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Distant friendship and internet discourse

I've been intrigued by the Rebelution's new post about cell phone use and misuse, since I can speak philosophically from much experience with related subjects. I commented thus:

In one way, ubiquitous cell phone use decreases responsible independency: if you're always asking someone else's opinion, you won't make judgment calls on your own.

I don't use a cell phone, although my parents do. I've never had txting; I ran the IM run-around the last year I did debate, mostly to communicate with my partner who lived too far away to visit often. It became addicting, and I'm glad to leave it alone (as I'm sure you are too, Brett). Lonely people use IM like they do email to look for affirmation and companionship; they don't really want to give it unless it is necessary for the above goal, or to imitate the manners of others. The other time I've used it was when I spent a month teaching English in China, and welcomed real-time conversations with someone familiar (my family and a couple friends).

Forums (or should it be fora?) are useful when limited by subject matter. HSD is fine while you are competing in the league, as long as you keep a Christian spirit. To incessantly te controversy corners turns is a distortion of the perspective of the original forum... which was to facilitate preparation for speaking, not an end in itself.

However, the main danger of discoursing with unbelievers (or those like them) on matters of moral significance is not that you will assimilate ungodly ideas, although that does happen. The first and main danger is of tracing ungodly patterns of speech and heart. The ideas can be resisted by willpower and bullying. The attitudes are created by willpower and bullying. You can't win as long as these are your constant companions. The same thing goes for friends met in other conTEXTs. "...[Y]ou may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared." (Prov. 22:25)

Other purposes for communication make online messaging useful. My dad uses a Cabinet Makers Association forum to exchange tips for woodworking.

The advantage of letter-writing comes from having more time to think of what to say, learning to ask important questions, anticipating needs, and putting more thought into the words.
Read the diary of John Quincy Adams and the letters among his family while he was in his teens.

Email loops, in my experience, are more on point than forums or chat rooms, because they preserve the letter-writing form rather than the tavern-style forum. This is at least partly because list participants don’t have a specific location to give the illusion of face-to-face colloquialism. Did I just liken an online forum to a tavern? A prettier comparison is the committee meeting or conference call, but the real prototype is the Socratic restroom graffiti dialogue (an ancient Mediterranean tradition).

An email list is also useful because it is subject-oriented. If you read Scott Turow’s autobiographical novel One L, you find Harvard Law School in the 1970s an extremely competitive environment. The only way for spoiled egos to gain recognition is by excelling at legal knowledge, so students give themselves heart and soul to extra research, outlines, and study groups.

In the same way, reading email from fellow enthusiasts of bird watching or Biblical Greek, cooking or cabinet making, literature or law, microbiology or Milton, Middle East or Middle Ages, mechanics or mathematics, monetary policy or music, will bring vitality to problems in that area of life. You will spend half an hour researching the deductibility of business expenses because someone asked about it. If the question were instead found in the back of your textbook, you would have guessed at it and flipped to the answer. Learning has a social element you can’t replace, which is why my distance-learning paralegal classmates and I started a Yahoo group.

Having friends to email only when I’m thinking on a certain topic is useful, but at the same time, it would be wrong to call someone a friend with whom I don’t share many good things of life. How can I meet an Internet friend’s needs when he is neglecting his family to talk with me? I would thus make the costliest friends those under my own roof with whom I do owe a duty of care. I’d then say befriend those in my neighborhood and church, where I know I can give to them physically as well as spiritually.

Social life has a learning element. Will you learn of good or ill? With fellow disciples of Jesus, discuss those interests that feed the spirit rather than the flesh. Also discuss those topics that will make you more valuable to your employer. Hobbies are wonderful when they involve family, as G.K. Chesterton points out in his Autobiography (ch. 2). The house should always be bigger on the inside than on the outside. But as Chesterton wrote also in Heretics (ch. 17),

What we really desire of any man conducting any business is that the full force of an ordinary man should be put into that particular study … We do not in the least wish that our particular law-suit should pour its energy into our barrister’s games with his children, or rides on his bicycle, or meditations on the morning star. But we do, as a matter of fact, desire that his games with his children, and his rides on his bicycle, and his meditations on the morning star should pour something of their energy into our law-suit.

A man’s love for God should pour out into his work as he serves an earthly master – or teacher. Thus, there is nothing better than for a man to find satisfaction in his life’s work. Side interests ought to make one more useful rather than less useful. Social life should contribute to both godliness and contentment, thereby producing great gain.

Countrysides I've visited

I've been to the United States, Mexico, and China.












create your own visited country map




These are the states I've visited. Most of them rolled by on a family road trip in 1997. We were homeless for five months.











create your own personalized map of the USA

Hymnody

Quit pounding sand over the puposelessness and worldliness of popular Christian music, and visit Christopher Alexander's blog Hymnody to learn standards of good music and the history of musical trends in Western Civilization and Christendom.

