thoughts on psychology

This won't be a very coherent post but anyway...

I always wondered about psychology. 

 1.5kg of grey matter is what controls all our hopes and dreams, fears and sorrows.

We asked our teacher whether he thought it was a science, and he described it as a 'pseudo-science' due to the fact that it wasn't really science, but it did use the same methods. It comes up with really interesting theories and results from experiments that directly affect our lives, but due to the fact it can't be objectively determined like science, it isn't considered as such.

The history of psychology is always fascinating, and truth be told I'm not a historian so I don't know about it all. But I know of phrenology, which was the study of physical characteristics, which would in theory be able to tell you what kind of person someone was. (this was parodied by Terry Pratchett in his book Men at Arms, where retrophrenology is when someone hits you on the head, modifying your skull which in turn modifies your personality. Genius!). Then came Freud with his lovely theories about the Id, the Ego and the SuperEgo. These in turn led to Pavlov's famous experiment, and then Skinner's work on conditioning.

Little did Pavlov know, they were experimenting on us! (just like the white mice in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)

Sample sizes are always a bone of contention when skeptics pick at the flaws of the experiment. A study done of university-age students may be different to a study done with retired pensioners, depending on what is being studied. I always thought there should be some sort of SUPER sample group that had a diverse mix of people from every race, gender and sex that could undergo all the experiments that require it. But then I realised they would all learn from previous studies, and results would be skewed again. Really, what would work the most is if EVERY SINGLE PERSON on the world was part of the study. But as that is impractical and uneconomical, it wouldn't work.

More after the jump!

the paradox of society: childbirths

Disclaimer: The below post is un-researched, my own opinion, un-eloquent and probably all bullshit.

The...Ascent of Man?

credit: http://cyemae.wordpress.com/evolution-of-man/

Society is supposed to change, adapt, and advance. Due to the fact that we are no longer evolving through Darwin's mechanism of 'survival of the fittest', our advancement comes from the changing environment around us. The human race increases it's collective intelligence in leaps and bounds, although some may argue that it is, at the moment, stagnatory (could be the subject of an entire post, which I will never write :)). Specifically, I want to focus on the effect of education on childbirth.

stay strong, valiant soldiers!

sorry about the incoherence. written very late at night :)

via chloe-e

We're at the end of Year 12 now (well, most of us) and its the time which I've heard called 'VCE depression', where the stress of it all gets to us. To be perfectly honest, I don't believe that's happened yet, although there are many things that COULD have led to it. I've seen some succumb, and others stay strong. Physically, we're exhausted from study. Mentally, we're tired out. And emotionally...well...some have it better than others.

Teenagers live on the brink of adulthood and childhood. Some of us are more adult than others, maybe with their maturity or mental process. Some of us are still children, holding on to the innocence of youth. But none of us can always deal with the problems we face. We're not necessarily experienced enough to use our insight as an 'adult' but we can't use our childhood experiences either. And so, most of us flounder along with the help of our friends, and we get by.

But, and this is probably the point of the post, many adults decide that teenagers aren't...smart? or capable enough to know what they want for themselves at all. They say 'oh those teenagers. they're so annoying' and yet they don't take the time to understand why. Some of us are even smarter than adults! We can have intelligent conversations with adults as well. maybe to them we are the usurping younger generation that is going to take over, and they don't want that. Maybe they still see us as young children. But we aren't. We're sort of adults, sort of children.

Teenagers.

水調歌頭

明曰幾時有?

把酒問青天

不知天上官闕, 今夕是何年?

我欲乘風歸去,

又恐瓊樓玉宇, 高處不勝寒.

起舞弄清影, 何似在人間?

轉朱閣, 低綺户, 照無眠.

不應有恨, 何事偏向別時圓?

人有悲歡離合, 月有陰情圓缺,

此事古難全!

但願人長久, 千里共嬋娟.

This is a Chinese poem, written by..well..if you can't read above, then its probably useless to tell you, and if you can, you can Google it. Anyway, I think what my dad told me about this poem is that it was written by a guy who was very far away from his family in China. He lived as a prisoner (?) a long way away from his village, and wrote this poem. It talks about his wish to be back with them, even though he knows he never can be. And the only thing that he can do is watch the same moon as them, and know that they're doing the same thing.

Its a beautiful poem in Cantonese, and is totally applicable for Mid-Autumn Festival (which is today). I definitely miss my extended family around the world...and I hope they're missing me too.

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival everyone. Hope you have awesome mooncake eating time =)

A true friend is the greatest of all blessings, and that which we take the least care of all to acquire.

Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613 - 1680)

Deep...and very meaningful XD Quite busy, so quick post

FLIC'S BIRTHDAY WAS TODAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUSO GENIUS =DD Went to Korean BBQ and had alot of fun...uni friends were still great people, although didn't really change. All behaviours were expected (sarcasm, ceebsness etc)

I got methods and spesh exam packs on tuesday...I WAS SO EXCITED. this has motivated me so much LOL I think after midyears...it was a very ceebs time hahaha...but now, EXAMS TO PLAY WITH. THEY ARE SO FUN.

exam packs will be my babies for the next few weeks <3

CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE

the blogger's brain that is. Before his mind is plunged into the deep abyss of perpetual study, he would like his readers (if there are any) to know that he will be back!

be ready! ^^ and GOOD LUCK FOR MIDYEARS!

