"Affectation proceeds from one of these two causes, -- vanity or hypocrisy; for as vanity puts us on affecting false characters, in order to purchase applause; so hypocrisy sets us on an endeavor to avoid censure, by concealing our vices under an appearance of their opposite virtues."

--- Henry Fielding

affectation...can u tell me what it is?

Would it be right to say that most people have an affectation of some sort.
The need to resort to a means assisting one in leaving some sort of impression, be it in a social or professional environment.
A facade required to maybe fit in with ones peers... ever judging and analysing the trend and adapting to it.

Appearances carrying much weight that one begins to lose oneself in the falsities of ones surroundings...feeling this heavy burden of constantly having to keep up with the artificial self.
Maybe, it be a front for different levels of insecurity, judging oneself not fit or good enough to simply be.
Then be the space professional, where certain 'affectations' may be required or are simply associated with such spaces.
The need to resort to measured speech, behaviour appropriate at all times, airs and graces adopted .

All of a sudden it becomes a way of life, adopted as part of ones persona...does that then mean, it no longer be an affectation but, rather , a natural change or growth of self or be it a degeneration into pretentious living that comes with the flashy car and house and bank account...even if it mean all credit cards be maxed?
What is it about certain areas that bring with it accents unidentified, behavioural patterns of a society judged by the garb worn and the badge of the car.
Women aspiring to ballooned breasts, faces starched with botox, pulled into place by their plastic surgeons, limbs so tight that their body feels like steel, tanned orange by the false indoor sun, long locks that were once another's.
And men....more feminine than the women themselves....so beautifully manicured, waxed, gelled, tanned, seeking that trophy female....and this whole package leads to something insanely abnormal and unreal in the portrayal of self through aspiration and behaviour...

Are these affectations or are these just signs of the new world, new society? And should that be the case, then what would affectations be?


RB.

"Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment --- that which they cannot anticipate."

Sun Tzu, The Art of War

...

deceptive, untruthful and calculatingly deceiving



Once again, situation leaning toward finding the smallness of 'peoples' minds, the conditioned state of the conscious and subconscious, the capture of individuality ...leaning toward sneering with contempt.
A pervasive tragic state of affairs, when, the trend dictates to jump on the bandwagon of disorder, even if it happens to not be ones personal dogma, and thus, crash and burn to the detriment of a society as a whole.
A trend finding its way, globally, eroding logic and shouting down truths.
A brewing frustration waiting to explode, and convulse, and spew into a bucket of vomit that makes no sense.
One has to ask, what pleasure can be found in the minds of those that take it upon themselves to destroy infra-structures that are there for the good of a growing society
...especially when the society is a young one and has just begun to stand firmly on its feet, like a toddler... excited at its first step, confident in its ability to walk firmer and further ahead, with each wobble...undeterred.
An observation of fact....speak the language of the masses by addressing their fear and hatred and one shall have favour with them and thus control.
And should your agenda be one to reap chaos and further that fear and hatred, instead of taking cognisance of it, and addressing it in a manner respectful, never undermining or playing it down but knowing to further a cause worthy of that young society, that wishes to grow, and be prosperous... and hurry into a sprint to the finishing line where, no matter the 'wobble', it will know to deal with it... without dire repercussions or destroying of what should be nurtured, grown and harnessed and garnished into productivity sustainable and long term.
Harping on the past and giving it sustenance undeserved, yet, at the same time professing to want to move forward, is a dangerous game to play...deceptive, untruthful and calculatingly deceiving.

Is there a universal truth that holds power and rule among all humans?

...yes...

let us pinpoint our differences and see how far we can take it and create chaos and disorder and profess to be keepers of peace working toward a greater good and unity.

History has proven we know no different...genetically we are born to "war" with each other..?

