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Stephanie Beavers

~ Always be yourself. Unless you can be a dragon. Then always be a dragon.

Tag Archives: philosophy

Not Just For Writers

26 Monday Sep 2016

Posted by Stephanie Beavers in Life, Thoughts

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author, books, children, childrens books, Giving Tree, kids, Kristen Lamb, life, literature, philosophy, Silverstein, Stephanie Beavers, Where The Sidewalk Ends, writer, writing

As a writer seeking to better myself, I follow Kristen Lamb’s blog. She’s given some incredible advice over the years, much of it entirely for free! But every so often, some of her posts reach far beyond just writing and author advice. Her latest post, Why I Hate “The Giving Tree”–But How This Story Makes Us Better Writers, is one of these.

Now, I had to google “The Giving Tree” and reread it again before I could remember what it was about, and it never actually had an impact when I read it. I guess because it didn’t have magic or animals in it (then, as now, I was very partial to a particular kind of books). Reading it now, I think it’s rather brilliant. Not that I necessarily like it, but I do admire it. But enough of my thoughts, it was Kristen’s that impressed me.

I’ve cherry-picked my favorite parts, but if you want to read the whole thing, definitely click the link above:

“Shel Silverstein didn’t write The Giving Tree with plans that it was a cautionary tale against toxic relationships. He didn’t write it to be some Christ-like example of selfless love. He wasn’t writing a tale of capitalism run amok or misogyny. According to him, he simply wrote a story about the complicated dynamics of human relationships. We, as the reader, assign whether this is a tale of warning or wonder, horror or hope.”

apples apple tree

“I honestly believe that stories we gravitate to as children says a lot about our fundamental nature, our strengths and weaknesses.

I always loved the parable of the Tortoise and the Hare, namely because one of my strongest traits is my persistence. I loved the parable of The Crow and the Pitcher because I was always good at finding clever ways to solve seemingly impossible problems. The stories I loved possibly reflected back personality qualities that even at a very young age, I possessed and was even proud of.

But then there was my dark side, a side I noticed even by the tender age of four when I was sounding out the words And the tree was happy. My tendency to people please (Old Man Whickutt’s Donkey) and my seeming inability to set a boundary with those who would take and take until I had nothing left to give (The Giving Tree) and me happily enabling my own self-destruction. The anger I felt toward the tree being a fledgling anger I felt for myself.

Why did the boy feel the need to take all the apples? All her branches? Why couldn’t he just take some? Why did the tree feel the need to offer all her apples and all her branches? Couldn’t he see he was killing her? Did he even care?

When it came to her trunk? Why didn’t she tell him to just go pound sand?

God, how many times have I done the same?”

teddy bear child's toy

“Our culture is guilty (my POV) of assuming that every child’s story is to serve as a role model. Don’t bully. Be a good friend. This is what happens when you learn to share. But literature serves a higher purpose.

Isn’t the point of being a parent to rear a fully developed person more than simply being an activities director? That we are charged with rearing a grownup with fully developed empathy and a sense of injustice? Doesn’t it say something when a child reads a story like this and is incensed at the injustice of it all?

The children’s movie Inside Out explored how dysfunctional we have become regarding human emotion. We aren’t permitted to be angry, sad, disappointed, jaded or hurt. We can be depressed (because there is a pill for that). Yet these “negative” emotions serve a purpose. It is okay to be angry and sometimes it is downright warranted. It is all right to be afraid.

Our culture has become obsessed with never being offended and yet being offended is vital. There are things that should offend us. That is when real change is possible.

Insulating entire generations from ever experiencing negative emotions is in a word? Psychotic.

dark psycho teddy

Silverstein didn’t believe in happy endings being a necessity. He felt that set children up for failure, that things didn’t always work out. That if every book had an HEA then children would wonder what was so wrong with them. They didn’t always get an HEA in their lives. What were they doing wrong?

Nothing, my Wee One. It is life. Fair is a weather condition.

Good stories also serve as catharsis. We need to watch comedy because we do need to laugh, but you know what? Sometimes what we need is a good cry, too. And maybe we aren’t yet “evolved” enough to cry over what is going wrong in our own lives, but we can cry for a beautiful tree that was rendered a stump.

And that makes us all just a little bit more human.”

Now I’m a real sucker for my happily-ever-after, but even I agree with Kristen.

What are your thoughts, readers? Did you remember this story? How do you interpret it? Do you agree with Kristen about the bad side of only giving children their happily-ever-afters?