I do not know who this chick is. whatever. read the sign.

I sent you a cyber-hug

Sending a hug to all those who need one. Everyone who's stressed or needs some love. And just because I love hugging people, and I can't on this extended 5-day study weekend.

Busybusybusy time of the year. No social time =(. Death to the oppressive VCE subjects...

On that note, I hope year 12's did well on their exams, however shitly written or not they may have been ^^ we like complaining, don't we?

At home for the day, thinking contemplatively about the world, wondering about stuff..year 12's especially. Meeting new people for the first time this year, I do really feel a little left out of stuff. Why couldn't I meet any of these people earlier? You make new friends, become part of new groups, but those groups and other friendships were made a long time ago. They already have their own unique relationshipry, and jokes, and fun, and memories. But I don't. You get somewhat jealous of them. Would I make a difference if never met them? What would happen if I met them earlier? Would it be much better? Something to think about...>__>

NaNoWriMo is creeping up - two days left! I probably actually won't write much in the first week or so...but I have a store of ideas ready to go. Shall be fun, eh? I'll update my wordcount here as well, as I go. xD

I'm also getting through Friends at last! Up to Season 4...which reminds me. I need to get HIMYM from wilson! GAH HOW COULD I FORGET! <- NTS: get it

In this 5-day weekend, each day shall be set up as follows

study = x + history

where x is a subset of [chem, MM, GMA, eng, french]

But I'll probably forget about french..so...

ANYWAY! BACK TO REVS STUDY :D

Karmasplosion

To All the Year 12's I know:

Thankyou for making these three years so bearable and fun to have at Melbourne High. I've learnt so much from you guys, not only academically but also in life. You guys have made these three years quite fun and I've loved spending it with you guys. I realise that this is quite shit, putting it up on my blog, and I probably can't specifically talk to everyone, but I'll endeavour to do that in future posts. I promise. Cross my heart and hope to die. ^^

Anyway, in other news, quite quickly (very karmasplosive!):

1. State Debating Team of B Grade. SUPER HAPPY!
2. History Revolutions Prize. EPIC HAPPY!

^^ Ima post more when I have more time and when I'm not as dead as I am right now.

BTW THESE HEADPHONES ARE AWESOME! I want the sushi one <33

The dragon of history, how I wish to slay thou!

The beast which we call History Revolutions is currently being fought:

Me
Mana: 300/900
HP: 790/1000

History
Mana: 9000/2
HP: 30000000/4

I'm winning...er....damn.
Notes, Quotes and lots of Fun in store for me now! Yay. History Revolutions has been really really fun. I have no idea why I've been so happy about it. The French Revolution and Russian Revolution were really interesting...its been fun to learn. But I didn't know there was so much else involved with Revolutions...historiography and everything! Golly [that sounded really 1950's...and gay]! But its also been hard work. REmembering dates and views and stuff is actually quite hard. Not as easy as BM or Psych, I think, because its not ONLY remembering things and splurting them back out again. Its also analysing and giving a view. >________>

I'm running for music captain! To tell the truth, I'd really rather just be Vice captain. You're kind of viewed the same as the usic captain, but you don't have as much responsibility. And you get to HAVE FUN! :O:O:O yesh~

DEBATING is soon....so I shall delve once more into the realms of Australian Politics!

CIAO!

PS. I do not want to die on Muck-Up Day; please, have mercy.

For you, I'd do anything

Mood: Tired; angsty..

Today is the Year 12 Formal. Its one of those events where the gap between me and them is most starkly pronounced. I understand that I hang around Year 12's more often; its a true fact. They're more interesting in some ways, I guess. There aren't as many of those really smart cool asians in Year 11...there are obviously lots in Year 11, but there are tons more in Year 12.

I understand that this is going to be a sensitive, kind of personal issue, but whatever. There's a glaring difference between my view of Year 12's and Year 11's. Year 11's are awesome friends; around my age, knowing the same stuff etc. etc. But Year 12's...they're on a whole different level. For some of them, I think I treat them as big brothers. Some as younger brothers, but the most important thing is as brothers. Year 11's are on the same level at school; they're much different to the year 12's, who are older and (in most cases, as i know of) wiser. They have more stuff to share, they have more knowledge about the school, they can teach, they're smarter...its not hard to see why. I get the fact that I'm probably younger than my Year 11 friends, and also my Year 12 friends, but...I hope they're starting to like me as a friend now. I'm learning that too.

Just to put it out there; I love my Year 11 friends as much as my Year 12 friends. To hang around with ALL of them takes hard work...but more serious stuff later.

For all the formal kids...



Writing: working on 4993 [dw yet], thinking about Visions of the Future stories..many in mind, but how to write? I read a Philip K. Dick short story collection, currently steaming through a Ray Bradbury short story anthology of 100 short stories...taken me two weeks...still got a third of the book left ^^

BTW: for all story-lovers...fictionpress.net is an awesome site...has many stories to read, and they're all user-uploaded ^^

Siigh...back to my Revolutions hw! 'Til next time...!

