Category: observation

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feelings Internet observation

Opinions & Criticism on the Web

I read this quotation last week (via my Twitter feed):

To avoid criticism do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.

I notice in recent times how I’ve come out of my shell a little more, saying a little more of my opinion (in real life and on the Internet) and really, not letting others beat me down for my words. It used to be that I’d clam up and just let others tell me that my opinion is wrong.

Now, if people tell me why exactly they disagree with me (yet still maintain respect for me), I can respect their criticism. But, when they just flat-out become mean-spirited and attack me personally….well, here, I walk away and move on.

It’s not that I don’t want to defend myself, but if they go on and personally attack me when this attack has nothing to do with the original argument, then it’s useless to keep continuing the discussion. This only reflects how the other person feels insecure about his or her own opinion and just wants to stab me with something so to “prove” their superiority.

This comes through a lot on the Internet, unfortunately. I always feel irked whenever I see people just badmouthing for no particular reason on any blog post, news article, etc. Trolls, that’s what they call them. Anyway, I’ve noticed that I tend to receive a comment (or two) on some of my Muni Diaries posts about the fact that my posts are worthless, wastes people’s time, etc.

And these kinds of comments usually come from people who don’t even state their own names.

If you’re going to attack another person online, at least have the decency to show your name. That would show courage and that would hold you accountable for your own words. The Internet may seem like an easy place to escape your real-world identity, but in the end, it’s purely immature to hide behind a facade and bad-mouth others.

When I see comments like these, I wonder how the commenter’s life in the real world is like. Does this person feel like his/her life is not interesting enough, loving enough that he/she must go on the Internet to attack others?

I stand by my own words, and you can stand by yours, I’ll give you that. But remember, to get respect, you must show respect. I put my name out there, so you should put yours out there as well, especially if you’re going to criticize me. Even if you think that you are going to get away with your cruel words, just remember that what comes around goes around.

Categories
fruit funny inspiration observation

Singular Peach.

Yesterday, I received a fresh peach and accidentally left it in the car overnight.

This morning, while I was eating loquats for breakfast, I suddenly remembered that the peach was still in the car. I thought about the possibility of the peach over-ripening in the heat of the day. I quickly got dressed and walked outside into the fog.
My upstairs neighbor was outside smoking with the front door slightly cracked open. My acupuncturist went to his office on the corner of our block to pick up his morning paper; we both had epiphanies as we realized the fact that we’re next-door neighbors.
I walked on to the car and rescued the peach. It had a small cut on it but it still felt fresh and ready-to-eat luckily. I continued on back home holding the peach like a treasure. It’s now safe at home.
Somehow I felt inspired after that mission.
Categories
observation reflection time

Upside Down in January

This is the first time in probably years where the year has started off with nonstop action. Most of the time, the month of January has been just dry and boring for me. Things go by like syrup, so the days feel too long and I’m usually left sitting and staring at a clock for the time to just edge by.

But this year, January has been a monster for me. I feel like I’ve been on a rollercoaster for this first half of the month, up and down, up and down. There’s been barely any time to breathe and reflect on all the changes. As my friend said to me the other day, there’s no time to feel much emotion for things that have happened.

In the little free time I’ve had this month, I have been walking around more and reflecting on the past few years. I’ve seen a few of my favorite businesses in my neighborhood close down due to the slow economy, and new businesses popping up near the Financial District showing promise for an improving economy. Still, there are a lot of vacant storefronts, all victims to the recession.

I also find myself observing others more, and realizing what a long way I’ve come in the past 5-10 years. It’s a big chunk of time to think about, but I notice how times have changed and how I’ve aged when observing others. I watch young high-schoolers board the bus with their nonchalant “tough” demeanor and I wonder what they’ll be thinking about when they come to my age. I’m not much older than they are, but the space between the teenage and young adult years is much wider than the space between the 20s and 30s.

The rest of the month (the next two weeks) will continue upon this rollercoaster I’ve boarded. I’m not sure if the ride will stop on my birthday or if it’ll continue on throughout the year.

Categories
My San Francisco Chronicles observation reflection

San Francisco Scenes, Part 2

Tommy’s Joynt
Van Ness Avenue & Geary Street
Sunday afternoon

After visiting the farmer’s market today, I decided to go by the public library to pick up a few books I had on hold. I waited outside one entrance with a few other patrons, and, when the doors open, we all began walking in. I was surprised when I saw the hoards of people flooding in from all the entrances into the library, as if the place were a shopping mall. Perhaps I just haven’t been out enough, but it seems like only here in San Francisco can I see such a scene for the library. There were a mix of people: young, old, wealthy, homeless, etc. They all wanted to go inside to relax, to sleep, to check out books (like me), and other things. I felt others found the library as more than just a place for books; to many here in the city, the public library is a sanctuary from the elements and the sometimes-harsh street scene. Quiet, tranquil, and open.

Later on, I had lunch at Tommy’s Joynt with my brother. Tommy’s Joynt is a true San Francisco institution where you can see people from all walks of life eating together and truly sharing at least one thing in common. It was another eclectic crowd inside, not unlike the crowd I saw streaming into the library. Some people were interested in watching Sunday football on the televisions in the restaurant; others just wanted a warm meal for a good value.

———–

Many times, I feel like I don’t belong here in San Francisco with the different “scenes” aka crowds in the city; other times, like today, I feel it doesn’t matter what group we all supposedly belong in, as long as we’re happy and letting others just do their own thing with no judgment involved.

Categories
funny My San Francisco Chronicles observation Work Diaries

San Francisco Scenes, Part 1

Sometimes, San Francisco really frustrates me; other times, it surprises and amuses me. Two instances:

Story #1
A couple of months ago, I was walking with my brother to buy groceries on Masonic. We were laughing about something else when suddenly we heard a skateboarder coming down Masonic, down the hill from Trader Joe’s. The guy was carrying a bag of groceries and trying to balance himself on his skateboard (a mighty feat) when he got distracted with a Jaguar on the road. We didn’t realize until he started speaking that he was really a pirate in disguise.

“Yargh…Jaguar!”

He looks at the Jaguar, and suddenly, he falls off his skateboard. My brother and I stand in shock as we both are afraid he might get run over. Traffic stops.

The skateboarder then picks himself up from the road.

“Yargh…ye bastard!”

He notices that his skateboard went flying across the road.

“Yargh…me skateboard!”

And then he hurls himself across traffic to retrieve his skateboard, as if nothing happened and that it was all normal to him.

Story #2
Today at work, I noticed across Market Street there was a guy with an easel and he looked like he was painting/sketching a man in a wheelchair a few feet away. I pointed out the scene to my co-workers and immediately felt curious about the situation; the artist looked deep in thought, as if studying his subject and making sure he was accurate with his depictions.

Well, a co-worker went to investigate the scene, and sadly, it wasn’t as poignant as it appeared from our office: the artist was drawing something abstract, and the man in the wheelchair? He wasn’t the subject; it was merely a coincidence that they were both in close proximity.

Still, the scene struck me as something unique for the city; we have street artists, sure, but this guy was really, well, taking the term in a different way. He was dismantling his easel and work by the time I left work; I wanted to catch a glimpse of his progress, but I decided it was best to let it go.