Dear Friends,

 

Have you ever read the Count of Monte Cristo?

 

Do you know much about Alexandre Dumas?

 

What is it really like to be locked up for years in a French gaol?

 

What is it like to be locked up like Henri Charrière?

 

Most murderers are really very tough guys. And, we are not.  Yet, even though we have not murdered anyone, still, in past months, we have been locked up for our own good.

 

Personally, I have been locked up for about 18 months, or more, at my own volition.

 

Most of my normal life, during these past two years, has completely passed me by.

 

At the moment, I would say that some of my symptoms, due principally to social isolation, have replicated the symptoms typically found in patients with a brain tumor.

 

In my opinion, it will require several years to recover from this pandemic.

 

And, maybe, those guys who are older, will never recover.

 

Personally, after having been locked up for so many months, my cognitive function has definitely deteriorated.

 

These days, I just wish for more pablum.

 

I could say lot more, however I know you would not wish to hear more.

 

When I was very young, I read Dumas.

Amazing.

 

These days, most people don't read books. Instead, they just read advertisements.

(Obviously, many on the Pub Forum read books.  There are some very smart guys here.  But, they only read because they are very old and about to die.)

 

I am sure that I feel, at this moment, as if I have a brain tumor.

My question is, ....  Do you?

 

Chomsky reads books.

 

 

Chubby Checker never did...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"My question is, ....  Do you?"

 

... NO ... use to read a book a week at work, when bored.  Seems the only time I bother.  Haven't finished a book yet since in Thailand.  Actually dropped the ones I had off at the library.  Only reading I do, and to keep the brain active, is on internet, researching my hobbies, destination for out & about, and too much time on this forum ????  Damn hot out though, me & the dog need our AC.

 

Where do you live that you think you need to isolate yourself to that degree.  I'm in a small coastal town, and only thing changed for us during the past situation, 1 restaurant that we frequented isn't open.  Though wasn't exactly busy before the present situation, 20 months now.

 

Maybe if I lived in Krung Thep, I'd be in more, as annoying to wear a mask constantly, along with the congestion.  But living semi rural, and non alcohol drinker when out, not much has changed with my lifestyle.  Actually out more often of late, since new e-scooter & e-bike I'm using 2X a day.

 

Think positive ... Be Safe

45 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

I am sure that I feel, at this moment, as if I have a brain tumor.

 

45 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

my symptoms, due principally to social isolation, have replicated the symptoms typically found in patients with a brain tumor.

What are the symptoms?

• headaches.
• seizures (fits)
• persistently feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting) and drowsiness.
• mental or behavioural changes, such as memory problems or changes in personality.
• progressive weakness or paralysis on one side of the body.
• vision or speech problems.

 

 

 

5 hours ago, KhunLA said:

"My question is, ....  Do you?"

 

... NO ... use to read a book a week at work, when bored.  Seems the only time I bother.  Haven't finished a book yet since in Thailand.  Actually dropped the ones I had off at the library.  Only reading I do, and to keep the brain active, is on internet, researching my hobbies, destination for out & about, and too much time on this forum ????  Damn hot out though, me & the dog need our AC.

 

Where do you live that you think you need to isolate yourself to that degree.  I'm in a small coastal town, and only thing changed for us during the past situation, 1 restaurant that we frequented isn't open.  Though wasn't exactly busy before the present situation, 20 months now.

 

Maybe if I lived in Krung Thep, I'd be in more, as annoying to wear a mask constantly, along with the congestion.  But living semi rural, and non alcohol drinker when out, not much has changed with my lifestyle.  Actually out more often of late, since new e-scooter & e-bike I'm using 2X a day.

 

Think positive ... Be Safe

Anyway, before I die, I just hope that I can better understand the distinction between what is is considered Apollonian and Dionysian.

 

Life is short.

 

I mean, what would happen if I got the virus, and then....I never firmly cemented my thinking about the Apollonian and Dionysian dichotomy?

 

Some say that drunkenness and madness are Dionysian.  And all forms of enthusiasm and ecstasy are Dionysian.

 

I am sure....

 

I really need to understand the differences between these two...before I die from the virus.

Of course, the adjective Apollonian refers to rational, ordered, and self-disciplined aspects of human nature.

 

This adjective probably does not refer to what goes on, during the evenings, in places like Pattaya.

 

In Pattaya, then you probably have mostly Dionysian life.

 

 

Brain damage? Probably. Brain fart? Absolutely. Brain tumour? Unlikely tbh.

On 12/10/2021 at 11:43 PM, GammaGlobulin said:

At the moment, I would say that some of my symptoms, due principally to social isolation, have replicated the symptoms typically found in patients with a brain tumor.

Finally we have an explanation for your activity...

All the best and all that.

I think that we older people (comparatively speaking) will end up impacted far less than people between, say, ages 15 and 25, because we have enough years of experience to know that this pandemic-driven chapter of life has been both unusual and temporary.  People age 15-25 have missed a year or two of their socially formative years, or rather not really missed but had their experience greatly skewered, particularly the college experience.  That may well end up as a source of positive things for that generation, as adversity has a way of building character.  But compared to the Great Depression, The Holocaust and WW2, or the Vietnam-era draft and political unrest, this pandemic falls much closer on the spectrum to that one traumatic weekend when the Slurpee machine at the local 7-11 was broken.  Comparatively speaking again.

The good thing about brain damage is that you rarely know you have it. 

Thank god I don't have it. 

5 hours ago, ChrisP24 said:

<snip>
The Holocaust and WW2, or the Vietnam-era draft and political unrest, this pandemic falls much closer on the spectrum to that one traumatic weekend when the Slurpee machine at the local 7-11 was broken.  Comparatively speaking again.

Unless, of course, you happened to have had your business completely destroyed.  Or perhaps lost your life.  The effects were not singular but had a broad range.  From minimal for some - perhaps a majority, to devastating to others - such as literary brain tumors.