Monday, August 18, 2008
The Soma of Today?
Soma. A drug that can make you "turn that frown upside down"! Sure it probably has it's repercussions, but wouldn't soma in our modern day just be perfect? Well I took the liberty of discovering what modern-day activities and items may be used as the "soma of today". For in our world filled with quandaries and dilemma's, there must be some sort of "soma" in everyone's life that makes them happy. Television can be seen as a soma for certain people, in that it relaxes them, makes them happy, and can be used as an outlet for anger or bad feelings. Also, video games can take one's mind off of everyday problems. A more negative sort of modern-day soma is alcohol and drugs. Alcohol and drugs can be seen as exactly the same as Huxley's "soma", but with a strong negative effect afterward. Possibly the strongest forms of modern "soma" are cell phones and the internet. Cell phones and the internet (MYSPACE/YOUTUBE/TEXTING!) can definitely be used as a form of relaxation and fun when bored, sad or anytime. What other activities or items can be used as "soma" in our culture? Are they as effective as the soma portrayed in Brave New World? Overall, is it a positive or a negative?
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Some things that can be used as "the soma of today" are sports, fishing and golfing to name a few. I know a few fishermen (mostly over 55) and they love it. They say it's so peaceful because it's just them and nature. There are no distractions and it helps keep their mind off of the crazy stuff in life. Golfing is an excellent (and my favorite) way of relaxing and keeping your mind off things. I just got home from a family reunion up on The Central Oregon Coast and I went golfing four times in two weeks(once at the Links at Spanish Bay in Monterey, CA, once at Elkhorn Valley, and twice and Sandpines in Florence, OR). It was so beautiful out there that I wasn't distracted by anything and it kept my mind off things. Even my summer homework! Overall, these are positive things that keep my mind off things and make me happy.
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