Looking at the world through a windshield.

Comes along every once in a while, where you want to use it any context just to hear it and relish it. Like Schadenfreude, not only is / was the definition mischievous, *(: enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others.) It sounded fun, especially when trying to repeat with a Germanic accent.

Here is my new favorite word.

Solipsism:

A theory holding that the self can know nothing but its own modification and that the self is the only existent thing.

*M-W.com

Cool, right? I don’t dare use it at work, a small group of coworkers, looked at me like I had four heads, when I used the word cognizant, instead of very aware. I’ll try it here.

Robin: Holy solipsism Batman!

Batman: What is it Robin?

Robin: I just read in the Gotham City Gazette, that a person who sells teapots and has a fifteen subscriber podcast, considers themselves, to be a social influencer. Could it be the Riddler with a riddle?

Batman: No, that is just a person with an inflated ego who wants to feel extra important, when they do not recognize their own intrinsic self worth for just being a miraculous bipedal earthling artist.

(Actually, did read that on FB, where a person in that circumstance, presented themselves as a social influencer.)

Even Jeffrey Dahmer who was world infamous, did not influence people to eat other people.

Perhaps the teapot Podcaster is a social influencer, I don’t know. Or perhaps I am just jealous, that I have all the social influence of farting in an empty elevator. Nobody is influenced, but me.

“Farting on the elevator is an interesting experience. Uh, if there are only two people on there, everybody knows…who farted.”

– George Carlin

Recently heard in an audio book that solipsism can not be disproven. Well, isn’t that just dandy.

How interesting, a word that was made up to describe something, approved by lexicographers, placed in a book with a definition and isn’t even known to provably exist.

Solipsism:

1871, coined from Latin solus “alone” (see sole (adj.)) + ipse “self.” The view or theory that self is the only object of real knowledge or the only thing that is real.

“The identification of one’s self with the Absolute is not generally intended, but the denial of there being really anybody else” [Century Dictionary].

– etymologyonline.com

That does turn a subjective perspective on its head, now doesn’t it. On one hand solipsism could make one very aware of their infinite responsibility of their own happiness.

Or do whatever they wanted to in a Godlike free for all, knowing at any moment they could change it.

Provable or not, solipsism is one word you could chase down the rabbit hole wondering if there was ever a hole or a rabbit word to chase after.



“Just an observation,
Maybe I need
Different glasses.”

– Angelo Devlin

Or do I?


Here is a recent haiku previously posted for me to better understand the word solipsism.


“An Ego Haiku”


Solipsism swims

Deep in the abysmal pool

Of Narcissism

Necessary

Certainly not a blind blank

Blanket banal bump of

Farcical fawning

Antithetical appreciation

Grandiose gratitude

Laid out permanently

As random as insincerity

On the off off chance

The alleged recipient will

Get a warm fuzzy feeling

Of faux cranial compensation



Which is about the time

You realize the thanker

Really is the thankee

At least by who and what

Actually benefits for the

Thankless thanking




This all started with

A fueling franchise

That wants to thank

ALL Profesional Drivers

In all its advertising

That is a tad narrowcasting



Apprentice drivers buy fuel too

So do unprofessional drivers

Besides, what if driving is

Their profession but….

They are not very good or…

Discourteous and rude

That is not very professional

Now is it, is it? No it is not.

Still, based on definition

They are professional drivers



Upon further examination

The thanker is the beneficiary

Of the generalized gratitude

Since probably no one considers

Themselves an unprofessional driver

Giving that corporation

A slightly slight edge

Over the corporation

Thanking no one

Mi$$ing out on million$

For being so un-thankful



This incipient insincerity

Is increasing incrementally

By the banal bourgeois

For pseudo satisfaction

That some needs are being met

Through lazy laudations

Of ingratiating gratitude


Thank you for shopping at x, and scanning and bagging your own groceries thoroughly, propping up the bottom line by having fewer human redundancies, blah blah blah.

No thanks necessary. Have a nice day.



“Just an observation,
Maybe I need
Different glasses.”

– Angelo Devlin


See also “No Support” otherwise this would have been even longer.

A follow-up to “No Thanks”


The highway sign at the off ramp

“This Community Supports Its Troops”

Sponsored by local social clubs

Does nothing to “support” troops

It supports the local social clubs

Plus the sign maker

Hint hint… Follow the money

As to who put the sign up

And where the money goes



Besides, in my best perception if

A community supported its troops

There would be no more troops

If all individuals who might go off

To be a troop felt love and “support”

From the community that their worth

Was being, in just being, an individual

They might not feel compelled to

Join a military group of troops

To find and feel a sense of belonging

That they could have, if supported

By the allegedly “supportive” community



You would also see no homelessness

As many veterans (former troops) are

Homeless seeking society’s support


“Veterans are 50% more likely to become homeless than other Americans due to poverty, lack of support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing.”

– greendoors.org

In addition to the complex set of factors that affect most homeless individuals lack of affordable housing, poverty, job or income loss, mental illness, substance abuse, health problems, etc. many veterans live with the lingering effect of PTSD, often compounded by a lack of family and social support networks.

– pinestreetinn.org


I guess all that flag waving and beer drinking patriotism money at the onset of whichever war, could have been saved in the community chest to support the troops, when they need it the most.

Certainly, instead of some faded highway sign, lost in the freeway foliage.

“Just an observation,
Maybe I need
Different glasses.”

– Angelo Devlin