{"id":1069,"date":"2013-09-21T10:43:44","date_gmt":"2013-09-21T15:43:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/toppun.com\/blog\/?p=1069"},"modified":"2013-09-21T10:48:37","modified_gmt":"2013-09-21T15:48:37","slug":"poem-straight-shooter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/toppun.com\/blog\/2013\/09\/21\/poem-straight-shooter\/","title":{"rendered":"POEM: Straight Shooter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Straight Shooter<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

If I were to do anything<\/span>
\nAnd you looked back at me<\/span>
\nIf you were to say<\/span>
\nI can see that<\/span>
\nThen you might just know me<\/span>
\nHowever, if this frightens you<\/span>
\nThen you might not just know<\/span>
\nThe difference between<\/span>
\nPossibility and probability<\/span>
\nAnd determined to be free<\/span>
\nYou may suffer<\/span>
\nFrom certain fears<\/span>
\nWhose dread remedy lies<\/span>
\nIn looking forward<\/span>
\nWith fears uncertain<\/span>
\nAs is your hope<\/span>
\nAnd make your choice<\/span>
\nNot necessarily<\/span>
\nAs did I<\/span><\/p>\n

This poem was inspired by the latest mass shooting in a litany of mass shootings. \u00a0The angle that struck me is the pressing desire to ascertain the reason. \u00a0It seems that we may be as afraid of there being a distinct reason as if there is no distinct reason. \u00a0This seems to be the two sides of the coin of control: that there is control and we are a prisoner of it, and that life is absurd and unpredictable, spurring anxious hypervigilance. \u00a0Personally, being both an unrepentant idealist and quite aware of my dark side, I can see that I contain the seed of all human behavior, good and bad. \u00a0I am a straight shooter. \u00a0Of course, those who know me would also know that I can articulate reasons for most everything I do do. \u00a0Whatever I do, you could probably say, “Yeah, I can see that.” \u00a0This simply reflects that seed of possibility contained within us, whether we are aware of it or not. \u00a0The probability that something happens is a somewhat different matter — perhaps more about matter than meta-matter (physics and metaphysics). \u00a0Regardless, the quest for control and\/or complete understanding of the outside world can never alleviate the need to respond to whatever is with an irreducible amount of uncertainty — whether regarding our fears or our hopes. \u00a0While the collective behavior of others models a certain way of behaving, I must choose my response without a guarantee of a particular outcome. \u00a0And while it may seem eminently reasonable to do what is most likely, we are free to pursue a different course; we are not completely bound by probability. \u00a0Probability is the purview of “science.” \u00a0Possibility is the purview of the heart, an infinitely more mysterious and fickle state. \u00a0Science is good at predicting the accuracy of the behavior of crowds (large groups of people, where the veil of statistics masks our individual freedom). \u00a0Possibility is, well…quite possible. \u00a0Without uncertainty, possibility would not be possible. \u00a0So, embracing uncertainty is a good thing…perhaps even necessary!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Straight Shooter If I were to do anything And you looked back at me If you were to say I can see that Then you might just know me However, if this frightens you Then you might not just know … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,15],"tags":[274,341,115,431,388,359,306,413,658,94,424,425,390,93,186,621],"class_list":["post-1069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-poems","category-political-and-philosophical-musings","tag-absurdity","tag-control","tag-freedom","tag-heart","tag-hope","tag-life","tag-metaphysics","tag-physics","tag-poems","tag-poetry","tag-possibility","tag-probability","tag-science","tag-scientific-reductionism","tag-state","tag-statistics"],"yoast_head":"\nPOEM: Straight Shooter | Poems, Political and Philosophical Musings | Top Pun's Poetry, Funny Puns, Free Posters, Public Health Radio Show! 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