Coplas (Kingston Trio)

Yet another song from the Kingston Trio. This version of a Mexican courting song is absurdly entertaining to hear.

Coplas

Chile verde me pediste. Chile verde te dare.
Vama nos para la huer ta con al la te lo cortare.
(Tell them what it means then)
"You want green peppers?(Si!) I'll give you green peppers.
Come out to the garden." ("Coplas!")

Chorus:
Lai, lai, lai, lai, hum de lai, lai, lai, hum de lai, lai, lai,
lai. Lai, lai, lai, hum de lai, lai, lai, hum de lai, lai, lai

Dice que los de fu casa. Ninguno me puede ver.
Diles que no basta el agua que al cabo lahan do beber.
"Tell your parents not to muddy the water around us." ("Porque?")
"They may have to drink it soon!" ("Coplas!")

Chorus

La mula que yo mente la monto hoy mi compadre.
Eso a mi no me importa pues yo la mon te primero. ("Oivey!")
"Ah, so! You are surprised I speak your language.
You see, I was educated in your country… at U. C. R. A." ("Coplas!")

Chorus

La noche que me case. No pudde dormirme un rato.
Por estar toda la noche corriendos detras de un gato. (Meow!)
Me dejiste que fue un gato. Que entro por tu balcon.
Yo no visto gato prieto con sombrero y pantalon!
"On my wedding night, I did not sleep a wink. ("Porque?")I
spent the whole night chasing a cat that had come in over the balcony…. (Meow!)
wearing a sombrero and long pants!" ("Coplas!")

Desert Pete

This song was recorded in the late 1950s by folk revivalists the Kingston Trio. It is my favorite out of their "Greatest Hits v. 2", which me and my brother have listened to about ten times last week. "Desert Pete" might seem conducive to Kierkegaardian fideism, but is actually very close to reality. See, e.g., Elijah and the widow at Zarephath in 1 Kings 17. You can drink the last drop and lose your soul, or believe the gospel, give your life now and receive living water. Just leave a bottle for the next traveller to prime the pump. The well is not a mirage.

Desert Pete

I was travelin' west to Buckskin on my way to a cattle run,
'cross a little cactus desert under a hot blistering sun.
I was thirsty down to my toenails, stopped to rest me on a stump,
but I tell you I just couldn't believe it when I saw that water pump.

I took it to be a mirage at first. It'll fool a thirsty man.
Then I saw a note stuck in a bakin' powder can.
"This pump is old," the note began, "but she works. So give 'er a try.
I put a new sucker washer in 'er. You may find the leather dry.

Chorus:
You've got to prime the pump. You must have faith and believe.
You've got to give of yourself 'fore you're worthy to receive.
Drink all the water you can hold. Wash your face, cool your feet.
But leave the bottle full for others. Thank you kindly, Desert Pete.

Yeah, you'll have to prime the pump, work that handle like there's a fire.
Under that rock you'll find some water I left in a bitters jar.
Now there's just enough to prime it with, so don't you go drinkin' first.
You just pour it in and pump like mad, buddy, you'll quench your thirst.

Chorus

Well, I found that jar, and I tell you, nothin' was ever prettier to my eye
and I was tempted strong to drink it 'cause that pump looked mighty dry,
but the note went on, "Have faith, my friend, there's water down below.
You've got to give until you get. I'm the one who ought to know.

So I poured in the jar and started pumpin' and I heard a beautiful sound
of water bubblin' 'n' splashin' up out of that hole in the ground.
I took off my shoes and I drunk my fill of that cool refreshin' treat.
I thanked the Lord, and I thanked the pump, and I thanked old Desert Pete.

Chorus

You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band

If You're Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band)

I remember down in Houston
We were puttin' on a show
When a cowboy in the back stood up and yelled, "Cotton-Eyed Joe"
He said, "We love what you're doin' boys don't get us wrong
There's just somethin' missin' in your song"

So we dusted off our boots and put our cowboy hats on straight
Them Texans raised the roof when Jeff opened up his case
You say y'all wanna two-step you say ya wanna doe-si-doe
Well, here's a fiddlin' song before we go

Chorus:
If you're gonna play in Texas,
You gotta have a fiddle in the band.
That lead guitar is hot, but not for "Lousiana Man".
So rosin up that bow for "Faded Love" and let's all dance.
If you're gonna play in Texas,
You gotta have a fiddle in the band.

Emanations of Beauty

Why does physical beauty affect the mind? Because it is an emanation of the spiritual excellence of Christ.

