interviewed by cortejo

[cellio]

The interview meme is making the rounds. For the two or three people reading this who haven't already seen it, here's how this works:

1. If you want to be interviewed, leave a comment saying so.
2. I will respond, asking you five questions.
3. You'll update your journal with my five questions and your five answers.
4. You'll include this explanation.
5. You'll ask other people five questions when they want to be interviewed.

1. How did you get to be so cool?

I'm flattered. I'm not really sure what makes me appear cool to you; I try to just be me and let the chips fall where they may. (I know there are people who definitely think I'm not cool, so it works both ways.)

I'm better in writing than in person, I suspect, because I'm a good writer and I strive to be thoughtful most of the time. In synchronous conversation, it becomes more obvious that I'm not as quick on the uptake as I'd like and that I don't have all the social graces one ought to have. On the net, though, that all falls away. ("On the internet no one knows you're a dog." :-) )

I tend to reach for the things I want -- not always (who does?), but often enough to give me things to enthuse about or at least talk about. Maybe that makes a difference?

2. Were you raised Jewish?

Nope; I'm a convert. I was raised Roman Catholic. My religious decision went over much better with my parents than I anticipated, given that.

3. IF you could change one thing about the world what would it be?

Interesting question, and one I suspect I'd answer differently each time I'm asked. Here's tonight's answer.

I would make it so that people are much more aware, on a personal level, of the consequences of their actions. This is the person whose pay will be docked because you shoplifted and the inventory came up wanting; these are the people who will get sick because of the pollution you dumped in the river; this is the person who will die because you cheated on your licensing exam; these are the people who won't have enough to eat this week because your illegal business practices cost them their jobs; these are the people who will die because of your corruption. I think it's sometimes too easy to turn a blind eye, or do hurtful acts, because we convince ourselves that it doesn't really matter and that we're not really doing any harm. Or we admit the harm but write off the personal aspect -- we live in a crowded, busy world where most people are anonymous, and it's easier to not care about anonymous people.

There was a local case a year or two back where a judge required the drunk driver who ran someone down to carry a picture of the victim in his wallet; I approve of that ruling. When people do bad things I want them to be confronted with the results; maybe they'll be less likely to do it again. And knowing the names and the faces of the people affected by the ripples from your actions just might increase overall compassion just a little.

I've cast this in the negative, but I'm all for people seeing the positive effects of their actions, too. And I'm talking here about real effects, not hyperbole and exaggeration and hypotheticals. (That's why this change requires waving the magic wand.) Real effects, presented factually -- not propaganda.

4. What is your favorite song?

I don't have a single favorite, and I don't even have single favorites within specific contexts or domains. I like a lot of music in a variety of styles, and I just can't compare the apples and oranges. Also, favorites change over time.

A few of my current favorites: "Ha Tov" by Neshama Carlebach; "Hunley" by Clam Chowder; "A Reason For It All" by Eric Bogle; "Ma Tovu" by Danny Maseng; "Lullaby for a Weary World" by Technical Difficulties; "Hashkiveinu" by Craig Taubman.

(You said songs, so I haven't included instrumentals.)

5. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

Assuming we're staying within the realm of what's theoretically possible (no superpowers)... I'd fix my difficulties with remembering people's names and faces. It's embarrassing and potentially career-limiting.

Comments

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Re. #3, John Brunner's novel The Stone That Never Came Down is about precisely this piece of wish-fulfillment: there's a drug which affects the brain in such a way that you don't so much start making connections as lose the ability not to make them. It's a lovely piece of optimism...