A Writing Contest... with a Hidden Agenda
I’ve been pondering. Something us old timers like to do.
How about a writing contest... of sorts. Beware! There is a hidden agenda buried somewhere in this post.
One of the ways I practice my writing, besides Steemit, is with writing prompts. Not just any random writing prompt.
I use the “popular highlights function” for the books I am reading on my Kindle app to generate my prompts. Then I write my thoughts, feelings, and ramblings stirred up by the quotes. In this contest, so will you.
Here’s how it works. This will be simple. (I hope)
I will post a quote or highlight from a book on my current reading list.
I may or may not post my writing sample based on this quote. I haven’t decided yet. This idea is still evolving. I don’t want to influence your response.
What’s your part?
In the comments section below, you will write your response to the posted quote. What thoughts does it make you think? What’s your inspiration? Agree or disagree? Anything goes as long as it’s your original response.
Your response will be between 50 and 100 words, no more no less. Writing things like “Good quote.” won’t cut it. This is a contest, but the hidden agenda is to put you in touch with your inner writer. You’re welcome.
You must Resteem the post on your page because any votes you get for your response may help me decide the winner. I will check.
That’s it... simple. And a rather effective way to practice your writing.
What’s my part?
I will decide the winner. Based on all the rules being followed and if I like your reply. Make me laugh. Make me cry. Shock me. Inspire me! But don’t bore me. (Just kidding, I’m never bored.) And upvotes may figure in to the final decision, I’m not a despot.
When I announce the winner, I will transfer 1 SBD to the winner at the end of the 7 day period the contest runs. That’s One Steem Based Dollar to the winner.
If the participation and popularity support the contest, the prize may increase in future contests.
The rules and conditions are subject to change as flaws or improvements to the structure of this contest become apparent. I’ll let you know.
It begins here... Writing Contest Number One
Here is the quote I chose to start the contest...
Read it once, or twice, or even three times and let your inspired words flow.
"Man was born to turn the world into a paradise, but tragically he was born flawed. And so his paradise has always been spoiled by stupidity, greed, destructiveness, and shortsightedness.”" from "Ishmael: A Novel (Ishmael Series)" by Daniel Quinn
I look forward to your responses below.
I believe man was born flawed but he has a freewill to choose and decide what his future may be. The world today is at stake of torture and destruction but I think the wreck future can still be altered if we decide to do so. This is a two-way quote which means taking care of natural environment and human's sanity plus good will. Both solutions should start from each one of us and not depend on other people because that will lead to more destructions.
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If humanity as a whole considers itself to be the apex of creation, why do we consider ourselves flawed? We don’t believe any other creatures are born flawed. What if our flaws are acquired after we are born by a flawed belief system? How can we see through it to the non-flawed other side?
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No one is born perfect that's why we make mistakes. Yes, we are on the top of the food chain because we can do what other animals can't: create new things and think about the world deeply. We can think beyond survival of the fittest that's why we are above all creatures. We are flawed basically because we're not robots. Animals make mistakes too like when they accidentally kill their brother in a wrestling match or made a wrong decision in hunting for a prey. We are perfectly imperfect because that is when we learn from our imperfections.
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I held my newborn children and all of them were perfect. The damage is done by the culture we instill. That is changeable.
It is an illusion we are at the top of the food chain. The tiniest virus could add us to the list of extinct species in short order. Our numbers and actions make that more likely all the time.
Would that be a mistake? Or simply the consequences of our own culture-driven robotic behavior. Yes, we can learn from our mistakes, undesirable outcomes, negative feedback, and accidents. Do we? Can we? Will we?
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Yes, I agree with you that the damage is done by our culture. Honestly, if culture is to blame for this we cannot escape the reality that our children and children's children will also be subject to the negative side of society. As for the virus, man creates the virus because if we take care of mother nature then our environment will be cleaner. Truly man is a form of destruction that's why I will not be surprised if one day, we will be the one extinct because of the culture we are living in. And yes, we can learn from our mistakes but of course, it is still our choice to learn. Everything is a choice.
