i am caps

living life every day like im on a boat with a tiger

September 6, 2011
by caps
2 Comments

*autotune* trust issues

For the past few weeks I’ve kinda sorta tried unraveling an idea that’s a popular song and become a prevalent convo. It’s not some brand new idea that people are suddenly stricken with, I’m sure its existed ever since the good ol days of Adam & Eve. It’s something I’m convinced everyone endures their own battles with. I’ve accepted that I will never fully comprehend or explain this topic because everyone has an unique experience and history dealing with it and there isn’t some “one theory fits all” when it comes down to it, but fuck it, that doesn’t mean my curious questioning will cease.

This taboo, now socially prevalent, idea is ‘trust issues‘. My initial interest in this topic was to explore the popular idea through my own writing, but after ongoing conversations with others and my own self reflection, I realize I don’t know shit and I’m definitely not excluded from the suffocating grips of trust issues no matter how much I claim otherwise, therefore I’m no authority of the topic to describe it. Sometimes you have to keep it real with yourself and accept that we hide behind our residual and subconscious thoughts unconsciously. Let me get back on track. So instead of me typing out my own thoughts and feelings about it, I decided I would share others thoughts about it based on a question I had in mind. My primary interest is, “is there a correlation between trust issues, media (news, reality shows, facebook, twitter, etc.), and this modern hyper-narcissistic method of thinking (it’s all about me/Ima do me/I can’t love you cuz I’m busy loving me)?” I question this in hopes of incubating some thought around a cultural shift that appears to be occurring through our generation’s exposure to media and technology.

Compiled all nicely for your viewing pleasure is a variety and collage of responses. I’m sure some of you may identify with some statements more than others but I wanted to provide a spectrum of thoughts. The range of the people questioned was from ages 22-40, and a balance of men & women, all from a somewhat urban background. Here are their thoughts:

“All you hear about now is people talking about “I’ma do me” “I’m so independent” “I don’t need anyone to do anything for me” and whether that’s the case or not, putting forth that attitude towards others when they are first getting to know you makes them question their relevance in your life and whether or not you’re ever going to be willing to commit yourself physically and emotionally to them.”

“Twitter fucks up relationships. Fact. I think it’s about intimacy in conversation… sometimes I trust the computer more than these hoes…Mac’s don’t get viruses! We’re turning into Robots anyway. Our memories are in our phones. Our questions and answers are on computers. Don’t fight the transition.”

“People see other people’s circumstances and compare theirs to itex. women getting mad at their man because her friend’s dude cheated on her  …etc”

“If I’m doing everything I’m supposed to be doing – I can’t be in a productive relationship with someone who has trust issues. Self confidence and self esteem is the root of trust issues regardless of how much someone thinks they have no self esteem issues. If you’re with someone and that person does you dirty, you’re going to try to figure out what’s wrong with you that caused them to act like that thus creating self esteem issues or self confidence issues and if it’s always happening, you’re losing confidence in yourself as a person, which in turn makes you always second guess the person you’re with, you’re questioning why they’re with you, what they really think of you, what they’re doing when you’re not around all because you don’t trust yourself that you’re worthy of their affection and attention because other people in the past didn’t appreciate you for what you were.”

“I think people have baggagethere are different kinds. If we could go back to think as a child, and forgive as one…adult relationships would be differentdont you think?”

“ “You control a man by controlling the images that he sees.” So the influx of major trust issues is influenced by the images that we see, in a variety of media capacities…I.e. the drama, gossip, and reality talk show bull, showing the dumb things that people do, and the broken relationships, selfishness….Not to mention the greed that is made to be the cornerstone of our society, we question all that’s around us. It encourages us to have our guard up, and micromanage our ability to be taken advantage of in the interest of others.”

“Most people depend on ‘trust issues’ as a crutch/front to not get involved in order to protect themselves.”

“Importance of society being involved in relationships. The media controls many folks thoughts.”

“When people spend all their time analyzing what their significant other is doing, they’re actually analyzing what they feel about themselves and the level of self worth they have. If you are 100% confident in who you are and what you’re doing, you don’t spend as much time second guessing what someone else is doing.”

“There are so many people hurting on the inside, going through so much, but because they don’t (can’t feel) that they can express [trust] that to another person, it really hurts.”

“As a woman, we’re bombarded with images, and examples of failed relationships that make believing in a romance fairy-tale a joke. African-Americans in general have only a hand full of examples of successful relationships readily available in pop culture, even though the few examples are arguably unrealistic. I hate to reference pop culture, but the truth is it’s a strong source of our programming.”

“Trust issues can come from different fears; fear of rejection, abandonment, or the ‘fear of simping’. With technology these issues seem heightened, and the lack of intimate contact can make irrational fears seem real.  Not to mention the societal fascination with infidelity, like “Cheaters.” People’s own insecurities can cause trust issues. If you don’t think your good enough for someone, you may stop trusting them or suspect they are looking for a better deal.”

