Pennsif’s Progress – One word that describes me best - Utilitarian
As a little mental exercise I was trying to think of what one word best describes me, myself and I.
A few years back I would probably have chosen the word Perfectionist.
But as time advances, and there is less of it to go round, I am going for Utilitarian.
I am not a great one for doing things that I don't regard as having utility or purpose.
While that makes me really quite time effective in all I do, it almost certainly does shave off large slices of what many people might regard as essential elements of a fullsome life.
For example I really don't have any particular need in my life for music. I have no ability to sing or to play any musical instrument. And I never put on any music to listen to. The only time I listen to music is when it is part of a radio show I am making.
The same for TV and films. I haven't had a TV for years. And I haven't been to the cinema for a long time. I watched a lot of films when I ran a community cinema for a year - but that was more community service than pleasure.
I don't go to pubs or bars to chat and drink. I don't hang out in Discords just to make small talk.
Before steem I never set foot in any social media unless I was doing it for a client.
I don't buy ornaments, or art, or music, or jewellery, or makeup or fancy clothes.
Everything has to have a purpose for me.
Socialising just for the heck of it has never been my thing.
That is why I have always had a great penchant for organising events - be it festivals or feasts, committees or cinemas.
That has been my defence for being awkward in social situations. If you are the organiser of an event you don't have to worry about whether anyone will want to talk to you, or what to say if they do. If you are the organiser people come to you and ask you questions. Sorted!
Although this is a 4am rambling freewrite you might see where this is heading in respect to my place on steem.
I put together radio shows and interview lots of people because I find it easier than hanging out in Discords. And you have to do one or the other to get along on steem.
And it is one of the main reasons I decided against going to SteemFest.
I even got as far as booking the hotel.
But then I thought about it some more and role played the social scenarios in my mind.
I was going to take MSP Waves to SteemFest and broadcast my radio shows from there but no one was interested. That would have given me a little job to do there. Without that I wouldn't have had a role to play and would inevitably find it socially very difficult.
I weighed that up with the $1500 the whole trip would cost me and i couldn't justify it.
Inevitably, and perhaps (or perhaps not) unfortunately doing A Dollar A Day every day I see the opportunity cost of money in a very different light to what I did a year ago.
Should I spend $1500 on just a few days of travelling, eating, drinking, talking, socialising and all that stuff. Or would that be better spent on feeding people in Venezuela, or educating youngsters in the Philippines, or training impoverished women in Bangladesh or saving forests in Cameroon...
I cannot now with true conscious tip that scale in favour of five cold, expensive, wild partying days in Poland.
But I do not begrudge others the experience. I am sure most will find much greater utility than I possibly could in being there.
I am sure it will be awesome, because everything always is on steem.
MORE OF MY POSTS...
A Dollar A Day charitable giving project : September 2018 - summary of donations received & given out - another $500 donated
SPECIAL SHOW : The What Makes A Good Radio Show Radio Show - Thursday 4 October
Here Comes The News - 27 September 2018 [recording] - with @hightouch, @enisshkurti, @kingswisdom, @cryptohazard, @meno, @ilazramusic, @miguelvargas & @gregorypatrick
Pennsif's Sustainability Curation Digest for MSP - week ending 30 September 2018
Pennsif’s Progress – What comes next? Six decisions made
Pennsif’s Progress – As Steve said, "Do one thing well"
Pennsif’s Progress – Selling Up and Moving On (it's not quite what you think)
[ image from unsplash.com ]
My sentiments exactly. I am not quite as eloquent, so could not have said it any better.
Thank you @sgt-dan. I am glad I am not alone in being this way.
MSP Waves radio show host
Founder of the A Dollar A Day charitable giving project.
I know what you mean about the cost... for me it's even more irrational as I don't like socialising.
Still, it fitted in with my house sale and my new place doesn't have a bath, so I'll enjoy using that in the hotel room.
Simply putting a few names to faces will be interesting too.
You're charity work's a great effort. Once I've got my mortgage debt properly clear I'll be putting more effort in that direction myself.
Shame the resteem funxtion doesn't allow you to rename a post... 'why I'm not going to steeemfest'.
Posted using Partiko Android
When I started the article I hadn't intended to cover that point at all ... but freewrites go where freewrites want to go 😊
A rather fascinating perspective and some excellent insights.
I enjoy socializing overall, but your analysis of what might happen at Steemfest seems spot on to me.
I would love to go myself, and I know I would enjoy talking to any and everyone. However, it would be a very speculative trip for me in the sense that I would not be going with any "pre-determined" utilitarian purpose. And I would have to say, nothing wrong with that... time and chance encounters sometimes lead to grand breakthroughs.
I just got done with Maker Faire this past weekend in San Diego, but the very clear purpose there was to present my unique enterprise methodology, using "maker" equipment (e.g. 3D printing) and a self-replicating structure.
Thanks for the insights! :D
😄😇😄
Thank you for your comments.
I am looking forward to talking with you and @surfermarly and @cryptocurator on my radio show on Thursday.
You're allowed to spend your own money on yourself every now and then. We can't solve the entire problems in the World even if we tried
Of course, but that is rather the point of the article.