Jonathan Edwards, "EXCELLENCY OF CHRIST", 1723. Works of Jonathan Edwards Online, eds. Harry S. Stout, Kenneth P. Minkema, Caleb J.D. Maskell, 2005-. http://edwards.dev.oho.com/ref/9191/e/p/1

§108. EXCELLENCY OF CHRIST. When we behold a beautiful body, a lovely proportion, a beautiful harmony of features of face, delightful airs of countenance and voice, and sweet motion and gesture, we are charmed with it; not under the notion of a corporeal, but a mental beauty. For if there could be a statue that should have exactly the same, could be made to have the same sound, and have the same motions precisely, we should not be so delighted with it; we should not fall entirely in love with the image, if we knew certainly that it had no perception or understanding. The reason is, we are apt to look upon this agreeableness, these airs, to be emanations of perfections of the mind, and immediate effects of internal purity and sweetness. Especially it is so, when we love the person for the airs of voice, countenance and gesture; which have much greater power upon us, than barely colors and proportion of dimensions. And 'tis certainly because there is an analogy between such a countenance and such airs, and these and those excellencies of the mind-a sort of I know not what in them, that is agreeable and does consent with such mental perfections-so that we cannot think of such habitudes of mind without having an idea of them at the same time.

Nor can it be only from custom, for the same dispositions and actings of mind naturally beget such kind of airs of countenance and gesture; otherwise, they never would have come into custom. (I speak not here of the ceremonies of behavior, but of those simple and natural motions and airs.) So it appears, because the same habitudes and actings of mind do beget airs in general the same, amongst all nations in all ages.

And there is really likewise an analogy, or consent, between the beauty of the skies, trees, fields, flowers, etc. and spiritual excellencies; though the agreement be more hid and requires a more discerning, feeling mind to perceive it than the other. These have their airs too, as well as the body or countenance of man, which have a strange kind of agreement with such and such mental beauties. This makes it natural in such frames of mind to think of them, and fancy ourselves in the midst of them. Thus there seems to be love and complacency in flowers and bespangled meadows; this makes lovers delight so much in them. So there is a rejoicing in the green trees and fields, [and] majesty in thunder, beyond all other noises whatever.

Now we have shown [No. 104], that the Son of God created the world for this very end, to communicate himself in an image of his own excellency. He communicates himself properly only to spirits; and they only are capable of being proper images of his excellency, for they only are properly beings, as we have shown. Yet he communicates a sort of a shadow or glimpse of his excellencies to bodies, which (as we have shown) are but the shadows of being, and not real beings. He who by his immediate influence gives being every moment and by his Spirit actuates the world, because he inclines to communicate himself and his excellencies, doth doubtless communicate his excellency to bodies, as far as there is any consent or analogy. And though beauty of face and sweet airs in man are not always the effect of the corresponding excellencies of mind, yet the beauties of nature are really emanations, or shadows, of the excellencies of the Son of God.

So that when we are delighted with flowery meadows and gentle breezes of wind, we may consider that we only see the emanations of the sweet benevolence of Jesus Christ; when we behold the fragrant rose and lily, we see his love and purity. So the green trees and fields, and singing of birds, are the emanations of his infinite joy and benignity; the easiness and naturalness of trees and vines [are] shadows of his infinite beauty and loveliness; the crystal rivers and murmuring streams have the footsteps of his sweet grace and bounty. When we behold the light and brightness of the sun, the golden edges of an evening cloud, or the beauteous bow, we behold the adumbrations of his glory and goodness; and the blue skies, of his mildness and gentleness. There are also many things wherein we may behold his awful majesty: in the sun in his strength, in comets, in thunder, in the towering thunder clouds, in ragged rocks and the brows of mountains. That beauteous light with which the world is filled in a clear day, is a lively shadow of his spotless holiness and happiness, and delight in communicating himself.

And doubtless this is a reason that Christ is compared so often to those things and called by their names; as, the sun of righteousness, the morning star, the rose of Sharon and lily of the valleys, the apple tree amongst the trees of the wood, a bundle of myrrh, a roe, or a young hart. By this we may discover the beauty of many of those metaphors and similes, which to an unphilosophical person do seem so uncouth.

In like manner, when we behold the beauty of man's body in its perfection, we still see like emanations of Christ's divine perfections, although they do not always flow from the mental excellencies of the person that has them. But we see far the most proper image of the beauty of Christ, when we see beauty in the human soul.

Corol. 1. From hence 'tis evident that man is in a fallen state, that he has naturally scarcely anything of those sweet graces, which are an image of those which are in Christ; for no doubt, seeing that other creatures have an image of them according to their capacity, so all the rational and intelligent part of the world once had according to theirs.

Corol. 2. There will be a future state, wherein man will have [those graces] according to his capacity. How great a happiness will it be in heaven, for the saints to enjoy the society of each other! For if one may see so much of the loveliness of Christ in those things which are only shadows of being (with what joy are philosophers filled in beholding the aspectable world), how sweet will it be to behold the proper images and communications of Christ's excellencies in intelligent beings, having so much of the beauty of Christ upon them as Christians shall have in heaven. See No. 112.