I enjoyed how you turned PG’s essay into a manifesto (still a bit implicit, but it’s there) via what you quoted and replied. Nicely done and well agreed! I’m curious to see what such would look like if explicitly written, I do love me some manifestos.
I see overlap between “fierce nerds”, “being a holy madman”, and/or “being highly agentic” in how each type acts aggressively independently minded in clear and deliberate pursuit of goals, even if the path to those goals is extraordinarily uncertain. And socially often end up in positions/situations of isolation or seem incomprehensibly other in some way. Which, definitely seems to be where thinking truly independently may lead.. I don’t have much of a point writing this besides pointing out the overlap between those types and linking what seem to be relevant articles to social implications for being those types. That seems enough though, for a comment.
“‘The bad news is that if it’s not exercised, your fierceness will turn to bitterness, and you will become an intellectual playground bully: the grumpy sysadmin, the forum troll, the hater, the shooter down of new ideas.’
Normal people can life normal lives. A fierce nerd following the rules is like a wild animal in a zoo. If you don’t do daring things you’ll go nuts.”
Having met many grumpy sysadmins and others deeply struck by bitterness and utter cynicism and been one [grumpy sysadmin type person] myself for a short time, this feels all too painfully accurate. The people who I’ve met who were once fierce (whether fierce nerds or fierce in different capacities) and didn’t take the riskier yet ambitious path are almost universally deeply unhappy, negative, cynical, and deeply bitter (I’m related to several such individuals) or have become totally passive and checked out. Conforming and being passive and hiding ones fierceness (of whatever kind it may be) a single iota more than is strictly necessary to survive at one’s present stage of life, situation, privilege or lack thereof, and so on is a trap, a very dangerous game. I’m still escaping that and becoming stronger., because death still exists and myself and others need to get rid of it.
Bitterness, cynicism, mean-spirited-ness, and so on are not helpful to anyone trying to change the world and/or help others in whatever ways one wishes to do so, they are counterproductive tendencies to possess.
Fierceness, kindness, magnanimity, probity, and so on are much more helpful for getting things done and solving difficult important problems.
Zen helps me along the holy madman path. I like this way of being but it is not for everybody.
The people who I’ve met who were once fierce (whether fierce nerds or fierce in different capacities) and didn’t take the riskier yet ambitious path are almost universally deeply unhappy, negative, cynical, and deeply bitter (I’m related to several such individuals) or have become totally passive and checked out.
Is it the control of yet unbinding (de-categorizing might be a better word) of self, clarity of thought, and wordless insights that one gains which provide the benefit? Or some other things?
Practising Zen does seem particularly useful for learning how to better carve reality at its joints, so that must be a significant beneficial impact, yes?
Zen quiets your mind. It feels like what happens one minute into this scene from Wonder Woman where the music changes, the world slows down, the noise disappears and you get back to what you were supposed to be doing all along.
That matches with my (albeit limited) experience of Zen so far. The quiet and power gained from it makes it easier to do things to further oneself down that path, I think.
I enjoyed how you turned PG’s essay into a manifesto (still a bit implicit, but it’s there) via what you quoted and replied. Nicely done and well agreed! I’m curious to see what such would look like if explicitly written, I do love me some manifestos.
I see overlap between “fierce nerds”, “being a holy madman”, and/or “being highly agentic” in how each type acts aggressively independently minded in clear and deliberate pursuit of goals, even if the path to those goals is extraordinarily uncertain. And socially often end up in positions/situations of isolation or seem incomprehensibly other in some way. Which, definitely seems to be where thinking truly independently may lead.. I don’t have much of a point writing this besides pointing out the overlap between those types and linking what seem to be relevant articles to social implications for being those types. That seems enough though, for a comment.
“‘The bad news is that if it’s not exercised, your fierceness will turn to bitterness, and you will become an intellectual playground bully: the grumpy sysadmin, the forum troll, the hater, the shooter down of new ideas.’
Normal people can life normal lives. A fierce nerd following the rules is like a wild animal in a zoo. If you don’t do daring things you’ll go nuts.”
Having met many grumpy sysadmins and others deeply struck by bitterness and utter cynicism and been one [grumpy sysadmin type person] myself for a short time, this feels all too painfully accurate. The people who I’ve met who were once fierce (whether fierce nerds or fierce in different capacities) and didn’t take the riskier yet ambitious path are almost universally deeply unhappy, negative, cynical, and deeply bitter (I’m related to several such individuals) or have become totally passive and checked out. Conforming and being passive and hiding ones fierceness (of whatever kind it may be) a single iota more than is strictly necessary to survive at one’s present stage of life, situation, privilege or lack thereof, and so on is a trap, a very dangerous game. I’m still escaping that and becoming stronger., because death still exists and myself and others need to get rid of it.
Bitterness, cynicism, mean-spirited-ness, and so on are not helpful to anyone trying to change the world and/or help others in whatever ways one wishes to do so, they are counterproductive tendencies to possess.
Fierceness, kindness, magnanimity, probity, and so on are much more helpful for getting things done and solving difficult important problems.
Zen helps me along the holy madman path. I like this way of being but it is not for everybody.
Good food for thought. This may explain a lot.
How does Zen help you move along that path?
Is it the control of yet unbinding (de-categorizing might be a better word) of self, clarity of thought, and wordless insights that one gains which provide the benefit? Or some other things?
Practising Zen does seem particularly useful for learning how to better carve reality at its joints, so that must be a significant beneficial impact, yes?
Zen quiets your mind. It feels like what happens one minute into this scene from Wonder Woman where the music changes, the world slows down, the noise disappears and you get back to what you were supposed to be doing all along.
Thank you :)
That matches with my (albeit limited) experience of Zen so far. The quiet and power gained from it makes it easier to do things to further oneself down that path, I think.