What is the importance of space exploration in our society?
I’m literally from Houston, Texas, the space capital of the USA (Houston, we have a problem), so obviously I’m going to be at least someone biased towards it, but also I believe that space exploration plays into a concept arguably fundamental to humanity: the desire to know and be more. In the past, space exploration in America was undeniably fueled more by American Pride or whatever stupid imperialist bullshit than anything, but… at least, to me personally, it represents a desire to take the boundaries that whatever sort of higher power has imposed on you (boundaries set by things like gender, race, or gravity), and go past them. Literally shooting for the stars. Also because I used to dream about being an astronaut before I got fat.
How do you manage ennui?
I have a weird relationship with apathy and ennui. I spent so long as a young closeted child thinking that showing emotion outwardly was lame or not socially acceptable, so I got into habits early on of just internalizing everything and never expressing it, which fucked me up big time due to it becoming a very serious issue for my mental state. Basically, at this point, I feel as if it’s impossible for me to not care.
What is time? What is Macaroni Time?
Time is a constant; we exist in the same Time that we did thousands and thousands of years ago, and our experience of time passing is ultimately just our brains putting in order things that just… Are. You are living in the same time that both your ancient ancestors and your distant successors are living in too. Macaroni Time is my favorite meal of the week, and full of cheesy delight.
Donald Trump is a tangible example of increased absurdity (aka entropy) in the universe, can you name other examples?
The Eric Andre Show and its status as essentially already a cult classic, Elton John collaborating with Young Thug, the fact that people care about the things I have to say
Sartre posits that the existence of desire is the best proof that humans are basically in a state of “lacking”, if man were “what he is(a being-in-itself)”, he would not need anything to complete him. Is there anything that can make a human complete?
When the universe is cold and dead and guaranteed to never move again, then humans will know completion.
In Albert Camus’ famous novel ‘The Stranger’ the central character, Mersault, is able to tolerate life in prison fairly well because of his general detachment. Is it fair to say that many people in our society “detach” as a way of coping with the violent unjust system that has been thrust upon us by history?
Absolutely. I spent many of my early years of transition and existence as someone very commonly viewed as anything from an outsider to a legitimate threat to the existence of others, and the only way that a 14 year old could reasonably deal with that kind of pressure is by basically convincing their own mind that they’re just dreaming 24/7. Outside of that, I personally know and also frequently see other marginalized people with very callous, uncaring, and apathetic views towards both their own existences and others. People who are “othered” by society ultimately take that shit to heart in a major way at some point.
What gives you the right?
My existence as a being with no intrinsic value, purpose, or meaning (so basically the fact that I am equal to everything else around me), coupled with the fact that I believe that I am very important to my own existence, while also believing that since I am equal to all, I must treat every being around me as importantly as myself, gives me the right. It also give you the right, too. Just letting you know.
