Confessions Of A Symbol Addict

Hi, my name’s Clay, and I’m a symbol addict. I started expressing myself symbolically something like 18 years ago. My story’s much the same as the rest of yours. When it started, everyone around me was doing it. You know, from the beginning everyone was always making these sounds. At first I dismissed it, I didn’t want to get involved in all that noise. Over time though, the pressure from the authorities was too much. I started using some verbal symbols here and there, you know, just to appease my parents, the people in charge. I made excuses at the time. ‘Oh it’s ok. It’s just to help me communicate with other people. It won’t affect me. I’m in control of the symbols.’ Of course, I didn’t say it so‘eloquently,’ so to speak, at the time.

Everyone was doing it, ya know. Everywhere I went, people were talking, constantly expressing themselves with words. At first I thought I could just experiment, you know, use words creatively. I was fooling myself. We’ve all been there though, I guess. Over time I learned the rigid structure that we call proper language. I learned the key words and phrases from those around me, the pre-written scripts that I was supposed to act out. Just like a robot, come to think of it.

Recently, I’ve been more interested in expanded perception. Really getting a direct experience of reality, with its natural intensity of perception, and without my linguistic filters. But, when you’re as addicted as I am, it’s not so easy. You know, I start to have these experiences. My vision becomes brighter, and just overall begins to change. I perceive things more intensely, and my consciousness begins to expand. As soon as it happens, though, sure enough, I want to put it into words. I just can’t help but trying to explain it, generally using familiar terminology. I have various lengths and degrees of direct experience of reality. Sometimes my addiction will be curbed for weeks, even months on end, and I think I kicked the habit for good. Sure enough, though, my demons come back. So here I am, a symbol addict, opening up to the community. I just hope that by opening up, maybe some of you will be able to relate, and we can help each other to kick this addiction for good.

.....

Edited by DenialTwist, 17 June 2012 - 09:00 AM.

?@& }®\?

Or to translate for you puny humans: Lol. WTF?

?+*"=@= =)"**-?!# @\}©};@ ^<:^"¦{|@:? ^©:}!? ¦\¦?! }~};? ;#%"® !:{ "©^# ?};:"%@? ®;" ~©" ~}¦{;}! ®:©¦":" ? ®;¦}":

TRANSLATION: Y'know, I've noticed an infestation here. Everywhere I look, in fact. Nothing but undeveloped, unevolved, barely conscious pond scum, totally convinced of their own
superiority as they scurry about their short, pointless lives.

Now seriously ... WUT??

On a serious note ... wtf? You're addicted to speaking? You want to be non-communicative? You literally want to be like a non-responsive catatonic schizophrenic? WUT? You want to kick the addiction? You want people to walk around and awkwardly stare at one another? Great idea. You do know how hated and irritating mimes are right?

Could you please explain more, I don't feel like II understand....maybe cause of high but this is very very interesting..

I understand you man. Its sorta like if you speak a language you are basically a "prisoner" to a perspective of some sort.correct me if wrong.

Have you ever read "The doors of perception" By:Aldous Huxley

I think this OP if inferring that communicating via language is primitive and "rigid" (as he/she said) and that the OP wants a more efficient way to communicate...

I think?

Words can only convey so much. They restrict you to the words of other people, you can communicate on a basic, primitive level--but to truly connect with others and the world (or reality) around you is the ultimate goal.
Animals are free of it, most of nature is free of it. But we have become so wrapped up in our own symbols and letters and ideas and 'let's pretend' games that we have lost touch with the universe around us.
To truly go back and really experience this expanse we live in, we need to shed these human/societal constructs.
"To bring the pieces back together, rediscover communication"

Words can only convey so much. They restrict you to the words of other people, you can communicate on a basic, primitive level--but to truly connect with others and the world (or reality) around you is the ultimate goal.
Animals are free of it, most of nature is free of it. But we have become so wrapped up in our own symbols and letters and ideas and 'let's pretend' games that we have lost touch with the universe around us.
To truly go back and really experience this expanse we live in, we need to shed these human/societal constructs.
"To bring the pieces back together, rediscover communication"

What are you talking about? Animals use calls and physical expressions. The fact we can write anything down is what gives us the intelligence to even ponder these questions. Without written words or language, modern society wouldn't even be possible.. Specially philosophy and Art.

Edited by Pink_bagel, 17 June 2012 - 09:30 PM.

What are you talking about? Animals use calls and physical expressions. The fact we can write anything down is what gives us the intelligence to even ponder these questions. Without written words or language, modern society wouldn't even be possible.. Specially philosophy and Art.

This is true, but verbal communication is still inefficient. Things get mis-comunnicated through different languages - people interpret things wrong (I know I am the master of this).

If there were just an even BETTER way. Like a universal, non-flawed language.

They should start working on that shit asap, hehe.

