Back in the days....

[capri0mni]

Back in the days when I tried to do the whole meet-your-"soulmate"-on-the-Internet thing, I thought it would be clever and fun of me to think up unusual and esoteric questions to ask of the guys who responded. I thought these would be fun conversation starters, and help me figure out if the he and I thought on similiar, or at least complimentary, wavelengths. What I realise, now, is that they probably came across as nit-picky and intimidating to the guys who only emailed me so they could invite me to a bar for drinks.

I also came to the realization that my "wooing riddles" were actually probably possibly memes, just waiting for LJ to come along.

This one was my personal favorite, even if it went over like a lead balloon among the guys:

Imagine that you are a ghost (or an angel in Heaven, whichever fits your personal belief system), and you get an invitation to return to Earth for your great 100th Deathday Reunion celebration.

You decide to take a break from the official activities (The keynote speaker is as dry as burnt toast, and will not shut up). So you slip out the back to go on a quick haunt around all your old neighborhoods. You're surprised to see how much things have changed, and even more surprised (and not half chuffed), as you visit your old school, to hear the teacher talking about how important you were to history.

What, in your wildest dreams, and greatest hope,* do you wish to hear the teacher say about you?

*Saying "I wouldn't hear the teacher say anything about me, because I'll never be important to history!" is not a valid answer. William Blake could never have anticipated that his poems would be required reading for thousands of school kids, either. And I doubt even Benjamin Franklin thought his little experiments with electricity would go much further than the lightning rod. Regardless of whether you think it's likely, what would be your greatest wish for your legacy to humankind?

My answer is behind the cut.

That something I'd written had been an inspiration to a child (or anyone), to look at something in a new way, and/or express a new idea unique to them... and that child grew up to solve one of the world's greatest problems -- poverty, or hunger, or polution, or something like that.

Comments

[snowgrouse.livejournal.com]

Your writing has certainly been inspirational to me. Every fairytale there is just gives me more... well, validation for writing fairytales myself.

I can understand how that question would be difficult, since so much of Judeo-Christian culture is based on a feeling of being crap and pride being a cardinal sin. It's difficult to be proud of something, and oh, the *nerve* of someone if they actually imagine they've *influenced* the world!

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

Yes. This is true, especially around here, where the majority of Christians are evangelical Baptists, who like to believe that God is responsible for everything, including all of history.

I still think it's a good question, though, because, if you can get past your hang-ups, it can help you think about what is really most important to you.

In my past hubris, iirc, I actually asked for a story told from the ghost's p.o.v. -- what they saw, how the would had changed, etc.. And I wrote a story about what my ghost saw... It was a good ficlet, imo, but it was on an old 'puter which has long since died. :-(

[blinovitch.livejournal.com]

I think it'd be great if I invented a dish that everyone could eat and relish, regardless of cultural or personal food taboos.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

Yummm...

You know, I can imagine myself living quite happily without sight or hearing. But I would be despondant, I think, if I lost my sense of taste.

I think, that, and smell, is most often taken for granted.

[blinovitch.livejournal.com]

I've thought about which sense I could do without and I'm not sure there is one. I adore music, I read constantly, food is a reason for existence unto itself, orgasm's useless without working nerve endings and everything would just be weird if I couldn't smell. It'd be like watching a film with the sound muted.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

Well, I may have the advantage of growing up disabled. It's given me the oportunity to actually meet and become friends with, people with all sorts of disabilities, including being deaf and blind. So I know from example that a happy life is perfectly possible regardless of our physical circumstance.

I also know a bit of American Sign Language, and when I'm in practice (Which I haven't been in years), I'm almost fluent. So if I ever became deaf, I don't think I'd panic at the thought of not being able to communicate. As for being blind -- thank gods for books on tape!

But smell and taste are both so intricately linked to our (my) emotions, that life would just seem flat without them.

[blinovitch.livejournal.com]

So I know from example that a happy life is perfectly possible regardless of our physical circumstance.

I didn't mean to suggest that it wasn't possible, just that I really can't imagine what that would be like. It'd be a whole new sort of existence.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

I get it, now...

i was just saying it's easier for me to imagine different sorts of existance because I've had good friends who were sort of role models...

Funny thing, what I can't imagine (and the thing that probably would cause me to panic, just a bit) is being able to walk (normally, that is).

[heronheart.livejournal.com]

That I had planted and nurtured a really beautiful tree/landscape.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

HHHmmmm. trees. nice. :-)

One detail I remember about that ficlet I wrote about what my ghost saw in the future world was that the roof of every building was a garden -- planted with sod -- so the cities, seen from above, were green.

[clamnebula.livejournal.com]

Wow... what a question... I guess one thing I've heard that a former teacher actually said to my mom was something like "Neb has so much depth..." ... kinda hard to know how to take that, but I guess it's a compliment!

-Neb (still no computer at home, but momentarialy using one at UNC-G)

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

"Neb has so much depth..." ... kinda hard to know how to take that, but I guess it's a compliment!

I'd certainly take it as such*... When in doubt, take every comment as a compliment -- makes it so much easier.

Then again, she could've been trying to find a nice way to say: "I don't get Neb!"

Ah!! no computer! No wonder I haven't seen you around...

[trinalin.livejournal.com]

That's already happened to me! :-)

My father (one of my most favorite teachers) gave me the highest compliment I could ask for. He said he always thought he'd miss teaching, but seeing me up there teaching means he doesn't miss it. (I really haven't expressed the sentiment quite right, but I never felt prouder when he said that.)

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

That is high praise indeed!

[alryssa.livejournal.com]

I doubt my answer would differ much from yours. I'd like to make a difference, even if it's small. Ripple effect, that sort of thing.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

Hooray for ripples (especially fudge!)

Frankly, I shudder at the thought of being famous. The opening scene of The Beatles' Hard Day's Night says it all, really.

(Oh, and I love your icon!)

[alryssa.livejournal.com]

Badgerbadgerbadgerbadger MUSHROOM MUSHROOM!

Eh, I'd like to be sort of famous. But for the right reasons :P

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

AAAAHHH! A SNAKE! IT'S A SNAKE!!

Eh, I'd like to be sort of famous. But for the right reasons :P

So you can tell people they're being idiots, and they'll actually listen, you mean? Yeah. That would be nice.

As long as I could be a famous recluse...