Define:

I've been thinking a lot lately, which as you know is never good. I've been thinking about many things really. Some of the biggest things I've thought about have been words, word play, and definitions. So, I figured I would write down a few thoughts to share with everyone. Discussion is definitely welcome and wanted.

(If you want to play along, all definitions will be looked up, and selected as I see fit, by going to Google and typing "Define: {Insert Word}")

Friend
Class
In Conclusion

Friend
I think the first word I want to discuss is the term "friend". I'm very interest in the noun form of this word, so let's forget the verbal form for now.

"Friend"
1. A person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations

3. A person who is not an enemy or who is on the same side

• - she was unsure whether he was friend or foe

6. A contact associated with a social networking website

• - all of a sudden you've got 50 friends online who need to stay connected

Let's take a look at the first definition. My guess is that this would be what people say a general definition of what a "friend" is. Someone who shares something with you, whether it be a moment, a thing, or even just a laugh. This is the person you would take a bullet for. But look at the first part of the definition. "A person whom one knows..." I challenge you to think of the person you closest think of as a friend, and now think of all the things you know about them. Now, think of that same person and remember all the things they never told you. We all have our secrets that we can't even tell our friends, so I don't like this definition.

Now look at the third definition (it's third on here because it's third on the site...I know how to count.) It basically says that if someone is not your enemy, they must be your friend. How exactly is this logical? In my mind, if someone is not an enemy, they're not necessarily my friend, they're just someone I could get to know and determine where they truly stand on my "friend-enemy scale". So let's forget that definition.

Number 6. This is the definition that has taken over the world. This, in my opinion is the loosest definition of the word "friend" there is. How many people do you actually know or talk to on your friend list? How many people would knock you out of the way of a bus to save your life? You may know all the people, but are they close enough to call friend, or would they be an "Acquaintance"? The third definition for "Acquaintance" is

"A person one knows slightly, but who is not a close friend"

Now that we have an idea of what a friend might consist of, tell me your personal definition of the word "friend".




Class
A word with many meanings and uses, but for today's blog I want one specific definition.

3. The system of ordering a society in which people are divided into sets based on perceived social or economic status

• - people who are socially disenfranchised by class
• - the class system

I actually like this definition, but it needs to be dissected to see the full meaning. The first thing that I see is that it is a system. A "system" is:

8. A set of principles or procedures according to which something is done; an organized scheme or method.

So we now know that this version of a "class" is a set, organized society. We are "...divided into sets based on perceived social or economic status." Before we talk about the divisions, lets look up the definition of "perceive".

3. Interpret or look on (someone or something) in a particular way; regard as

• - if Guy does not perceive himself as disabled, nobody else should
• - some geographers perceive hydrology to be a separate field of scientific inquiry

I believe this definition would best suit the definition of "class" we're looking at. So we now see that to perceive is to look at someone, or something, in our own way. So who is it that truly decides the division of these "class(es)"? Well, let's first look at the "Economic Status". In this class, we have three basic types of class. We have: Upper Class, Middle Class, and Lower Class. This is generally determined by the amount of money that one makes or has obtained, as well as living arrangements and family. I have no major problem with the way this set is arranged, because this is basically telling us financial information, which most of us try to hide anyways.

The other set of class(es) that the definition gives us are social classes. Now these, unlike economic classes, can be perceived by anyone. This is where I have my issues with people. You can say or do something in front of someone and they will define you as a different class then someone who has known you for a while. You can perceive yourself as a higher class, then do something excellent for someone, the person you helped could see you as high class, the witness could see you as just doing what you are to do, and there's suddenly 3 different perceived classes of yourself (The one you helped, the witness, and your own). The social class can, and more than likely will, change erratically through your life.

As you go through your school years you will certainly change friends or opinions of those friends perceived by others will change, and you will be categorized as the person who hangs out with so-and-so. But, are we not all human beings? We all have feelings, we all have hard times, and we all know someone that is being judged for something they are not. Why is it that we must be horrible to people for something you see in them? People need to open there minds to the fact that others can be struggling in ways that they haven't thought of.

I've often been told to treat others as if they could be a threat to you, but I don't think that's right. Don't call me naive, but you really don't know why someone does the things they do. Look at all the school shootings. The people who did those things were suffering mentally, and at times physically, but no one really asked how they were until it was too late. Show concern and compassion for those around you. Don't write off people as automatically bad based on past experiences.

