The poll's over. Violence does solve at least some things, according to 58 of you, and doesn't, according to 49. Have to say, I really didn't think Yes would win this one and I think L's not all that pleased that it did (or that I was one of the 58). There was a Gandhi quote I was trying to find on the subject, but I failed. Here's a similar one from the Dalai Lama's Twitter account (really) a few days ago:
Sounds about right. Finding a non-violent solution is hard. Violence is almost always easier. And even so, sometimes it's the only choice I see that'll do the job. I never did come up with a better solution to stop people shooting at me and my mates than to shoot back.
The new poll's on toast and the many horrible things I've seen people put on it, mostly various former flatmates.
For those curious about the card Sherlock made me, it was Snake the snake, made out of pasta shapes, and therefore not blue this time. He had a drawn background of our kitchen and a speech bubble wishing me Happy Nanny Day. Best card I ever got. Thank you, Sherlock.
Lestrade pointed out I was the only one of the four of us with a father, which...I knew, but hadn't really thought about. And I haven't been a terribly good son recently. So I talked to him yesterday after I got the boys to school and got him caught up on my life, excepting the break-in. He made exactly the "joke" I expected about it being quite a father's day present, but at least it's done. Sorry I didn't tell you yesterday, L. I just didn't want to think about it.
Non-violence is a sign of strength; violence is a sign of desperation and weakness.
Sounds about right. Finding a non-violent solution is hard. Violence is almost always easier. And even so, sometimes it's the only choice I see that'll do the job. I never did come up with a better solution to stop people shooting at me and my mates than to shoot back.
The new poll's on toast and the many horrible things I've seen people put on it, mostly various former flatmates.
For those curious about the card Sherlock made me, it was Snake the snake, made out of pasta shapes, and therefore not blue this time. He had a drawn background of our kitchen and a speech bubble wishing me Happy Nanny Day. Best card I ever got. Thank you, Sherlock.
Lestrade pointed out I was the only one of the four of us with a father, which...I knew, but hadn't really thought about. And I haven't been a terribly good son recently. So I talked to him yesterday after I got the boys to school and got him caught up on my life, excepting the break-in. He made exactly the "joke" I expected about it being quite a father's day present, but at least it's done. Sorry I didn't tell you yesterday, L. I just didn't want to think about it.
31 comments:
Because I am frivolous when agitated, I will immediately admit that I am the (thus far) lone vote for sugar being disgusting on toast. Just . . . ew. And let me tell you that in my family, we put guacamole on everything. Guacamole eggs are to this day one of my favorite things. *goes a little dreamy-eyed* Mmmmmmm.
Anyway, veering sharply away from continuing the violence debate, I am instead going to piffle about and demand photos of the card. Macaroni anything is always cute as the dickens. And there is something distinctly surreal about the mental juxtaposition of Sherlock's love of chemical warfare and macaroni art. Just a touch of the cognitive dissonance.
And now, I'm going to take my heavy thoughts and my flighty reactions and tumble into bed. I have a rocket science class to teach in the morning.
TTFN,
Bronwyn
In no context could guacamole be a horrible thing. I'm pretty sure it would be delicious on toast. (But I'll admit that I'm Texan.)
On a more serious note: good on you for the Father's Day call, John.
Yay, a fellow Texan! And good guacamole is a thing of profound beauty. Bad guacamole is a tragedy that should be stricken from the book of life. Though, unless you let the avocados go really really bad, I've never found bad guac.
And after I posted previously, I had to go make avocado butter. For my toast in the morning. And probably the fish I'm going to grill tomorrow. And the burgers I have in the freezer. And I shan't allow myself to simply eat it with a spoon. Again. I'm such a sad state of affairs.
TTFN,
Bronwyn
Captcha says "armed"?! Why?!
I voted marmite. I don't think there can be anything more disgusting than marmite on anything!
I agree with Brownyn about the pictures if you're able. The card sounds adorable and very creative!
As for the violence, well. In my experience, I've found that sometimes the only solution is violence, but like I've said, I used to be a soldier, so I see things a bit differently. Not saying it's always the solution, but sometimes it's the only one. And I won't say anymore about that.
On a happier note, look, a cat that makes hilarious noises when you scratch it's back!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW7xpBs3YQM&feature=related
I don't know if other people had the problem I did, but I didn't vote on the last poll.
