Of Umbrella-ella-ella-eh-eh-ehs

I’m a rather social person.  I find other people very entertaining and if I could I would spend the majority of my time meeting and learning about other people.  I have never had a problem meeting people; I’m a very approachable individual apparently.  Recently I have developed a theory that I am particularly fond of for it’s novelty and assistance in the increased occurence of social interaction.

I call it the Umbrella Theory.

In my first semester at USD I returned to campus from lunch faced with the task of walking through campus with a rather heavy rain ahead of me.  I dove into my trunk and grabbed my golf umbrella.  My golf umbrella is black and could probably fit all of Rhode Island under it.  So I commenced my walk to class.

Along the way a girl from this particular class I was headed to came jogging up behind me, trying to keep from getting horribly wet.  She slowed to a walk next to me and took shelter under my umbrella.  I began small talk and welcomed her in the dry-zone. (Yes, there will be a fill in the blank exam on this theory.)

I may have hinted on this earlier, but I appear to be a very agreeable character.  I have not met too many people that did not find themselves content (at a minimum) with my company.  However, this theory has little to do with that fact, and can be generalized very well.

This is a call to the public to pick a side! Ditch the umbrellas and seek shelter (and company) or wield your umbrella with pride, and welcome strangers to become acquaintances!

Sharing an umbrella really is a pleasant experience.  Because few umbrellas are large enough for both “personal space” bubbles to fit, the two must sacrifice and become slightly unguarded with the other.  I could not see a greater benefit from the umbrella!

Too often are people guarded by their “personal space” (I myself am very selective of those I let within my bubble) and are unreasonably comfortable without anyone expressing interest in getting to know them. Granted, personal space can still be intact while getting to know someone, but I feel being slightly uncomfortable aids in development of a new relationship.

Let’s look at that statement for a second.  If you’re uncomfortable, what do you do? The obvious answer is to make the situation comfortable.  But how do we do that?  Suppose you run up to someone and ask if you may join their dry zone.  Why would they say no? (Assuming they’re not completely rude–in which case you would rather be wet than put up with their rudeness.) So, in order to ease this person in their anxiety of letting you into their dry zone (and thereby personal space) you would introduce yourself, so that they are not offended by a stranger hijacking their dryness! Most likely they would reciprocate the introduction (unless they are a rude individual) and small talk would commence.  Assuming the small talk proves interesting, it may develop into a conversation, which could easily develop into someone making the leap to invite the other person to become a friend (that is, request future interaction of some sort).

That situation seems very probable, correct?  Even if you encounter a rude individual, at the least you have had some form of interaction with another human being.

My Umbrella Theory officially states:
“Utilization of an umbrella as a tool for encouraging social interaction can result in a ‘set-up’ of sorts for introductions and development of potential friendships.”

So I guess what I’m trying to say is: don’t hog the dry-zone.
-AJ

Of “Hello world!”

“Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!”

I’m going to enjoy editing this post.  Last night I watched the Season 4 premier of Mad Men.  Don Draper was asked (by a one-legged reporter) the following question:
“Who is Don Draper?”
I very much agree with his response:
“What do people say to that?”

What Don didn’t realize is the reporter was doing what most people expect him to do when he profiles someone: setting them up for their chance to “sell” themselves.

So to address the following question: “Who is Tony Teesdale?”
The answer is complex, for certain… but overly blunt.
“I’m not a whore.”

Strange answer you may think, but what did I just say about that question? The prompt provides an opportunity to sell oneself to an audience.  Unnecessary.
I say I’m not a whore because I will not sell myself.  I have no need to make a “pitch” about myself.  So why is that relevant to my “Hello world!” post?

This blog is going to challenge the typical understanding of typicalness.  We have attributes that characterize us all for certain, but where did they come from?  Are these attributes we pride ourselves on because someone told us we fit them? Or have we at length analyzed ourselves and come to the conclusion that our behavior fits that model? Or perhaps out of social insecurity we assigned this attribute to ourself in prevention of someone realizing that we do not possess that attribute at all, and may in fact be he opposite.

In this blog I recall Francis Bacon, who wrote many essays with titles of “Of Revenge” or “Of Studies” (my favorite) and will attempt to honor him by titling my posts as such.  (Which I guarantee will result in nerdy humor.)

So, despite these “Hello world!” posts being prompts for “selling” your blog and self to the world, I will do no such thing.  Reading this will let you learn about me in a more intimate way that you could if I were to sell myself to you.

However, this will be a learning journey, so do not expect strict consistency throughout.  Also I am a changing man, learning more and more about myself as I grow older and wiser (measured in minutes and hours, not years), so timeline-ing my posts and characteristics will not grant you a consistent, stable character.

So to re-address the question “Who is Tony Teesdale?”
I say to you: “It is the question that drives us, Neo.”

Hello, world.
-AJ