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My first writing contest is over. Thank-you to all who participated.
@emdesan was chosen the winner of the 1 SBD prize.
Watch for the next installment. I’m looking to make some changes. I think next time, besides the winning prize, all entries will get a bit of SBD.
Until next time... keep writing!
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Thanks @beyondordinary for the prize. I will keep on supporting you and spreading the word for your future contests. Thanks again!
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very nice
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@moneyinfant has added your contest to the list Steemit Writing Contests: Issue #52. The list is updated on a daily basis and your contest will remain on the list until its expiration - there's nothing you need to do.
The list was created to save writers the excessive amount of time spent searching through the #contest tag for writing contests. Now they can just come to the list each day, see new contests and use their time doing what they love - writing.
If you'd like to help spread the word about the Steemit Writing Contest List I'd really appreciate a resteem, but it certainly isn't necessary. The project is simply meant to help writers save time and contest creators attract more contestants.
P.S. If you know of any contests I've missed I'd love to hear about them. Thanks!
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Agree with this. Man is stupid, greedy, destructive and shortsighted, and this inevitably ends up tainting the world.
One step beyond this is man's capacity for change - more specifically, a change for the better. I think if everyone looked inward and tried to fix their own issues (as well as other atrocities, of course) the world would be a much better place. The external world, both on an individual and global level, is a reflection of the internal.
If everyone tried a bit harder, we'd be one step closer to paradise.
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What would you change to make things better?
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Start with myself - if I haven't got my shit sorted, how am I ever going to sort anyone's else's shit? Work on being less greedy; be more open-minded; see 'other' as myself. Easier said than done, though...
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We have the double-whammy of being intelligent creatures.
We have the ability to make things better... but also the ability to destroy.
Often, we use this intelligence to destroy one another and the planet at the same time! We seem to enjoy this paradise, but it's those who never seem to have enough who destroy it the fastest.
Even religion - a device by which we can choose to improve ourselves and our relationship with the planet - is often used as a weapon to destroy our brothers and sisters - a point proven by a casual study into genealogy.
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Do intelligent creatures destroy the environmental systems and processes necessary for survival?
Some religions believe that we are best thing to ever happen, and should dominate other life forms on the Earth because of god-given permissions. We are exterminating 200 species a day. Species that perform necessary functions in the environment. Is that rational behavior?
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"Man was born to turn the world into a paradise, but tragically he was born flawed. And so his paradise has always been spoiled by stupidity, greed, destructiveness, and shortsightedness."
If you give a man a fish or utopia he will want more. He is a greedy conqueror and peace confuses him. So he will destroy something to have something to fix. He will destroy social traditions to reconstruct new social values. He ironically destroys again to go back to "simpler" times. He is for and against change. He will cure most fatal diseases and be against vaccines.
Because, in grand scale of things a purposeful effort is an oxymoron and man distracts himself with this chaotic cycle of stupidity of reconstruction. There cannot be everlasting heaven. Nothing truly lasts.
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Why do you accept the premises and assumptions in the quote? The belief we are born flawed provides justification for the evil we do. What if we are not flawed?
Always? What do we do right?
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The evil is justified to the wrong doer. It is rational to him and consistently logical. In adherence to context of right and wrong a man is born with the blueprint that will drive his endeavors and guide his nurturing. Much of it is circumstances but not really. His moral compass and affiliations are his design. He will act on behalf of his cumulative choices and someone else perceives it as good or bad, thus right and wrong and good and evil are relative. So if there is not any absolute the needle can be nudged left or right to fit the definition of what is evil. Therein comes the conscience which one in ten doesn't possess and the rest posses in a range of degree so what is evil to one is funny to another.
So evil is not quantifiable even in a range. It is the necessary dogma to regulate a society in peace time, completely malleable. Evil is just the other side of line society draws called law and asks everybody to not cross if they want benefits of social contract. Evil is just a narrative which in broader perspective is no more than a utilitarian disaster.
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