What the devil is going on here?!

Look, I’m not trying to bash forward thinking but saying things like “it’s 2012 why is this even an issue? Why are we even still talking about this?” is kind of worthless. It goes without saying that in the present moment we are the most advanced that we have ever been as a race. However, the same goes for any present moment. So on this day in 1962 we were as far forward in time as we’d ever been and therefore the most advanced and people were saying the same thing. In 1890 we had been making and continuing to make really significant technological advances and again people were saying the same thing but about different issues. Pick a year and you’ll find the same pattern. What I’m trying to say is, drawing attention to our state of being in the present is not a new point to make and the age we are living in is irrelevant to the argument because the struggles we are facing now ARE the age we’re living in. They define how we think and process the world at this point in time and highlight what’s important to us. They only present themselves as struggles because of where we are as a race. We are always pushing for more and expecting better of our species and as a result there is always, and will always be, a dissatisfaction with our present.

…makes no difference where you are…because wishing on stars is a wonderful pastime and something I hope I will always do but you can’t rely on stars to get you where you want to go.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my goals and quest of achieving celebrity but also how I’ve not really addressed publicly why I have them. These ideas have been weighing on my mind and I need to write them down. I don’t care about being famous for the sake of fame. That’s not what I’m ultimately pursuing. I’m not going to pretend I’m some sort fantastically humble person who wouldn’t be filled with satisfaction from thousands of people knowing my name. And I can’t deny that recognition is something I want. But I’ve considered the other side of that scenario and it’s rather ugly. Celebrity means fighting for your privacy and, in all likelihood, not getting the personal life that you want. Normalcy becomes the unobtainable. It means compromising yourself for your art; not in a moral way, though that’s possible, but in that you become a slave to opportunity.

However a personal life and normalcy is something I’ve become willing to sacrifice. Something I’ve already begun to sacrifice. The question one asks is, “dreams or this?” Dreams or a relationship? Dreams or staying comfortable? The answer in my mind has become “dreams”.

Celebrity means something else, though: success. This is why I seek it. Fame means I can survive off my art. Fame means at least the illusion of security in an industry that has very little to hold on to. I by no means need an Oscar or a Grammy - though my nature is to try for the best even if I don’t have to so I’d probably end up pursuing critical acclaim. If I can sing or act or dance or write for living I will have already achieved a life I will never regret for a single fraction of a moment.

You may often see me say “when I’m famous” and talk as if it is certainty. This is not overconfidence but blind faith and desperate affirmation. I talk this way because I am trying to convince the future that this is what it will become when it grows up. I am well acquainted with reality and overconfidence isn’t one of things I posses. I have confidence in myself and I am keenly aware of my own abilities but I have no confidence in the future. The future is sly and takes no pleasure in what’s easy.

I find my supporters have far greater confidence in me. I am told, with surprising regularity, that I am going to be a star. I almost feel like those flattering sentiments mock me. Like everyone knows some truth that is hidden only from me. It can be bizarrely frustrating because I crave their surety. The future obscuring simplicity once again.
Their confidence surrounds me with expectations I never considered I’d face. Other people are a part of my journey. Other people expect things of me now. It is both a blessing and a curse: it encourages me and gives me more reasons to try harder, but it also makes the prospect of failure more terrifying than that already terrifying prospect is. It is a contradiction because it makes trying all the harder. Those who don’t fly can’t fall but those who don’t fly won’t fly at all.

I am terrified of a normal life.

When I think of what I’d do with fame - and specifically the monetary benefits - I always come to the conclusion that I am obligated to help people. I’d love to help friends, especially friends who support me now, so, several Tumblr friends as well as real-life friends. I have a potent desire to help realise the dreams of those close to me. I suppose I have a mental list of people who I would want to invest money and time in - a lot of money and time - in the event that I could. Even just things like paying for an apartment for someone to live in their dream city until they establish themselves. What’s the use of hoarding a fortune - if you’re lucky enough to earn it - when you can help those you love and live a little more modestly. It’s quite a gross amount of money for someone to earn, really. It is, in my opinion, responsible for the corruption of entertainment as an art form, or at least the quality of what is produced, and an influx of dispassionate “performers” clogging opportunities by looking to strike it rich through something they perceive as easy and glamorous.

But beyond friendship I want to help people. Money is one thing but exposure is something altogether more powerful and essential to change at a societal level. Through social media the power of words has been augmented to the point where it’s almost as if celebrities have their own social armies. At the end of the day, the exposure of fame is a commodity which is often disregarded by those who have it, or abused, but rarely used wisely. It is a commodity that, for someone like myself, has incredible value. I would take exposure over gold any day of the week.

Oh and while you’re there watch the announcement on the page!

That’s a thing right? Like, you can click on ‘graphics’ on some people’s pages and it takes you to see a feed of posts tagged with ‘mine’ or something?

It’s been inactive for about a trillion years but I finally fixed it. So I don’t know if I’ll update it - I have this Tumblr and basically I’m just saving the URL (because H.G. Rodgers is my pen name). But you can read some of my old posts - I’ll probably link then individually if I like them.

