| written words for the avid reader. . . part three of goofing off. . . goofing off serves for refreshment, for escape, and for entertainment. its chief use for refreshment is in personal fulfillment; for escape, is from undesirable deeds; and for entertainment is among peers. for smart people can goof off continuously, and perhaps still succeed; but normal people need a healthy balance, which comes only from experience. to spend too much time goofing off is irrational; to use it too much for escape is irresponsible; to goof off purely to impress peers is one's downfall. it completes people, and is completed by experience: for people are like natural plants, that are allowed to grow freely by goofing off, and goofing off itself does get one in trouble too much at large, except when it is carefully balanced by experience. crafty people adore goofing off, normal people admire those who goof off, but truly smart people goof off only when appropriate; for it teaches nothing; but there is nothing fun without it and above it. goofing off is not for escape and procrastinatio, nor to shun and take for granted, nor to just talk and cause trouble, but to relax and find release. some fun is to be tasted, other to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is some fun is to be had only rarely, other to participate in, but not all the time, and some few to participate in wholly, and with dilligence and attention. some goofing off also may be done out of obligation, and any fun is had by others; but that should only be done when it isn't important, and one won't be harmed; otherwise it's hurtful, and solely for impressing others. appreciating goofing off makes a well rounded person; participating in it a delightful person; and tastefully starting it a witty person. and, therefore, if a person started goofing off rarely, he needs to be humorous; if he participates rarely, he needs to have humorous friends; and if he appreciated it rarely, he needs to be cunning, to make it seem that he knows how to have fun when he really doesn't. wit makes people laughable; slapstick, ridiculous; puns, comical; riddles, quizzical; practical jokes, farcical; dirty jokes, monstrous; cruelty and mockery, absurd. goofing off becomes a part of life. there is nothing that can prevent it, but it can be stopped by discipline and punishment, at least temporarily, just as physical illnesses have their treatments. bowling is good for the gallbladder and kidneys, shooting for the lungs and breast, gentle walking for the stomach, riding for the head, and the like. so if a person is being worked too hard, let him goof off; for when he does work, his attention to it will be greater, and he won't miss anything that should be learned. if he cannot distinguish between good fun, and fun at another's expense, he should be punnished, and taught the difference between what is and isn't acceptable. if he still cannot tastefully goof off, let him study the comedians. so every humorous thing may have a special, and tasteful, witty remark. this was a project for english lit (a parody of "of studies"). i liked it, so i thought i'd put it up here. << back next >> |