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DannyboyO1 — Reserved Seating
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Published: 2012-01-20 04:42:39 +0000 UTC; Views: 9629; Favourites: 55; Downloads: 126
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Oh... well, I suppose it must be your seat. But that doesn't mean you can hog the whole booth.Related content
Comments: 44
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Who has not have a crush on her back when she was known as Willow
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I know! So freakin' adorable. Playing a smart character well... Hard to replace in my mind.
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Good to know I have taste in womens. Or am randomly lucky. Ah well. Any suggestions for future work?
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Sorry, my friend but my artistic creativity is as dry as this season. I haven't posted anything in months. But if I come up with something interesting to suggest I'll let you know.
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I'd been afraid you were just busy. Now I gotta worry about your muse being ill. :\ Recover as best ye may.
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Busy? Nope, not really, I'm still unemployed, which sucks.
So, yeah, my muse is either ill or just went on a very extended vacation. Or maybe someone up there traded the drawing muse for the music muse.
Maybe I can have the first one back as well.
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This is why I started doing the weekly artstreams. It does help me focus and actually get *something* done. Which feels a lot better than getting buggerall accomplished, as I had been.
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I would do the same, but music is taking a bigger chunk of my time and inspiration these days.
But I'll never cease to draw completely, that's for sure. I always go back to it after a long hiatus. Been there, done that.
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Ahh. Didn't know about the music. In my case... there wasn't really anything productive replacing it.
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Well, you've been productive now. So am I, but not here. It's fortunate we are both being kinda creative.
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I keep missing streams. Technical difficulty, illness... and I'm not ever going to make money at this. Perhaps I need to refocus my energies somewhere else.
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Perhaps, but I think it shouldn't be all about money. I say that, if something you do is rewarding and worthwhile, it is as valid to pursue as a paid activity.
Maybe that's why I live cheque after cheque, so to speak. But I'm no greedy dude.
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Check to check would be the best I've done in the last few years... and not really where I'm at now. I need a way to live. And I do look at my wee talents as I do everything else...
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In regards to that... I've been reading a book about job hunting, which aims somewhat to polish your own professional image and, more importantly, to make you recognize your actual skills.
As I've been doing the exercises, I've been realizing I have more skills than I used to acknowledge on my own. Perhaps not "talents", but skills are just as important and useful if you are looking for a way to live. Maybe you do something very well, and like to do it.
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Unfortunately, I think my biggest skillset is customer-service based, and my increasing bitterness is eroding the emotional balance needed.
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Truly, mate, you'd be surprised just how many skills you actually have, by just inventoring yourself, so to speak.
Do you know this book, "what color is your parachute?"? Not trying to give it free publicity or anything (it sells too well already anyways)... Well, if you don't want to read the whole thing, there is a workbook sold separately. I got it and, as I've been doing the exercises, I've realized that, despite my lack of work experience, I do have plenty of skills, some which I knew, some which I didn't.
Maybe you should check it out. Besides, customer-service skills I reckon are pretty valuable, and so are social skills in general. Those, I have in short supply and that my main chagrin about myself.
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You think you lack in social skills? You are on the internet, using complete sentences, explaining that a process exists; for the sole benefit of possibly helping someone you're actually only slightly acquainted with.
I think that might qualify as a demonstration of ability. Doesn't cover the other vital lessons of being human... Asking nicely; taking "no" for an answer; patience... amongst less directly social ones like: being wrong; cleaning up one's mistakes; learning.
I do question why you would think you lack social skills.
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I use complete sentences because I like to write well, and because I am a bit of a grammar Nazi. 
As for chatting on the internet, it is true I do use certain social skills, but I'm mostly here to make up for my lack of real life interactions. And it's easier to be bolder and to speak better in writing than in real time while speaking.
As for the helping thing, I think it's just a matter of morals. I think I usually enjoy to share some info I might have with others if I think they need it and can use it.
I don't know. Maybe they're social skills, maybe not.
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So you've got the basics of language, and the impulse to do good. So... the two tricks to learn now are how to speak and how to listen. The former is acting. The latter is empathy and humility. You do have a decent start on this.
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Crap, I'm terrible at acting, so no wonder. I definitely are more fluent and proper in writing, so that's a start.
