Monthly Archives: April 2011

Understanding People’s Psychology Through Facebook & Twitter

You’d be surprised how much you can tell about a person through their Facebook and Twitter. From those who spend their entire day tweeting, to those who talk to you a lot online, but, in real life, they say nothing, and those who love to show of their bodies in their pictures. What can be said about the psychology of those who use social networking sites?

I like to classify people who use social networking sites (who include myself) into two. There are those who are similar in real life to the way they are on fb and twitter. And then there are those who are hardly recognisable in real life compared to the way they act online. It is the second type that fascinates me.

How many ‘friends’ do you have on fb and twitter who leave plenty of statuses and tweets-especially ones that are quick to call people horrible names and insult people-but, in real life, what do you find? They don’t utter a word! These are the same people, of course, who talk to you online every night.

I don’t claim to be an expert in psychology-although I managed to stick out a whole year of psychology at AS level-the people I mention above, seem to suffer from a serious lack of confidence in real life, and, perhaps, don’t like face to face confrontation. Or in the words of one of my friends, they are ‘annoying people’.

Then we come to those who love to flaunt their [ass]ets on their profile pictures-yes, I’m talking about girls. There are plenty of girls who take pictures of-half their face and half their cleavage, then, of course, we have the lollipop suckers, the girls who turn around and show what their ‘mama has blessed them with’ etc etc. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not criticising any of these girls, I just want to ask one question…why? If they seek attention, then sure, they’ll receive plenty of attention from the type of boys who are looking for girls they can take advantage of, and, plenty of ‘likes’ on their pictures.

Wait, I have more, but it’s time to talk about guys. Now, fair enough, there are girls who want a bit of attention, but there are boys who are their equivalents… you know, the ones who take pictures of themselves topless and publicise it. But what makes it worse, is that, half of these guys don’t even have particularly good bodies. It’s as if they see some sort of hunk in the mirror…

Without sounding like I’m just having a rant (which I am) let us bring up one more point, or type of person. It is those people who tell us every intricate detail about their ‘personal’ life. I don’t need to elaborate on this, you all probably have your fair share of ‘friends’ who talk about everything from their lunch, to them wanting to punch their Mum or Dad in the face. But it seems that these people have a need to communicate their feelings to people, and because they may not have close friends or family who they can vent their feelings to – in an effort to release their frustration, anxiety or boredom – they tell everyone.

What is important to remember – as i have emphasised in previous posts – is that, we need to be careful not to judge a person by what we see outwardly. Because, in reality, we don’t know their past experiences, and why they do what they do. These reasons range from deep psychological issues, to a lack of affection as a child, or having a company of bad friends. Sorry, couldn’t help but get a bit philosophical as usual.

This was a short respite from my more ‘serious’ posts, but not for long, my next one will be on the compatibility of religion and evolution.

By Omar Shahid

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What The Reconciliation Deal Between Fatah & Hamas Could Mean For Israel

Fatah have reached an agreement with their rivals Hamas on forming an interim government and fixing a date for the general elections- much to the disdain of Benjamin Netanyahu’s Israeli Likud party. Netanyahu came out after the news of the reconciliation between the two Palestinian factions, and gave Mahmood Abbas, the Palestinian PM one option, and one option only. It’s either me, or Hamas, take your pick.

Hamas won the Palestinian elections in 2006, but the elections were not recognized by the western countries and their victory was therefore nullified. It seems unlikely they will win the next elections outright with a clear majority. What is likely, however, is some sort of coalition with Fatah-who have support in the West Bank- with Hamas having a good number of MPs in the government. This will, therefore, give Hamas a say in the affairs of Palestine and their relationship with Israel.

Fatah know that they have failed in their ‘peace talks’ with Israel, as they have received nothing apart from Netanyahu’s middle finger. Prime Minister Abbas is losing the confidence of his people, as the Palestinians continue to suffer from the Israeli’s military occupation and constant colonization of their land. Hamas have remained firm and have continued to their fight against their enemy next door, and till this day, refuse to recognize the state of Israel.

The agreement between the two Palestinian factions is a step in the right direction. It represents a unification of principles, and the endeavour for ultimate justice. The Obama administration failed miserably in their attempts at providing peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. The issue, ultimately, will only be resolved by the two sides who are entrenched in it.

