Rant 96: Idiot-Jerks

[Irreverend Hugh, KSC]

Rant 96
Idiot-jerks in Our Movement (as opposed to Their Movement)

"Self-hatred is the source of all their malice toward others."
-B.F. Skinner's Pigeons

"Hatred is merely abdication to your own slavery."
-Rocky the Claw Shrimp Eater (who also happens to be a satanic squirrel)

"Every 'emancipator' has enslaved the free."
-Aleister Crowley (The Book of Lies, ch. 81)

Now, everyone who is Discordian has some idea of what Discordianism is or isn't or maybe. The thing to realize is that we all have our own "trips," as the Principia Discordia and Robert Anton Wilson's novels like to put it. (Other writers and works call them "trips" too, even though the slang is pretty well dated.) One error that some have fallen into is the idea that someone who is Discordian can not tell someone else who is Discordian that their version of Discordianism is wrong. Who told those people such balderdash? As human beings we have the right to tell someone that their own version of whatever they are doing is wrong. Who thinks we cannot? It is called free speech. And if someone calls your Discordianism wrong or unreal, you most certainly have the right to tell that other person where to go. Let's bury this stupid notion that one can't criticize another in the Discordian Society since it has nothing to do with Discordianism in the first place. Remember, we have the outlet catma which says "If you can't be right, you can at least be loud." And "right" or "wrong" (or whatever the neat validation terms being used) says nothing. In this here outfit, those who agree with what you say will do so, and those who don't won't. And criticism is useful feedback if intelligently planned and executed.

There is one thing that is vexing, though it is a normal process in any group. The appearance of assholes. "No one likes assholes" is the common idea...which is, for the most part, true. (Let's not speak for all assholes, though.) Being an asshole to others only reflects on yourself. And acting the part of the idiot-jerk doesn't make one Discordian. There is much more to Discordianism than just acting like you hate everyone and trying to stir up shit because you feel you are provoking chaos or disorder. Acting the part of the asshole actually promotes no chaos, except in rare circumstances (most of which most of us are still too young or un-experienced to discern). The ways we deal with jerks vary widely depending on the individual pineal glands concerned. Defending against ass-hattery is a time honored Discordian tradition...as is making such people the butt of our jokes and our jakes. Why leave the jerks out of all the fun? Certain idiot-jerks will, no doubt, be seeking this attention anyway and it is up to other people whether or not to give it to them. (Other words: They ask for it.)

The worst type of jerk tends to be those who cringe and whine about others' accomplishments, even it is just having the where-with-all to post and say "hi" on some forum. It's as if those who are creative or who are writing or doing things in the Discordian Society offend the jerks so much that they try to tear away the efforts of anyone else. Such jerks who do things like this claim they are defending the Erisian Movement from "high handedness" or the "posers." But what they are usually doing is just being jealous pricks. Whatever happened to "live and let live" or "live and let us dance"? For instance, if I write rants and scriptures and other such things, who are you to tell me I am trying to promote a "high handed" Discordianism? (It would be more correctly termed a "hugh handed" Discordianism anyway. Sorry, I had to. Cornball is good for the soul and besides, not many people out there online would know what the hell "Tequilarian Discordianism" means...and some people don't even drink. Everyone is free to form their own "handed" Discordianism as well as to listen to one another or not. We all need to buy or acquire new socks from time to time, except for the hippies among us.)  

I have seen young kids get a truck load of crap piled on them online because these kids had the "audacity" to try to contribute something. (I use the word "audacity" because it seems that anyone, especially the young or the newbie, trying to write or do anything these days pisses off the jerks to no end.) These young ones or newbies should feel like they have found someplace safe to let their weirdness out, including all the emotional content that that may entail. And instead of encouraging them on in their efforts to live and post their experiences or ideas, some jerks try to drive them away or come down on them with some jerk-off "the world is meaner than you think, kid" type of drivel. (The world is both worse and better than many think.)

If the above applies to you, remember that being a jerk is simply that. It is a personality characteristic (which in Cognitive Science is actually considered a failure in cognition, but other labels suffice just as well) that has nothing to do with the practice of Discordianism, or even of non-theistic Chaoism. Also remember that being a Discordian is no excuse for being un-intelligent or for attacking those people who try to keep learning and exploring all of those intellectual and spiritual fields of knowledge that we like to rip off from. The Discordian Society is not a fricken pot of lobsters. The purpose is TO NOT prevent others from growing or from expressing themselves or from any other endeavor that evidences free will and thought. I should insert that the purpose of Discordianism is to actually help those people who wish to rise up and become better, but then some of you would accuse me of "high handed" Discordianism. Heh. Well, you know where to go because that IS one of the purposes of Discordianism. (It is even one of the best ways to promote whatever changes you feel are necessary in this world, but there I go again with my "high handed" Discordianism.)