As for listening, I think I'm actually good at it, as long as it is not constant whining or showing off.
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Wonderful thing about acting... there's classes. There are exercises. You can practice giving a speech. Telling and retelling a joke for different audiences to gauge reactions. Telling a good story... exchanges of dialog... communication.
Personally, I find good listening skills... are frequently misunderstood. I (and I don't recommend this) tend to interrupt for clarification, and repeat back the parts that I'm being asked to understand. Then "Okay. Got it. Go on?" Works best in my specific professional environment, but it's... an aggressive tactic that overcomes prepared speeches, and keeps me from getting lost if there's multiple issues, or if I mistake one issue for another. Tends to very wonderfully cut off whining.
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Thing about acting is that you want to act. If there is no will to do so, it's hard to learn it. But maybe I should learn it eventually if I plan to play music live. I guess it is better to "act" with a more flamboyant personna onstage to attract attention and good vibes.
Interrupting for clarification cuts off whining... I never thought about it. I should try to put that into use ASAP. Unfortunately, too many people do tend to whine too much about life. I know life is kinda tough... but come on! Enough is enough, LOL.
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Proper use of interruption *can* disrupt certain patterns. It's not guaranteed. Expert-level communication. Right up there with figuring out someone else's sense of humor.
Learning to act as a way to gain some confidence in speaking... that is the motivation. Overcoming fear. Gaining practice. Think of how many people can quote Monty Python routines verbatim. Or Shakespeare? Or that cool biblical verse from Pulp Fiction?
Working with a script lets you focus on delivery. There are many ways to say a line. And different meanings that can be derived thereby.
Clearly, you're not interested in being an actor. It's just a training tool. A form of social therapy.
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Would effective manipulation (via persuasive/ charismatic means) be considered at the expert-level communication, you think? As for the sense of humour bit, I concur. Making people laugh ought to be one of the hardest things to accomplish. I envy (in a good way) someone who has the natural talent to do so.
Interestingly, I've been working years on my confidence in speaking. Eventhough I have made leaps of progress, I still have a lot of way to walk. Especially in English, since it's not my mother-tongue, and in a few situations it can still feel quite not natural. And I've been speaking almost daily for the past 4 years.
Or maybe I'm just being a perfectionist. Most people understand me fine anyways. Written word, prose, verse and poetry haven't been among my primary interests in life, I'm afraid. But maybe that could change when I devote myself to write some lyrics (and songs).
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There's also the detail that communication is a personal matter. You can be incredibly adept at getting thoughts across to close friends and utterly terrible with new people. It's like getting to know people. Just try not to get so cynical at it that you turn into a politician or used car salesman.
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I couldn't agree more. To some degree we can all learn to speak well (there are plenty of speaking/ oratory seminars out there), but the touch we have with people is basically our own, especially in personal relationships.
In professional relationships, good thing is that it is pretty impersonal, so it can be polished.
I don't personally know politicians (thank goodnes) nor used car salemen, but I think their own cynical style could be useful for their chosen profession. Now, I wouldn't be sure how many of them can keep that cynicism at their home front door. Maybe it does permeate through their lives, and that would be pitiful.
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Given the level of inspection their lives receive by the press and their enemies... there's much to pity. But the cynicism I was thinking of was the sort that says everyone else is an idiot and will fall for whatever is told well to them.
It's weird tho, how seldom they see how their messages apply to themselves. Although, there is some scientific research showing that the human brain does, when offered power, trend towards hypocrisy. Doesn't mean being a powerful political figure with an anti-gay message will lust for manflesh. Just that they won't see anything wrong with it if it's just for them.
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Not everyone else, but maybe more people than one would expect? Unfortunately a lot of people seem to fall into fads, celebrity gossip and personnae worshipping. I find that extremely odd, considering that we fancy ourselves an intelligent lifeform.
And yeah, I think power transforms and distorts people's minds. A lot of those who hold power to one degree or another seem to operate in another realm and forget about the real world. Sometimes, some of the powerful ones tend to think they've become some sort of gods and demand too much.
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I was thinking of some specific studies, actually. [link] There is some actual psychological studies to support it.
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Awesome reading! Kudos to you for finding that.
