Cynique

I sometimes think of Troy as being a voice in the wilderness, worthy of being heard. I often think of Delano as being his own best friend. I usually think of Pioneer as the creator of his own world. I find Mel to be an original thinker, CDBurns a calculated optimist, and Xeon a discriminating black man. I don't know what I am. Coo-coo, I guess.

The movie made a parody of white liberalism which is just a sophisticated form of racism. To me, it was also a cautionary tale whose message was: what happened to the brotha would never have come about had he not let his affinity for a "Becky", influence his preference in women. Jordan Peel will probably face a lot of criticism from black comics, miffed that his movie became a box office block buster. It's interesting to also keep in mind that Jordan is bi-racial.

The cardinal rule of taking on a writing project, is to never select a subject you know nothing about, Dan. Keeping this in mind, you need to interact with a cross section of black people and pick up on their vibe. Spend less time worrying about your protagonist typifying blackness because this is racist. Personality types don't discriminate; They come in all colors because they are human ones. . . The trick is to make your main character a compelling individual who just happens to be black. The real challenge will be to maintain a balance between his subjectivity and objectivity as a black person. (Does the name Barack Obama come to mind?) You might also want to read "Between The World And Me", a highly acclaimed book on the subject of racism by black author Ta-Hehisi Coates.

Well, guess everybody has run out of things to say. Not surprising. The discussions here always evolve into debates, and few of us are swayed by the arguments of others. Anecdotal evidence, sociological studies, and scientific proof all muddy the picture and we end up with a negative that isn't developed. We all embrace our truths and distrust the source of rebuttals to them. What goes on here is kind of a reflection of the world-at-large and the reason why this country is in disarray. I find myself withdrawing from what is happening all around me, pondering if intelligent design is involved in the Universe, it needs to go back to the drawing board because humanity, in its imperfect form, is on a collision course with self-destruction At the age of 83, I'm shooting for 85 and then I'm ready to call it a day, keeping in mind that my whole life time may just be the wink of an eye in a larger world where I am the equivalent of a fruit fly in this one. I'm rather tired but I am grateful that sleep comes easily to me, and it is a haven for my body and the dreams that have insomnia. Wonder if ant colonies have leaders who are assholes.

The scenario about whites wanting to use the term "nigga" because blacks use it, was played out way back in the '90s when rappers freely used the word in their rhymes. At that time it was made clear that it was not OK for whites to call black folks what they call themselves, and the rule is still in effect. White people still do what they've always done, which is to restrict the word nigga to private conversations. And while you're going around boasting about the super sexual prowess of black studs, you are troubled by the smirks of white people listening to young black males talkin about this past offenses. Silly-assed white Millennials don't have any more common sense than black kids. They are immersed in their white privilege, thinking they can get away with anything.

@Pioneer1And you talk about me worrying about white people thinking blacks are oversexed. Why do you worry about blacks saying nigga in front of white folks? More and more people are gettin tired of political correctness. Young folks call this "keepin it real".

@Pioneer1Well, obviously you and I process things differently. You cannot define what my subjective abstract experiences are, you can only verbalize your interpretation and cite other instances in order to try and make your point. Whatever.

I've been hearing so much about the surprise box office hit, "Get Out" written and directed by comedian Jordan Peele, that I actually bestirred myself to go see it. I give it a thumps up! It was quite well done, good acting, great comic relief; a satirical romp with a sly take-away. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I was amused by its off-beat plot.

@Pioneer1 Who said thoughts are "matter"? I didn't. You refuse to acknowledge that there is a difference between the territory of the mind, and the environment of the physical world where vibrating energies have solidified. The answer to the questions you posed should be obvious by the definitions but, since you apparently are not an abstract thinker they do not register with you. My memories are revived recollections of events that have already happened in the physical world and while I am recalling them they do not materialize into a scene that can be watched by an audience. They are not tangible. When different fragrances or aromas trigger flashbacks, my sense of smell does not magically transform what I have smelled into tangible entities or objects. When someone imagines or theorizes about something, until it is energized into fruition in the physical world for all to perceive, it exists in the intangible limbo of the abstract realm. Proceeding on your argument, i could dream I won the lottery and wake up a rich woman, something that wouldn't happen because my abstract dream existed only in my mind. Or, while remembering my wedding day, I would be holding a bouquet and standing next to my groom-to-be, something that would not be the case because my memories are the intangible remnants of the tangible past.

@Pioneer1 ab·stract1 adjective synonyms: theoretical, conceptual, notional, intellectual; existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence: Abstract is from a Latin word meaning "pulled away, detached," and the basic idea is of something detached from physical, or concrete, reality. abstract - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com Memories and dreams are recalling events that existed in the physical world.

@Pioneer1Ideas or thoughts are not matter or mass.

The above would seem to be analogous to the concept of "race"; It is adequate to virtually all circumstances we are personally likely to encounter. But when a "massive object" like technicality is added to the equation, then it is "inadequate." "Practicality" wins out over technicality in the ordinary world. @Pioneer1Whatever form matter takes it is still different from "abstract", which was the point I was trying to make. Ideas, per se, are not vibrating energy .