“Trust is a motherfucka and if you are a mothafucka I can’t trust you around my mother-cuz you a MOTHAFUCKA”

The views expressed are those of others and do not reflect those of the author’s…however, my name is caps and I approve this message.

 

August 31, 2011
by caps
2 Comments

Relationships? We talkin about relationships? *Allen Iverson voice*

Captains log: pi (translate that shit)

Life is a very fascinating phenomenon. It’s fascinating in regards to how you can adamantly believe in and desire something for so long  then suddenly a moment or experience occurs that catalyzes a significant shift in thought, transformation.  You are the things you’ve repetitiously done and/or been socially known for so many minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years and that when a particular moment occurs, it can redefine everything.  This has been my evolving reality since I’ve turned 25. At this stage of my life, transformation should be my middle name (but its not, otherwise I wouldn’t be caps).

Since my initial catalysts for change, I’ve really been on this become a best me that I can be type hype, not only for me, but for my friends, family, future-wife and my community. Enduring this process you realize there are things that you just don’t want to be or enjoy doing anymore. Lately, I’ve been coming to terms with one of my most recent shifts, the transition from “playing with a team” to “playing one-on-one”, aka the desire to be in a monogamous relationship.

For so long I’ve been elusive & difficult with situations regarding commitments, for two possible reasons, either I wasn’t ready to be completely open & vulnerable or because of my low frequency of genuine, sincere, and romantic interest in someone.  I’m sure much of it is attributed to the fact that I was young and living the shit out of life and didn’t want to settle for anything, so I didn’t want to be tied down. But now that I’ve done and experienced most people’s entire bucket list, my priorities and values have shifted. I really understand and appreciate the simple, triple O.G. wisdom of “getting it out of your system”.

This transition pleasantly baffles me because there are things that I never anticipated being or wanting when I was younger, as well as how much you try to resist that transformation to remain in your comfort zone. Now that I’ve accepted it, there are a few things that knock me off balance when engaging with women that I have sincere interest in that transcends the physical and carnal desires.  I can be smooth as eggs when its solely physical, but once a strong genuine interest is there, I somehow become extremely inept, therefore making things awkward. I suppose it’s something like “taking off your cool”.

I am beginning to understand and appreciate the importance the courting process, you know, getting to know someone and learning if you share similar relationship interests, life goals/plans, ideologies/philosophies, compatibility, and yadda yadda yadda. But most importantly, being able to care, compromise, accommodate, and still remain yourself throughout the process.

“Sounds like you ready to start listening to Kem and drinking wine with a serious woman instead of listening to drake and taking shots of henny with a chick” – Da Homie

(Please dont interpret this blog as a willy wonka/golden ticket announcement that I’m looking for a relationship. I’m not. Looking and wanting are two different things.)

August 29, 2011
by caps
0 comments

Sade & Boxer Briefs

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Sade concert. Superb performance and awesome visual effects & aesthetics.  She’s still very graceful and elegant.  For the woman to be 50+ and look the way she does, gives a brotha no hope that my future wife will be any where near visually pleasing at 50. But thats besides the point. Here’s an entertaining dialogue that occurred on my FB. Enjoy!

July 31, 2011
by caps
1 Comment

the socratic method

“I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing.” ~Socrates


Update: The Socratic Method was developed by ancient Greek philosopher, Socrates. He is considered a founder of Western Philosophy.

Was it my Critical Thinking class at Laney? Or was it the Positive Minds Group (PMG) Self Mastery classes? Maybe it was a Cornel West book/show I read or watched. Between the three of those events, I became engulfed with the philosophical approach called the Socratic Method, “a form of inquiry and debate between individuals with opposing viewpoints based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and to illuminate ideas”. An approach that became a part of many facets in my life and learning.

The Socratic Method is most conventionally used between two or more persons,  I use it frequently in conversation when I sincerely want to understand my subject. Using this method in conversation, I’ve adapted its meaning to learn and understand more about myself (you have conversations and debates with yourself too lol).

There are a lot of things I grew up suppressing from the absence of having a father or mentor to to rely on for guidance to every day social experiences. As a result I’ve developed a degree of introversion (I’m an ambivert – the qualities of an extrovert & introvert) where I was left to figure things out silently on my own.  I grew up accepting life’s social conditioning although there were things that I was intrinsically against.

We question things our entire life. Much of it we keep to ourselves because it may be considered taboo or we fear ridicule no matter how valid our questions may be. It wasn’t until I was exposed to the Socratic Method that I became comfortable with questioning. That was the moment  I became comfortable with humility because I realized there was so much that I didn’t know. This humility lead me away from questioning everything based on the fear of inadequacy, but to question things and people to hopefully know its truest form, without all the layers that hide authenticity.

“I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing.” ~Socrates

July 3, 2011
by caps
0 comments

lovers of life…

“a Lover of Life is to value life for its own sake, and to accept with love the inherent dignity and right to exist of all beings.” – Stuart

…live beyond the typical and pleasing euphoric moments. live selflessly without ego. recognize and shed the layers of fear & hurt that restrict you.  be compassionate and tolerant for what you do not understand, but never of injustice.

-caps

 

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