RMiddleton - Network

PS: I wanted to add that I may be different than most. You do you. I don't do religion or horoscopes or ghosts or mercury in retrograde...

PS: I wanted to add that I may be different than most. You do you. I don't do religion or horoscopes or ghosts or mercury in retrograde or the universe (except physics). When I hear an "answer" my first reaction is #skepticism. I believe that we are beings instinctively motivated by pleasant emotions. I believe all supernatural concepts are invented by humans for emotional reasons. I think that a lot of "this is how things are" talk is supernatural in the sense that it's beyond what we know.

A video triggered me into watching it by its title: "The problem with conservative minds (& how to fix it)." To be fair...

A video triggered me into watching it by its title: "The problem with conservative minds (& how to fix it)." To be fair I've only seen half, but I don't think the guy has the cure for conservatism.

I struggle to understand the way things are. I have strong opinions. What I share is my journey. I don't tell people what to think. I don't offer answers. I offer respect for questioning. I think I'm triggered when people present their venting as fact. It appears strong but I think it's weak.

3/3

2/3 My art is a product of what I'm working on. I'm working on me. I want to feel good as much as I can while being my authentic...

2/3 My art is a product of what I'm working on. I'm working on me. I want to feel good as much as I can while being my authentic self. That includes learning to satisfy my curiosity, not choosing denial, respecting life, & sharing kindness.

I got triggered days ago in a conversation where someone shared that "mockery is the way to take a bully down" while talking about the people who are the most up in terms of money & power. I said we don't know how to take them down or they wouldn't be up.

Earlier on #ScribesAndMakers we were asked about the best compliment we receive on our work & also about our dreams for success....

Earlier on #ScribesAndMakers we were asked about the best compliment we receive on our work & also about our dreams for success. Recently I got a compliment on a video stream for being authentic. That's what I strive for.

I get triggered by insincerity & also overconfidence. Like everyone I know I crave answers. It feels good to know something is settled. But it's not realistic. What I present in my work--- that word! My art is my work, not because it pays but because it's a product of...
1/3

I get angry when I see littering. I guess Hollywood sees it differently.For the second time today I just saw littering depicted as positive....

I get angry when I see littering. I guess Hollywood sees it differently.

For the second time today I just saw littering depicted as positive. By men—of course? Do I have to specify it's by men? One was to show "I'm wild/reckless/don't give af" & the other time was "I'm committed to change & willing to give up this thing I'm throwing away." The characters weren't judged for it. I get distracted when I see behaviors I hate by leads. I think a lot about transmission of bad values in entertainment.

Note: I plan to edit posts with links to update the URLs.It's exciting when an old post gets liked out of the blue. On Insta it was...

Note: I plan to edit posts with links to update the URLs.

It's exciting when an old post gets liked out of the blue. On Insta it was always a sign of some spambot type action but here I think it's someone wandering. It feels good here.Someone liked an older post that links to a URL I'm replacing so I edited the link to my new URL. Fedi is amazing that way.

I'm phasing out novelty TLDs for classic suffixes. Newer ones like .art are controlled by scammy types & country codes are country codes.

Test Mastodon isn't working for me

Test
Mastodon isn't working for me

I enjoy being weird.* This morning I streamed for an hour with my eyes closed. The first 6 minutes are preamble then I start talking about...

I enjoy being weird.* This morning I streamed for an hour with my eyes closed. The first 6 minutes are preamble then I start talking about ideas relating to the story I'm writing in my head. As ever I share without recommending anyone watch my nonsense. 🙏🏻
(Unless you like things very weird & rambling.)

*Edit: I do not enjoy acting weird for effect. I have reasons for what I do that are not for show. When I say I enjoy being weird I mean being true to myself.

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2402879585

I took a beautiful walk on the beach today with a friend I hadn't seen in a long time. I semi-compulsively pick up pieces of shells.

I took a beautiful walk on the beach today with a friend I hadn't seen in a long time. I semi-compulsively pick up pieces of shells.

USPol world democracy problems under capitalismIt's important to frame the situation we are in accurately, otherwise we feel that we are...

USPol world democracy problems under capitalism

It's important to frame the situation we are in accurately, otherwise we feel that we are failing & that can damage the psyches of good people everywhere. We need strength. That we sometimes win power & achieve progress are remarkable achievements. Capitalism, patriarchy, & white supremacy are deeply entrenched in power & in billions of minds. Human lifespans are a short amount of time to relearn reality with media & money working against us. 2/2

USPol world democracy problems under capitalismIt must be said frequently & forcefully that democracy depends on voters receiving...

USPol world democracy problems under capitalism

It must be said frequently & forcefully that democracy depends on voters receiving information & capitalist news media does not fail but rather it REFUSES to inform.

