Brainstorm @ MindSay 
mindsay
Being ADD
finding out i'm ADD has been an amazing freeing experience.............. being old enough to not swallow all the crap about it being a disorder crap, crap, crap.... i'm left with the nice feeling that all the weird but good stuff about me are just great, my mind is a race horse, my intuition immense, thinking about 1001 things at the same time can be tiring but also exhilarating
i take no f# medication, i don't mind looking for my glasses 10 times a day or forgetting where i put a book or my purse, this runs in the family, my dad, my son, my brother, one of my sisters, so i grew up in an ADD environment where these things were acceptable and just something to laugh about.....
school was a bit weird... but i got through it ok....
any more ADDS or ADHDS around this place?
i'd love to hear from you
i take no f# medication, i don't mind looking for my glasses 10 times a day or forgetting where i put a book or my purse, this runs in the family, my dad, my son, my brother, one of my sisters, so i grew up in an ADD environment where these things were acceptable and just something to laugh about.....
school was a bit weird... but i got through it ok....
any more ADDS or ADHDS around this place?
i'd love to hear from you
Generalization
I’ve been thinking about myself a lot. This both is and is not as self-centered as it sounds. Certainly if I didn’t think so much I could relax and enjoy things, I’d have more fun and things would certainly be a lot more comfortable. There is a fine line between having good self-reflective skills which enable you to look at your mistakes, analyze your behavior and learn from your weaknesses—and being an egotistical ninny and driving yourself into a frenzy constantly. I’m skirting the ninny side of things, unfortunately.
We had a discussion in class today. My teacher called it “housekeeping.” She said some things I really didn’t like—which was my clue to pay attention. The thing that I didn’t like was about feeling like everything is against you and therefore playing the part of the victim. What this conveys, she said, is that you don’t have any power. You do have power, she went on—get proactive on things. Figure out what it is you need to correct the situation (i.e. what would make the situation “better”)—and go out and do it, rather than whining about it. I didn’t like hearing this because—which I’ve actually been aware of and hating myself for—this is exactly what I am doing. I’ve been going into these bouts of complaining/whining/grumpiness and, when I “come to” I am ashamed of myself and I wonder what in the hell is wrong with me. I certainly don’t want to be this person. I do recognize how annoying and exasperating it is to be around—even for myself. Thinking about things some more, I realized that acting like this is actually an expression of feeling powerless.
Sometimes, I don’t know what will make the situation better; I don’t know what I need—or I feel stuck. Sometimes (too often) I’m just being a spoiled brat. The answer she gave (be proactive) is exactly what I need to do. “Shut up and do something about it,” is how I’d phrase it to myself. I guess when I am being this way, what I am really saying is “I don’t want you to do it for me necessarily, I don’t want you to rush in to fix things—but I don’t know how to fix them for myself, can you help me find a way (to fix it myself)?” Taking a step back when I am feeling this way to rephrase my whine as “I am having trouble with this aspect of such and such, what is a good way for me to proactively solve it?” Will help a huge amount. Acting like a cranky two-year-old will not.
Another part of the problem does have to do with not having anyone to really talk to—sometimes, I just need to vent. There is, however, a threshold at which I need to stop venting and start doing something! I need to learn to recognize when I’m feeling helpless and getting grumpy and frustrated so I can brainstorm on what I can do and maybe touch bases (if necessary) with someone who can give some advice. But I need to brainstorm seriously first. It is far better if I can figure these things out for myself. I know all this—I’ve seen it work for me in the past. I guess sleeping with my teddy bear is not the only way I am reverting to a younger age. However, but thinking about all these things—that self-reflection I was talking about—seems to have made it better—I hope it is also helpful to you. The next step is to put it into action: try to be more conscious of how I am reacting to things and try to act, rather than react. This will not only allow me to take a step back and think before I act, it will allow me to feel like I have more control, rather than feeling powerless.
I can't express how bad I feel about how I've been behaving. I don't know how to make up for it, or to apologize. I can correct my actions in the future (not that I'm likely to be perfect or anything.) But how can I make up for the past?