In Conclusion
I didn't mean to rant as much as I did, but it is 8:30 in the morning and I haven't slept much. But the whole point of this blog post is to make you look at the thought patterns of someone else. I would really like for all of those who read this to reply with your own definition and debates about all the things discussed. One of the best ways for improvement is to look at what others have to say, get all the opinions you can, and then make a decision on how you truly think. But, I'm rambling again, so have a nice day. :D

Changes: The Inevitable Storm

It's been a while, but now I'm back. Been a lot of new changes since my last post, but that was so long ago that I'll only tell you the stuff I remember. I recently made a big life choice. I stopped attending college and moved out of my parents house...and town. I now live 250+ miles away from home with a close friend. We share the rent, the electric, and the grief that comes with living together, but he's a good friend and I can't see not having him as a friend. I love living away from home, but being an adult sucks. I have a nice job as a cashier at Sears, a $10,000 total on my college loans, and just enough money to pay the bills. I would have no money to pay bills but thanks to my term with Americorps, I have an Education award that takes care of the loan payments for a while.

I miss my family. It's good to talk to them on the phone every once in a while, but it's great to be able to see them. Skype helps, but it's not the physical contact that I crave so much. Such a spoiled childhood was mine compared to others. One thing that really sucked about living away from home is that fact that my job kept me from going home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I hated the feeling of knowing that my family missed me so on those days, as well as the empty feeling in my stomach from not getting turkey and ham.{lol} But in life we must make sacrifices for the betterment of ourselves and the ones closest to us. I think the ones I miss most of all are my nieces and nephew. It tears my heart apart every time I have to leave them. To miss the precious years of them growing up is too much for me sometimes. I go home to find them bigger and smarter and I wonder where the time has gone.

Still looking for that wife and kids. This section will be very short because I have no dating life really. No prospects, no winks, but plenty of hot married women. I don't know where these guys find these women. And then, as if it's not enough to be with them, they turn into scum and let them go. I come across these women all the time. Their husband/boyfriend leaves at the first sight of trouble or kid, and high-tail it out of there. They don't care for these women's feelings. They don't care that the woman and child they leave behind can't support themselves. They just look out for themselves. That's horrible. No one should be put through pain like that. And how do you think it will effect the children? Not positively, that's for sure. My point is that some women out there deserve better than what they settle for.

Oh well, I guess I'd better get off of here for now. I promise there will be more rants on the way this year. Be good, Everyone.

Privacy Compromise

Due to the findings of something very disturbing, Rickey's Blog now fully supports the Gower/Goade 2010 Campaign on Facebook. As I was browsing the two candidates, I had stumbled across the McPherson/Pennington 2010 Fan Page. While they have more fans, they also have more security risks. Lead man Rickey Gower was actually able to post a link that leads people away from the McPherson/Pennington Page, directly to his own. I don't know about you, but I respect a man like this who is not afraid to tell people how screwed up his opponents security views are. I commemorate Rickey for his actions, and praise his high standards as he watches over our privacy.

"Disorders" and "Debates" - A Debate About Disorders.

I figured I would shake things up a bit with this new post by showing you all a piece of conversation between a friend of mine, Raymond, and myself. It started with me giving him a forcibly dry sarcastic remark about Schizophrenia. I was forcibly dry because there is not many ways to express sarcasm through writing/typing.
But I post this hoping for some lively debate among everyone. By the way, this conversation is basically unchanged. I just took out some things unimportant to this blog.

"11:20PMRick

I think I might be Schizophrenic

11:22pmRaymond

?

11:23pmRick

I was installing our printer on my computer earlier, and I was talking to myself. I needed to check on the printer, so I said to myself, "We should go check on the printer."

11:24pmRaymond

That doesn't sound schitzo.

11:26pmRick

How so?

11:26pmRaymond

How does it?

It sounds like royalty to me.

11:27pmRick

???

11:28pmRaymond

You didn't answer me.

11:29pmRick

Because I referred to myself as we. So I would be either schizo, or legion

11:29pmRaymond

I doubt that.

Royalty refer to themselves as we.

And if you're saying we and you think you are schitzo, then you need to actually know of someone else, not just slip up and say we.

11:32pmRick

really, I do have somewhat of multiple personalities, or more of persona's. I act different ways around different people.

11:33pmRaymond

That's called being human.

11:33pmRick

And royalty, I never really hear say "we" unless they are refering to their mate, or the ruling part of their country

11:36pmRaymond

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majestic_plural

11:37pmRick

I know, I was just reading that and can somewhat see your point

11:38pmRaymond

Somewhat? That's exactly what I said it was.

11:39pmRick

it's also what I said it was

11:39pmRaymond

I've done it before.

I think people think they have a lot more disorders than they actually do.

11:40pmRick

by that description, everyone has

11:40pmRaymond

And I don't know of one person who doesn't act differently around certain people.

11:40pmRick

but I wasn't intentionally refering to myself as 'we' as these have

That's why I clarified persona's

11:41pmRaymond

I still highly doubt you are at all schizophrenic.

11:42pmRick

I don't

I could see myself as being schizophrenic

11:43pmRaymond

I don't.

I barely believe in the disorder to begin with.

11:44pmRick

What would you say it is?

11:45pmRaymond

What would I say what is?

