David Foster Wallace - The Dangers Of Internet & Media Addiction

David Foster Wallace - The Dangers Of Internet & Media Addiction

"Instead of disconnecting entirely, perhaps approaching our consumption with some amount of intention is more realistic, similar to how one might be conscious of what they eat and drink. 

To curb an unhealthy diet, one does not stop eating, but instead, they eat healthier foods and perhaps less food. We can have our cheat days, but should be careful and recognize the very real consequences of what media we consume and how much we consume of it. 

This is not to suggest that modifying and reducing our consumption is easy, but it is to suggest that perhaps it is serious and necessary if we want to be healthier, happier individuals. In life, there is value in effort, vulnerability, and selflessness. 

There is value in doing or watching things that make us work a little, or feel a little gloomy, or think a little bit more than we’d like. 

There are parts of life that aren’t pleasurable, but rewarding. 

Parts where you don’t feel special, but feel a part of a much bigger picture or community. 

Parts that aren’t entertaining, but important. 

Perhaps what we can learn from Wallace is to remember this : To not always follow our desires for pleasure and ease, and instead, sometimes force ourselves to face our demons head on. To challenge ourselves. To try to connect with, understand, and improve The World around us, instead of trying to escape it."

Book Two

“….I’ve never heard of him writing 

anything, really, after Mein Kampf…

That other book that you mentioned - -

What is that called…?”

“Yes, called ‘Hitler’s Second Book’ —”

After the demise of the magazine, 

Goopta could not sell his work, and 

he became destitute and suicidal. 

Out of pure desperation, he managed, in a single, feverish night, 

to crank out a book that changed the course of human history :

“How to be Happy, even when You Shouldn't.”

It was quickly followed by the best sellers,

“How to Manipulate People 

by your apparent Friendliness.”, and

“How to overcome Your Fears 

by making others Fear You.”

And upon the release of his masterpiece, 

Goopta hit the lecture-hall circuit, always 

preaching to standing-room only, 

for he shrewdly refrained from providing chairs. 

“Every painful moment in your life, 

casts a shadow across your neurobiology. 

Until you exterminate these dark memories, 

you will remain in a negative groove. 

Thus, those who cannot forget their past... 

Are condemned to repeat it.”

Goopta then opened an institute to help teach people 

how to become more self-helpful. 

Patients, who are called "Doctors," 

since the term "Patient" has unhealthy associations, 

learn how to shed The Darkness of their minds by mastering 

therapies taught by the institute's staff, which, to inspire a sense 

of empirical transmigration, is 

modeled after The U.S. Postal Service. 

The institute proved so popular, selfosophy branched out,

and institutes popped up throughout the nation. 

And Goopta announced a new evolution to Selfosophy :

“After wiping away its mind of Darkness, 

The Self must then wipe its eternal soul. 

And since our souls have existed for 

thousands of years before the advent 

of Selfosophy, we all have a great deal of wiping to do.”

The tax-exempt belief system also evolved its own Theology. 

But I can't tell you what it is. It's A Secret. 

When learning the theology, selfosophists must undergo a sworn blood-oath ritual, which is also a secret. So this artist's depiction is purely speculative and surely way over the top. In fact, forget you even saw it. In any case, all this secrecy and profits drew criticism from some quarters. But these critics were quickly silenced, either by libel suits or by what selfosophists call "Knock-knock, zoom-zoom" affirmations. There were even some internal criticisms. If a member continues his complaints, he is deemed a "Rat-fink-o-vich"... And is excommunicated from selfosophy. In 1979, onan goopta molted his earthly encumbrance... To pursue his selfosophical research in another dimension... That means he died of prostate cancer. But the institution he left behind has never been more popular... As we head into the next millennium. 

A Place of Burning, Torment and Misery

 

"Down to Gehenna or up to The Throne,

He travels the fastest who travels alone."

"As important as the character of Dr. Moreau were the Beast-people. They were going to be civilised, at least more so than we've seen in the previous Moreau versions. 

They've decorated themselves. They've got piercings. They've got some degree of beast-person civilisation. 

There is no Cat-Lady in The Book. 

The Panther-Woman was added in the in the Erle C. Kenton movie 

in the process of making it more Hollywood, and we, in return, retained her. 

In reality, Aissa, our cat-lady is drawn from another novel. 

We stole it from Outcast of the Islands, the Joseph Conrad novel. 

We thought since there's this connection between Conrad and Wells, 

borrowing characters from another Conrad story was vaguely in our agreement. 

I was determined on some level that I would provide that moment, that we were going to see The Girl turn into A Cat and be An Animal. She would run on all fours. She would become furry and underneath her chilaba is furry all over and has a tail. 