A second thing that we talked about which has been bothering me is that one girl is gtting very frusturated with people making blanket generalizations about Indian people and culture. Firstly, I haven’t heard any statements of this sort which I felt were out of line—I almost can’t see what is making her SO angry. On the other hand, it can be annoying when Indians say “You Americans…” and usually include something completely opposite of my experience. (“all love Bush” might be an example.) I assume it can be equally annoying for Indian’s to hear statements that start “Indians…” Yes, to some extent, this is something I do or am doing. For me it usually takes the form of “People here seem to…” Or “At home, we do this…; here they do this…” I feel like these statements, annoying as they may be, are part of restructuring your own reality to include aspects of the culture which we are currently in (Jaipuri, Rajasthani, Indian culture.) As our experience widens, these statements will likely turn to “In Jaipur, they did this; here we’re doing this—at home this is how it is, etc.” I do this with every new country I go to. I don’t mean it in a derogatory sense, it just helps me to remember features of my experience that I come up against and see how they are different and the same from my other experiences. However, the depth of this girl’s anger has me wondering—am I doing something wrong? In most cases, I am perfectly aware that *some* Indians do or think or feel or whatever I am observing on—and that mostly likely some do not. My idea of how things work is not a permanent state—it is constantly changing with every new interaction and bit of new information. How else am I supposed to learn these things? What is a better way to react? On one hand, I don’t feel like I am doing anything wrong, on the other, I don’t want to be biased and making broad generalizations is usually not a good thing. What do I do?
We had a discussion in class today. My teacher called it “housekeeping.” She said some things I really didn’t like—which was my clue to pay attention. The thing that I didn’t like was about feeling like everything is against you and therefore playing the part of the victim. What this conveys, she said, is that you don’t have any power. You do have power, she went on—get proactive on things. Figure out what it is you need to correct the situation (i.e. what would make the situation “better”)—and go out and do it, rather than whining about it. I didn’t like hearing this because—which I’ve actually been aware of and hating myself for—this is exactly what I am doing. I’ve been going into these bouts of complaining/whining/grumpiness and, when I “come to” I am ashamed of myself and I wonder what in the hell is wrong with me. I certainly don’t want to be this person. I do recognize how annoying and exasperating it is to be around—even for myself. Thinking about things some more, I realized that acting like this is actually an expression of feeling powerless.
Sometimes, I don’t know what will make the situation better; I don’t know what I need—or I feel stuck. Sometimes (too often) I’m just being a spoiled brat. The answer she gave (be proactive) is exactly what I need to do. “Shut up and do something about it,” is how I’d phrase it to myself. I guess when I am being this way, what I am really saying is “I don’t want you to do it for me necessarily, I don’t want you to rush in to fix things—but I don’t know how to fix them for myself, can you help me find a way (to fix it myself)?” Taking a step back when I am feeling this way to rephrase my whine as “I am having trouble with this aspect of such and such, what is a good way for me to proactively solve it?” Will help a huge amount. Acting like a cranky two-year-old will not.
Another part of the problem does have to do with not having anyone to really talk to—sometimes, I just need to vent. There is, however, a threshold at which I need to stop venting and start doing something! I need to learn to recognize when I’m feeling helpless and getting grumpy and frustrated so I can brainstorm on what I can do and maybe touch bases (if necessary) with someone who can give some advice. But I need to brainstorm seriously first. It is far better if I can figure these things out for myself. I know all this—I’ve seen it work for me in the past. I guess sleeping with my teddy bear is not the only way I am reverting to a younger age. However, but thinking about all these things—that self-reflection I was talking about—seems to have made it better—I hope it is also helpful to you. The next step is to put it into action: try to be more conscious of how I am reacting to things and try to act, rather than react. This will not only allow me to take a step back and think before I act, it will allow me to feel like I have more control, rather than feeling powerless.
