If you read this blog, you probably know that I get a little angry over political stuff every now-and-again. I might jab at an evangelist (perhaps tear them a residual new one) or question motives and true morals of political talking heads who run our country today. The reason I'm writing to this blog entry right now, however, is of a more introverted importance. I recently have realized that as I become busier in more business and personal aspects of life, politics and worldly matters occupy of my time, taking a back seat to what is arguably more interesting to engross yourself with. It is for this reason that I am ashamed.
The way I envision most American citizens political lives falls into three categories. A) Incumbently ignorant; trivial stuff occupies this persons mind throughout their life span. B) Sheeple; people who have a party line and vote it, they want people to think they care but never-the-less, they don't. C) Other; these are the activists, independents and other people who give a fuck. As you can imagine, and back to the introversion-themed entry, I fall into C. Note that I am not a political scientist and I have no certifications on the matter.
The reason I decided to write this entry tonight is because I felt my world-view blurring. I have been working very hard on a project for the past few weeks and no doubt, chronologically, updates for that project will surround this entry by two to three entries. When one involves themselves deeply in a project as I have, especially if it consumes every bit of free time, one's perception on reality begins to slip. It's not just politics either–social functions begin to deteriorate. I have found myself talking to people less, even though I've been around them in the same dosages as before. I recall reading somewhere confirming a condition people can develop by involving themselves in an all-consuming project or job. Reportedly people who leave work at Apple, Google and Microsoft develop symptoms of it and claim their past workplace an "addiction." It happens to grad students and post college students going into their first real job.
If these bright minds are susceptible to reacting this way… does this not leave the rest of the incumbently ignorant America to incredibly vulnerable to similar distractions. For example, many people are "addicted" to anime, MySpace or MMORPGs. They become consumed and separated from the rest of the world. Normal people can be consumed by their normal jobs. I think the most important issue here is balance. People tend to be terrible at balancing their lives. You *can* have too much social interaction, and you *can* have too little. You are *obligated* to be active in politics but unless it's your job, you *can* be too active. The same applies elsewhere.
-Sam