waxing poetic [private parts]
<< Dec 28, 2004 @ 20:48 >>
I think I've just made this realisation that since nobody knows what they are doing, it's really more about experience. The more shit you get yourself into and out of-- now that's where you really have your advantage. You're never going to know any better, it's all about adaptation. Getting out of the hole quicker the second time.
I really hate people who email life affirming quotes to live by, but even I have to say that "Whether you think you can or can't, you're right" is pretty useful. Back to Steve Zissou in The Life Aquatic, he's totally unaware of his shortcomings and that is what allows him to take on any task. It isn't that he's arrogant and thinks he can do anything. He's aloof, oblivious, perhaps even so self-deprecating that his complete lack of self-faith – his belief that he can't do anything – allows him to do everything. Being good at some things implies you are bad at other things. You get a sense of pressure to stay good at the good things and get better or avoid the bad things. If you just suck at everything then the pressure is off. Feel free to fail anywhere and everywhere. Zissou's constant failure becomes a sort of success in that he experiences so many things. He becomes a pirate-defeating hero because of his incompetence and disregard. He's had that hot black girlfriend (remember, at the screening in the beginning), a saucy wife, and his careless attempts at the embedded reporter are equally as carefree.
Wow, I wasn't even going to write any of this, mostly because I hadn't realised that I had this much to say. "Zissou's constant failure becomes a sort of success in that he experiences so many things." Cool, I guess you can end up someplace unexpected if you start writing without direction.
I am unfortunately good at some things. So I'm not on Steve Zissou's path, and I don't think I can delude myself into thinking I'm bad at everything in order to get on it. I mean I suppose I could become an alcoholic failure, and then I might believe I'm bad at everything. However, the key really is just pre-empting my pre-emption– stopping my look ahead. My analytical brain subconsciously sees a thousand possible futures from my every move or anticipated move. It is a tool I use for coding extensively as well as things like videogames. But it also keeps me from doing things because I see possible outcomes I don't like. The thing is, they aren't absolute, and like I said... the more experience the better. Knowing this, I probably don't have to go Zissou's route.
Now I'm going to drink and watch Anchorman.
Reader Comments...
December 29, 2004 @ 08:45:10
sith33 (#999)
Oh man, blog entries that refer to themselves like this are way WAY down the path to emo. Snap out of it Zach! Tell us about the ladies and the parties and the fast fast fast life you live there in the twin cities.
December 29, 2004 @ 09:43:25
sith33 (#999)
Also: bring me a dr pepper. I'm at the studio. That is all.
December 29, 2004 @ 09:45:47
sith33 (#999)
Hey everyone, let's guess what's still at 85%. Is it... the humidity? No...
Is it... the percent of the population that still likes dubya? No...
Oh I know, it's your damn new york page. Less emo, more html(o).
December 29, 2004 @ 10:21:15
xopl (#001)
oh yeah.........