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Post by Oliveman on Oct 14, 2007 2:35:05 GMT -5
Recently, I stumbled upon the essay "Finding Your Themes" by Holly Lisle at hollylisle.com/fm/Articles/feature9.html - I probably won't do it justice, but the basic point she makes that I want to highlight is this: while writers who might have long, successful carrers can write their themes based on questions they know the answer to - "safe" questions - the writers who are able to transend their time and write great works are the ones who tackle questions that they percieve as having answers that aren't good enough. Incorporating these kinds of questions into your theme infuses it with a sort of daring and potency that is unique to you as a writer. This being said, the question is this: What are the questions that you have not found a satisfying answer to? This is, of course, in the context of theme, so make them questions about the workings of humanity and stuff like that... things there isn't or needs to be another answer to. Remember, oftentimes we don't know the questions ourselves, the ones that are important to us - vitally so.
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Kyle
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~~~~~ Trust Beyond See ~~~~~ "One light will tear apart the night"
Posts: 204
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Post by Kyle on Oct 14, 2007 6:13:48 GMT -5
Any specific examples?
Questions I have not found a (fully) satisfying answer to: * What is the meaning of life? * How did everything begin? * Can God create a mountain so big that God can't lift it? * How can you teach someone what something is if it's completely outside their realm of possible experiences? ((For example: love, fear, or sight to a blind person.))
Mind you, I may have answers for these (but think the answers could be better) OR I don't care about getting the final answer. However, you asked, so I answered. =)
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Post by Oliveman on Oct 16, 2007 19:15:39 GMT -5
I recently created a list as they came to me, pick what you wish from this stack:
Why do people hurt themselves? What keeps people from knowing themselves? What keeps people from following their dreams? Why can’t people use logic and reason to get over their loss of hope? What is faith, and why is it important, despite compelling evidence otherwise? How do we know things? What is the balance between living for ourselves and living for others? Should there be one? Why do people settle? Why do people question less the older they get (for the most part)? How do people accept less of themselves than they can be? What is “being content”? How does reality differ between people? What are dreams? How can people accept just reaching for “created objectives” (objectives created by others’ admiration for these goals), rather than objectives they find by questioning? Why is there value in “true happiness”? And what is it? How can someone hate and still be kind? What redeems a person? What is the real value of nature to a person? What is true friendship? How can people better notice “inconsequential realities”, or situations in which their choices are inconsequential, but spring from a deeper, negative nature? What is good about evil people? In what ways can someone not escape their past? Are there any? Is it possible to “be” anyone? What is the advantage of giving up? When is giving up good? What is truth? What is the advantage of knowing truth?
Some of these I do have more answers for than others, but these questions arise from things that unsettle me deeply, and which I do not think can easily be answered, or rather, shouldn't be. What's out there, or for some, what people think is out there, in terms of the answers to these questions, is sadly, and painfully, lacking.
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Kyle
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~~~~~ Trust Beyond See ~~~~~ "One light will tear apart the night"
Posts: 204
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Post by Kyle on Oct 16, 2007 19:33:59 GMT -5
Wow, far fewer things unsettle me. Here's another question to which I often break disagreements down:
If Truth exists, will we know it when we find it?
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DamaNegra
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Angolera de cora?ao
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Post by DamaNegra on Oct 18, 2007 20:20:35 GMT -5
I might come across as incredibly simple but the only thing that seriously bothers me is still not knowing for sure wether Japanese play scrabble or not. I have found compelling evidence from both sides.
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Post by Oliveman on Oct 19, 2007 0:42:37 GMT -5
Think hard! Root questions out of you!
Even if you just think these questions about humanity or life might have sufficient answers, or aren't sure, many are worth saying.
I have another one: To what extent is someone truely in control of their thoughts?
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Post by kcsifi on Oct 23, 2007 15:20:02 GMT -5
hm. Many of those I don't have a problem with...but here are some I do. Why does intense love always create the most pain, yet we continue to seek out the bonds as if they are beneficial? Why do we sacrifice so much for others, when they appear undeserving? Is it b/c we feel noble, or b/c we recognize that we too are undeserving of what we have? What is family? Why do we love our families unconditionaly, even if they are near strangers? When forgiveness is always given, does it imply immorality in the forgiver? Can it be a cop out, something easier than hate or recognition of evil? These do not apply to everyone, but I do believe these questions address the human condition.
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Post by Oliveman on Oct 24, 2007 0:22:04 GMT -5
Yeah, those questions are more of what I was after. If anything, I believe, this excersize is at the center of our work on this site. The questions we present are from our individual concerns, but shed light on the entirety of the human condition. We're putting our heads together on the holes that need filling, the chasms that need connecting, the places that have been overlooked, enough to cause us concern. Here's some more, since I don't want to post without giving some What are the benefits and detrements to totally believing in something 100%, even if it is a belief of your own creation? How and why do we decieve ourselves? What breaks apart the bonds of family, friends, and other close relationships? What is the true source of the pain that occurs? Is there joy? How do memories exist? Are humans inherently selfish? Is logic, even sound logic, misleading? How can one be sure of the truth? How do we escape monotony? How can escaping it be detremental? positive? How do we "know ourselves better"? Phew I've gotta stop for now. More?
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Kyle
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~~~~~ Trust Beyond See ~~~~~ "One light will tear apart the night"
Posts: 204
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Post by Kyle on Oct 26, 2007 0:13:19 GMT -5
Dang, Oliver, you're a very unsatisfied guy. ... *pauses for a moment, giggles, then lets the thought go*
Do you hope to accomplish anything with this gathering of questions?
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Post by dangerjane on Nov 5, 2007 16:33:01 GMT -5
I guess all I really need to know is what is the truth??
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Post by Oliveman on Nov 5, 2007 19:37:28 GMT -5
Ok, but the truth about what?
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Post by dangerjane on Nov 5, 2007 22:09:46 GMT -5
I don't think there are very many truths. So knowing any one big truth would solve many issues that don't seem very significant right now.
I don't have big conflicts with the world. I just don't. So knowing anything big and true would probably satisfy me forever.
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Kyle
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~~~~~ Trust Beyond See ~~~~~ "One light will tear apart the night"
Posts: 204
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Post by Kyle on Nov 5, 2007 22:19:32 GMT -5
Okay: You exist. See the thread on Truth for my reasoning behind that XD
What do you define as a "big truth"?
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Post by dangerjane on Nov 6, 2007 17:54:00 GMT -5
Ah, like the truth about God, whether or not what we call reality is an illusion, uh, big picture stuff that doesn't HAVE to affect us if we don't think about it.
Anyway yes I figure I exist too, ha. You own me with your actual professors and crap but I'm taking like...the only philosophy class I can, which is nice, but not as intellectually stimulating as it could be.
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Post by Oliveman on Nov 18, 2007 0:38:51 GMT -5
who said it's gotta be big truths? It could also be small things that aren't well understood, but should be.
Oh and: What makes good people hate others?
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