Criticism

In my reading endeavors I have come across a constructive way to live. To not complain or criticize: "Don't complain about the snow on your neighbor's roof when your doorstep is unclean." Basically anytime you confront someone and criticize them you put them on the defensive. They will always justify their actions and rarely if ever see their own faults. When something goes wrong it is best to think of it as water under the bridge. Lashing out at them will relieve my feelings but it will make the other person justify them self. It will make them condemn me.


One thing to say this but I am going to try and actually apply it. Sounds like common sense but rarely do people live like this. They normally criticize and condemn. Any fool can criticize-and most do.

By the way most of this is me paraphrasing or quoting. Not like I am dispensing any advice at all.

A taste of my youtube page

This is before I started directing films, I dabbled with editing (i-movie part of i-life 06').









I like to think that I tell a story here. That I have not merely put a string of clips to music. That it is a music video for the song. That the actions unfold telling a story about the lyrics. Even further, the actions tell an intimate story between the two of them: a romance, and a struggle. A parting. Maybe I could be over romanticism, or maybe it's the wine, but I feel very strongly about this video and I hope you enjoy. It has close to 2,000 views and I've had people put it on their myspace profile so I guess some are pleased with my work.

Hiding behind a digital mask

Before I begin speaking of today's events I need to tell you about certain aspects of my life.

I LOVE MOVIES. ok, I am obsessed with films. I watch one almost every single day. I have netflixx 3 at a time so I get them at a pretty fast demand. Last semester I watch almost 2 movies a day (when possible). My life is surrounding myself with great art. I feel like watching a great film is a culturing experience. That you learn something and become a better person. I do not watch movies like Beerfest or anything that Lindsey Lohan would be in. I watch Hitchock, and Tarantino, The Godfather, Seven, Requiem for a dream. I watch movies that teach you about life. So digressing from my obsession...

Today I was online and someone I did not know im'd me: "hey." I responded with the same. She informed me that through a friend she saw a picture of me on facebook and she thought I was cute. She told me I seemed cool and wanted to talk to me, that she liked my movies.

Now I was taken back because, well this stuff use 2 happen in 7th grade, this stuff happened back then when your friends were screwing around with you. They'd pretend to be a cool girl that liked you. But we are 21 now!

Do i believe it? No! The cynic in me is still weary (since when are girls the aggressor). But I entertain the thought and continue speaking. She tells me that her favorite movie is Eternal Sunshine (my favorite movie) and that she loves Charlie Kaufman (my favorite writer). Now things are starting to get hairy cause either I have found my soul mate or some1 I know is not playing cautious, spilling out all they know about me in the first 5 minutes. I ask her if she has seen Adaptation and she says no (which confuses me cause how could u know Kaufman and not see his 2nd best work, liar or not the response should be yea). So she asks for a description and I give a brief one. She tells me is going to have to netflixx it (red flag #2).

There are other absurd details but I will rest here. I mean is this someone I know hiding behind a digital mask or is she sincere. I don't know anymore: "If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is: Infinite" (Blake).

Prejudice on Second Life

Ok, I am certainly not a second life veteran (so some of you may completely disagree) but I noticed something today. Something I was very surprised to see. I was on orientation island trying to get some new clothes when my house mate Bill came down and looked at my screen. There were about 25 people in a very close vicinity. Bill is not a member of Second Life but he is educated he has had several conversations about it. And to tell my story I need to tell his story 1st.

Bill told me about a couple that met, built a relationship, romanced, and then married each other all through Second Life (got married in person, not in SL). I don't know how I feel about that but i certainly feel that it is great you can not care about appearance and go solely on personality and connection. These two truly fell in love with each other, not being seduced by security or money or position in life.

He went on to tell me that the guys avatar was this really tan good looking guy and the girl was this statuesque blond. In real life, both were over weight and resembled nothing of their character. I laughed that off and thought what an interesting story that was.

So back to Bill peering at my screen. "No one is unattractive" Bill interjected. "What?" I replied. There were women with mini-skirts and men with muscles but not one normal looking person. Everyone was dressed to the 9's, decked out in the craziest fashion. I will defend this with the fact that there were mythical looking avatars not resembling people, but the next fact completely puts a spin on the whole story.

Even in Second life people are prejudice. Judgment and segregation does not escape you anywhere in this world. I was talking to people asking them questions, and they were answering back, as usual...Then Bill and I embarked on an experiment. I MADE MYSELF FAT. I took my height all the way down, and I made myself as fat as possible. And guess what? Was there a difference in how people treated me? YES! The very 1st person I addressed said "yea, what fatty?" then as I returned to the female in the mini-skirt and the tan man, neither of them responded to me. PREJUDICE ON SECOND LIFE.

This is evil

All I wanted to do was get some more money on second life so I followed what the book said and went to money tree island. And I clicked on the tree and did some surveys. I blew through most of them but right b4 i finished I realized I was about to order a credit card.

This stuff is dangerous you really have to pay attention to what is going on. I dont like that. This second life thing is kinda fun but i dont know it is a little too real for me. I mean there should be a line between games and real stuff, you shouldnt be able to get in trouble while playing games but that could have led to bad things. There might have been certain charges i would have been required to make. i am a college student this stuff scares me.I don't know I might tune this 2nd life thing down i don;t know.

Getting use to

I think I am getting use to Second Life. I have been reading the book but all it does is tell you about second life. I feel like it doesn't really tell you how-to. I am a kind of person who needs the how to, but luckily everyone is very friendly. I have been learning a great deal just by asking. My name on second life is Quintan Quinnell.

Second Life

So after visiting a friend of mine in the library I have been inspired to create my Second Life account. I am very excited, everything has just been very hectic. I never know what to do and I get so anxious over what I have missed/ am missing, that I always wind up falling even deeper behind.

I first learned about Second Life last semester in ENG 307 when a grad student (T.A.) named Ray showed us over ther projector. It seemed like a lot of fun, but I never physically moved myself to join. Now, months later here I am.

Freaking out

Ok I am freaking out. For some reason I can not get into this class. Everything seems so foreign. And the weird thing is I'm really good with this stuff. I am sooo far behind and everything is passing me by. I keep having to do certain things and if I come across the most minor road block I quit. It is terrible. About the only thing I am up on is the reading, but besides that this is really annoying I feel so far back. Anyway I am going to give this another try.

Getting to know me better

Hi, I thought I would provide a few links to some places that would give you some insight to who I am. So I will start with my youtube and myspace accounts. A little background: I started out making goofy skits with my friend back in freshmen year and over time it has evolved into a deeper obsession. So now I write and direct films in my free time (summer). So I encourage you to watch them (DERAILED, and HINDSIGHT). I hope you enjoy.

Youtube account: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=neo345aol
Myspace (made for my 2 short films): http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=228295988

Facebook: http://cortland.facebook.com/profile.php?id=733735033

Hello

Hi, my name is Phil Giordano and this is my blog created for PWR 209. Here is a short video introducing myself.