March 28, 2006

Understanding Passion

Dare Obasanjo aka Carnage4Life - Your Passion Underwhelms Me

Rory says a lot of what I would have said in criticism of the passion post I found via Mini-Microsoft and does it with a lot less bitterness than I could ever muster. If you ask me, Microsoft could do with a lot less of its so-called passionate employees.

I like this post from Dare (in fact, it seems to me that Dare's been on quite the roll lately)

If there is one thing in life I have been accused of most often (and I've been accused of a LOT of things ;) its being passionate.

I've always taken this as a compliment, although its not always meant as one.

Not my problem.

What is my problem?

Depends on the situation. But being less passionate about life just cuz' it annoys some folks isn't what I would call a compelling reason to not be passionate.

What would be a compelling reason?

If the passion I exude did more destructive damage than it did constructive good.

Of course, every situation provides a different context as to what "damage" applies to.

Did someone die?

Nope. Not by my hand.

Did someone lose their job?

Not if they didn't deserve to.

Did someones feelings get hurt?

Sometimes.

Is avoiding the chance that someones feelings might get hurt enough to get me shutup?

FUCK NO!

Why? Do I just not care about peoples feelings?

If I have EVER come across that way to any of you, then for this I am TRULY sorry! Thats not what I would EVER want someone to believe. In regards to caring about people...

People are what matter the most to me.

But the politically correct bullshit that its better to say nothing than to risk offending someone or hurting someones feelings is just that: Bullshit.

Please don't take that to mean that I feel it's okay if you're racist or a hater of persons of any type (meaning, for example, there are white people who are snobs, bitches, complete fucks, trash, good, great, AMAZING, Mortal God's, etc...) except for those who wish harm upon others, to then act upon this wish -- but even then, if at all possible you should love the sinner and hate the sin, but like I said.. if at all possible. Sometimes thats a pretty hard thing to do, and no ones perfect. But, as usual, I digress...

Here's the point: I can see both sides of the argument that Dare has pointed out, although I will admit that I side more with Rory's argument than I do mini-m$ (you'll need to read the above linked article to understand what I mean.) And I can't help but laugh at Rory's "Enthusiasthma" label. I dig that (and not because I don't think that the label can be applied to me... sometimes (or even often times) it can. When it does, I learn, I try harder the next time not to make the same mistake... It doesn't always work out that way, but sometimes it does. So I guess thats progress. Progress is a good thing :)

However (and maybe this is a lot of what Dare and Rory believe as well... not sure as it seems theres plenty of room in both of their posts to allow for the fact that, generally speaking, this is how they both feel) finding a balance between being enthusiastic and pesimistic is a required attribute of "Passion."

In fact, this is true about everything... i.e. finding balance.

And I can speak from experience on this one... As mentioned above, It TRULY IS possible to be TOO ENTHUSIASTIC and TOO PESIMISTIC as at various times I have been both. Sometimes, even at the same time. (< not a perfect one-to-one comparison, but it's close enough to showcase the fact that its possible to be too much of both extremes, all at the same time :)

So to summarize...

To understand passion is to understand that, like everything, a balance must be struck if you are to have any hope at being effective.

Oh, and actions speak louder than words.

Yet Another Page From My Personal "The Hard Lessons of Life" SketchBook :)

Enjoy you're (hopefully) less-"Enthusiasthma"-stricken, More Positive Result-Driven Day :)