I think it’s safe to say that this rule comes with the proviso of common sense and respect for others. To an extent I definitely agree with this - especially when you end up watering down your opinions to be politically correct. But Tumblr IS a community of people full of sub-communities of people. There is A LOT of connectivity and nothing is really private on here unless you don’t tag it. SO, I guess this rule is entirely acceptable if you don’t tag racy posts and/or stick them under a read more. Then no one can blame you because it IS exclusively on your blog without the intent of rubbing it in people’s faces.

However, what’s the line where this should apply? I don’t know. Personally I think it ridiculous to assume that anything and everything contrary to the majority opinion should fall under this ‘respect’ clause. Tumblr would be a dull and mindless place if that were the case. But where I personally draw the line is when you don’t have a well thought-out argument. If you can’t justify your controversial opinion then I don’t want to see it.

(Source: bootyoftheday)

Do you have any culinary fantasies or favourite foods you’d like me to cover? Something you’ve always wanted to know how to make? Tell me now or forever hold your piece of cake! If you don’t know about Hayden Cooks then click right [HERE].

I’m really into the idea of themed, recurring posts and, frankly, I have recently been disturbed by the lack of cooking knowledge people have.

Especially when it comes to basic baking terms like ‘creaming butter and sugar’.

And you would be astonished by the struggle people have with cracking eggs…

Honestly, learning the mechanics of cooking is one of the best things you could do for yourself. You won’t have to rely on highly processed and often dangerously unhealthy packaged goods and fattening take-out. Even home cooking that contains a lot of fat is often many times healthier than the same thing bought in a store. Also, guys/men, despite society’s nonchalant attitude towards you having basic cooking knowledge it’s actually generally considered a mark of a well-rounded man. We’re living in the 21st Century - women aren’t required to stay at home and cook for you any more.

SO get yourselves ready. I suppose you could consider the Butterbeer recipe as recipe number one. And now we will look at garlic knots.

But I don’t know what I’d talk about/do/possibly sing something/whatever. Soooo I was wonderinnngggg if you had any ideas? Any things you’d like to see? Should I even bother doing mini-vlogs? WHO KNOWS?! DO YOU!?

A horrible ailment in our society that has been dangerously underpublicised is the steady population of social zombies. Unfortunately this is a highly contagious and fairly widespread condition and many people are unaware that it is even affecting them.

‘What is a social zombie?’ I hear you ask? Well, there are a range of symptoms that define a social zombie and any one of them could mean that person is infected: people who don’t think for themselves, who hear something and believe it, who are easily swayed by peer pressure, who obsess over brands and gender stereotypes, who will agree with both sides of an argument in order to please everyone, those who value the norm above all else, and people who generally think that the commonly held opinion of the majority is invariably the right opinion.

Social zombieism is basically developed when someone succumbs to the herd mentality and can’t be bothered to critically appraise the world around them because it is just easier to let someone else decide for them. Ever been told that you shouldn’t like something because of your gender? Ever witnessed someone regurgitation things they’ve heard from other people without stopping to think of how stupid it may sound or how wrong it may be? Ever see someone change the way they act, or dress a certain way simply because it’s what’s fashionable? You have witnessed social zombieism. Ever do one of those things yourself? You could very well be infected right now.

Why should we avoid social zombeism though? Well, it depends entirely on you. I mean, if you’re happy to be an identity-less kiss-ass then go right ahead and catch the disease (though, chances are you’d already have). However, if you want to be a free-thinking, interesting individual with something worthwhile to contribute to the world then that is why you avoid it. What the world needs is positive change and thoughtfulness; what it doesn’t need is a group of idiots who just want to fit in. There’s no point in pandering to everyone and being so passive and insipid that you refuse to ruffle a few feathers. You might as well be dead - or replaced by a robot. Life is entirely different when you are actively shaping your own world-view through critical thought.

We all have our weak moments but what can we do to stop the spread of social zombieism and prevent ourselves from catching it? Well, the prevention and the cure are the same: question everything you think you know. Why do you want the things you want? Why do you dress the way you dress? Why do you do that thing with those people? If the answer is honestly “because I like it and think it’s right regardless of what other people think” then you’re doing it right. When someone tells you something, don’t take it face value but rather THINK about it before deciding whether or not accept it. Don’t be afraid to start an argument because even if you end up being wrong you’ll still have learnt something and you’ll have gotten there through critical thought; you’ll UNDERSTAND why you’re wrong. Look at the world instead of blindly following someone else through it.

Help spread the world about social zombieism and protect your loved ones.

Day 3: Handwrite Your Tumblr Headline

I was very happy when I chose this. I spent ages trying to find a title that was a reference to something I liked but also made sense as a blog title. I think this is perfect.

haydenrodgers:

The time has come, the Walrus said, to get on board with a new blog I’ve started!

It’s only the best thing ever! Basically, every day I will post a weird and beautiful word in the form of a pretty graphic - you get to learn something new, feel smarter, AND look at aesthetically pleasing graphics!

If you have any strange and exciting words you think would be marvellous to see on this blog - or just a question - feel free to postulate in the ask box!

Now go forth and follow this blog!