Dare I Ask?
You may have noticed an unusual amount of blogging from me, considering how spotty the posts have been the last month or so. That’s because:
1. I finished my new book.
2. I now feel untethered and aimless and bored and restless and weird–weird being the prevalent condition.
3. I finally have time to look around and see what’s going on.
4. I’m leaving for the Sundance Film Festival next week (squee!!), and so I want to post all these things before then, since I’ll be in total movie-hound mode for a week.
So here’s what I want to show you next. It’s a fantastic article by my novelist pal Laila Halaby, and it’s exactly the kind of thing I think a lot of us need to read and understand. It’s so easy to be out there mixing it up in the world and not really know what effect we’re having on people. I love her list of things to think about before asking questions.
And the video at the end of the article is wonderful. Take the time to watch that, too.
Enjoy!
Technorati Tags: Laila Halaby, Relating To Our Fellow Humans
January 17th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
five rules before asking a Space Lord a question
1. Can you afford to ask the question?
2. Are you willing to live with the consequences of the answer to your question?
3. If you were an immortal infinite being, would you want to be asked the question?
4. Would the question be better if you first offered cheese cake?
5. Would you mind this for an answer? “It won’t make the slightest difference to me, but the consequences to you will be devastating. In your mind I’ll be dead, and with no one to guide you out, you’ll be stuck in permanent psychosis. The walls of reality will come crashing down. One minute, you’re the savior of the Rebel cause, next thing you know you’ll be Cohaagen’s bosom buddy. You’ll even have fantasies about alien civilizations as you requested, but in the end, back on Earth you’ll be lobotomized! So get a grip on yourself and put down that gun!
January 17th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
I love her questions! I get similar questions and comments about my Jewish religion. My favorite is, “Oh, you are Jewish right? I can tell by your nose.” That is my favorite!
How many times do we just word vomit all over people and not think about what comes out of our mouth? I swear our parents taught us better….
January 17th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
I’m an African-American who usually wears her hair in a “twist out” style. I wish I had a nickel for every person who has touched my hair, asked why I wear my hair like that, and generally made so many assumptions. Sometimes we forget that we are all people first!
January 17th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Your anti-spam word made me smile again. It always will.
I just posted the following at Laila’s blog:
What a fantastic friendship, built on a healthy mix of curiosity and understanding.
What a great video, like PostSecret made into a movie and then some.
I have passed the link on to others. Thank you!
January 18th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Little Willow, I’m glad you’re passing it on. Thanks!
Kathy, having people touch your hair must be like pregnant women having their bellies touched–it’s like people don’t recognize that’s part of your body. SO annoying. But enlighten me: what’s a “twist out” style?
Shai, I’m sorry, but I have to laugh at that. Seriously, what are people thinking?
Um, Patrick? Should I know the reference in item #5? Or is that a novel of your own? (We hope, we hope, we hope–please write your damn novel.)
January 18th, 2008 at 10:35 am
I don’t know what people are thinking! I ask myself that all of the time. I have gotten so use to it, if they ask me if I am Jewish, I promptly respond, with, “Oh, you can tell by my nose, right”. I have come to the conclusion that some people are ignorant and just..well, suck or as we say..are schmucks
January 18th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Mitali posted it at her blog today!
January 19th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Total Recall - Arnorld Schwartzneggar film…
Yes. You should know it.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Congrats on finishing your new book!
January 19th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Patrick, loved that movie, didn’t memorize it. I only have room for one great movie in my head, and that is, as you know, Princess Bride. Which I know you also have in your head, so bravo for you for having such a big brain.
Felicity, thank you! Welcome to the blog!
Little Willow, I saw the post. Thanks for passing that along–it’s in good hands with Mitali.
Shai, pity the poor schmucks. They’re not as classy as you.
January 20th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
The readergirlz will post it too.