I don't agree with war, and I don't think violence 'solves' anything, but I know a lot of situations arise where violence is a step towards some kind of difference, like in Egypt. And I think that for someone in a bad situation (re: abuse) sometimes violence back is the only option open to them to protect themselves or others.
Yeah, been thinking about it all week, no closer to an answer, and certainly not one I could pigeon-hole into a 'yes/no' answer.
The toast one, however is easy. :DDD
Also, I heard a second-hand rumour that without Gummi bears, the British Army would cease to function. Y/N?
I'm still with Lestrade on the previous poll. (And without wishing to provoke a wanky debate, I notice that generally people saying they voted yes are the ones with experience of being violent, rather than - or as well as - being on the receiving end).
I voted marmite in this one, because it's evil, and always the worst thing to put on toast, regardless of what the other options are. Sugar on toast sounds quite nice (my Mum used to give us sugar sandwiches occasionally as kids, as a treat).
Sherlock's card sounds adorable - another vote here for seeing scans of the cards if possible. How's Mycroft now, feeling a bit better?
Is it OK to ask how your Dad took the news about your career change?
Sugar is wonderful on toast and cold eggplant is definitely the worst. The only thing I've ever liked eggplant in is my uncle's eggplant and shrimp casserole. He makes it for Thanksgiving every year and the only thing that disappears faster is my mother's spinach madeline. I like to put cinnamon on my toast.
Sherlocks card sounds great. It was sweet of him to make cards for you and Lestrade. I'm glad you got the talk with your Dad over with. I find that the longer you wait with that sort of thing, the scarier just doing it seems.
Your poll needs a 'none of the above'. I'd put any of that on toast. Marmite obviously being the top options of lovely, tasty things.
As for the old poll, no I wasn't terribly happy with the way the vote went - and I was surprised.
I never did come up with a better solution to stop people shooting at me and my mates than to shoot back.
My point would be that you shooting at them/them shooting at you could go on forever (is going on forever).
Shooting at each other isn't solving a bloody thing. It's the diplomats and the negotiators and the battle of hearts and minds which is going to get people to stop shooting in the first place. So yes, I'm all for you shooting back to protect yourself and your friends. But the poll was about solving things, and shooting at each other won't solve anything. Even if you get to the point where there's no one left to shoot, there will still be a younger generation growing up with no fathers and a lot of hatred.
Ghandi did say this: I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.
Which I think I largely subscribe to.
I'm...glad? You spoke to your Father. I hope you feel better now it's done? I think it's probably a good thing for him to have a while to get used to the changes in your life before we see him, if we go up there.
And I do have a Father, somewhere. I think. So you don't get worst son of the year award.
If everyone avoided violence it would be better all round but I don't see it ever happening. People are greedy and it's easier to use it to get what you want than not.
I don't understand it myself. The need to hurt, to take what's not yours, to get ahead no matter the cost, the disregard of others.
But then too much empathy has always been my problem.
The card sounds gorgeous. I can understand the trouble Mycroft had with it but I think it's great that you're acknowledged for the work you're doing but you got a Nanny card and G. the DI card. You're not replacing their father but important in their life.
Glad you got the phone call out of the way anyway. Sometimes it's better to just break the news.
Kath _ I think Mycroft was fine with it in the end. I suppose it was just a bit of a shock to him, when Sherlock produced these cards.
Sherlock put it pretty simply though - "We don't have a Father and they don't have any children, so I should be able to give them a special card. And there isn't a Nanny day OR a DI day to do it on."
L - Diplomacy mostly seems like intimidation, manipulation, and political gamesmanship to me. If every world leader was like Gandhi or the Dalai Lama, maybe the human race could actually come up with some long term solutions once in a while.
No, I don't especially feel better having talked to him. Sorry.
And I wouldn't be surprised at anything you'd put on toast. You know, there's a shop somewhere in London that sells deep fried ants.
So you don't get worst son of the year award.
Nor do you, love. You were only a kid when he left. It wasn't your fault.
Actually, I think the guy I spoke to this morning might get the award. Or was last years winner.
Do you want to say why you don't feel better? I mean, talk tonight, if you don't want to on here. Even if you don't feel better for the talking, are you glad you've got the initial 'telling him' thing over with?
You know, we really don't have to go and see them, if you don't want.