We here know this, at least I think we do. I think we are here because we recognize that free exchange of information & profiteering do not go together.

It is impossible for a nation to make informed decisions under these conditions. Dictatorship is inevitable.

It's important...
1/2

Dog sitting morning 3: Part protest of the time change, part enjoying as much time as possible with this dog lying against my leg, I'm...

Dog sitting morning 3: Part protest of the time change, part enjoying as much time as possible with this dog lying against my leg, I'm staying in bed as long as I can this morning. I didn't sleep sufficiently last night. My only commitment today is to this canine.

Deep programming tells me to feel shame if I choose sleep at times when most are awake. But why? This day entirely belongs to me and a dog, to do with as we see fit. Shame is emotional sabotage.

Joyful day, everyone!

I love Common Side Effects but there are too many Hank Hills in it. Mike Judge is an American media treasure; he is not a versatile voice...

I love Common Side Effects but there are too many Hank Hills in it. Mike Judge is an American media treasure; he is not a versatile voice actor.

#tv

Despair triggeringP.S. Food that I must eat to live comes in an unconscionable amount of single use packaging. I think about my limited...

Despair triggering

P.S. Food that I must eat to live comes in an unconscionable amount of single use packaging.
I think about my limited emotional energy.
If I research I may be able to identify suppliers for my needs that are the least harmful to human life. Most likely these choices will be unaffordable to me.
I think about my limited emotional energy.
At birth I inherited complicity in a multitude of atrocities.
I think about my limited emotional energy to attend to important growth.

When I shared the video link above I removed the tracking code after the "?" as I always do. As I did so I thought about my...

When I shared the video link above I removed the tracking code after the "?" as I always do. As I did so I thought about my limited emotional energy to attend to important growth. I'm currently receiving multiple manipulative political text appeals daily, presumably because *several cycles ago* I gave to act blue. No matter how many times I reply Stop they keep coming. I think about my limited emotional energy. I cannot use email without dread. I think about my limited emotional energy ♾️

5/5

I work to let go of anger. I believe it's healthy for me & humanity to cultivate unconditional love for those I cannot understand....

I work to let go of anger. I believe it's healthy for me & humanity to cultivate unconditional love for those I cannot understand. The path I seek is to improve myself, then I may more easily be available even to people who don't nourish me. I seek my nourishment elsewhere. I may not get back around to being there for these people but that's the idea. Put my air mask on first. I'm still working on that. Meanwhile I maintain tenuous connections with nearly all I know. Do many feel this way?

4/5

Craving #queer community is uncomfortable for me. I lost a godfather to AIDS before I was out. I sensed a connection with him. In 2019 I...

Craving #queer community is uncomfortable for me. I lost a godfather to AIDS before I was out. I sensed a connection with him. In 2019 I heard from his ex who is remarried & living nearby. I do not feel connection with them. Conversations hew closely to home renovations & travel, the clichés I use to signify shallow. I have this problem with many white people & gay men of a certain class who offer me community that I do not want. I feel bad for rejecting them. I feel angry sometimes too.

3/5

I notice that when my focus wanders it’s frequently procrastination of a difficult task. Seems pretty obvious I guess. So I respect my...

I notice that when my focus wanders it’s frequently procrastination of a difficult task. Seems pretty obvious I guess. So I respect my ADHD. My brain isn't working against me but for me. It may be possible to "power through" an interruption of attention but doing so disrespects (intentionally?) the emotional feedback being provided. I like to know what I'm afraid of tackling. I can still choose to do it. I drive the boat. Where did I detour? Ah yes:

Where are the missing queer elders?

2/5

Meaningful media is interactive. I am very interested in this video by Rowan Ellis https://youtu.be/pUdH4J9sF8I We Need To Talk About The...

Meaningful media is interactive. I am very interested in this video by Rowan Ellis https://youtu.be/pUdH4J9sF8I We Need To Talk About The “Queer Elder” Crisis. Meaningful media is interactive & I have so little emotional energy. I may take ♾️ breaks to watch the hourlong video.

Changing the subject is easier. I like my choice above to say "I may take" instead of "I may need ♾️ breaks." I like the agency of take. My streams are often like this. I respect #ADHD; it very often provides insights.

1/5

Speaking of etymology above, I found myself sharing the word humility all over the place before looking it up. Uh oh, how can I be sure what...

Speaking of etymology above, I found myself sharing the word humility all over the place before looking it up. Uh oh, how can I be sure what I'm saying?! The etymology of humility & humble took me on quite a journey of meanings:
“low, slight, hence mean, humble” compare Greek χαμηλός (khamēlós, “on the ground, low, trifling”), from humus (“the earth, ground”) related to homo ("human being" from from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰm̥mṓ (“earthling")).

I can accept it. I embrace an earthly existence.