From f402a2b6d43a0411028b14a19cb449a7da0f5314 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Case Duckworth Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2015 15:51:11 -0700 Subject: Change line breaks to sentences in prose pieces --- src/problems.txt | 64 ++++++++++++++++++++++---------------------------------- 1 file changed, 25 insertions(+), 39 deletions(-) (limited to 'src/problems.txt') diff --git a/src/problems.txt b/src/problems.txt index c5de325..9a1e916 100644 --- a/src/problems.txt +++ b/src/problems.txt @@ -14,45 +14,31 @@ project: link: movingsideways ... -The problem with people is this: we cannot be happy. No matter how hard -or easy we try, it is not to be. It seems sometimes that, just as the -dog was made for jumping in mud and sniffing out foxholes and having a -good time all around, man was made for sadness, loneliness and -heartache. - -Being the observant and judgmental people they are, people have for a -long time tried to figure out why they aren't happy. Some say it's -because we're obviously doing something wrong. Some say it's because we -think too much. Some insist that it's because other people have more -stuff than we do. These people don't have a clue any more than any of -the rest of us. At least I don't think they do, and that's good enough -for me.[^1] I think that the reason why people are unhappy (and this is -a personal opinion) is that they realize on some level (for some it's a -pretty shallow level, others it's way down there next to their love for -women's stockings[^2]) that there is no background to put themselves -against, no "[big picture][]" to get painted into. This makes sense, because -on one level, the level of everyday life, the level of *observation*, -there is always a background---look in a pair of binoculars sometime. But -on another level, that of ... shit, wait. There are no other levels.[^3] - -What's more, people try to explain how to get happy again (although it's -doubtful they were ever happy in the first place---people are very good at -fooling). Some say standing or [sitting in a building][] with a lot of other -unhappy people helps. Some say that you can't stop there; you also need -to sing with those other unhappy people about how unhappy you are, and -how you wish someone would come along and help you out, I guess by -giving you money or something. I say all you really need to be happy is -a good stiff drink.[^4] - -In any case, people have for some reason or another, and to some end or -another, always been unhappy. And people have always tried to figure out -ways to be less unhappy---one of the most important things to people -everywhere is called "the pursuit of happiness." I think that calling it -a pursuit makes people feel more like dogs, who are the most happy -beings most people can think of. By pursuing happiness, they're like a -dog pursuing a possum or a bone on a fishing rod: two activities that -sound like a lot of fun to most people. I think most people wish they -were dogs. +The problem with people is this: we cannot be happy. +No matter how hard or easy we try, it is not to be. +It seems sometimes that, just as the dog was made for jumping in mud and sniffing out foxholes and having a good time all around, man was made for sadness, loneliness and heartache. + +Being the observant and judgmental people they are, people have for a long time tried to figure out why they aren't happy. +Some say it's because we're obviously doing something wrong. +Some say it's because we think too much. +Some insist that it's because other people have more stuff than we do. +These people don't have a clue any more than any of the rest of us. +At least I don't think they do, and that's good enough for me.[^1] +I think that the reason why people are unhappy (and this is a personal opinion) is that they realize on some level (for some it's a pretty shallow level, others it's way down there next to their love for women's stockings[^2]) that there is no background to put themselves against, no "[big picture][]" to get painted into. +This makes sense, because on one level, the level of everyday life, the level of *observation*, there is always a background---look in a pair of binoculars sometime. +But on another level, that of ... shit, wait. +There are no other levels.[^3] + +What's more, people try to explain how to get happy again (although it's doubtful they were ever happy in the first place---people are very good at fooling). +Some say standing or [sitting in a building][] with a lot of other unhappy people helps. +Some say that you can't stop there; you also need to sing with those other unhappy people about how unhappy you are, and how you wish someone would come along and help you out, I guess by giving you money or something. +I say all you really need to be happy is a good stiff drink.[^4] + +In any case, people have for some reason or another, and to some end or another, always been unhappy. +And people have always tried to figure out ways to be less unhappy---one of the most important things to people everywhere is called "the pursuit of happiness." +I think that calling it a pursuit makes people feel more like dogs, who are the most happy beings most people can think of. +By pursuing happiness, they're like a dog pursuing a possum or a bone on a fishing rod: two activities that sound like a lot of fun to most people. +I think most people wish they were dogs. [big picture]: ronaldmcdonald.html [sitting in a buiding]: feedingtheraven.html -- cgit 1.4.1-21-gabe81