11:46pmRick

"Schizophrenia"

11:53pmRaymond

I don't doubt that there are people out there that could have it. I haven't done extensive research or anything. It's just that every time I've watched anything about it, it just looked entirely fake. Maybe I'm wrong, but it just looked like people were trying too hard to make someone believe that they had another personality. It almost seems like a scapegoat that they can blame their problems and misfortunes on.

11:54pmRaymond

And I think that a lot of people (no offense to you) that think they might have it are at least subconsciously wishing they did so they do have something to blame their problems on. I feel the same way about depression. Not that I don't think there are people who seriously have clinical depression, but I don't think half the people taking medication for it actually need it.

11:55pmRaymond

Just like how I say that just because you are obsessive compulsive doesn't mean you have a disorder. It has to actually bring disorder to your life before you can be diagnosed with OCD.

11:59pmRick

First off, now you're drawing on your life experiences.

Secondly, I agree with most of what you say, but I ask you to look at the people who are not on trial for their life or are ot in some kind of trouble. It seems as if they are genuinely reaching out for someone to help them, but when no one comes, they find solace in themselves which creates their ideal of someone who will care for them.

Today

12:04amRaymond

I don't know. Like I said, I could be wrong about it since I haven't researched fully. And in regards to your first post, everyone has their own presuppositions about things. I don't really see how my statements we subjective. At least, if they were, they were definitely objective as well. What do you mean by drawing on my own life experiences? You confused me there.

12:08amRick

Mainly just the instances that you encountered people who have these 'diseases/disorders' and your opinion of them somewhat shapes your opinion on said disorders.

I can think of one big example, but I hope you know who I'm refering to by now.

12:08amRaymond

And you know I like to argue. That's why I went straight for the opposing view when we started the conversation.

12:10amRaymond

You actually wowed me Rickey. I'm a little speechless. I am still standing behind my statements, but I will have to think about how much my opinion of the people effects my view of the disorders in question.

12:11amRick

:)

12:11amRaymond

I think my OCD statement is still pretty valid regardless.

12:11amRick

I wasn't talking about that one, but I did notice it earlier

12:13amRaymond

But I would think depression is a hard one to separate feelings from. But with each disorder, I did admit that I believe there are genuine people out there with it, just a little more skeptical about schizophrenia. And I admit I wasn't being as objective as I thought I was, but at the same time, your encounters with them do help research.

12:14amRick

By the by, as you would eventually find out in my blog, my first statement was simply sarcasm that was forcibly dry considering I had no way to let you know besides typing.

I agree

12:14amRaymond

Which statement?

12:15amRick

I find myself letting my experiences take me over quite a bit, but I like that

"I think I may be Schizophrenic"

12:16amRaymond

I figured until you brought up the persona thing, then I wasn't sure.

12:16amRick

I hate the thought that genetic can be the only thing that controls your opinions. I think life experiences are necessary to the debate process.

12:17amRaymond

I agree. I think there are at least two ways of learning: experiencing things and being taught."

So there you have it. I would appreciate if everyone posts there replies on the original post (a.k.a - Blogger), but if you don't I will try and copy your responses accordingly.

Country, or Something Like It.

Today, I would like to talk a bit about country. The word country, in this contemporary day, can mean many things. The first meaning I will talk about is the genre of music. Over the past decades the genre of Country(Which apparently HAS to be capitalized) has grown from an upbeat, square-dancing, hoe-down feel, to more and more drinking and sad songs. I have to say that I'm a big fan of all of these aspects, but one I have been noticing more personally lately is the depressing and/or the tribute songs. I have been listening to Alan Jackson's song Sissy's Song quite a bit lately. On the radio, when I first heard it, the "DJ" mentioned that it was written as a tribute to a woman named Lacey who had recently died. I personally like the song because it's so heartfelt. I then turn to the next song and hear about two good friends going to Mexico to get drunk and pick up women. I can't really bring myself to understand why people would like to imitate this, but I do have to admit that it is a catchy tune. By the by, the previous song is Playboys of the Southwestern World by Blake Shelton.

Another form of the word country is in the sense that one can live in the country. Now this is a very confusing word because so many people think that their particular part of the Country is country. As I just stated in the previous sentence, the word can be interchanged between countries of the world, and country living. But, I ask this question, What is country living? Is it based on morals, location, moonshine, or music? The word has become so polluted that anyone can be from the country. Location can't have the word anymore because the farms and farm towns that we once considered "country", are now being shut down in this economic wreck. Don't even get me started on morals. It just seems like the secular world is dragging the "Olden Days" of doing things through the proverbial mud.

I would write some more on this, but first, I want your opinions. I want to get a bit of a fire going here. What do you think about country music? What do you think about country or the country or country living (Or whatever you want to call it)?

Will Blog for Booze!