By the way, if you’re a writer, definitely subscribe to Kristen’s blog!

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Everything Ever Said

05 Monday Oct 2015

Posted by Stephanie Beavers in Thoughts

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author, epistemology, everything that has and will be said., library of babel, meaning, philosophy, Stephanie Beavers, thoughts, words, writer, writing

Have you ever heard of the Library of Babel? Check it out. It came to my attention through the VSauce video below (starting around 16:58, you can watch it or no, but it’s definitely interesting.)

The Library of Babel “currently authors everything that has been or could be written. Seriously.”

Don’t believe me? Go here. Type in any sentence that comes to mind, nonsensical or otherwise. Then hit search, and the library will show you where in its “pages” these words reside. I tried, “how do you spell that melon cantaloupe, cantalope kantaloop” and it found that no problem. I tried a line from my WIP novel: no problem. You’ll get the same result.

VSauce explains the logistics behind it (math), but it does raise some interesting questions. VSauce asks, “Did you really invent that thing if it already existed?” Does the fact that what you said came into existence when the library was created undermine your “invention,” or is it more important that it had meaning when you said it, rather than being a product of an algorithm?

VSauce frequently asks interesting questions, and I recommend checking out other videos of his too.

What do you think, readers? What sentence did you make up to test out the library?

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Cats Are Better Than Dogs

14 Monday Sep 2015

Posted by Stephanie Beavers in News

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animal, animals, author, breeding, cat, cats, dog, dogs, history, inbreeding, pets, philosophy, science news, Stephanie Beavers, wildlife, world's ugliest dog, writer

…Or at least we haven’t bred as many deformities into them yet.

Cunning Cats Forced Dogs To Evolve… Or Go Extinct
IFLS wrote the above article, summarizing how when cats came to North America, their superior predatory skills forced the dogs already living there to either adapt and improve or go extinct. Both cats and dogs are powerful predators and exclusive carnivores, so in the wild, they’re in direct competition with one another. Scientists compare this extinction/adaptation result to be on par with what you see from drastic climate changes.
Victory cat
Nature has always done a pretty good job of keeping things balanced. Then, along came humans…
Dogs are their primary victims. I know lots of people like the various breeds, like pugs and bulldogs, but the truth it, they’re being bred into helplessness. We’re exaggerating traits for aesthetic effects (and frequently inbreeding them in the process), and this is having a detrimental effect on their health and well-being. Wanna see the worst of them?
Hercules the one eyed dog

Yoda the world's ugliest dog

Of course, cats have suffered from our tampering too…
ugly inbred tiger cat

Don’t get me started on those short-legged cats they’ve been breeding… Animals are beautiful the way they are. A little selective breeding is fine (great, even!) but when it causes health problems and other detrimental side effects? I disagree with that path.

Oh yes, and cats rule, dogs drool. ;)

What do you think, readers?

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What Can You Do Without A Brain?

27 Monday Apr 2015

Posted by Stephanie Beavers in Fun

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author, brain, braindead, brainless, brains, fun, I'm moving soon and don't have time to write a proper blog., philosophy, Science, Stephanie Beavers, Vsauce, writer

Vsauce knows:

So while referring to people as “brainless” is metaphorically pleasing, it is scientifically inaccurate.

Now you know.

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Incoherent Mind-Reading

16 Thursday Apr 2015

Posted by Stephanie Beavers in Thoughts

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author, incoherent, mind, mind-reading, philosophy, Stephanie Beavers, telepathy, thoughts, tin foil hat, writer

What if mind reading were real?

In TV, movies, and books, when a telepath reads someone’s mind, it’s typically depicted as hearing words. Also typically, these words form complete sentences and ideas. But really, who thinks like that?

First of all, do we really think in words all the time? I don’t think we do. At least, I’m pretty sure that I don’t. Sometimes I think in pictures, or concepts. When you think of your mother, do you see or hear the word “mother” inside your head, or do you generate a picture and/or the feelings and memories of that person in your mind? I would go so far as to say we never think only with words. There are always emotions and memories (and sometimes sights/sounds/etc) attached to what we’re thinking.

So theoretically, if someone could read minds, how much would they be able to “read”? Would they only hear words, or would they sense concepts and pictures and feelings and everything else that go with thoughts?

tin foil hat

Tin foil will keep you from stealing my brain-thoughts!

It goes further.

