Conversation Geek

I get riled up about understanding people.

I'm a huge bookworm/movie buff/tv watcher. What I value the most out of any piece of literature or good drama is its ability to show me a new perspective; it's ability to show me a character and get me to the point where I can actually say I understand what's going on in their life. I like going from disliking a character, to finding out enough about their life, that I can enter a conversation and argue and be their advocate because I can see where they are coming from.

Here's an example. There's always that one character that shows up occasionally who loses their temper and lets loose on some other character who is genuinely having a difficult time in their life. The angry character doesn't know that the other character just found their husband's mistresses' apartment number, or that if they don't pull their dollars together they are going to lose their house and have creditors breathing down their neck, or that an ex just showed up from out of town and is causing emotional havoc. The one with the temper doesn't know any of that, and as the watcher, you always sit there and say out loud to the book or the screen "Why would you say that to him/her? Don't you know that this is happening? You don't understand where they are coming from."

I don't ever want to be the first character who is self-centered enough that they barely acknowledge that there is another person in the room, let alone that they have a set of problems just as huge as theirs. I've found that people almost always have reasons for the things they do. People are complex webs of layers, emotions, reactions, wounds, loves, passions, dreams, flight, and wit. And, when you discover a new side of them, another reason, a perspective that they've carried through their life, you make yourself and everyone around you more human; more whole.

That is what riles me up. That is what excites me. It's what I live for. I want to understand, more than anything else.

I concur. I think the drive to understand one another is at the foundation of writing, which is one reason I think personal blogging holds such an importance place in our future culture. That includes outlets like Twitter and Facebook, but anywhere that people can try to peel back the layers through the use of their written words is a step in the right direction.

i just realized this about myself, or maybe i'm not just realizing it but have finally been able to put it into coherent thoughts. while i do a lot of talking about energy conservation (okay, not *a lot,* but i do mention it now and then) the energy i believe we most need to conserve is HUMAN energy. by that, i don't mean we shouldn't be using it, but that we should be using it much more efficiently than we are. i believe many businesses are way too big, that too much gets lost in translation, that the talents of so many people are being wasted in the interest of ease and efficiency. except in the end, it's not efficient. i don't know how to fix that, really, except to support local and other small businesses whenever that option is feasible. from buying handmade scarves and mittens on etsy to shopping farmers markets... it's all better for us AND for the earth. woo!

along the same lines, i think the entire education system could use a serious overhaul. too many kids' talents are being wasted, or worse, never realized. that's not okay with me. this is something i have even less of an idea how to fix... but i'm teaching, and i hope with all my heart i'm doing it right.

yeah. that's what's getting me riled up lately.

Good lord, Mari (@foiledcupcakes) - save some for me! After all that, I guess I second them all, and I can add . . . um . . . Snickers bars?

Nice, Mari.

Nice.

i forgot music. and reese's peanut butter cups.

the inventor of peanut butter and chocolate = one of the most rile-worthy people ever to have lived.

nate, you're a geek and quick-witted enough to keep up with my snarkiness. consider me riled.

Oh, see now I'm impressed. I was going to say Reese's Peanut Butter Cups when he said Snickers. I ate about twenty last weekend.

the reese's easter eggs are the best.

Easter's like a million days away. I need Halloween recs.

i just ate peanut butter out of the jar. with a spoon. and chocolate chips on top.

don't judge me.

Thanks for the invite. Really. That sounds delicious.

things that get me riled up (in no particular order):
learning. contribution. connecting. community. sharing ideas. intelligent, respectful, progressive conversation. reading. travel. culture. current events. understanding. outbursts of hilarity. diplomacy/tolerance/awareness/acceptance. humility. aha! moments. brainstorms that lead to brilliant solutions. creativity. people who think differently than i do. people who are quick-witted enough to keep up with my snarkiness.

geeks.

intelligent, respectful, progressive conversation. - love that.

Love the whole list, actually. You're such a win in my 2009.

Props to your pops for giving you that kind of rare guidance that so many people miss out on.

Oh, you know what gets me riled up -- the future! Why? Because it's NOW.

It's NOW and yesterday! Yeah, my Dad's good people. I feel lucky often.

The environment. Getting people excited about the world around them. Oh man, you cannot shut me up about plants.

You are such a plant humper! :) No, I'm ramping up my attention to such concerns as well...I should probably take some pointers from you.

Conversations with you make the ideafreak part of my brain dance around like crazy. So, feeling is mutual sir.

And thanks :)

Um, those were supposed to be links to your blogs. Ugh. Off to fix. :)

I remember people by the conversations I have had with them. The way I care about a person is directly proportional to the sort of conversations I have had them. Getting to know new people always brings me a certain type of a high. Misanthropy or even an indifference to meeting new people always amuses me. How can people not want to know more people?..

On the downside, a lot of people think I am attention seeking, cause of that... so it was great to know there are more people out there who understand how it feels.

What gets me riled up: a Good read, a good joke, good piece of furniture, art , history, theology ...and a good song.

What ideas am i excited about: Some art projects, some things i have wanted to write about yet are still in my drafts folder... and the sketch i have in mind for my bridal dress :P

I wish I'd written that whole first paragraph...it's exactly how I feel. I'm always curious about what's around the next corner. People are so interesting.