Comments on: The Year of Independent Thinking http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-year-of-independent-thinking For writers, readers, and independent thinkers--book and story reviews by writers and readers, writers' motivational articles, war stories from the publishing trenches, literary trends, religious controversies, free chocolate, and more. Sun, 12 Oct 2008 14:48:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: robin http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-year-of-independent-thinking#comment-11626 robin Sat, 05 Jan 2008 19:12:13 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-year-of-independent-thinking#comment-11626 a. fortis, I really, REALLY like the idea of respecting and honoring your feelings more than you do right now. May I please join you on that quest? I love everything you said in that second paragraph. I'm totally copying you (even though I have, indeed, made an independent choice to do that--it's just that when you're right, you're right). Thanks! Daflufster, you make a good point about schools drilling this sort of behavior into us. Guess we all still need to find that balance between going with the flow so we don't get in trouble or create too much chaos around us, and making our own independent decisions when what the group wants is wrong. And it's not always obvious which side to take in that! Laura, thank you. And don't you love your friend's deal with the fancy china at lunch? She needs to start joining us on the Friday List. Mother Reader, I fully support your campaign to rid your lunches of plastic spoons. You're an elegant, grown up lady, and you deserve real utensils and even china dishes. Bust out. Patrick, I hoped the Space Lord was more humane than that. Sigh. Our universe is in trouble . . . a. fortis, I really, REALLY like the idea of respecting and honoring your feelings more than you do right now. May I please join you on that quest? I love everything you said in that second paragraph. I’m totally copying you (even though I have, indeed, made an independent choice to do that–it’s just that when you’re right, you’re right). Thanks!

Daflufster, you make a good point about schools drilling this sort of behavior into us. Guess we all still need to find that balance between going with the flow so we don’t get in trouble or create too much chaos around us, and making our own independent decisions when what the group wants is wrong. And it’s not always obvious which side to take in that!

Laura, thank you. And don’t you love your friend’s deal with the fancy china at lunch? She needs to start joining us on the Friday List.

Mother Reader, I fully support your campaign to rid your lunches of plastic spoons. You’re an elegant, grown up lady, and you deserve real utensils and even china dishes. Bust out.

Patrick, I hoped the Space Lord was more humane than that. Sigh. Our universe is in trouble . . .

]]> By: a. fortis http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-year-of-independent-thinking#comment-11614 a. fortis Sat, 05 Jan 2008 03:59:02 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-year-of-independent-thinking#comment-11614 What a wonderful aim. I'm with the rest of the camp (guess I've got some follower in me, too!!) in firmly believing you wouldn't keep shocking those invisible subjects. How can someone who manages to work in "I want to keep my tongue to myself for the next twelve months" and still sound reasonable and insightful, be a sheep? Nope. I don't believe it! :) At the risk of sounding like the Californian that I am--I'm personally going to be trying a variation on your goal, which is to respect and honor my own feelings a little more than I currently do. That is, I want to worry a little less about whether my reactions or feelings are selfish or "wrong" or whatever and try to be more patient with myself in general. I tend to be very impatient with myself, especially with respect to my writing and other creative work--and that's usually a surefire road to creative blockage! What a wonderful aim. I’m with the rest of the camp (guess I’ve got some follower in me, too!!) in firmly believing you wouldn’t keep shocking those invisible subjects. How can someone who manages to work in “I want to keep my tongue to myself for the next twelve months” and still sound reasonable and insightful, be a sheep? Nope. I don’t believe it! :)

At the risk of sounding like the Californian that I am–I’m personally going to be trying a variation on your goal, which is to respect and honor my own feelings a little more than I currently do. That is, I want to worry a little less about whether my reactions or feelings are selfish or “wrong” or whatever and try to be more patient with myself in general. I tend to be very impatient with myself, especially with respect to my writing and other creative work–and that’s usually a surefire road to creative blockage!

]]> By: daflufster http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-year-of-independent-thinking#comment-11571 daflufster Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:45:17 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-year-of-independent-thinking#comment-11571 I think I would have kept shocking to. I think if i actually saw the person i might not have kept going, but since i didn't see the person I don't think i would have cared because so much theses days is faked, or scripted. I would have to see for my own eyes that someone is being hurt. My friends call me the independant one of our little group, but I'd still follow what other people were telling me to do in this situation. I think most people follow instructions word for word because that is what is driled into us since before we even went to school. I think I would have kept shocking to. I think if i actually saw the person i might not have kept going, but since i didn’t see the person I don’t think i would have cared because so much theses days is faked, or scripted. I would have to see for my own eyes that someone is being hurt. My friends call me the independant one of our little group, but I’d still follow what other people were telling me to do in this situation. I think most people follow instructions word for word because that is what is driled into us since before we even went to school.