How do we think? Or rather, in what manner do we think? Do we really think in complete sentences and form whole ideas in our heads? Sometimes, certainly. But not always. Think about it. Right now you’re concentrating on reading and/or thinking about the subject matter, but next time your thoughts wander, try to take notice. While thinking, are you stuck solely on one topic and fully form each idea that enters your mind? No! (Or at least, that’s not the case for me.)

When I get lost in thought, my mind wanders. It flits from topic to topic. Someone mentions their cat, which makes me think of my cat and how she was being obnoxiously vocal and it was because I’d let her food dish get empty even though there was more cat food because I got some the day before but oh I forgot to get more cereal when I was at the store and I should stop and get some today after work but I’ll go to the other store because it’s close to the other store where I’m picking up a birthday present for my friend but should I really get that for my friend or is it kinda cool but really useless–

Well, you get the picture. And remember, I’m being forced by the medium to use words, which is already clarifying these thoughts far further than they may have occurred inside my head.

My point is, if someone could actually read minds, would they actually be able to understand anything? Or would it all be too muddled or fleeting or self-involved or abstract to truly comprehend?

It’s something to think about (if you’re so inclined).

What do you think, readers? Is mind-reading even possibly coherent even if it could happen in physical practice? Am I over-complicating things? Or do you think most people are a little less ADHD than I am? Share your thoughts!

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Christmas To Me

15 Monday Dec 2014

Posted by Stephanie Beavers in Life

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author, carols, Christmas, decorations, gratitude, inspiration, life, philosophy, reason for the season, Stephanie Beavers, writer

What is Christmas to me?

There seems to be a strange amount of conflict surrounding Christmas these days. Every is stressed and angry about money or religion or any number of things. These are legitimate things, but I do wish there were less of it.

I love Christmas. I love the decorations (especially the lights), I love wrapping gifts, and picking out the best presents I can for those I love. I love giving people something that they want or need or love. And yes, I do love getting presents too, but that’s not a big part of Christmas to me. I love the food! The seasonal treats and big dinners both. I love that family and friends come together a little bit more often around Christmas than the rest of the year. I love the music. Those songs that we’re only “allowed” to play during this one season, that are beloved for one reason or another. The fun ones and the serious ones. The ones that evoke emotions of joy or worship or, yes, even sadness.

Why concentrate on how we hate the commercialism and the pressure and the obnoxious songs that we can’t seem to escape? We can let those things make us miserable, or we can instead focus on those things we love. Think about the acts of kindness. Think about how, regardless of religion, the season tries to inspire us to be better.

Did I mention I love wrapping presents? I love ribbon. Seriously, whoever invented ribbon was a genius. My cat agrees with me.

What do you love about Christmas?

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Thank you

13 Monday Oct 2014

Posted by Stephanie Beavers in Life

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

author, entitlement, gratitude, Happy Thanksgiving, life, philosophy, social commentary, Stephanie Beavers, thankful, Thanksgiving, writer

To all Canadians (and everyone, really, even if today isn’t your Thanksgiving Day or if you don’t celebrate it at all), Happy Thanksgiving!

For all my little woes and complaints, I know that I am insanely blessed. I have so much to be thankful for, and while I do try to always be grateful, I know I don’t always succeed.

I believe that gratitude is one of the most powerful emotions that people have in their arsenal-for-life, and yet it is sadly underused. Our culture has replaced feeling grateful with feeling like entitled. Instead of “I am so blessed,” it’s just “I deserve this.” Entitlement robs gratitude’s power. Being grateful is a wonderful feeling; it lifts us up. But when you feel you deserve something, it can only tear you down, because if you deserve it and you get it, well, whatever, but if you deserve it and you don’t get it, it’s a terrible thing.

pumpkins thanksgiving

There is another lost aspect to gratitude too; we shouldn’t only be grateful for obviously good things.
When I was younger, I struggled a bit with being depressed. One of the things that helped me turn that around was gratitude. Every night, before I went to sleep, I thought of two good things that I was grateful for, and then two bad things that I was grateful for. This forced me to change my perspective, because if nothing else, we learn from the bad things in our lives. Sometimes those bad things are even serendipitous, and because of them, we find ourselves in good situations we wouldn’t otherwise have been in.
Don’t get me wrong, I do think some things happen for no reason (not everything happens for a reason), but if they’re bad, do they have to be all bad? If we focus on the good, if we try to be grateful, then we can learn so much, and over time, life will become a happier, better thing. I could link to innumerable studies supporting the power of positive thinking, but I’m pretty sure we’ve all heard of them.

