Sib by Any Other Name…
Yet another person has come and beckoned why on earth I feel insignificant or why my nickname is a contradiction or where the name originated. And since I am somewhat tired of repeatedly retyping this story and explanation over and over again in emails and messages on myspace and instant messenger, I thought that I would make one final draft and just send this link or story anytime someone was interested in my moniker.
Of course “sib” is not my Christian name, as any fool who actually admits they know me, it is Michael. But for those of you who do not know me and were always wondering what either the acronym, which is pronounced as such and not like “sib” in sibling (though, it is so much easier that way… right goober?), stands for and where it originates, perhaps you are in for a treat (though the thought has crossed my mind that the subject could be absolutely tedious). This is the first part of this essay and you may not have to read any further than the first three or four paragraphs. But if you are interested in why I still refer to myself with the contradictive nickname, you will have to read further on to understand.
About, let’s see (‘cause Goob may have to correct me on this), sometime when I was seventeen, Chris (had just either started to become attached to his own moniker), our friend Buck (who’s real name was Becky and was Goob’s either future or current girlfriend at the time), and I were all at our miserable little home of Pizza Hut, where we all worked. The night in question, probably a weekend evening after everything slowed way down and we all had time to mess around, I thought it would be great fun to use the MRD labels (big, white, expiration labels we put on food products) as nametags. Instead of using my Christian name, I decided that I needed to have a nickname as well, because I felt left out. I made up quite a few, but nothing was funnier than that of the one I have used to this day.
Hey Chris, as I reminisce, remember me always hiding under the A6? God, I haven’t thought about those days in ages… Anyway, this leads me to the justification of keeping the name to this day. Besides the obvious that it is still funny, I justify keeping it with the explanation to follow.
Let us look at the name itself now, Super Insignificant Boy, what obviously stands out is the oxymoron. Obviously one can not be both super and insignificant at the same time, correct? Perhaps that assumption is correct, but then it wouldn’t be mine. As far as I see it, it starts with how vastly huge this universe is. If anyone has read the brilliant works of fiction by the late Mr. Douglas Adams, which I strongly recommend, you may know where I am going with this next part. In fact, I’ll go ahead and quote his work, as it is funnier than and I cannot possibly add or make it any better.
“Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space…It is known that there is an infinite number of worlds, simply because there is an infinite amount of space for them to be in. However, not every one of them is inhabited. Therefore, there must be a finite number of inhabited worlds. Any finite number divided by infinity is as near to nothing as makes no odds, so the average population of all the planets in the universe can be said to be zero. From this it follows that the population of the universe is also zero, and that any people you may meet from time to time are merely the product of a deranged imagination.” Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Series
In other words, in this vast universe and not so vast one we call, Earth, our lives, our little worlds we create in our mind are so absolutely futile and insignificant in the greater scheme of things. But there are some that still believe that in this tremendously big universe and dementia (I mean dimensia?) we live in, we are indeed significant because we are children of the almighty creator. They justify their significance on the hopes of some ultimate being, which by perchance solely cares about some tiny speck in the great spectrum. What wishful thinking is this? I mean come on, even if there was this so-called being, and if the universe is too big to really comprehend, with the ba-zillions of star systems, each with their own tiny little insignificant planets (or not), why on earth would such a poor pathetic slob of yourself have any more significance than an atom of hydrogen in the galaxy properly named, NGC1433 (which is one of so damn many that we have discovered that we have run out of names and just started using positions in the sky) to this ultimate being? I cannot think of any logical reason to believe such nonsense, unless of course one mentioned “because we are the only living beings in the universe,” which is itself equally asinine but perhaps possible. But in this vast universe, chances are that we are not. Hell, they are finding signs of life as close as Mars, why not all over the universe?
This should have justifiably explained well enough that we are all insignificant in this lonely universe of ours. There is just too much to really hold on to false hopes otherwise. So then, on to what we can each do about it and hence the whole “super” contradictive nature to my self given nickname.
If we are so insignificant and meaningless, why don’t we just all end it quickly, as there is probably no point to life? We may be alone and insignificant in this universe, but that does not stop us from living our daily lives and just giving up. We live life simply for that, living. Living, experiencing, connecting with others who suffer as we do, is all the significance that we live for. Our routines help us to forget, and we choose to forget, choose denial, for the chance to succeed in perhaps living a life less depressing.
