I have recently discovered a new term that describes the way
I feel. That term is temporal
dissonance. There are hundreds of
pages out there describing what the acceptable meaning is and indeed it fits me
as well, though my use of the term is different. The accepted definition of temporal dissonance is a complex
mish-mash of things like being a second shifter working in a first shift
world. My definition is quite different. I feel sometimes that either I was born
too early or I was born too late.
I am not speaking of time as in o’clock time, but rather time as in
decade or century. You see, I am a
true hybrid person. I remember the
time before cable, satellite, and internet quite well, and at the same time am
a technocrat. I would be just as
comfortable in a time where modern conveniences and technology did not exist as
we know it as I would be in the Star Trek universe where knowledge is the main
focus of life and the pursuit of the dollar is not.
Please do not mistake me. I am ok where I am (as if I have a choice in the matter
anyway), but would feel more comfortable either one way or the other. I enjoy reading a book, writing a poem,
or creating a new idea or concept.
Today is not about that.
Today is about accumulating as much stuff and money as you can, as fast
as you can in order to die comfortably worn out. Society has developed into a race against the Joneses in who
can have the bigger house, nicer car, and more affluent family. Gone is the time when a neighbor would
check on you to see if you are ok or if you need anything. Gone are the days when a community
would pull together to help the neighbor down the road build a barn to house
the horses or dig a well so that Mrs. Whoever does not have to tote it from the
river. I think that people were
nicer back then…more concerned for the welfare of their fellow man.
The only incongruency I can think of is the misogynistic
bigotry that existed in that time.
I truly believe that gay is normal and that skin color is only a
characteristic like blue or green eyes. In that sense, the Star Trek world is nearly perfect. I fear that for us to get there, we
will have to have a major disaster that will render the world dependant on each
other to survive. Humanity is
adaptable and will eventually get there, though I fear I will be too old to
appreciate it. That is the crux of
the issue. I would love to live in
a world where the only requirement to be with the one you love is to declare
it. The world is getting there in
that respect (all except the Arab world—I doubt they will ever accept
homosexuality or mixing of the races).
Temporal dissonance for me is a minimal problem that will in
time become moot. I will endure in
my half in the past, half in the future attitude and continue to embrace the
creativity and energy of the past and the technological breakthroughs of the
future. I choose to not embrace
the rat race and will not engage myself in the pursuit of luxury for luxury
sake. I choose instead to write
and be creatively engaged in my evolution. I am who I am and can be nobody else. I will not try to be who I am not.