So I know I, for one, am taking a moment to count my blessings and be thankful for each and every one. What do you think, readers? Have I overrated gratitude, or do you think there’s something to this? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone gets some turkey.
turkey thanksgiving thankful

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Trust

06 Monday Oct 2014

Posted by Stephanie Beavers in Thoughts

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

animals, author, cats, life, narrators, philosophy, Stephanie Beavers, trust, writer

Here’s a beautiful and thought-provoking video. The style of dance displayed isn’t usually my thing, but I can still appreciate the skill, strength, and trust that goes into such a performance. And the monologue over top is interesting. I almost thought it was going to be a funny video (just for a moment) because the narrator sounds like the guy who does “Dear Kitten” and “A Cat’s Guide To Taking Care Of Your Human.” Instead it was worth watching, not for entertainment value, but for the value it brings in getting us to think about what trust is to us – perhaps even who we trust.

Here’s the video:

And just because, here’s “Dear Kitten:”

And “A Cat’s Guide To Taking Care Of Your Human:”

So did the video make you think about trust? Or did you just watch the cat videos? ;) I promise I won’t judge.

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Has The World Become Too Loud?

02 Thursday Oct 2014

Posted by Stephanie Beavers in Thoughts

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

author, culture, life, music, nature, noise, philosophy, society, Stephanie Beavers, thinking, thoughts, writer

The other day, my boyfriend and I went for a drive. We left town and went up some logging roads. There were still people up there – it was a gorgeous Sunday afternoon – but we were more than far enough away that it felt like we were in the middle of nowhere.

And it was quiet.

quiet trees forest

Living in a city, you never experience quiet. Not ever. There’s the distant rush of traffic, the hum of electronics, the chatter of people, the omnipresent wall of white noise. But have you noticed that there’s even more noise than ever? It’s like we’re trying to drown out the noise with more noise. Everywhere you go, there’s always music playing or advertisements blaring. Every store and restaurant has its own choice blasting away. When you go the mall and stand in the entrance of store, you can hear both at once: the hall music AND the store music. Day in, day out, we are inundated with noise.

Noise keeps us from thinking.

Think about that. Is it true? Does noise damage our ability to concentrate, focus, and really think? Would people think more if there were less noise? Or is it something else? I read a study that suggested that people hate doing nothing; do people hate thinking too, hate how stillness and silence encourage thought? Or are they altogether separate?

loud

I have a friend who is very bright, but I constantly see this friend make stupid choices. This friend will complain to me about the consequences of those choices, about how the choice was made in the moment, because it “felt” right, but no thought was put into it. This is the same friend who has music blaring constantly, who always has the TV on in the background (sometimes both at the same time), and who must always be talking or doing something. This friend of mine is smart – maybe even brilliant – but it’s like this friend never stops to think. How would this friend’s life differ if just a little more thought entered the equation? Smart people do stupid things all the time, and it’s mostly when they didn’t stop to think first and fully evaluate the consequences of their actions.

Could noise be making people “dumber?”

It’s something to think about. Maybe try it. Get in a car and drive until there’s nothing but trees around. And think. Think about whatever crosses your mind.

So what do you think, readers? Might there be something to this? Or am I just waxing lightly on a meaningless subject? Have you ever felt like our world has become too loud? Share your thoughts!

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Qualia: Philosophy and Did I Really Just See That?

25 Monday Aug 2014

Posted by Stephanie Beavers in Thoughts

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

author, color, fun, humanity, Is my red the same as your red, perception, philosophy, qualia, questions, red, Science, Stephanie Beavers, Vsauce, writer

I have a confession. I like philosophy. Especially metaphysics. I actually have a BA in Philosophy (minor in English). I don’t understand why people find it boring. Some of the questions philosophers get to ask are AWESOME. Like the following:

I guess some people might write off questions like this as frivolous, but I find them fascinating. This is the core of human curiosity. Questions like these are what birthed the sciences. Math, physics, chemistry, and most recently, psychology. How can questions like this be frivolous when they brought out every scientific revolution?

So what about you, dear reader? Did you find the video interesting? Why do you think so many people think philosophy is boring?

(In other news, this is my 100th post. Yay!)

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Philosophy, kittens, and candy.
Disclaimer: The "be a dragon" quote is not mine. If you know who originally said it, please let me know so I can give due credit!

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