The hope for all-apart from Zionists perhaps- is a two state solution, with lasting peace, with an end on the siege on Gaza and freedom for the Israeli and Palestinian people…albeit a difficult thing to imagine. I would love to say the future is bright and only a Middle Eastern utopia will ensue. But I can’t. What I can say though is the Arabic phrase InshAllah which means God willing.

by Omar Shahid

Understanding Life & The World We Live In

 Life is full of ups and downs, apparent contradictions, worries and happiness. In this short sojourn we find ourselves in, we are all faced with different challenges and obstacles we must tackle. Everyone one of us has had a different life, has a different personality, a different group of friends and family and has had to deal with different experiences. This is why “we can never assume that anyone in this world can really understand your circumstances other than from the perspective of his/her own circumstances, because, in reality, people see things only in accordance with their frames of reference and their personal path(1).”

Whatever situation we find ourselves in, it is important to always remain-or try to remain- impartial and objective in all that we do. Our thoughts, however, can never be truly independent. We are all products of our upbringings and environment, our personalities and our beliefs. But sometimes we have to try to step back, take ourselves out of the equation and it is then, and only then, that we will have more of a perceptive, free and penetrative view of life. Discerning the truth is impossible without a free mind; uncluttered from all the junk it is fed everyday on the TV and radio.

In this day and age our minds are not trained to think on the level they were designed for. There is not necessarily one way at approaching life per se. And this is why developing a philosophy of pluralism is essential to understanding all the differences in life. We are all in search for meaning, either knowingly or unknowingly. And once we acknowledge that there is a meaning, everything in life is transformed into signs pointing us to our ultimate destination. These signs are singular and individual and will therefore lead us to the source of meaning.   

by Omar Shahid

1) http://www.sandalaproductions.com/UploadedResources/Foundation%20Spiritual%20Path.pdf

On The Revolts in Syria & Yemen

 Today has been labelled ‘Great Friday’ expected to be the largest protest to date in a day that could be decisive for Syria. The economist reported in its latest edition that several soldiers have been shot after refusing to fire on unarmed protestors. And here was me thinking: how on earth could these soldiers be so heartless and kill protestors, their fellow brothers and sisters, when they are protesting peacefully? Well, for the soldiers, it seems it’s kill or be killed.

Reportedly 220 protestors have died in Syria since the protests began 5 weeks ago against the dictatorship of Bashar Al Assad. The President lifted the emergency law last week after 48 years, but that is not enough for the Syrian people. The protestors yearn for economic freedom but also want to end of unbounded governmental powers, elite privileges and corruption.

Meanwhile, in Yemen, protests are still going strong to end the rule of Ali Abdullah Saleh who came to power in 1978. On Thursday, Arab leaders from the Gulf Co-operation Council, urged Saleh to quit, but the President remains both stubborn and defiant. Today has been labelled ‘Last Chance Friday’ by anti- government protestors, whereas pro- government protestors have dubbed today ‘Reconciliation Friday.’

For years analysts have been wondering when Yemen will become a failed state. In 1994 there was a civil war, there has been security issues- especially with Al Qaeda, and the country has suffered from extreme poverty; but after so much strife, Saleh has managed to stay in office. For how much longer can he remain unassailable?

America wouldn’t dare get involved in Syria because of the potential ramifications. After all, Syria has the support of Iran and the Lebanese militia party Hezbollah. But Obama’s administration is slowly losing confidence in the Yemini government. Indeed, as soon as Obama comes out publically and calls for the resignation of his puppet in Yemen, he will have to go and will be left in the paralysis of paltriness, just like Hosni Mubarak, Ben Ali et al.

Omar Shahid

*Featured image from justjournalism.com*

Interview: The Weird & Wonderful World of Billy Childish

The chances are you haven’t heard of Billy Childish, or if you have, you may just vaguely recognize the name. Those who have followed his career, however, will be familiar with his eccentricity but will also admit that he is a very talented individual. Childish is actually a internationally renowned artist, painter, author, poet, photographer, film maker, singer and guitarist.