RB

[Quote] Once again, situation leaning toward finding the smallness of 'peoples' minds, the conditioned state of the conscious and subconscious, the capture of individuality ...leaning toward sneering with contempt.
A pervasive tragic state of affairs, when, the trend dictates to jump on the bandwagon of disorder, even if it happens to not be ones personal dogma, and thus, crash and burn to the detriment of a society as a whole.
A trend finding its way, globally, eroding logic and shouting down truths.
[Quote]

...... that ....

RB This is so thought-provoking.
Well said.

Johnny E

"...that..."

many will fight tooth and nail as being a biased view for the mass is what keeps the world travelling and travelling , on all levels, into self destruction...claiming to care. x

ilovemywoozle...thank u for commenting x

'Red Tape'


Red tape, for me, be about much which one should do...an adherence to rules and regulations. It outlines 'stay-away' zones, danger areas one should avoid.
It should be a guideline steering one in the right direction.
But, what happens when those rules are applied to keep one in check. Not in a good way but, in a controlling way.
Laying a foundation of uncertainty and misunderstanding leading to inaction, procrastinating...a slow slide into a corrupt state of being.
Education, through a formal system or informal, has always been the biggest enemy of any institution wishing to keep people in check.
When consistently told that something is bad, one begins to believe it, even when the facts dictate different.
How much easier to veer away from stirring the waters. How much easier to keep on the right side of the red tape... even if it may be the wrong side.

Would one be considered a coward, under the control of a regime powerful and corrupt because one does not wish to be singled out and thrown to the wolves to be devoured and ridiculed.
So much easier to leave the questions for another 'fool' to ask.
But were it not for those 'fools', leaving a system unchallenged can lead to dictatorial tendencies...for once there be a taste of power, very infrequently, there are those that do not hunger to be mightier than most.

The question begs...how foolish is that 'fool' that dares to challenge the red tape if it means bringing about a change beneficial... long term?
I stand in admiration of the bravery of those that know to hear the plight of masses under the oppression of those corrupt , putting in place red tape that wields power in the most dictatorial of ways.
i stand in admiration of those that know to ask the right questions, those that can bring about a mindset new through communication and sharing of facts and educating the misinformed.
I stand in admiration when a change can be brought about through the integrity of the action taken.
I stand in admiration when the word spoken and written knows to be powerful enough to make others take action, in a way peaceful yet powerful.

It is a thankless job, that of a 'foolish hero' ...they tend to be labelled mavericks, pariahs in their society...i like that sort.

RB.

A political truth - WARNING

The inspiration being...
Post apartheid south Africa is failing the very people it liberated...and worse of all those born in a so called era of "democracy".

looking inside out, outside in...
searching within.

quizzically,
inquisitively.

daring , to make the self ones best friend
against all odds defend.
for, who else is there to be
through thick and thin see,
society bends moulds
to pressure folds...

when, those strongest tyrants know to come to the fore,
bullying..!!!.. the weak on to shore,
quietening right against obvious wrong!
making the uninformed wishing to belong...
even to a system corrupt and vile
in the throat like bitter bile!
that should be spat out with disgust...!... and contempt...!...
for the truth knows to pre-empt,

the fall of what could be a golden era
led by gnat politicians...that suck and suck...spreading economic disease...worse than diptera.

cautiously... out to look,
taking note, taking to book
years and years of lies and deceit
the political stage set for elected political criminals to compete!

treasonous it be to rape the land

treasonous it be for the president to band

together the most vilest of society
men and women where theft be their propriety.

where, lies be their truths
their false promises the death of youths,
and now to aspire to live by the gun
for, to be out of line be more fun...
to hit the teacher...!...
spit at the preacher...!...
toy-toy and burn...!...
for ...there be no incentive nothing worthy to learn...

but...follow in the footsteps of a degenerate president
a cabinet evident
puppets on a pearl rope
that fought each other , at the country's wealth grope...

each other protect
in case , those in the know, detect,
how to bring the truth out
to the dooped citizens flout...

how stupid they have been... and... are
and that democracy has been a farce and has not gone far,
and themselves they have to thank
for many plus years the president and his cronies did the country wank,
till nothing be left but, a carcass of a country's strength and wealth that has been,
and ,very few in the rest of Africa had ever seen.