I was told that I should write a blog today. I was told this by one Adem "Boozle" Ali, hence the title. He told me that it was such a nice day and I should write about it.

Well, it was a nice day outside. It was the kind of day that makes you want to lay out in the sun and have fun with the kids, or the nieces and nephew in my case. I just wish I was at home to enjoy this day with my family. Unfortunately, I am 250 miles away from them, plus my parents are both working, one sister is working and the other is at home with her family, and I have no idea what my brother is doing, probably fishing. It would be a nice day to fish. My brother actually gave me $12 for my birthday so I could get my fishing license renewed, and I plan to when I go home.

I hope everyone had a good day today, and I am in prayer for those effected by the sudden rise of the Missouri River.

Clinging to the...Past...Future..Present?

I've been thinking a lot lately, which is never a good thing. As most of you who will read this know, I was recently told I would lose my financial aid after this semester, but that's not what has me thinking right now. I also turned 21 a few days ago, but I'm not thinking of that either. In reality, I've been thinking of the reputation I've made for myself. I've been hearing friends tell me what they see when they see me, and I absolutely hate what they have to say. I don't hate that they say these things, but I hate that they are true. I know what I am, and what I have become, and I accept all responsibility for my actions, but I have to have a serious reevaluation on my life.

When I learned about my not coming back to Oakland City University, I was sad at first, but I forced myself to turn that sadness into hatred and I convinced myself that it was a plot by the school to have me kicked out. But, since then I have done some reflecting and realized that I was just passing uncalled for blame on people who have no right to take the blame that is really mine. I was responsible for going to class, but instead I decided to stay out late with my friends and have fun. The same goes for my homework, I wanted to live a life that I really didn't want because it looked fun, and it was for this reason that I obtained a depression and failed. I now cannot see any real reason to blame this school, and I know it is a good institution, but I still need a bit of help getting past my own mistakes.

When I turned 21 I was so excited. It was odd because I had forgotten about my birthday a few weeks before, but there were some friends who said, "I bet you can't wait to turn 21 so you can party huh?" And, it a mistake, I went against my parents wishes and drank because it seemed like the cool thing to do. It was 2 days and a few beers after my birthday that I looked at the water bottle I was drinking water from and realized that I loved water much more than alcohol, then it snapped in me. I went and took out a beer from the fridge, took some drinks, and felt horrible because I knew that alcohol wasn't for me. I liked the taste, but I hated the fact that I was becoming someone I'm not. I poured the rest of my beer down the sink and got away from the rest of alcohol. I had decided that I didn't want to drink anymore. I know the effects that alcohol can have on you and your body, and it's just not for me. I want to apologize to my mom for going against her wishes, and I am very sorry that I did.

Another thing that I am is just an all over offensive person, and that is not acceptable. I was told this by many friends, but one who is closer to me than most told me the whole truth, that I knew and decided to hide from myself, and that was that I am just a person who tends to say or do things that offend people. He also told me that I like to put on a front, and that the "real" side of me only surfaces with people that I am comfortable with. I admit that everything he, and others, said is true. I know how to keep my mouth shut, but I still do these things anyways. I curse like a sailor, I talk dirty like a porn star, and I degrade people like it was instinct. One thing that these people don't know is that this is not my real side, that is actually a fake personality I made up long ago when I first went back to public school in the 10th grade. I made that part of me because I thought that was what other people were like,and that it was what they liked. I made a horrible mistake in straying away from my upbringing, and I realize this too late in my life to make up for the bad memories I gave everyone, and for that I am truly sorry. I will try like crazy to make myself into the person I am, and I think a lot of people have been seeing that recently. I am trying to be my real self in front of people, but I fear I may have made too deep of an imprint in their minds for them to accept me as anything but "Rickey".

I am truly sorry to all of those who I may have offended in the past, and I will try to, and will, be better soon.

One other thing I am clinging to right now is the fact that I feel as if I am separating myself from my friends once again. This is due to many things. The fact that I will be gone from them after this semester, the fact that my friends are not getting along with each other, and especially the fact that I am starting to see some of my friends being the person they tell me that I am. Instead of me being the better man, so to speak, as a way to guide them away from their strife's, I am pushing them away and telling them that they are doing the right thing, and that tears me up inside. I want my friends to be happy, but if it's at the cost of my own life, then I want them to leave me alone. I am reminded of a verse in the Bible, one of my favourites actually, it is when Jesus is talking to the Apostles about his death, but being vague about it. It says something like, "There is no greater love than that of a man who lays down his life for a friend." I now understand that the verse could have a deeper meaning than love your friends truly. I now see that it can also mean that sometimes you have to give up your own ambitions and your own fun, and you have to help out your friends in their time of need. I have been selfish lately just thinking of what I can do to make myself better, but I need to take some time to help out my friends who really need it. I love you all, and wouldn't trade our times together for any riches that this world has to offer.