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 The Joy of Contradiction  (7 ratings)by Ryan Rapp Page 1 of 1 It said: "Enter into my perception of the universe. It's much more
pleasurable than yours. The glory of civilization has rendered you useless.
Life as a wisp is simple and secure. You don't need to fuel the myth of
progress. Discard your puny issue of mortality. Quit trying to prolong life
by possessing items that will outlive you. Haven't you learned from history,
particularly the poem Ozymandius. The world is much simpler as a wisp. Much
more natural, and enjoyable. Try it for just a moment, and then I'll switch
you back."
How could I not take up its offer. It lured me in. It appealed to both my scientific and spiritual senses. Scientifically, I fit its advice into natural law. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed. Under the wisp's law, this means that progress is an illusion, and civilization is a farce. It made me believe that what I called progress was actually just a series of reactions between arbitrarily identified conglomerations of energy. It told me that I was just a concentrated form of energy, nothing more. Wisp's law seems to hold consistent with modern physics, it had me there. Furthermore, it appealed to my spiritual side. Who hasn't experienced the alienation that comes with living in the civilized world? Entertaining any notion of a purpose to life suddenly felt arbitrary. What's the point in creating a purpose if my life is to be spent dealing with the negative feelings of self judgment and guilt. It was clear. I needed the vacation from self. So I succumbed. I can't lie. In the beginning, life as a wisp was interesting. I didn't actually consist of matter, yet I spanned the universe. I didn't have any of the conventional human senses. Sight, Hearing, Touch, Taste, and smell were all replaced by one omniscient sense. It is difficult to describe the new sense. I would have to call it a dynamic sense of knowledge and understanding. It was omnipotence, a sort of understanding of all objects and people. It was not an optional sense, its information permeated my conscious mind at all times. For example, as a human, I have times when I am simply unaware of my sense of taste. Life as a wisp did not have such detachments. It called it "undeniable living." I called it annoying. I had no choice but to know all the actions of the universe, and realize them at all times. It was slavery. Let me tell you this, whoever said "ignorance is bliss" must have had interactions with a wisp. It was not all it was cracked up to be. It made me realize the joy of weakness. I remember life as a child, especially the powerlessness. I didn't realize the bliss that comes from the adherence to a purpose. I wanted to be older, to have money, knowledge, intelligence, and power. As an adult, I derive the most enjoyment by fueling the myth of progress in the hearts and minds of children. I watch them experience the fleeting joy of success. Life is an adventure for them, no moment is perceived as futile. I'll trade my feelings of futility for their feelings of repression any day of the week. I told the wisp of my feelings about the experience. It was not surprised. It told me of its true motive. It wanted to teach me the joy of contradiction. It said, "knowledge is a painful journey that ultimately ends in the discovery of the futility of knowledge. Luckily, this futile journey is desirable." It told me that as long as I can maintain the ability to maintain a purpose, I'll lead a joyful life. It said, "Just keep striving' for something. Be thankful that the desire for immortality cannot be quenched. And be thankful for contradiction. Remember, Shelley strove to be remembered by publishing a poem exposing the futility of the hope for being remembered. Quite a contradiction of action and belief. However, I bet if you would have asked him about the poem, he would have fondly expressed the joy he experienced during the journey of writing it." It was all one big nasty trick, and it ended with me being complemented on my stupidity, forgetfulness, and ability to adhere to an arbitrary lifestyle. Strange. I asked myself where exactly I should go from here. I finally figured out how I should live my new life based on my newfound ideal of stupidity through contradiction. I need to be as efficiently stupid and contradictory as possible. This was going to take intelligence. The choice of lifestyle became obvious to me. I should go to school and learn about all the different arbitrary methodologies used in fueling the myth of progress. Then, I can be more efficient in helping people to endorse them. This will bring both them and I pleasure. Once I have effectively learned how to further the myth, I can complete the ultimate contradiction. I will try to teach people about the myth of progress. Then they will realize the value of their stupidity and contradictory behavior. Wait! that is exactly what the wisp cunningly determined. Boy, Only a genius could be that stupid.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2001 Ryan Rapp, sffworld.com. All rights reserved. No part of this may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the author. The author has submitted the work in accordance with and in agreement with the following Submission Guidelines. |
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