Who Is It Really About

A listener on a Japanese podcast was asking the hosts, "I believe traveling overseas is to experience different culture and grow oneself. I cannot understand those who travel for fun."

There's two lessons to this:
(1) do not force your beliefs on others. (I wonder how many times I've mentioned this); and
(2) different people grow differently. Some may grow just by driving to the next city, while others need other types of exposure to grow.

Damned Judgement

Revisiting Susan Cain's book, a phrase stood out this time - "damned judgement".

An introvert was rejected during a job interview for post as a lawyer, stating that she did not have the fitting personality.

"Damned judgement" is so accurate in describing this situation, and her talents was never tapped on.

Unimportant Questions in Life

The question "How many holidays have you had this year?" just seems so insignificant.

Is it supposed to be a sign of affluence? Level of experience? Is work so sad for people they need to "cool off"?

Why shouldn't the question be "What have you learnt about the world this year?", or "How many people have you helped this year?"

The Rise of Invective Marketing

Note: this is NOT a type of marketing that organisations should use! Yet, there is a rise in this trend among common folks seeking fame, especially in social networks. These trolls (as I call them) get a certain number of following, then they say something controversial that gets people to comment/share. And these trolls get the attention they want. Like This Old Marketing podcast says, please don't do this. It's wrong, if not just pathetic.

The Fallacy of Rights and Wrongs

I think one of the biggest fallacies as a human being is the belief of right and wrong. When humans think of a situation being "right", they think of any other situations as "wrong", thus limiting themselves to understanding or appreciating the true situation. The truth is there is no such thing as right or wrong. There is only the matter of what is. I am not going to argue that Hitler wasn't wrong. He did kill millions of Jews. However, I _choose_ to apply a moral standard, and condemn him for what he did. He was "wrong" in my eyes. However, many injustice in our world can be avoided by not assigning what's right or wrong. Religion is the worst offender, dictating themselves as right, and everyone else wrong. Homosexuality is wrong? You haven't even started to consider talking about human rights. Girls should not be allowed to work? They are half the economy for goodness sake.

Gender Expression is Fluid

Had a chat with an old friend, and we agreed that gender expression IS fluid.

The definition of what a man is and what a woman has been twisted by society's traditional views and manipulation by the media. By standards of these days, a man needs to have a chiseled body, while a woman needs to have a certain look to look pretty. Anything less, you are not manly or womanly. These views of "perfect gender" are so mediocre.

A dire situation has comed out of this obsession for gender perfection, for example, is in form of murders and totures of homosexuals in Russia. A supposed movement for human rights for the LGBT community (most of all, the right to live as part of the human race) has resulted in an illogical fear in the society, and oppression on homosexuals.

Russia is not the only place where the idea of perfect gender proliferates. Homosexuals face discrimination any where that has a strong traditional view or has strong religious presence that excludes homosexuality.

Gender should only be a term used in biology. It no longer has application in the modern world. It is also outdated, like education sticking to methods of the industrial days. Outside biology, the definition of gender becomes fluid. 

A demure person is a person, an agressive person is a person. Love is defined by feelings and acts for one another, regardless the couple's gender. Females being allowed into the workforce to boost economies, and not get held back by traditional views of a woman's role in the house. Man being allowed to be a house husband, if his strengths is bringing out the best in a child, in raising a child of possibility. 

"Fluid gender" allows for so much more possibilities.

PS: I've had people trying to use the argument of not being able to understand the other sex, like "Men will never understand childbirth!". Duh. Your point being? That woman are better? In their sacrifices? Or that men are worse? Put aside the fact that you are saying nothing about gender perfection or gender fluidity, you are doing nothing more than discriminating. It is precisely thoughts like this that creates 20 types of feminism, deviating the constructive efforts to position women as they truly are, a person, a human being, a contributing member of society. And these women deserve to express themselves however they would like to, regardless of gender.

Why I Have Decided to Avoid Talking About My Introversion

Simply because no one understands, and no one seeks to understand.

It was with blind optimism that I believed that Susan Cain's call for the need to understand introverts would slowly change the landscapes in which introverts can operate at, including society and workplaces. (By the way, her book should not just be taken to be about introverts, but also about the under-utlised talents of introverts. If 1 in 3 people are introverts, then why should we not include them for a 50% increase in productivity?)

Nope, that future did not come to pass. Each time I bring out the phrase "I am an introvert", the conversation goes back to the usual mistaken traits of shyness, social awkwardness and silence. Certainly they should realise that these traits can be mutually exclusive of introversion, and that there are also shy extroverts, socially awkward extroverts, and silent extroverts.

I love talking about topics I'm passionate about, I have a strong preference for deep connections with my social circle, and I do at times enjoy taking a step back to watch and hear the bustle of life around me. I am a proud introvert.

I'll be happy to share what makes an introvert, but first, empty your cup.

How to Be Part 90% of the World

90% of the world's population are common (a euphenism for mediocre) people.

There are two ways common people think when they approach something they do not understand (like seeing someone do something out of the ordinary).

One, to make assumptions (that are often wrong). As they try to understand why a thing is, they start making assumptions, and find evidence to prove themselves right.

Two, they call it crazy. Because it is not normal in society's eyes, and common people usually think themselves as right, they readily call it crazy.

These two lines of thought are just pure ignorance. Judgement based on one's own limited experiences serves no purpose, with no constructive outcome.

Do what the 10% extraordinaires do - ask why. A simple willingness to understand the right way.