I can't express how bad I feel about how I've been behaving. I don't know how to make up for it, or to apologize. I can correct my actions in the future (not that I'm likely to be perfect or anything.) But how can I make up for the past?
A second thing that we talked about which has been bothering me is that one girl is gtting very frusturated with people making blanket generalizations about Indian people and culture. Firstly, I haven’t heard any statements of this sort which I felt were out of line—I almost can’t see what is making her SO angry. On the other hand, it can be annoying when Indians say “You Americans…” and usually include something completely opposite of my experience. (“all love Bush” might be an example.) I assume it can be equally annoying for Indian’s to hear statements that start “Indians…” Yes, to some extent, this is something I do or am doing. For me it usually takes the form of “People here seem to…” Or “At home, we do this…; here they do this…” I feel like these statements, annoying as they may be, are part of restructuring your own reality to include aspects of the culture which we are currently in (Jaipuri, Rajasthani, Indian culture.) As our experience widens, these statements will likely turn to “In Jaipur, they did this; here we’re doing this—at home this is how it is, etc.” I do this with every new country I go to. I don’t mean it in a derogatory sense, it just helps me to remember features of my experience that I come up against and see how they are different and the same from my other experiences. However, the depth of this girl’s anger has me wondering—am I doing something wrong? In most cases, I am perfectly aware that *some* Indians do or think or feel or whatever I am observing on—and that mostly likely some do not. My idea of how things work is not a permanent state—it is constantly changing with every new interaction and bit of new information. How else am I supposed to learn these things? What is a better way to react? On one hand, I don’t feel like I am doing anything wrong, on the other, I don’t want to be biased and making broad generalizations is usually not a good thing. What do I do?
What do MMORPGs today need to become truly worth playing?
- A brain storm.
I've played my fair share of role playing games
- even the massively multiplayer ones. But one thing always confuses
me. Why, oh why, do they all use the same formula? Why does it have to
be so limited? To vent my frustration, and possibly, if i'm lucky, give
some of the game makers some good ideas, i decided to post this brain
storm in my blog (I do this a lot, usually for no reason)
So what do they need?
A
Proper, real-time battle system, which isn't "Point at thing, click and
wait while spamming skills" - the "Action" of todays RPGs is way too
slow and strategic! It needs more speed, adrenaline and realism instead
of endless suspense!
Get the movement away from the mouse and down
on the keyboard, use the mouse for looking around and attack by
clicking. Have the attacks actually have to connect first before
counting as hits. Give the player the feeling that he's actually doing
it. That he's actually fighting. Have him dodge arrows and run from
spells. Have him block an incoming attack with his shield, only to
answer with a nice Bash of his battle hammer. Make it REAL. Make it
FUN. Make it WORTH playing.
Urgency: 10/10
Something else than Combat! More alternative quests, more
features, abilities and actions that aren't combat related. Something
that's fun and worth doing. Maybe something creative, or something with
which they could get fame, glory and riches from, which was not combat.
- Especially if it inspires social gatherings.
How about an in-game
note sheet item, on which a player might write music (c'mon. you've
seen those midi-file makers) which could then be played by an in-game
instrument. Or what about the ability to learn the languages of other
races? (I'm looking at you, WoW!) how about an in-game oekaki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/oekaki) gallery, on which players, for a small in-game fee, could draw and post their things for all to see, or perhaps hang them as paintings on walls or other things.
How about being able to use objects for things. Like sitting on an armchair, lying down on a bed, holding a frying pan and similar things.
Make it feel like a real on-line fantasy world. Not a cheap combat simulator with a fantasy theme.
Urgency: 7/10
Thought-through features. It's amazing how many features are only half-done or not properly thought through. For example; Why do no RPGs (that i can think of at the minute) have bulletin board forums accessable from a menu inside the game? Why do no RPGs have character websites accessable and browsable in-game? Why don't they have character blogs? All those things are very nice community features, and for the most part all they require is a fixed in-game web browser MADE especially for a select set of websites. It's not brain surgery.
Sheesh. Think a little.
Urgency: 5/10
More might follow in a later post.