RB.

With the upcoming elections...much to think about.

DARE TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE TRUTH


what is it about truth that makes us pick on those that speak it?
does it jab at our weakness, our truths embarrassing, and telling of failures we wish not to face?
we wish not to take ownership of?


we wish to lay at the doorstep of others and play the blame game until forever eternal?
what is it in those words of truth that instill anger and defiance defining the history of Africa .
be there not a will , a courage, a pride in the people that we are?

do we define ourselves in black and white, indian and coloured?
is that all we are?

sickness prevails...

spiritually.
physically.
mentally.

is our aspiration to be a rubbish dump of humanity?


the little that is left to further destroy?
a poverty taking away hope?
what is it that has taken away our right to be the best citizens of our land?


look to the politicians ...preaching segregation
harpoons loaded with hatred , a record stuck in time
making our thoughts subservient to lies and deceit
while they live in palatial splendour worthy of kingpins of a gangster society.
and u want to follow them???
dare to follow them and claim loyalty to what?
the rise and spread of degradation, degeneration a splurge of
minimising eduction,
...mass inequality.


what a fucking lie that those in power know not of the rot and stench and nibbling rats on babies toes!
what a fucking lie that they believe they have given their best!

sit down with yourself and have the courage to be truthful
dear Africa... sit down with yourself
and dare to ask yourself...
why has the world forgotten u?
why are u so easily raped of dignity?

...because u care not to take ownership of the truth.



RB.

All of a sudden a flurry of a "to do list" buying the citizen's "X" in the upcoming election.

...when do the cogs come off?

the cogs of a decent society that make it function have come off, within our reach they be
a flighty flicker of hope still burns in the lamp for all to see
by a thread now hang all goodness fought for and recognised
by unfathomable madness a democracy compromised .

to teeter on a rock, the fall fatally devastating
in the procrastination of hope for better things masturbating
a villainess deceitful mind moulding corruption
leading to the eventual outcry to defend democracy, an eruption.

a president elected by the citizens in an election fair
best not through selfish gain a position respected bring into despair
for the good of the majority will rear its head
and the unfairness of an upcoming dictator put to bed.

time and time again the warnings be given for the madness to stop
the villain continued for support of others corrupt to shop
without taking heed eroding at the decency and fore-warnings made
to ignore, degrade, disrespect his actions the citizens bade.

a seething, a dangerous seething has set in
together all stand for there only be one kind of win
no more to play nice guy now time for actions
the uniting of oppositions, no more factions.

so who dare to question the intent of a nation democratic
to stand as one and corruption fight emphatic
in awe i stand of what is playing out
together with the courageous for the removal of corruption i will shout.

RB.

For me

Brain drain

is....

...to surround oneself with small-mindedness where uniqueness of thought is tarred with abuse by the masses of brainless people set on a road chosen for them by governments shrewd and sly in selling their agenda.

...to surround oneself by those small of mind that scare easily when a bully raises their head spewing verbal diarrhea...to surround oneself by those of low self esteem that cower in neglect of faith in oneself.

...to surround oneself with those that have no vision except for the one portrayed by a mass, robotic and obedient to a lost society

...to surround oneself out of fear bind oneself out of desperation to users and abusers having no faith in hope that there is a better place in an answer strong a solution resilient.

To have the faith and conviction in ones word, ones action, ones belief....is not an easy feat of any sort in today's day and age.

How easy it is to allow oneself to be lost in the tsunami of society. How easy it is to begin to question ones individuality...at the price of losing ones self worth.
The eradicating of uniqueness...that part of ones DNA that sets us apart from every other human being.
That finger print that says one has a right to choose...wisely of course....for innately...we all know what is good and what is bad.

SO.......

.....why is it that we get swayed so easily by mass propaganda....in all walks of our life.

Free be all from the ties and bonds that bind us to mediocrity and bullied oppressiveness.

RB.