Blogcember: Nostalgia

firinel asked what I get nostalgic over.

I have an embarrassingly large number of entries on my nostalgia tag, so I guess the answer is a lot. When I look back, there are probably more entries about how I miss being a young, mentally unstable radical anarchist (a period in my life where I was at my absolute lowest emotionally, by the way) than about, say, mixed tapes. (Which I also miss. I make a lot of playlists and force them on people but it’s not the same as making a mixed tape for someone.)

I guess the thing I’m most nostalgic for is discovering something for the first time, having a sense of unlimited potential. I still have new experiences—this summer, for example, was the first time I ever LARPed, and right before I had to stop because tumour, I was starting to get into skateboarding. But the unfortunate reality is that as you get older, the number of new things in your life, be it a new philosophical idea, or a new band that you love, or a new kink, or whatever floats your boat, does become less frequent. And I think that’s why I get nostalgic for things like summit-hopping even though I would never want to go back to that time. Your first really scary demo is a thrill; after twenty demos that are all the fucking same, you start to notice the same old faces and the same boring speeches and the same march route and even some of the same cops.

There are two positive counterpoints to this. First, I have much more of an appreciation for routine as I age. I don’t constantly need new experiences because I’ve figured out what works. This sounds kind of boring, but eh. Doesn’t need to be. Second, when you do discover a new thing that’s exciting, it is by extension more exciting because the thrill of the new happens less often. Probably why I get so excited and drive everyone crazy when I discover some new author or TV show or band that I like.

Weren’t mixed tapes great, though?

Today in terrible ideas

Canada Post is phasing out home mail delivery and cutting 6000-8000 jobs. (It claims that people will retire and just not be replaced, which is great for current posties but less great for people who might want secure, unionized jobs in the future.)

Um, do I need to say why this is a shit idea? I don't even need to say it, because it was all over the news:

1. Disabled people
2. Elderly people
3. People who appreciate conveniences that come with living in a civilization

As one of my friends put it, the purpose of a public service is not to make money, it's to provide a public service.

And fuck it, I like getting letters in the mail. It's nice. Some things can't be replaced by e-mail, including getting nice postcards when friends travel and getting my Metropass and pay cheques and such.

Naturally, junk mail will still be delivered to houses, because the free market r0xx0rz.