Closing In

I've never felt particularly close to anyone. There have been a few every so often, but they were exceptional, and like all good things, came to an end too quickly. By that, I mean that they moved away, or we lost contact. So sad...

...I've never found someone I can completely confide in. Those would be called really good, or best friends, yeah? None for me T_T Not that its a really big problem, but sometimes I just need to vent, or ask about problems...and theres no-one there to talk to. I see people all around, 'We're best friends!', small secluded corners of rooms, places, talking, whispering, in their own little world. Jealous, envious, yet subdued. What's the use in that? You exclude nearly everyone else, but you have the best fun with your best friend...

I do wish for someone to confide in me, and be able for me to confide in. ^^"

For Kento, Vois Sur Ton Chemin;


This is quite awesome. This is the choir that recorded for Les Choristes ^^

BLEEP BLEEP boop boop boop *BOOM* Terrorists Win

WOW I'm updating again! Be happy~

VINCENT'S ASIAN 17th! WAS AWESOME! YAYY~ The first ever real group present I've ever bought for someone. Isn't this sad? at least for my first, I made a...well....ORIGINAL CARD! But I forgot to take pictures. Thanks Chewy, our social photographer! (also confirmed voyeur =]]) We went to play galactic circus, where I found out that joanne, clare and vincent were epicly good at DDR, and I am not. But me and Jack had tons of fun shooting people. WEEE~ and Charles is lol for Tekkening an awesome guy, who he beat. GO CHARLES~! James is handsome, not kawaii. 'Nuff said. Wong is just a cool character, and Victor is crazy. WITNESS THE BIRTH OF THE WTF [_]!! [don't worry if you don't understand, its an in-joke]

Went to Hungy's LAN last wednesday. It was epicly fun. This shitty laptop actually was able to run CS 1.6, which made me happy, but it lagged for DOTA (which I'm starting to get into) which is bad. Anyway. Stooph became nice for some reason, which was good, met people (Matt, Clement etc), which was good, failed a bit at SSBB, which was bad, but socializing was fun. EPICLY fun! THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE, but not as much as expected. <3 those guys are awesome, and I wish I met them earlier...

I want to be more pro at CS, thogh. TOM is going to help me. I'm his apprentice nao~ Alex is going to make me his TF2 hoar if I ever get that on my shiety laptop, which is the only one that has enough space to do anything.

OMG ABOUT SPACE!! Last saturday the boys came over. Tom couldn't, he was valiantly fighting a virus. But we went wild! Pool, and those guys LOVE playing Mario Strikers; Charged Football. It is fricken awesome. Alex is too pro at that, and Kento is so confused sometimes, its funneh. A SHOUT OUT TO JUNOU! I LOVE YOU MAN! He gave me the entire seasons of FRIENDS! 40 GB's dudes. He is an awesome kid~! NB: Kevin is tall, and left-handed. Oh, did I mention he's awesome?!

Best friends are considered to be your one and only. Your BFFL! I don't have one of them. Isn't this depressing? I have a close circle of friends who are very close who could fulfil that position, but I don't want to have the pressure of choosing only ONE of them. That would be cruel. I'm really failing at putting this into words, but I think you get the drift.

This is one of the many problems of my life. Isn't it alarming? Especially since I've seen that Carl Sagan picture thing that shows Earth as some little dot. That puts it ALL in perspective...

...I've been wanting for a while to write Science Fiction. I've loved it since I started reading, but I sidetracked into some soft fantasy fiction. When I learnt about the hard stuff, I stopped. I felt a bit aimless for a while before I picked up an Asimov book, Return of the Black Widowers. That was one of the best books ever! Although its not really Sci-Fi, its more mystery and stuff, but its awesome. Short stories also appeal to me nowadays. I bought an Arthur C. Clarke collection of short stories when it was on sale at Borders. They are fricken awesome. I love Sci-Fi!

I'm collaborating on two works, both called Untitled, with a fellow writer, Rachel. She is high on sugar most of the time, and if you've been on facebook, you've seen the deathwarrant. WRITING IS FUN!! BEEP!

Anyway, so about life. Work Experience was pretty fun, learnt about some office politics as my mother works in the same office as where I was, except in a different building. She gave me los of gossip, which I found a litle bitchy, but whatever. Office politics ftl. I built a website (GO ME!) using the gay program Lotus Notes.

I've been a bit high nowadays over msn. For some free fun, go add me. =]]

FOR A FOLLOW UP OF THE LAST POST!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTBsm0LzSP0 - THE ACTUAL SPEECH! I can't embed it for some gay reason, but whatever. HAVE FUN WITH THIS. IT MADE ME EXTRALOL!

T_T School is a'comin' and I haven't done much work thanks to stupid Work Experience. I don't want to go to school, but I do want to go to school. Muck-up Week/Day is not going to be a fun experience for me T_T.

=]] stay well~ I'll post more when I'm less emotionally exhausted.