I'm not going to get into how depressing the state of world politics is. My day is plenty depressing enough without thinking about the rest of the world.
What did he do? Do I want to know?
I suppose I don't feel better because it went just the way I thought it would. I just wish either of them would just say what they actually feel for once and not leave me to guess, even if I can guess pretty easily.
My political awareness goes through cycles; I'll be really active and involved for months or years, and then I'll down-shift and totally ignore it all. I'm in the latter part of the cycle now. I spent the entire Bush administration being furiously angry and afraid by turns, and the first year or so of Obama being hopeful and disappointed by turns, and I'm just effing done for a while. No news, no political blogs, very few long discussions about it with friends.
I know I'm shirking my responsibility as a citizen of the world by just tuning it all out. But I'm just exhausted. Caring and worrying all the time is too stressful, it feels like a second job. And yeah, I like coming home from work in the evening and thinking about inconsequential things and just enjoying my life on occasion.
Sometimes I just want to be one of the masses for a while, you know?
Took his Mum and sister hostage with a knife when they went to arrest him.
Wish i was there to give you a hug. Whatever they think, I don't care. I love you.
You watching the tennis? I'm only 2 miles away. I could pop by and bring you back some strawberries and cream, to complete your experience?
Lindsay - I don't see anything wrong with that. There's not much we can even when we are well informed.
L - ...Well, he's got us beat, for certain.
I don't need strawberries, but I would like to see you. If you're sure you have time.
Ha, I meant I was near Wimbledon, not near you. But, having said that, my job here is done ('no comment, no effing comment, f*** off pig' etc. So not many notes to write up.)
So I could swing by sort-of on my way back to the yard. Christ knows they owe me some time back.
Sorry, should've got that. Not that quick on the uptake today apparently. I should probably say no, don't bother, but. Yeah, please, if you can. Just for a minute.
Course I can. It will be my pleasure.
You okay? I mean...well, y'know.
Thanks.
I've just been thinking too much. It never ends well.
I would offer to wipe every thought from your mind...but I imagine the boys are there, which sort of precludes that plan. We shall have to schedule that particular therapy session in sometime.
On the way. Stuck in bloody traffic. Wish I'd brought the bike down instead of a pool car.
You guys were never going to win for bad son of the year. Tense, dysfunctional, distant, sounds more like average son of the year.
I found the poll challenging. I've never had Marmite so it doesn't seem fair to vote for it. While I don't usually put the others on toast none seem awful to me. Cold eggplant, that's Baba ghanoush yes? I love that, but don't think of it as on toast for breakfast.
L - I'll hold you to that. Sorry. I'm just having a crap day and it's all my own fault. And my head itches.
kholly - Yeah. Marmite's horrible no matter what obviously, but all the others are nice in their proper context - i.e. not on toast for breakfast.
It's not your fault. Shhhh.
Almost with you. I wish this car had some blues and twos I could abuse (this is an emergency, right? Yeah, thought so.)
Don't think I can help much with the itching. Apart from distracting you.
Thanks. I mean, really, just...thank you.
As I said, my pleasure.
I honestly will get some time off soon. Promise.
I miss you! What are you doing? Is the tennis being rained off, or doesn't that happen anymore, now there's a roof over centre court?
I think it was worth the money just to never hear Cliff bloody Richard singing during the rain delays again. Not that I watch much tennis. But everyone remembers that.
Miss you too. They're still playing on centre, but I'm actually watching the rain on court 18 online - should be Wawrinka and Bolelli, but in the meantime the rain's quite soothing. Nadal will be on centre in a bit though and will probably be more interesting than the rain.
How's work?
It's not soothing when you're out in it. It's bloody annoying.
Work is...promising. frustrating. Almost exciting and a bit bloody terrifying. How's that for an overview?
Don't get too excited watching young fit men. I will be jealous.
Gmail keeps showing me ads for "10 Dangerous Mistakes Women Make That Ruin The Perfect Relationship" - (thanks for that implication, gmail) do you think telling you all about Bolelli's arse is one of them? They're not even back on yet actually; it's just the umpire pacing and looking bored, and the cameraman wiping his lens off with his sleeve.
That is quite an overview. Things are...progressing at least?
Yeah. I'm also quite glad it's nearly over.
Given the number of hours he must practice every day, it's really got to be better than mine, I think. He's going to lose though, poor boy.
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