With so many ugly facts about powerful individuals, there is no wonder I rarely, if ever, I follow so-called leaders. I prefer to be an outcast, but free, than being bossed around by some narcissistic, lying, hypocritical a-hole who isn't more fit to lead than me.
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I figure there's 2 types of leader. The ones that are competent, helpful, and want the best for everyone... and the ones that want the best for themselves and to hell with everybody. The first are good at making money. The others are just good at self-preservation.
But then, it's like everything else in life. There are some people who are amazing at what they do, and a lot of people who shouldn't.
As for whether to follow... I can't. I'm not built to avoid questioning a darned thing. But I can be a good ally, as long as a given boss is not a jerk. There's more than one perspective... some give better insights.
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There may be, but I'm yet to find a good leader. I guess most a-hole, bossy "leaders' are the rule in today's society. And worse, it appears that the system actually rewards phony, selfish leaders. And what you said, true leaders (which I'd say are guides) are a rarity.
You're not built to avoid questioning? Well, God or whatever is up there probably loves you for it. I'm the same, and though sometimes it's a bitch not to be able to trust or believe in things, I prefer freedom of thought and action over anything else. Curiously, I also consider myself a good team player.
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Excellence is hard to train and a bit rare to find. There will always be more mediocre examples than awesomeness.
I can't see any benefits to taking anything on faith, other than saving time. If someone wants to avoid my knowing something, then whatever it is probably runs counter to my goals and needs. Or they may not have thought things through, and are steering the whole group into the grand canyon. Very few ideas can be both worthwhile for all involved and unable to withstand illumination of the various elements. Of course, the other logical extreme is design by committee.
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Indeed, once I read that if people suddenly became extremely smart or attractive or skillful, they would immediately become extremely average as well. In other words, the very nature of excellence is that it is rare and hard to find/ train. Only a few exceptional ones achieve excellence. Which is a pity if you think about it...
I would call that a dogma. After all, dogmas are devised to be absolute, unquestionable, undeniable truths for the weak-minded. And I am not only talking about religion here. I can assure that, for instance, an elite fashionista doesn't fully believe in all the bullshit he promotes to enhance his and his creations' image. But the followers... they probably believe in what he says without question. Same for elite politicians, religious leaders, CEOs, etc. All use dogmas to stupidize people into following them. Knowledge is fairly dangerous for them, so I am not surprised they to avoid people knowing anything.
It is sad to see so many people being controlled and mind-numbed by dogmas and stereotypes. They're either too lazy to actually think for themselves, or too afraid of being outcasts. I've tried both, and it isn't as awful as many of them think.
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There's also the wee detail that the ability to recognize areas where you are incompetent... is part of the very ability itself. The truly incompetent think they are competent, or even above average.
Personally... I'm not a very good driver. I have, once, with worse stopping power than the minivan before me, determined going onto the icy shoulder to the right would embed me in the support for the upcoming overpass. There was a cop warning us the left-hand lane was bad, and that was the better option. I lost control, spun, hit the clutch, regained control in reverse, doing 40, looking at the headlights of cars approaching at 45-60 mph... and deciding, at a glance, which ditch to throw my car into, to be towed out. I avoided all vehicular collisions, and my only real sin was not being more aggressive at keeping a bigger following distance beforehand. Even that is somewhat mitigated by the fact that the guy ahead had better stopping power and kept slowing slightly every time I did. I simply hadn't wanted to risk hitting my brakes hard enough to chance losing control.
And I am pretty sure I'm not a very good driver... because I hate driving, and all the variables you have to be constantly alert for... and I can't handle the slick spots nearly as well as my dad, who thinks of himself as an average driver... one who lives in the midwest and hasn't had even the slightest accident in... my lifetime.
And... yeah, most people are afraid to be themselves. And yet admire others who are.
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Very true. If someone is arrogant enough to think they are the best at something, they won't even think they need to improve.
As someone said, there is always someone better at what you do than yourself. In my experience, that is so true.
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Look at belly right in between the top and the skirt look like she'd been cut in half. Still nice picture and she's a beautiful woman too.
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That was actually the point.
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Sorry Then, if it was the point you should make the region more shadowy in my opinion.
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Wondered if I'd made the shadow too light. Thanks!
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