basically back to the original plan. And that’s the kind of roundabout thinking that Joanne would appreciate. […]
February 12th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
It seems to me that people sometimes grab their intro philosophy textbook, open a random page, and choose a descriptive word. Kind of like the girl I met who joked about being “bougie” but had no idea what a proletariat was. Yikes.
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February 13th, 2008 at 3:33 am
I must admit that this entire post eludes my brainpower. But maybe because it’s late, and I need to go to bed. Too profound for me, Joanne
February 14th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
I think that if you were really THAT laid-back, you wouldn’t be too worried about any of this at all. But what do I know?
Love the new site, btw.
February 17th, 2008 at 1:17 am
I think both work cuz they make people Think* Scary thought i know!! ;))
But by adding 2 phrases like Laidback or BleedingHeart in front of those 2 popular terms in today’s zeitgeist at least U ponder for a brief moment in Time + go hmmmm I wonder they’re Thinking? I wonder what this means?? Maybe I should investigate this further + do a little more research*
Eureka! I learned something!!
Whatta concept*
;))
Peace*
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February 19th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
someone actually proclaimed themselves a humanist? hmm. isn’t that kind of like proclaiming yourself a martyr? seems….counterintuitive.
February 25th, 2008 at 10:31 am
I’ve often found that people define themselves inappropriately because they aren’t really very self aware of their own thoughts and feelings. Like the person who told me what a conservationist they were while throwing a cigarette butt out the window of their car.
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February 26th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
[…] off all, I miss Joanne who is busy overanalyzing the most random things and losing her mind in the process. Blogging just isn’t as fun without my blog sparring […]
February 26th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Fortunately, the way your blog chopped up my quote, no one will ever know there was a typo!
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February 26th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Hi Joanne! I’ve been called “bleeding heart” and “existentialist” many times in my life. I’ve been told that my naive way of seeing life is weak and foolish. Most of it comes from my opinion that war is an act of unintelligent cowardice, not intelligent bravery. If I preemptively shot my neighbors because I thought they were going to kill me, I would go to prison. Our nation did exactly that - in the name of freedom. I just cannot understand it. So I am idealistic and believe humankind just doesn’t live up to it’s own intellect.
I understand your ideas and agree with the laid back approach. That square one you refer to is where I tend to return to after each and every storm!
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