Identity

Ghoulish Delight · 05-12-2006, 11:08 AM

So I was wondering, who am I?
I mean, there's that whole "I think therefore I am" thing.
But, ummm, I seem to just be a bunch of words. So can I really think?
When I say "I", am I referring to my author?
That hardly seems fair to him, his "I" certainly extends beyond what's printed here.

But I can't really be my own entity, can I?
At best, I'm just a collection of symbols in my author's head.
He controls everything I do.
But then again, I don't know that.
As far as I know, I'm thinknig these thougths all on my own.
Heck for all he knows, I'm really the author, and HE'S sitting there trying to figure out who I am!
Ha!

Wait, I've got it! Maybe I'm the reader.
Afterall, I'm sitting here, reading this, and thinking this.
I'm controlling my own thoughts by reading these words. That's free will, right?
Watch. Right now I'm thinking: "I like cheese!"
See, it works! I thought "I like cheese" right there! Cooooool.

But wait a minute...if I'm the reader...who are you?

Gemini Cricket · 05-12-2006, 11:30 AM

I was thinking something similar to this reading Bornieo's recent poem. A lot of automatically thought there was something wrong with the author. It was the character the author created that was speaking. But, like every writer, the character has to come from somewhere in side the author. Which makes me very afraid of the 'Silence of the Lambs' author.

I like this one very much, GD or whoever you are...

Cadaverous Pallor · 05-12-2006, 11:42 AM

He just wanted everyone to think "I like cheese"

Ghoulish Delight · 05-12-2006, 11:45 AM

BTW, I will admit to swiping this idea from Douglas Hofstadter, who wrote a far more in depth and inciteful dialog on this concept. But the "I am the reader" idea popped into my head...wait, no, I kinda sorta stole that from Kurt Vonnegut, now that I think about it.

Gemini Cricket · 05-12-2006, 11:49 AM

Scandal! Ghoulish Kaavya Viswanathan Delight! "How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Swanky, and Got a Life"! James GD Frey! "A Million Little Delights"!

Ghoulish Delight · 05-12-2006, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Scandal! Ghoulish Kaavya Viswanathan Delight! "How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Swanky, and Got a Life"! James GD Frey! "A Million Little Delights"!

Hey, don't blame me. "I" did it.

Gn2Dlnd · 05-12-2006, 11:58 AM

And cheese? Who likes cheese more than I?

Me?

I.

Get an original idea. Hrumpf!

Gn2Dlnd · 05-12-2006, 12:00 PM

Ok, that's odd.

Tramspotter · 05-16-2006, 12:05 AM

I think it should not be read at all. Forget about how much of its meening would be lost by that... How much more would be gained if it were instead spoken by a drunken

Not Afraid · 05-16-2006, 10:47 AM

Somehow this works with the Charlie Kaufman article I was reading this morning.

05-12-2006, 11:08 AM	#1
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Identity So I was wondering, who am I? I mean, there's that whole "I think therefore I am" thing. But, ummm, I seem to just be a bunch of words. So can I really think? When I say "I", am I referring to my author? That hardly seems fair to him, his "I" certainly extends beyond what's printed here. But I can't really be my own entity, can I? At best, I'm just a collection of symbols in my author's head. He controls everything I do. But then again, I don't know that. As far as I know, I'm thinknig these thougths all on my own. Heck for all he knows, I'm really the author, and HE'S sitting there trying to figure out who I am! Ha! Wait, I've got it! Maybe I'm the reader. Afterall, I'm sitting here, reading this, and thinking this. I'm controlling my own thoughts by reading these words. That's free will, right? Watch. Right now I'm thinking: "I like cheese!" See, it works! I thought "I like cheese" right there! Cooooool. But wait a minute...if I'm the reader...who are you? __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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05-12-2006, 11:30 AM	#2
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	I was thinking something similar to this reading Bornieo's recent poem. A lot of automatically thought there was something wrong with the author. It was the character the author created that was speaking. But, like every writer, the character has to come from somewhere in side the author. Which makes me very afraid of the 'Silence of the Lambs' author. I like this one very much, GD or whoever you are...
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05-12-2006, 11:42 AM	#3
Cadaverous Pallor ohhhh baby Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parental Bliss Posts: 12,364	He just wanted everyone to think "I like cheese" __________________ The second star to the right shines in the night for you
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05-12-2006, 11:45 AM	#4
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	BTW, I will admit to swiping this idea from Douglas Hofstadter, who wrote a far more in depth and inciteful dialog on this concept. But the "I am the reader" idea popped into my head...wait, no, I kinda sorta stole that from Kurt Vonnegut, now that I think about it. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
	Submit to Quotes

05-12-2006, 11:49 AM	#5
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	Scandal! Ghoulish Kaavya Viswanathan Delight! "How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Swanky, and Got a Life"! James GD Frey! "A Million Little Delights"!
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05-12-2006, 11:58 AM	#7
Gn2Dlnd Parmmadore Jim Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Casita del Queso Posts: 3,810	And cheese? Who likes cheese more than I? Me? I. Get an original idea. Hrumpf! __________________ Does anyone still wear a hat?
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05-12-2006, 12:00 PM	#8
Gn2Dlnd Parmmadore Jim Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Casita del Queso Posts: 3,810	Ok, that's odd. __________________ Does anyone still wear a hat?
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05-16-2006, 12:05 AM	#9
Tramspotter Show me on the bear. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: LA Posts: 445	I think it should not be read at all. Forget about how much of its meening would be lost by that... How much more would be gained if it were instead spoken by a drunken
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05-16-2006, 10:47 AM	#10
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	Somehow this works with the Charlie Kaufman article I was reading this morning.
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