The longer I live, the more memories and leisure time I have to replay the past on the screen of my mind. What I have noticed is that what I do remember is deeply etched in my mind and for some reason has stayed with me over the years. There are other events i have forgotten about until somebody brings them up. And, these memories do seem to be more vivid the older I get. I don't know whether the "inner narrative" that is ongoing inside my head has anything to do with all of this. i also have a very weird thing going on with my computer which has become very organic and when I sit down before it, - it tells me what to write.

Yes, this is all about how each person defines the words they are using and is more an exercise in ambiguity than anything else.

Well, an Alpha Male is in the eye of the beholder and has something to do with the pecking order. This term originated in the animal kingdom in describing how the male of the species will drive off or dominate other males who attempt to challenge his authority within the group. This is particularly observable among Lion prides. And even in a domesticated environment where 2 males cats live under the same roof. They will fight and the loser has to wait for the winner to finish eating before he can eat his meal from the same plate. i have personally seen this happen. But, if you 2 Beta bruthas don't want to be called "Alpha Males", then so be it.

@Troy I don't think it's "silly" to keep an open mind about profound matters. What is silly is for those who don't believe race exists but keep whining about racism. Or for those who have mixed emotions about the "impossible", and who talk about the mind being "finite" but think that they have infinite knowledge when it comes to controversial subjects.

How is that applicable? this formula is abstract, but it deals with mass/matter.

Matter is matter, is it not. Are you saying the physical world doesn't exist, that it is just a figment of the mind? And what "experience" are you talking about? Ones that tell you not to drive your car into ongoing traffic or you will be in a collision??

Are solid objects and entities abstractions? I think of abstractions as being intangible ideas and theories that are separate from humans made up of matter and their geographic environment.

You got that right.

To me, an Alpha male is someone who is a leader not a follower.

@ Guest Loath I must say, that for English to be your second language you write it much better than most Americans do. I think that if you speak with an accent, black people will not be offended by your use of any of the adjectives you inquired about. We will know that you are not familiar with the "no-nos" and give you a pass and at some point tell you that "negro" and "colored" are labels that conjure up the past.

What are y'all's thoughts about memory? To me, it is a vehicle for time travel. In my declining years, i do a lot of looking back because so much of what was alive and familiar in my life is now "dead" and gone. At night in the dark silence of my solitude is one of the times when I revisit my past, conjuring up visual scenarios that are as vivid to me as the moment they happened. I recall conversations verbatim, and other intricate details. These recollections are not always pleasant ones, either. Music also conjure up memories, especially original recordings of songs by the artist who made them famous. My affinity for music dates back to early childhood when my ears were filled with what was being played on the 78-inch vinyl records spinning on an old turntable. Because I so love the ballads of the 1950s when my life was very intertwined with the hits of the day, I spend my leisure time reminiscing to the selections on a cable music channel that features songs from this era. And speaking of incense, (which I do burn from time to time just to help me relax) certain fragrances and aromas can also bring back memories. I have an old bottle of the cologne that I always wore whenever me and my husband were going out to social events. He loved the scent of it and now every time I take of whiff of it, I am flooded with feelings of nostalgia. Whenever I smell nutmeg spice, I always think of my mother and the apple pies she made. And then, of course, there is imagination. That's a whole other vehicle that can idle in the present or transport me to the future. "The mind is a terrible thing to waste." It is such a miraculous instrument with infinite possibilities.

@Mel That's some deep shit, girlfriend. And it just convinces me that consciousness is a gateway to a different world... @Troy If , as you imply, that anything is possible, then it's possible that you are incorrect in your belief that scientific evidence is infallible. Why? Because it is based on the knowable, not the unknowable X-factor. Physicist Stephen Hawkins, one of the most brilliant minds in the world, reversed himself on the existence of black holes, and now believes they exist. Astronomers came to the conclusion after many years that Pluto was not a planet. The medical profession frequently reverses itself about diseases, at one time dismissing measles as a harmless childhood ailment, only to recently discovering that is a dangerous disease that can have an adverse effect and even lead to death. The treatment for cancer, heart disease and diabetes is constantly changing as more becomes known about their pathology. And, of course, race was once believed to exist until other anthropologists disputed this. So nothing is for sure and we only know what we know until we know more. Mathematics come closest to being a constant. As for what people believe, if what they believe works for them then, in their world, it's true. As for what they think they know, if their ignorance has provided bliss then, in their world, they're ahead of the game. Somewhere between the abstract and the actual is the adaptation that enables people to navigate through the world at large. One man's reality is another one's skepticism.

Well, sometimes we don't see ourselves as others do, and are not aware of the tone that emanates from our words. We agree there was friction between Del and Pioneer and, to me, there was a slightly confrontational vibe between Troy and Pioneer, with Pioneer being passive aggressive and Troy exhibiting frustration laced with indignation. I'm not complaining, I find it interesting to observe the exchanges between 3 Alpha Males. I'd also be interested in hearing Mel's impressions on the matter. Don't leave us, Del. You showed a lot of insight in your self assessment, so stay and keep me informed about subjects which I know nothing about.