]]> By: Laura Fitzgerald http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-year-of-independent-thinking#comment-11563 Laura Fitzgerald Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:25:50 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-year-of-independent-thinking#comment-11563 Patrick, LOL! Mother Reader -- I love your Year of No Plastic Spoons at Work! A good friend of mine brought china dishes for her lunch each day and I thought that was awesome. Total self-care. Robin, you come across to me as totally independent, so I can't wait to see what the next year brings for you as you ratchett it to a higher level! Patrick, LOL!

Mother Reader — I love your Year of No Plastic Spoons at Work! A good friend of mine brought china dishes for her lunch each day and I thought that was awesome. Total self-care.

Robin, you come across to me as totally independent, so I can’t wait to see what the next year brings for you as you ratchett it to a higher level!

]]> By: MotherReader http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-year-of-independent-thinking#comment-11552 MotherReader Wed, 02 Jan 2008 03:52:05 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-year-of-independent-thinking#comment-11552 What a great inspirational message to start the new year. I'm still trying to recover from an emotional onslaught of relations to frame my thoughts so well, so let's say for now it's my Year of No Plastic Spoons at Work. What a great inspirational message to start the new year. I’m still trying to recover from an emotional onslaught of relations to frame my thoughts so well, so let’s say for now it’s my Year of No Plastic Spoons at Work.

]]> By: Patrick http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-year-of-independent-thinking#comment-11549 Patrick Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:43:40 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-year-of-independent-thinking#comment-11549 Adrienne, my plan is working to perfection because I really wanted a chocolate mousse cake. I would shock people. I might not even wait for them to tell me to continue the test. If they are dumb enough to let someone shock them, they certainly deserve it. How's that for independent thought? Adrienne, my plan is working to perfection because I really wanted a chocolate mousse cake.

I would shock people. I might not even wait for them to tell me to continue the test. If they are dumb enough to let someone shock them, they certainly deserve it. How’s that for independent thought?

]]> By: robin http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-year-of-independent-thinking#comment-11546 robin Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:44:58 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-year-of-independent-thinking#comment-11546 Alkelda, I appreciate you sharing your personal experiences with independent thinking (and behaving). I'm sure you're right--some people do feel threatened by it, and react harshly. It takes a lot of bravery to do what you did in school--I really admire you for that! Even if it doesn't feel like anyone appreciates you for sticking to your values, I hope you've kept on. The world needs more examples of kindness--we have plenty of the other side. Little Willow, bravo to you, too, for putting up with potential loneliness in exchange for following your heart. Again, we all need more examples of that. Adrienne, good for you. The Space Lord can be so tricky. Patrick, I promise I will never lick your face. But it's good you brought that up--you never know. Alkelda, I appreciate you sharing your personal experiences with independent thinking (and behaving). I’m sure you’re right–some people do feel threatened by it, and react harshly. It takes a lot of bravery to do what you did in school–I really admire you for that! Even if it doesn’t feel like anyone appreciates you for sticking to your values, I hope you’ve kept on. The world needs more examples of kindness–we have plenty of the other side.

Little Willow, bravo to you, too, for putting up with potential loneliness in exchange for following your heart. Again, we all need more examples of that.

Adrienne, good for you. The Space Lord can be so tricky.

Patrick, I promise I will never lick your face. But it’s good you brought that up–you never know.

]]> By: adrienne http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-year-of-independent-thinking#comment-11545 adrienne Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:42:19 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-year-of-independent-thinking#comment-11545 Crafty, Patrick, but not crafty enough. I occasionally catch my loved ones trying this same sort of trick. I'm that sadly predictable. Crafty, Patrick, but not crafty enough. I occasionally catch my loved ones trying this same sort of trick. I’m that sadly predictable.

]]> By: Patrick http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-year-of-independent-thinking#comment-11531 Patrick Tue, 01 Jan 2008 13:59:50 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-year-of-independent-thinking#comment-11531 Robin - I'd like to point out I'm not a cheek kisser. I'd definitely like to avoid having my face licked next time I run in to you. Adrienne - Don't make me a stawberry cheese cake or key lime pie. Robin - I’d like to point out I’m not a cheek kisser. I’d definitely like to avoid having my face licked next time I run in to you.

Adrienne - Don’t make me a stawberry cheese cake or key lime pie.

]]> By: Little Willow http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-year-of-independent-thinking#comment-11522 Little Willow Tue, 01 Jan 2008 04:57:49 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-year-of-independent-thinking#comment-11522 I enjoy being independent. It's lonely at times, but I'd rather lead than follow. I enjoy being independent. It’s lonely at times, but I’d rather lead than follow.

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