The evolution of this blog is as much an evolution in my own growth as a human on this planet and as a writer, but that makes for a pretty narcissistic introduction. This is actually my second blog, having anonymously authored the now defunct www.culturaldissent.com where I anguished over many ideas that were not only new to me, but at the time, both complex and scary. It makes me think of something bell hooks said in Teaching to Transgress about how learning, when it is truly meaningful knowledge—in that it forces one to look at the world through new lenses—can actually be a pretty painful process.

Let me explain. If you construct your identity around specific ideas and views about the world and your place in it only to find out they’re wrong, it is easy to get disillusioned, even resentful toward the world and the people around you. Myself included, this happened to a lot of people I knew in my early 20’s.

Henry David Thoreau said, “Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.” This is a dark time, filled with suffering, uncertainty, and widespread inequality. It is natural that we feel the trauma. It is important that we are not afraid to experience this anguish, this anger, this fear as it is still proof that we are alive. Just remember that “to suffer with” is the literal meaning of the word compassion. And none of this is to say that there is not much beauty and good in the world. Because there is. And you can read about it here.

Feel free to contact me. If you feel I can be of some help to you in any project, event, or workshop you might be organizing, I’m usually up for anything.

kyle[at]undertheconcrete[dot]org

Also, check out my online writing portfolio at kyleboggs.com

If you’re interested in simply reading all the unedited columns I have written for The Noise, click on “column” on the side bar of blog post catagories.