In all of Jack Nicholson’s storied filmography, there are few roles he’s taken that I can point to and say, “he definitely did that one for the paycheck.” Sure, there might be plenty where I can say, “he did that one because of drugs,” or, “I can see how that might have been a good script before rewrites,” but there’s really only one that exemplifies his desire for cash money. And that’s the date-within-your-age-group PSA known as Something’s Gotta Give.
Just kidding, guys. Not everything I write has to start off with a metaphor or a story.
When I posted the Do you have a life quiz, I hadn’t actually taken it. I had an idea of what my ranking would be, but when I did take it, the results were quite a bit worse. I landed at a solid 47, which, according to my own assessment, means this:
46 – 52 Primed to explode
A little high-strung, are we? Your priorities are too focused on one aspect of your life: work. Whether it’s because you like it too much or hate it with a passion, you need to find a better outlet for your energy. With all the stuff you do, you’re burning the candle at both ends and stretching yourself far too thin. Use up some of those vacation days, or take a sick day if you have to. If you don’t have time just to relax, you’ll begin to unravel. Life isn’t all about being serious and professional. Take it easy once in a while!
Here I was, thinking I was a fairly easy-going guy, but not too much of a workaholic. But between two jobs, the blog, social engagements, chores around the house, unexpected crises and a few other projects, I’ve begun spreading myself too thin.
So, I figured that I should cut something out of my daily life. The problem is, I don’t want to.
I spend about an hour or two per day digesting media. Books, magazines, newspapers (yes, I still read those), radio, TV and the Internet are all vying for time on my schedule. And while it’s important to be knowledgeable about current (and past) events, it’s not ultimately necessary. The whole media fast thing didn’t work out so well for me, so perhaps a different approach is required.
I’ve long held the belief that my near-encyclopedic knowledge of movies, music, TV, books, comics, Internet memes and history was a good thing. Being able to answer over 90% of the answers correctly on any given game show seemed like it could be a good life skill, if I ever decided to be on a game show. It’s been something that I enjoy. But now that I think about the sheer volume of gray matter devoted to the intricacies of Spider-Man’s history or the second season of Scrubs, I’m starting to wonder if it’s really beneficial.
I’ve talked before about the finite level of intelligence that we all have versus the infinite level of cumulative knowledge we possess as a society, but is there much utility to be gained from recalling the names of the original Pokemon or identifying landmarks mentioned in the Sherlock Holmes series in my day-to-day? Besides brain-tickling factitude, what do I get out of absorbing this material?
The problem is that I like learning these things. I enjoy reading up on new stuff. The act of sprouting bon mots out of nowhere is a part of my personality. So even if it’s the part that I should get rid of, it’s going to be a long, arduous and concentrated process.
You know what? I think I’ll just quit sleeping instead. That seems like it’ll be easier.
Dude, you don’t need to “get rid of” any part of your personality. It keeps you soundly YOU. We could all use more hours in the day, even us funemployeds. But don’t go dicing your personality or the things you enjoy most — if random factoids and absorbing media is your thing, so be it. It could be worse. You could be a crazed hippie like me.
You are too funny. Love your blog. And here’s why I think all that “useless” information floating around in your brain actually makes you smarter.
The human brain subsists on connections. Memory depends on your ability to put what you learn into context. Judgment and decision-making depend on your ability to reframe your current situation in light of similar situations you’ve faced in the past. Listening depends on being able to anchor new information to things you already know.
Your encyclopedic memory gives your brain a lot of raw material, or building blocks, to create those mental connections and bridges. My guess is (and it’s an educated guess, after having read a few of your blog entries) that your knowledge not only makes it easier for you to quickly and effectively consume new media, but that it also makes it easier for you to relate your own thoughts and ideas in terms that other people can understand–using metaphors and analogies from popular culture.
Meg – I was thinking more along the lines of getting rid of a part of my routine. I always get buyers’ remorse after spending a few hours digesting media, thinking, “Man, I wish I had done [insert thing I wish I had done] instead…” Really, it’s my procrastination activity of choice. And I know crazed hippies. You, miss, are no crazed hippie. Slightly wonky, yes. But not crazed.
Sara – Thanks for your comments! That’s an excellent way to put it. The next time I have to explain to one of my co-workers why I’m describing our database structure with transformers characters, that will give me an excellent justifiction for using the metaphor. Although maybe describing the second-tier account identifiers correlating to other views using the relationship of Jazz and GB Blackrock might not be the best idea in the first place…
There’s a huge difference between passively consuming media because it’s thrown at us 24/7 and actively seeking out new learning material (however obscure or seemingly “useless” it may be) because you have a thirst for knowledge. If it’s something that you enjoy doing then keep doing it. If you need a break take one, but don’t opt to deprive your grey matter of stimulation just because the majority of people can’t handle that much information.
Besides, you’d be surprised at what effective ice breakers those random factoids can be in potentially awkward situations.