May 23 2008
Sturm und Drang (Pic of the Week)
It’s been that kind of month at work — lots of storm clouds with hope beginning to shine back through. Nothing in particular was going on; it just was busy and my schedule was unpredictable.
Conventionally translated to “storm and stress,” the German phrase “Sturm und Drang” more literally means, “storm and urge, storm and longing, or storm and impulse,” according to its entry on Wikipedia.
Lately I’ve been too “just the facts” out here. A robot can regurgitate facts and happenings.
I should have emphasized that two weeks ago I met in person three intelligent, witty, and warm individuals who I hope always will be my friends. The following weekend, in the town where we live I hung out and laughed with people about whom I can say the same.
It’s amazing what we humans will do to make an emotional connection with others, and sometimes shocking that we let ourselves avoid it. We rarely overtly express that’s what we’re doing, and often words are unnecessary.
Machines already exceed our strength and agility, and may one day surpass our brain power. I like to believe that the one thing we always will have over them is our emotional connection, that intangible and visceral feeling that comes from seeing a person laugh, cry, or shout.
Why are we so good at bringing life to each other’s lives, and why is it so important? Because since the beginning we have felt what machines do not and may never know — Sturm und Drang.
If we ever stop interacting in ways that help us face it, whether here in cyberspace or in the same room, we will become robots ourselves.
Hear, hear!!
The strangely intoxicating thing now is that I can’t stop formulating plans for what we’re going to do next summer when you guys are up here. I’m fairly certain that sleep really will take a back seat to most of the activities. And I don’t envy you in particular, Mark, with the trip up from DFW. No direct flights for you! None for Moksha, either, frankly. I’ll do my best to compensate with a rollicking good time. The summer solstice, hopefully the Aurora Borealis, a day trip to the Rocky Mountains (maybe overnight in a tent), a lovely Sunday brunch at a 5-star hotel, an indoor go-kart track, a backyard fire pit, the mighty Sturgeon River - fully 20 feet across at the widest, ah… and I have more than a year still to plan!
Yes, sleep will certainly be relegated to the back seat.
And just think: all six members of the, uh, “P” club could meet in person. Wouldn’t THAT be something, eh??
Great post Mark. Lets hope we keep facing challenges and the occasional Sturm und Drang.
If we become robots, will we possess super-human abilities. Cuz…if all I need to do to become a super hero is to stop hanging around you people….then I’ve got a mightly big dicision to make ;)
And well put, by the way. The pictures can capture some aspects of an event, but it’s more difficult to explain that human element. But it’s the humanity behind the picture that will be remembered longer than the actual details. So, while I don’t think anyone could read your telling of our weekend and really get what it was to be there…it will at the every least remind us of the details, stirring the emotions behind the events. It’s why vacation photos are much more interesting to those who were there.