Productively Poorly

For some reason, I seem to get the most work done when I’m ill. The past couple of days I’ve been feeling really under the weather – headaches, light sensitivity, sore throat, stiff neck, aches and pains everywhere – you name it, it hurts! And yet, I’ve gotten so much work done. I’ve written up my notes for uni. I really feel like I understand the work. I’ve started learning my lines for directorials, and I’ve written an ending I am REALLY pleased with for my most recent project. As well as this, I’ve also tidied and hoovered my uni room (it desperately needed a good hoover!). 

Why is it I always get distracted by stuff when I’m in full health, and yet as soon as I’m not feeling tip-top, I’m overwhelmed by this need to get everything in order and finished? It’d be a good thing if it hadn’t left me feeling even worse – I’m running on a combination of orange squash and painkillers right now. 

This blog post isn’t entirely pointless; I also need to explain something. You’ve probably read a couple of my posts about gay marriage in the past, and how I am in full support of it. I’m guessing some of you were expecting a post about the recently-passed second reading of the bill that will allow gay marriage – however, I’m trying to go in a different direction with this blog. I want it to focus mainly on my writing and my life at uni, as opposed to my views on current affairs, and I want it to be as inclusive as possible, so to avoid any issues or arguments, I’ll be laying off discussing religion, emotive current affairs and sports for the time being (although, for the record and as one last battle cry, I’m an atheist, yay same-sex marriage and GO WALES!). 

Daily Prompt – ‘Polite Company’

“It’s never a good idea to discuss religion or politics with people you don’t really know.” Agree or disagree?

Agree, absolutely. For starters, why does anyone need to know about your religion? I believe that religion is something personal and spiritual – some people have it, some people don’t, and that’s fine. No-one needs to talk about religious beliefs, there just isn’t a need for it – it should be something that means a lot to you, something you hold dear and can’t imagine being without – even for atheists. I’m an atheist and I feel that my beliefs, and the reasons for them, are personal to me. Why would you deliberately set out to start a conversation where your beliefs are likely to not just be criticised, but ritually torn to shreds? It just doesn’t make sense to me. 

As for politics… discussing it with people you know well can make for lively debate, keeps a good interest in current affairs and can be fun – I always have political conversations around the dinner table with my family when I go home from uni – but with people you’ve just met? No way! That’s a definite no-no. I saw this in a personal statement I once looked over for someone; they were quite defiantly feminist and incredibly pro-gay rights, and whilst I wouldn’t dismiss their application based on their political beliefs (I agree with equality for everyone regardless of sexuality, and whilst I’m not a modern feminist, I don’t hate people who are), it’s the attitude that would get me. So if you’re a bit pushy with your political views – having a bumper sticker that says “Honk if you hate abortion”, or are constantly attached to your picket sign -, discussing them with a new acquaintance is not the best idea. In fact, regardless of your views, just don’t discuss them – it’ll work out better in the long run.