The Dog-people take the opportunity, while The Master is away, 

to chase her up the wall, drag her down, and kill her. Being civilised, 

they then proceed to not just to eat her but to cook her 

and then serve her to The Castaway. 

When he realises What's Happened in his absence, 

he immediately shoots a couple of the dog-men. 

The dog-men really love him. 

Not only that, they've got very short memories, because they're dogs; 

So they don't really remember that they've killed and cooked The Cat-Lady to begin with. 

They don't really understand why he's killing them. 

We also rationalise that Montgomery would undoubtedly 

be sleeping with the Beast-people if he's been on the island for decades. 

I know in one version we had the thought of the Pig-Lady biting Montgomery's dick off during the final party, which... later in the story, the Beast-people get into Montgomery's stash. 

So suddenly we're dealing with Humanized-animals on Drugs, 

which is a very appealing thought, and then one starts wondering 

how they would behave and what they would see.

And these were to prove to be controversial elements later in the development process. 

Here we see the muscular satyr character cranking the handle to lower the lift cage. 

All the way down the shaft, there's other creatures living in the different layers of the complex. 

We see them through the cage of the elevator, and they're peeking out, and we notice that there's babies and fires burning down there. 

Here the Bear-man reaches for the conch shell with a Lord of the Flies touch and then picks up the conch shell and blows it. 

Yes, there was going to be Animal-Vision in this movie, just like Toad-Vision or Droid-Vision. Of course, we're going to see point-of-view shots from the beast people.

It Would Be Obscene

Leland Palmer sits on the unmade bed, 

his hand absent-mindedly brushing the bedspread.

Deputy Hawk is unobtrusively searching The Room. 

He opens a dresser drawer beside 

the bed and discovers 

a locked diary, embosses 

with Laura’s initials.

HAWK

Do you know where 

The Key for this is, sir? 

[YES.]

LELAND (shakes his head)

Do you have to take that? 

HAWK

We’ll return it as soon 

as possible. 

[ It’s NEVER going to be possible. ]

Lecter :

Good morning, Will.

So nice of you to visit again.

He carved this on a tree

near the Jacobi house.

With a Buck knife.

The same one later used on Charles Leeds.

Yes.

Lecter :

Take a walk with me.

He had a second tool, too. A bolt cutter.

He used that to clear his view.

But?

I don't think that's

what he brought it for.

It's too heavy. Too awkward.

And he had to carry it a long way.

And what do we make of that symbol?

Asian Studies at Langley

identified it as a Chinese character.

It appears on a mah-jong piece.

It marks the Red Dragon.

Red Dragon. Correct.

This boy begins to interest me.

We don't know what greater meaning

the symbol might have...

Do you like my little exercise cage, Will?

My so-called lawyer

is always nagging Dr. Chilton

for better accommodations.

I don't know which is the greater fool.

Perhaps if you could offer

some insight into...

"A Robin Red breast in a Cage

Puts all Heaven in a Rage"

Ever been a redbreast, Will?

Of course you have.

I'm allowed 30 minutes

in here, once a week.

Get to the point.

Will Graham :

I think he meant to use the bolt-cutter 

to enter the house, but he didn't.

Instead he broke in

through the patio doors.

The noise woke Jacobi, and he had to 

shoot him on the stairs.

That wasn't planned. It was sloppy.

And that's not like him.

Lecter :

We mustn't judge too harshly, Will.

It was his first time.

Have you never felt a sudden rush of panic?

[ He lunges at Will, teeth-beared, until 

he reaches the limit of his choke-chain —]

Yeah, that's The Fear we talked about…

It takes experience to master it.

Lecter :

You sensed who I was back when I was

committing what you call my "Crimes."

Will Graham :

Yes.

Lecter :

So you were hurt not by a fault in your perception

or your instincts, but because you failed

to act on them until it was too late.

Will Graham :

You could say that.

Lecter :

But you're wiser now —

Imagine what you would do, Will,

if you could go back in time.

Will Graham :

Put two in your head before you 

could palm that stiletto.

Lecter :

Very good, Will.

You know, I believe we're 

making progress.

And that's what 

Our Pilgrim is doing.

He is refining his methods.

He is evolving.

The case file mentioned videos 

of The Leeds Family.

I'd like to see those.

Will Graham :

No.

Lecter :

Why not?

Will Graham :

It would be obscene.

Lecter :

….you don't make it easy, do you?

Still, one aims to please.

I'll call you if I think of anything else.

Would you perhaps

like to leave me your home number?

- That's the end of our session, Dr.

- For now.

It was only his first time.

Already in Atlanta he did much better.

Rest assured, my dear Will,

this one will give you plenty of exercise.

My love to Molly and Josh, goodbye.

Go to the back of the cell, Dr. Lecter.