All because of the Tower of Babel.

blah blah blah same crap learned the same way, by the same people who learned it before them. Then reguritated back in a similar situation by a different biological machine trying to repeat the same function in the same universe for no god damn reason.

We might as well do a mathematical equation
for mate hunting at a alcohol restaurant.

If x then y if z then Q

where x is a chick at a bar
y is a compliment
z is a macho dude
Q is your response to look more macho
We could literally tape prerecorded cassette players to our foreheads and nobody would notice.

This was an attempt to convey a real message in a semi-humorous way. Language, as commonly used and understood, is paradoxical in a way that makes true communication difficult. The paradox is that we are expected to have the viewpoint that language is nearly absolute, that there is a CORRECT structure and that words have absolute meaning. This causes us to put an overlay on other's words that interprets what they are saying in terms of our own understanding, which we take to be absolute, but very well may differ dramatically from the actual message the other is attempting to communicate. Beyond this, our actual experience of reality tends to be severely hindered due to our use of language.

We always put everything into words, and then think that the experiences and the objects of experience ARE those words, and our whole experience of reality amounts to words and definitions. To use the typical metaphor, "The map is not the territory," or the perhaps more imaginal one, "The menu is not the meal." I agree language is very useful in our development, I just contend that we miss the POINT of language, which is communication, and misunderstand its nature as constantly evolving and based on the speaker's intention and the listener's understanding. Despite the importance we place on language, we by and large aren't very GOOD at it, and we use it in a very rigid robotic way that limits its uses.

Edited by TheJourney, 18 June 2012 - 12:49 AM.

Couldn't have said it better.

Couldn't have said it better.

Well he's said it so many times now, I'd be surprised if you could

I understand you man. Its sorta like if you speak a language you are basically a "prisoner" to a perspective of some sort.correct me if wrong.

Have you ever read "The doors of perception" By:Aldous Huxley

I have not read it, but I have heard it mentioned so many times, particularly by people I really admire, so I should probably look into reading it.

I tried to take in what you said with a fresh mind free of preconceptions as to your message, journey, even though this topic springs up alot around this forum these daysm and I was following you until you gave that NLP metaphor about the map not being the territory.

There's nothing wrong with language, the message does not depend on what is communicated, but what is interpreted. We don't only use words to communicate, but we also use body language and inflection, all of which serves to further clarify the message. We have metaphors, analogies, and tons of other methods of wordplay to further enhance communication, and when all of these things come together it forms a clearer picture that the speaker can coherently communicate.

Communication is a shared activity, and only through co operation can messages truly be sent and recieved. It's like my message is encrypted, and body language and analogies act as algorithms which decode the entire message.

I don't understand your beef with language, because it really is beautiful once you start littering your speech with delightful wordplay devices.

The only problem I see with language is that most incidents of miscommunication stems not from the speaker and his message, but rather with the listener who is not actively listening and critically analysing what is being said. I'm not saying that everyone is obtuse, because I find myself too in periods where I wish I could be more eloquent and understanding, and also be more empathic and patient and less irritable towards the speaker and the message he is trying to convey. In these fleeting moments I am too caught up in my own thoughts to give enough the speaker his due attention and understanding. The real communication breakdown comes from our short attention spans and rather fast lifestyles, but most of the times it is due to the speaker's rigid insistence on being as verbose as is humanly possible. If you even read my post until here, then you see my point.

I have not read it, but I have heard it mentioned so many times, particularly by people I really admire, so I should probably look into reading it.

Highly, highly recommend it. I actually just re-read it, and I realized a few specific passages extremely relevant to the discussion at hand.

"To formulate and express the contents of this reduced awareness, man has invented and endlessly elaborated those symbol-systems and implicit philosophies which we call languages. Every individual is at once the beneficiary and the victim of the linguistic tradition into which he has been born - the beneficiary inasmuch as language gives access to the accumulated records of other people's experience, the victim in so far as it confirms him in the belief that reduced awareness is the only awareness and as it bedevils his sense of reality, so that he is all too apt to take his concepts for data, his words for actual things. That which, in the language of religion, is called "this world" is the universe of reduced awareness, expressed, and, as it were, petrified by language."

" However expressive, symbols can never be the things they stand for."

i know what you mean, i have always been a listener and observer. many times in conversations i would say "it doesnt matter to me if i relay this thought to you" it takes up too much of my energy. since i started meditating, i felt like a natural at keeping my mind empty, and after smoking with my hindu friend, multiple times he would recognize how calm i was, which was his word for pure or void. personally, i like it, the 'sunnata' that comes is very peaceful when you dont label things with words and perceive them as they are without judgement, and it flows into other aspects of life.

even though it has contributed to me being reserved, my soul is the most important as it is the only thing that stays with me until death

I understood you right away man, I have been trying to explain this to people for months, but it seems to make them all think I'm crazy so I'm going to contemplate the workings of the universe for a little while longer (well i would if i wasn't dry and poor)