Pondering Porn

Tweaking Reality

Throughout time there has been numerous cultures that revere the pleasures of the flesh, and modern Western Culture's view on historical findings in support of these has been largely censored, to say the least.

At the link below you can read more on the temple city of Kajuraho, find out why legend has, it has conception to thank for it's inception, and how it came to be the most ancient and revered porn site that it seems.

And why it's not.

Future perfect

Reality is quite literally what we make it, which sadly these days doesn't seem to be much. Based on the weight of evidence against people having a good time I'd venture the reality we all share in media orchestrated synchrony probably compare well with Mankind's darkest yet.

Not that it is mind you, not by a long shot, but since mood is a consequence of attitude, and nothing but a choice, then your guess is as good as mine how bad it really is. That or headline news, if you care for an opinion with colloquial value for what it's worth, evidence abound that the world as we know it is worse for the wear. 

As you will see it is not a point of view that I share, or one that I care to suffer gladly. Though the state of affairs may seem to advise to the contrary I see a future of wonder ahead, a future I share with like minded kin of conscious awareness with the same dare'n do attitude I have. Where positive mood is a token belief, and working together for the greater good is a shared intention. Where reward is nothing more than a dividend of deed, and success  nothing less than the tired satisfaction of a day we done well. 

Much like the day as it was I suppose, blessed with adventure and fun, shared in the company of friends, embracing each moment, elated by what we may find.

Pack up your troubles!

While many people believe that happiness is as easy as winning the lottery, human experience will show that happiness is much more elusive than winning, power or cash, and history hold many a legendary tale of fabulous fortune and ultimate ruin.

In the past, the only tried and tested way of finding happiness lay in monastic pursuit, but somehow the habit of monks, the vows of chastity and never ending meditation never caught on, and somehow the vow of poverty could never quite make sense.

While happiness through sacrifice may feel good while you are doing it, the pleasure quickly fade in the face of our modern day living. But thanks to the research that started this journey to sense, we now have the answer again. And were it not for the fact that the secret was hiding in sight all the time, we may never have believed that it's as easy as making up our mind.

In his article that highlight the latest revelation on nature, Dumb Little Man provides his readers with the science behind the facts that make happiness a breeze. Take for example that only 20% of our reality experience is made up by perception, be that sensory or more, while a whopping 80% is preconceived and subject to choice.

It boggles the mind when you think that happiness is a decision, and in the absence of choosing it our feelings would default to any of a number of subconscious fears, assumptions, probabilities and presumption. That our live can change miraculously if we start to choose how we feel, and that lofty and noble ideas of mindful living, of being the change we want to see, of creating our own destiny and making the most out of every single moment of life are all in within reach.

If you think about it, it almost make sense, until you start living it. By living our life as nature intend, we begin to comprehend the the answer to most of the questions in life look for value and meaning, and most of the time we'd be happy to live it just as it is, if only we were happy to get it.

Got it?

Good!

Evidence of widespread unconscious bias

According to a recent scientific study our society program our children with implicit stereotypes - thoughts and values that people may be unwilling to express or which they may not even know they have. The researchers further suggest that this is the cause for the world wide gender inequity in science and mathematics performance. After a study involving more than half a million participants from 34 countries they showed that 70 percent of participants harbor implicit stereotypes that result in boys outperforming girls in science and maths in those countries that stereotyped most strongly.

According to researcher Brian Nosek, "Culture is a powerful force for shaping the beliefs and behavior of its members, even if one's explicit beliefs change, the cultural residue may persist in memory and continue to influence behavior."

But culture does not seem to be the only culprit causing implicit stereotypes, Disney is in on the act as well!

Researchers from the University of Michigan have found that Disney elevates heterosexuality to powerful, magical heights where heterosexual love can break a spell, save Christmas, change laws and even stop wars. "Characters in love are surrounded by music, flowers, candles, magic, fire, balloons, fancy dresses, dim lights, dancing and elaborate dinners," the researchers observed. "Fireflies, butterflies, sunsets, wind and the beauty and power of nature often provide the setting for—and a link to the naturalness of—hetero-romantic love.", this despite the assumption that the media to which kids are exposed are free from sexual content.

Similar studies have shown that the same 'social programming' result in widespread unconscious racial bias. Following a controversial finding that 70% of people who completed the Implicit Association Test have an unconscious preference for white people compared to blacks, a new study was designed to test the validity of the findings. Professor Anthony Greenwald of the University of Washington who leads the research says: "In socially sensitive areas, especially black-white interracial behavior, the test had significantly greater predictive value than self-reports." In self reported racial bias questionnaires only 20% of people indicate that they have such a bias.

The studies about implicit stereotypes is part of Project Implicit, a publicly accessible research and education Web site at which visitors can complete the Implicit Association Test to measure their own implicit associations. The test is available for a variety of topics involving gender, race, religion and politics.

Article sources::
Citizens In 34 Countries Show Implicit Bias With Science
Disney Elevates Heterosexuality To Powerful, Magical Heights
Test that Found Widespread Unconscious Racial Bias Validated