Monday, July 7, 2008

Look Ma! No Handlebars!



the lyrics

6 comments:

Mary Malcolm Duncanson said...

Wow. Do you know that video makes me think "if Liam and Natasha got together to create a video..." Seriously. It's like a brainchild of their two concepts. Very powerful. What does it make you think about?

Sarah said...

I hadn't thought of that, but you're right! Very similar to Liam and Natasha's ideas.
It makes me think about how people can change, and how one choice can lead you down a completely different path.
I also like "I can ride my bike with no handlebars" as a phrase - the handlebars could represent control, guidance, etc. So to disregard them could be pretty dangerous.
I also think the video is almost like a warning to our technology-obsessed generation. What started with simple things escalated into a powerful industry, and destruction and power-lust.
Or maybe I completely missed the point. ;) It's been known to happen.

Mary Malcolm Duncanson said...

Nope, I think you hit the point right on top of its nail like head. I think people have become so dependent on the things they think they read and hear from the internet, from TV, from the radio, that they don't take the time to think things through on their own.

And that's a very dangerous thing.

We listen to the news reports about horrible things that happen and never hear the whole stories. So we live in fear and that fear drives us to do things we never thought we'd do. Not speaking we in the you or I sense, more in the global sense.

I also think that the global connection that we now share through media has come at the price of our personal connections. Not to mention the fact that we're now expected to fit more hours into the same 24 that's always been...people are fighting the tide of deadlines that have become common place because of additional work sources, when they should be taking that extra time to enjoy the life they've been given.

It is a short one, after all.

*stepping back off of my soap box*

Sarah said...

I think you're absolutely right. We are a nation driven by fear. We're deadbolted, alarmed, constantly looking over our shoulders.

It's like a globalized version of those email forwards I doled out when I was 12. "Blahblahblah, and send this to ten people or BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN!!!! Oh, and did I mention you only have five minutes to forward this? FIVE MINUTES!!!!! OR DOOM!!!!!"

Take identity theft, for instance. Commercials, the media, a number of sources keep reminding us every day to protect our identity, protect ourselves against identity theft. Don't get me wrong, caution isn't bad. (Because yes, sadly, we actually have to protect things that are OURS from people who want things that aren't theirs) BUT do they take much time to mention that identity theft is lower than it has been in years? No doubt some of that is due to people being cautions, but there's a difference between being smart and being paranoid.

And relying on the media to tell us what we need to know is a joke. It's painfully obvious that the media is biased - there is always motive, even if backed by good intentions. My dad and I were talking about this just the other day and I think he's right -- think about when you listen to the news. What the story is dictates how they talk about it. For example, age and terminology. Sometimes an 18 year old boy will be referred to as a kid, or in a way that portrays him as younger than 'technically an adult'. And other times he'll be referred to as a man. So much so that when you hear he's only 18 you're surprised because it sounded like he should be much older.

But alas, it seems that as you stepped off of your soapbox, I decided to try it on for size. :)

Mary Malcolm Duncanson said...

Hey kiddo!

How the heck are you this week?

Okay, so I've finished the first round editing for Almost Home and the Final Round editing for Chapter One. Do you have time to read Chapter One? I'd love some honest feedback. I just need to know if it keeps you engaged and makes you want to keep reading.

Sarah said...

Mary, I would absolutely LOVE to read your first chapter! I'm more than happy to let you know if it's engaging. :)