I had many preconceptions before I interviewed him, however, they were soon dispelled once I began talking to him. We met at Trinity Catholic High School, where he was visiting the school to help the art students with their work.              (Can you blame me for the preconceptions???)>>>

Beyond the pointed moustache, and his clothes that look like their from the Victorian era; what I found was a man who was not only genuine, but also completely detached from the materialistic world. Childish was offered the opportunity to appear on Celebrity Big Brother a few years back, but refused, not necessarily because he didn’t want to make a fool of himself, but because he takes no interest in TV. His disinterest actually extends beyond TV, in fact, he dissociates himself with all the other forms of communication which are endemic in our society like: radios, newspapers and magazines.  ”Don’t aim for fame” he tells me.

But back to art. What does one need to become a great artist? He thinks about his response: ”A sense of faith, honesty, engagement and an inquiring mind…they should be unafraid of tradition and not to worried about what’s cool, or what’s perceived to be cool.” I couldn’t help but think Childish was the embodiment of this non hypocritical explanation. I, personally, cannot draw or paint to save my life but Childish gave me a tip:  ”Immerse yourself in drawing and immerse yourself in emulating the art that you love, be authentic in what you draw!”

They say to be the best, you have to think you are the best, and Childish is no exception: “I believe I am better than most artists, without sounding too arrogant.” Many would regard this as a fairly supercilious statement- I don’t- it was him being brutally honest.  

Throughout his illustrious career he has produced more than 2,500 pictures, published 40 books of poetry, four novels, and released dozens of full-length albums . “I would like people to remember me for my honest engagement with elemental forces with painting.” I wasn’t quite sure what this meant-maybe because I’m not an artist, but one thing is for sure-whoever has the opportunity to meet him will feel the passion he has for his work.

by Omar Shahid

What Will Heaven Be Like?

Whether one believes in metaphysical realities is down to one’s own volition, but a religious believer lives their life in order to get to heaven. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and other religious traditions may have different names for the other realm, nevertheless it is through understanding our purpose in this existence and living a life of goodness and penitence that one achieves true success. The following description of heaven is my simplified and shortened summary from religious and philosophical texts.  

Because we can’t see heaven- nor have we experienced it- any description of it is somewhat allegorical, in the sense that we can only use human language to describe it, when, really, it is beyond human comprehension. The Greek Philosopher Plato believed that everything in this transient sojourn is a bleak version of what exists in the world of forms- or what many would call ‘heaven’.  We do however, receive glimpses of what exists within the heavenly realm in this life. We have colours like red, blue, green and yellow, but in heaven their will be colours that will be new to us.

After the Day of Judgement when all human beings would have been questioned for their deeds and all matters that were unresolved in this life would have been resolved by our Lord, we will, through God’s justice, enter our final destination. For those who chose to live a life worthy of being admitted into heaven, will have the gates of paradise opened before them, and will run towards their home-you will instinctively know where you live. This home will be a palace, better than Buckingham palace, or should I say, better than all the palaces in this world combined. The ‘bricks’ of your house will be made from gold and silver. Architecture unlike you can imagine.

Men will be reunited with their wives, and will find that their partners are more beautiful than they could ever have imagined. So beautiful in fact, that you could sit their for ‘years’ admiring her beauty, although ‘years’ doesn’t really make sense in a realm which is outside time, space and matter.

There will be flowing rivers beneath your feet, some rivers of water, some milk, and others honey and wine. One can drink from the rivers as much as they want, but it will be purely for pleasure, not necessarily to satisfy the bodily needs. The food will be readily available, you can take anything of the trees, and anything you desire will be yours.

In heaven there are no meetings, no school, no work, no appointments, just an infinite amount of time. We will not be in the bodily form we inhabit now, and therefore our state of mind will be different and wont be subject to the mundane thoughts we currently exhibit.

There is no summer or winter, no sun or moon as such, but will just be the constant light which will emanate from the throne of our Lord.

What form will we take? We will be the height of Adam (approximately 90 yards tall), the age of Jesus when he ascended to the heavens (33) and the men will be as beautiful as the prophet Joseph. The philosopher John Hick believes that once we die, and take on a new form, we will not take on the form we currently inhabit, but we will have this recognition device which will instinctively tell us who people are.

If our inner state is not willing to ascertain the truth of this life then our heart cannot gain experiential knowledge of the divine. The heart has the ability to see things which are not always outwardly manifest and can at times gain a piercing insight into the metaphysical realities. Heaven may seem like a wild fantasy created to appease our psychological needs and something which fills the void in our life.  But even if one doesn’t believe in heaven, one should still live their life as if there is one.

Omar Shahid