“It is a very damn depressing thought. Everything I do and not do has no real consequences. In the end I and you do not matter in the grand scheme of things. So what is to look forward to in this material world of disconnected menial monotony? Well, for some there is religion. Some rely on beliefs that can fill the void of that feeling deep in the pits of our psyche, the feeling of complete worthlessness and idleness. gOD can give significance to those who believe that this earthly plain is not the end, but a bitter start to a more rewarding and beautiful immortality.
But for those of us who do not put our trust in the juvenile academia of theology, what are we supposed to do? Well there are two options: either a) go fucking shoot yourself quick and lessen the amount of traffic and bone heads on the road, or b) make the best of what you have here. Pay no attention to the mundane, but soak in as much of the trivial… I think that is an oxymoron. What I mean to say is go live your damn life. Try to make simple connections with people (isn’t what this, blogging, ultimately is?), but do not rely heavily upon them. Be your own person, but standing too far outside of the crowd and they will ostracize you. This is ultimately worse because we need human contact, as we are social creatures. Stop complaining because it will not do a damn thing. If you do complain, make sure you get your way, because it is all about me first, and the gimmy gimmies… No, scratch that. Be as utilitarian as you can be whilst looking out for number one. Be your own Super Insignificant Person.
Remember that societies will always die, and ours is destined for the same. Nothing you leave upon this plain will go with you to another (if you believe in heaven *snicker*). And no legacy will really last after you are dead. Societies all have had a beginning, middle, decline, and death. Then a new one replaces it. It is a cycle of life and everything living. Three simple phases: Birth, stuff in the middle, Death. Societies can do nothing but follow that rule too, being made up of beings that do.” - Me on April 15th
So, in other words, that are also my own, I believe myself, selfishly, to be the center of my own universe that I create in my head. Everyone creates their own little universes, has their own unique issues and moments of bliss. I choose and chose to make mine the center of my universe. Again this may be something selfish, but it is all that I can really rely on drawing from for in the end, it is natural to be self centered and self promoting in this Darwinistic life, but this is an all together different topic of discussion and perhaps I shall save it for another rainy day. As for right now, I am tired of typing and if this doesn’t sufficiently address my nickname, then I don’t know what will.
Peace out peoples,
-sib
Of course “sib” is not my Christian name, as any fool who actually admits they know me, it is Michael. But for those of you who do not know me and were always wondering what either the acronym, which is pronounced as such and not like “sib” in sibling (though, it is so much easier that way… right goober?), stands for and where it originates, perhaps you are in for a treat (though the thought has crossed my mind that the subject could be absolutely tedious). This is the first part of this essay and you may not have to read any further than the first three or four paragraphs. But if you are interested in why I still refer to myself with the contradictive nickname, you will have to read further on to understand.
About, let’s see (‘cause Goob may have to correct me on this), sometime when I was seventeen, Chris (had just either started to become attached to his own moniker), our friend Buck (who’s real name was Becky and was Goob’s either future or current girlfriend at the time), and I were all at our miserable little home of Pizza Hut, where we all worked. The night in question, probably a weekend evening after everything slowed way down and we all had time to mess around, I thought it would be great fun to use the MRD labels (big, white, expiration labels we put on food products) as nametags. Instead of using my Christian name, I decided that I needed to have a nickname as well, because I felt left out. I made up quite a few, but nothing was funnier than that of the one I have used to this day.
Hey Chris, as I reminisce, remember me always hiding under the A6? God, I haven’t thought about those days in ages… Anyway, this leads me to the justification of keeping the name to this day. Besides the obvious that it is still funny, I justify keeping it with the explanation to follow.
Let us look at the name itself now, Super Insignificant Boy, what obviously stands out is the oxymoron. Obviously one can not be both super and insignificant at the same time, correct? Perhaps that assumption is correct, but then it wouldn’t be mine. As far as I see it, it starts with how vastly huge this universe is. If anyone has read the brilliant works of fiction by the late Mr. Douglas Adams, which I strongly recommend, you may know where I am going with this next part. In fact, I’ll go ahead and quote his work, as it is funnier than and I cannot possibly add or make it any better.
“Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space…It is known that there is an infinite number of worlds, simply because there is an infinite amount of space for them to be in. However, not every one of them is inhabited. Therefore, there must be a finite number of inhabited worlds. Any finite number divided by infinity is as near to nothing as makes no odds, so the average population of all the planets in the universe can be said to be zero. From this it follows that the population of the universe is also zero, and that any people you may meet from time to time are merely the product of a deranged imagination.” Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Series
In other words, in this vast universe and not so vast one we call, Earth, our lives, our little worlds we create in our mind are so absolutely futile and insignificant in the greater scheme of things. But there are some that still believe that in this tremendously big universe and dementia (I mean dimensia?) we live in, we are indeed significant because we are children of the almighty creator. They justify their significance on the hopes of some ultimate being, which by perchance solely cares about some tiny speck in the great spectrum. What wishful thinking is this? I mean come on, even if there was this so-called being, and if the universe is too big to really comprehend, with the ba-zillions of star systems, each with their own tiny little insignificant planets (or not), why on earth would such a poor pathetic slob of yourself have any more significance than an atom of hydrogen in the galaxy properly named, NGC1433 (which is one of so damn many that we have discovered that we have run out of names and just started using positions in the sky) to this ultimate being? I cannot think of any logical reason to believe such nonsense, unless of course one mentioned “because we are the only living beings in the universe,” which is itself equally asinine but perhaps possible. But in this vast universe, chances are that we are not. Hell, they are finding signs of life as close as Mars, why not all over the universe?
This should have justifiably explained well enough that we are all insignificant in this lonely universe of ours. There is just too much to really hold on to false hopes otherwise. So then, on to what we can each do about it and hence the whole “super” contradictive nature to my self given nickname.
If we are so insignificant and meaningless, why don’t we just all end it quickly, as there is probably no point to life? We may be alone and insignificant in this universe, but that does not stop us from living our daily lives and just giving up. We live life simply for that, living. Living, experiencing, connecting with others who suffer as we do, is all the significance that we live for. Our routines help us to forget, and we choose to forget, choose denial, for the chance to succeed in perhaps living a life less depressing.
“It is a very damn depressing thought. Everything I do and not do has no real consequences. In the end I and you do not matter in the grand scheme of things. So what is to look forward to in this material world of disconnected menial monotony? Well, for some there is religion. Some rely on beliefs that can fill the void of that feeling deep in the pits of our psyche, the feeling of complete worthlessness and idleness. gOD can give significance to those who believe that this earthly plain is not the end, but a bitter start to a more rewarding and beautiful immortality.
But for those of us who do not put our trust in the juvenile academia of theology, what are we supposed to do? Well there are two options: either a) go fucking shoot yourself quick and lessen the amount of traffic and bone heads on the road, or b) make the best of what you have here. Pay no attention to the mundane, but soak in as much of the trivial… I think that is an oxymoron. What I mean to say is go live your damn life. Try to make simple connections with people (isn’t what this, blogging, ultimately is?), but do not rely heavily upon them. Be your own person, but standing too far outside of the crowd and they will ostracize you. This is ultimately worse because we need human contact, as we are social creatures. Stop complaining because it will not do a damn thing. If you do complain, make sure you get your way, because it is all about me first, and the gimmy gimmies… No, scratch that. Be as utilitarian as you can be whilst looking out for number one. Be your own Super Insignificant Person.
Remember that societies will always die, and ours is destined for the same. Nothing you leave upon this plain will go with you to another (if you believe in heaven *snicker*). And no legacy will really last after you are dead. Societies all have had a beginning, middle, decline, and death. Then a new one replaces it. It is a cycle of life and everything living. Three simple phases: Birth, stuff in the middle, Death. Societies can do nothing but follow that rule too, being made up of beings that do.” - Me on April 15th
So, in other words, that are also my own, I believe myself, selfishly, to be the center of my own universe that I create in my head. Everyone creates their own little universes, has their own unique issues and moments of bliss. I choose and chose to make mine the center of my universe. Again this may be something selfish, but it is all that I can really rely on drawing from for in the end, it is natural to be self centered and self promoting in this Darwinistic life, but this is an all together different topic of discussion and perhaps I shall save it for another rainy day. As for right now, I am tired of typing and if this doesn’t sufficiently address my nickname, then I don’t know what will.
Peace out peoples,
-sib
the Omnipotent... Everybody loves SuperInsignificantBoy wrote this at 2:39 AM
1 Feedback:
if you want people to say it S I B then you should write it in all caps at least.... if you write it Sib, then it looks like the first part of "sibling". I say it that was because that's what Becki always called you, and that's how I got used to hearing it. And it's easier.....
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