Those of us who know who WE are actually KNOW who we are. Do you? (It's rhetorical. Think on it a minute or two.) Those of you who like what I say or agree with it are simply those of you who are doing so. Those of you who hate what I say or who disagree with it, are also doing so. Simply put. It gets boring to have certain jerks call others "fans" or the "mob" simply because they agree with someone or remain silent about what someone has said to you. Also remember that many of us Discordians are friends. And yes, we have our own clubs and associations and social circles and there ain't a damned thing wrong with doing so. You can tell me that my version of Discordianism is full of shit and all that yanking chainery, but you may want to have something to offer up yourself. If you want to play ball, then learn to play the game, or at least learn how others play it. Standing around bitching about how shitty some of the players are playing doesn't mean much in the end, unless you can play. Or you can actually demonstrate a reason for your opinion.

Despite what I have said above, this rant is actually dedicated to more than one person no matter what some of you may think. You can be whiny and negative and jerky all you want, but do not get surprised when no one wants to be around you (even online) and everyone starts to think you are nothing but a shit nutter. Eris likes to fuck around, as do many of us, but no one likes a malicious jerk.

Discordianism is an infinitely satisfactory irreligion, and those of you who use it as a label to excuse or give credit to your jerkishness only have yourselves to blame. An elder Discordian once said "If you think the world is getting meaner all the time, it is because you're growing more stupid. If you think that the world is getting happier for you, than you're getting more intelligent." The human nervous system has given us an evolutionary advantage in that we can seek happiness and learn to avoid those pains that are avoidable. Are you using your nervous system and your life to satisfy and fulfill yourself, or are you whining and bitching about how "bad" or "mean" the world is? (It ain't that mean. Any sensitive being can clearly see that most of our suffering is caused by ourselves or by other human beings. People who see the world as a mean place are just using that as an excuse to treat others like crap. And, outside of rare circumstances, you attract the sort of people that your self reflects.) Remember, the quality of your life, your thoughts, and of anything you create or do, is your choice. You are no one's slave.

With this rant, I invite you all (including myself) to reflect on what we have done or said, and see what we can do to stay awake and involved and, hopefully, happier better beings.

If you need a point, and the above didn't suffice, here it is ->.

Blessed Be to You All regardless of where you stand. (So long as it isn't on anyone else's back, unless they're into that sort of thing.) All Hail The Mother of All Deities Eris Kallisti Discordia!!!!!

July 20th, 2005

-Irreverend Hugh/Tequilarius Malignatus, KSC
(Member of the Committee for the Defense of Certain Committees Against Certain Other Committees.)

[nurbldoff]

I liked this.

I feel that discordianism is more about promoting personal creativity than about certain behaviour. Stuff like OM may be great fun, but I don't think it's at all necessary, it's more like a useful exercise. And, in any case, I think it's generally more useful for the mindfuckers it than the mindfuckees. Trying to mindfuck someone out of grayfacedness is a bit like trying to bomb someone into democracy... it might work, but the probability is pretty low

[East Coast Hustle]

credit where credit is due...that was an excellent piece of writing.

I mean, you still suck at life and all that, but that was one of the best things things you have ever written IMO.

[LMNO]

I agree, Hugh.


...but you gotta admit, the "emo" running joke is pretty funny sometimes.

[hooplala]

I feel like this is all I do lately but, I really liked this piece.

[Ben]

Emo!

[Buddha's Ghost Penis]

THERE IS NO KNOW WHO WE ARE ANYWHERE.

[deet]

Should all actions performed by a Discordian be considered a representation of Discordia, or are they a reflection on the individual?

People who are jerks to create disharmony are creating discord. Should this be shunned by those who see it? Can the people who are pricks restrain themselves all the time?

[LMNO]

Should all actions performed by a Discordian be considered a representation of Discordia, or are they a reflection on the individual?

People who are jerks to create disharmony are creating discord. Should this be shunned by those who see it? Can the people who are pricks restrain themselves all the time?

1.  Yes and no.  Yes, in the sense that All is Discordian.  No, in the sense that we are all Free, and we are all Individuals, and must stick apart.

2.  The order/disorder and Creative/Destructive chart in the PD (and the expanded one created right here at PD (check the "New Chart" thread, to be bumped shortly)), plus meditiation on said charts, does it's best to resolve these issues.