RE: Art Explained by a Writer: Interior with Woman at the Window (1910)
What if the stereotypical ideas we have about others are incorrect? I should say: they are rarely correct. We see everyone as we want to see them. The generous giver, the big donor, is a good person and, of course, selfless and generous. No one sees their ugly appearance. An elderly person is not a (war) criminal, but dependent and innocent. A handsome person is also innocent and has an inner beauty that matches their outer beauty, muscular men are always at the gym, even if in reality they are lazy bums who just lie on the sofa, too sick to pick up the remote control, small children are always ignorant and innocent, even if they are the biggest monsters, bullies and animal abusers... The eye deceives, and so does upbringing; society deceives.
The two who so desperately wanted the recipe for eternal life came with a personal goal and are now, at least, immortalised.
Perhaps they should have brought flowers or cake.
Given the situation, the time after the great blackout when there seems to be nothing left, I can only say: a person does what they do to stay alive.
I read a story about a female who brought a guy home-he was handsome, charming, and seemed like the perfect catch. He turned out to be a psycho; he slapped her and tried to choke her during the act. There are so many people blessed with good looks who weaponize that charm to do bad stuffs. It’s also our own preconceived notion-that beauty equals goodness and ugliness equals bad, that makes us such easy prey. After reading about the Epstein files, generous donors give me the same bad vibes.
You're absolutely right. And Walt Disney has, of course, been promoting the idea for decades that beautiful is always nice and sweet and good, and that ugly is bad, even though I think that so-called bad characters are good-looking. Let's say that blond is supposedly good and that anyone with dark hair is always bad. Personally, I find that sickening, and even small children can see that, except probably those in America who feel the need to look like fairy-tale characters, Barbie dolls and I don't know what kind of heroes.
When it comes down to it, you are nowhere and safe from no one, and you are better off staying alone. Nothing is as changeable as humans, indeed humans, not the weather.
Looking good and being charming is certainly also a trait of psychopaths. It is pity, or the fear of being alone, that makes people decide to get involved with dangerous people and even let them into their homes. It is also part of our upbringing to feel pity for everyone, to give to charity, even if that money goes to sex parties for a small elite group of athletes where children and women are abused, mistreated and trafficked. This has been the case for many years; there are regular scandals, but the general public does not react and continues to give just as much. And even if you don't give money to this charity, which has been the case for me for years and for many other Dutch people, the Dutch government gives to these large funds, probably because they themselves participate in those parties. So in a way, you are still paying, because it is tax money that is being used for this nonsense.
Everyone knows that Rijkaard and his ilk are not philanthropists; only fools think they are nice people who give out of the goodness of their hearts. They don't. They only give because it offers tax benefits and free advertising. You don't get rich, and certainly not filthy rich, if you don't do business and disadvantage others.
I also think it's wrong to give to someone and have it forced on you, whether by a school, a neighbourhood or a platform. It has to feel right for you and you shouldn't give because you're being threatened, and I've seen that happen here too.
I have been giving to the poor for at least 30, if not 40 years, but these are people I choose myself and to whom I send parcels with essentials that they can use. And yes, in the past, those parcels were sometimes stolen by postal workers, but fortunately that happens a lot less nowadays, although some of them still arrived. Incidentally, I didn't do this because I'm filthy rich, but because I want to help others. I don't mind taking a few steps back myself, but only for someone I choose myself and not something that is forced on me, only to then see that these people have better food and live better than I do. In my experience, the average person you help is not at all grateful for it and, if they can, they ignore you like the plague when there is nothing more to be gained. That says it all. So don't bother, invest in yourself. If everyone did this, the world would be a better place. Then everyone would be motivated to make something of their own lives. I still feel sick when I hear the answer to my question of why people don't want to work: begging is better than stealing (and begging is also a scam).
Right. Disney has been reinforcing those stereotypes for decades, essentially brainwashing us. But most other forms of entertainment are more realistic, villains are charming and attractive like the real world. I think when people are naturally gifted with looks, they face a huge temptation to take the easy way out because success comes so easily to them. That reminds me of my time working at a beauty salon; it was an all-female environment, and I noticed that the most conventionally pretty staff were often lazy and uncooperative, while the 'average' ones were the hardworking ones who were actually easy to work with.
I don't know about Rijkaard but I'll do some reading about that later. Most of these 'philanthropists' are doing things for strategic gain. There’s always something in for them. I used to be naive enough to believe that they are as good as who they portrayed themselves as.
It takes a special person to keep giving for 30 years. You really do make the world better. I’ve been on the receiving end of that kind of kindness—someone once brought a pack of rice to my family during a crisis, and I also received a parcel of essentials during the lockdown. I know exactly how important those things are, so I am sure your recipients are really grateful to receive all that.
Today’s thieves aren't stealing out of necessity. They focused on high-value targets, not essentials.
Thank you!