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Seigi de wa nai yo

11th April, 2005. 9:55 pm. Post No. 3 Mind your language(insomniac_od)

Mind your language

There are many ways to say things. Of course, some languages suffer more ambiguity than others and some naturally cause confusion because clarity is avoided out of fear that feelings may be hurt.

The most famous example, or infamous example, would be that of non Japanese people swearing that the Japanese language is a total mystery. A friend once described it as "a language which does its best to ensure no one understands each other." While this may be a little harsh to say, there is no denying that confusion arises mostly because "yes" is replied even though the speaker would rather say "no" and means the latter in reality.

In this respect, I am glad I speak a language that is relatively easy to understand. English, its faults and all, does not leave one guessing the meaning too often. In fact, if confusion arises between English speakers, it is more through poor use of the language than skillful masking of intentions. Notwithstanding this matters, I find myself often wishing at times English speakers would mind their tone when using the language. Afterall, nothing justifies sacrificing basic politeness especially when it will not aid in the clarity of your message.

If I had a dollar for each time someone said something hurtful without meaning to because of a poor choice of words, I would be buying my fifth villa in Tuscany by now. For example, people needing to ask someone for help should never say things to the other like, "I need this; so can you do this like now?"

Well they could technically, but if that rude question was aimed at me when my help was sought, I doubt I would answer the request in a manner that would please the speaker. While I doubt I would be rude, unless the offending question came from a particularly good friend, I would be cryptically polite yet refuse to lift a finger to help, even if the answer was rotting at my feet.

You see, despite wanting really to say, "F-off", I will take my own advice and simply smile and walk away. And here will be where my apparent "yes" will be a big fat "no".

In this light, it felt awful today when I telephoned messaged a friend only to be told in a reply message, "I'm sleeping. It's three in the States for goodness sake."

It took a lot of self-control not to call him to tell him to screw himself or to send back a rude message. Still, the evening was less cheery than what it was prior to that telephone message. I am hurt, I will not deny. In my view, I send telephone messages because (a) I mean for you to take your time to reply to them (calling usually forces people to deal with you on the spot regardless of whether they wish to) and (b) was I supposed to know you were on the other end of the world if I was not informed in advance?

And really, whose fault is it that you were anal enough to have to immediately deal with a telephone message despite the timing on your end?

I'm really tempted to kick the blighter in the rear end when he gets back to within a ten kilometer radius of me. Afterall, if there is one thing clearer than any language in this world, it is actions.

Make Notes

17th October, 2004. 1:49 am. Post No. 2 Progress, all hail progress(insomniac_od)

Progress

Progress is a natural order of things. Everything must evolve, failing which it is doomed to extinction.

Progress is something everyone looks forward to.

Progress is also a very terrifying thing.

With the discovery of penicillin, diseases that had once claimed millions of lives have been almost but eradicated. In their place, rose more deadly pestilence, because just as humans have progressed to contain the microorganism that would otherwise take their lives, the human bug has also progress to thwart mankind once again.

In the past, a flu was a flu. Nowadays a flu may lead to extreme digestive disorders. A new buzzword is found on everyone’s lips – gastric flu.

Is this progress’s doing? Has drugs and their subsequent abuse by people unwittingly strengthened our foes? Or was there previously no need on the part of microorganisms to pull out the big guns as to speak? Or have we abused progress to the extent the capricious goddess has turned her back on us?

Progress means where natives had once to sit under the trees and perspire until a breeze comes along, the descendants of the same natives can now lounge in cement caves, reveling in what we now call air-conditioned air?

No dust, a suitable temperature, controlled humidity. Paradise?

And yet, it would appear that allergies and asthma cases, when air-conditioned air cannot be provided, are at an all time high.

Progress. There is the necessary progress and the unnecessary things we do to cement progress over where green grass once laid.

Progress sometimes means growing more food. The same progress unchecked and unbridled means while some people on this earth continue to starve, others gorge to the point a new illness has been invented for their excess – obesity.

Progress means the right to live and sleep each night without fear from an attack by a wild animal. The same progress, urged on relentlessly by corporations sworn to protect our sanctity, also ensures that millions of plants and animals will be forever lost – their existence or consequences of extinction never fully understood.

But it does not matter. Progress is necessary to make the economies grow. What good is a squirrel to the value of your stocks?

Progress means more buildings. Afterall, what is the shade provided by a tree? The thing litters leaves every now and then and its roots prevent footpaths from being perfectly aligned.

And so they chop it down.

A huge tree once stood at the front of the law faculty. It was a beautiful tree under which I enjoyed many shady afternoons. It was also a very special tree which was part of a very important ritual first year law students went through.

I will say no more as this is a secret all initiates have been urged to guard with their lives. Still, I wonder how many lawyers and judges have had one point of their lives intertwined with that tree.

It was removed in my fourth year of school. In its place, we were promised beautiful concrete walkways.

Beauty was promised from the man made structure. No more an uneven path leading to law school, they swore. Bliss and happiness will be yours forever.

Perhaps. Perhaps not. On occasions I have been back to use the library whose extension now stands beside where the tree once was. The area is hot and uncomfortable despite the corridors built. But all is well, we have air-conditioner.

Who needs nature? Who needs the birds and the leaf litter? All we need is a environment we can control, or one we think we can.

Progress. All hail progress. And yet should we weep over what has been lost?

Now they have chopped down the trees by my window. They have promised me a gravel court in place of a rare spot of green.

It is too warm to sleep until late for the heat absorbed by the gravel already laid no longer cools down before the clock strikes midnight. I wonder when the clock will release us from our progress when more concrete is laid to join its brothers.

The clock in my hall is my witness of the beauty of progress.

Progress is necessary to continue the human race's existence. And progress will also choke out this specimen who has no idea of the goddess' might.

Current mood: hot.

Make Notes

16th October, 2004. 11:02 pm. Post No. 1 Introductions(insomniac_od)

Seigi せいぎ = 正義 Justice or righteousness
Seigikan せいぎかん ＝ 正義感 Sense of justice


As its title confesses, this community is not about righting the world. It is not about making the universe a better place. Do not join us thinking that you will improve lives around you.

Writers are nothing more than people in love with their own voices. Anyone seeking to do something about his or her circumstances must do more than write and comment to change anything. Here however, we shall be shallow and seek only to allow people to express their views within reason, sanity and good taste.

So if you think you have what it takes and speak or write decent ideas, drop us a note and an article to boot.

Here, you can sing to your heart's delight.

Current mood: contemplative.

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