- A brain storm.
I've played my fair share of role playing games
- even the massively multiplayer ones. But one thing always confuses
me. Why, oh why, do they all use the same formula? Why does it have to
be so limited? To vent my frustration, and possibly, if i'm lucky, give
some of the game makers some good ideas, i decided to post this brain
storm in my blog (I do this a lot, usually for no reason)
So what do they need?
A
Proper, real-time battle system, which isn't "Point at thing, click and
wait while spamming skills" - the "Action" of todays RPGs is way too
slow and strategic! It needs more speed, adrenaline and realism instead
of endless suspense!
Get the movement away from the mouse and down
on the keyboard, use the mouse for looking around and attack by
clicking. Have the attacks actually have to connect first before
counting as hits. Give the player the feeling that he's actually doing
it. That he's actually fighting. Have him dodge arrows and run from
spells. Have him block an incoming attack with his shield, only to
answer with a nice Bash of his battle hammer. Make it REAL. Make it
FUN. Make it WORTH playing.
Urgency: 10/10
Something else than Combat! More alternative quests, more
features, abilities and actions that aren't combat related. Something
that's fun and worth doing. Maybe something creative, or something with
which they could get fame, glory and riches from, which was not combat.
- Especially if it inspires social gatherings.
How about an in-game
note sheet item, on which a player might write music (c'mon. you've
seen those midi-file makers) which could then be played by an in-game
instrument. Or what about the ability to learn the languages of other
races? (I'm looking at you, WoW!) how about an in-game oekaki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/oekaki) gallery, on which players, for a small in-game fee, could draw and post their things for all to see, or perhaps hang them as paintings on walls or other things.
How about being able to use objects for things. Like sitting on an armchair, lying down on a bed, holding a frying pan and similar things.
Make it feel like a real on-line fantasy world. Not a cheap combat simulator with a fantasy theme.
Urgency: 7/10
Thought-through features. It's amazing how many features are only half-done or not properly thought through. For example; Why do no RPGs (that i can think of at the minute) have bulletin board forums accessable from a menu inside the game? Why do no RPGs have character websites accessable and browsable in-game? Why don't they have character blogs? All those things are very nice community features, and for the most part all they require is a fixed in-game web browser MADE especially for a select set of websites. It's not brain surgery.
Sheesh. Think a little.
Urgency: 5/10
More might follow in a later post.
Another Post Regarding Yearbook
K, here is a brainstorm (don't laugh):
- Someone interviews Adam and Brian.
- Interview random people about the community.
- Someone sets up a poll on their website and asks as many people to answer the questions. (The questions could be really serious or very silly.)
- A story about musicians on MindSay, ask JakeRad or McLii (for ideas, or for writings.)
- A story or two (a comparative article) from people who have met others through MindSay. Perhaps two ends of the spectrum?
- Try to find writers from each of the major continents and/or different countries and ask them each to write a paragraph or two on what they've learned from/about others from different countries.
- Someone very analitical could write a humorous (or strighforward) piece about the different types of bloggers. (ie. the dramatist, the documentator, the humorist, the writer, the artist, the quizmaster, one time poster, the politician, etc.) With interviews and/or links.
- A story on the effects of Version updates.
- Someone could even make a ficticious lunch menu (oooh, amazingrobot has some expertise in that!)
- An editorial on what blogging has meant to the writer.
- A memorial on the bloggers who have moved on and left. Dropping names. A walk down memory lane. lol
- Quotes regarding different topics or a very general collection.
Whoever writes these could do them in whatever style they want. They can post them on their website, ask others for contributions. Yearbook, in the end would host all of these collections, making it the place to go for a glimpse into our lives! Very cool.
Maybe you would even want (after phase 2 is over) to put up a submission page. You can put it under the bookmarks (much like my "linkback page" in mine). The submission entry would contain guidelines, a cautionary note saying you do not promise the submission will go up, but you welcome everyone to submit stories.
Eventually, you wouldn't even have to write stuff, just post what others submit.
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