The "Bah" of Defiance
So things are progressing at a normal three year old pace with Isaac. As I may have mentioned, everyone who actually HAS kids, says the terrible twos are a myth - it's when they turn three that things get interesting.
So now Isaac has a number of very cute phrases he uses regularly.
"That's Brilliant!" which I think he picked up from Bob the Builder.
"That's tragic" which he picked up from me...only when I use it, I'm being facetious. He doesn't get that.
But the one that really gets us, is if we ask him to do something (or for that matter tell him) or especially if we tell him that he has done something we don't approve of - i.e. Do NOT stand in Sam's baby seat, you're going to break it - he knows he will get a good talking to if he says "No!" (which he does sometimes anyway).
So in his little boy craftiness, he has hit upon a response that indicates his displeasure, without (in his mind, anyway) being outright defiant. And that sound, is a loudly shouted "Bah!" as in "Bah humbug."
In fact the more he gets in trouble for saying "No", the more "Bah" seems to be surfacing. It's getting to the point where we're going to have to take steps - we really need to stay one step ahead of this kid all the time. Either way, I'm sure "Bah" will be replaced with something more subtle, but at the same time quite defiant.
Unfortunately, this is a kid who absolutely hates
a) Being told what to do, when it's not his idea in the first place, and
b) Being told not to do something he is currently doing, no matter how destructive, dangerous, or just annoying it is, because if he wanted to stop doing it, he wouldn't have started in the first place, now would he have?
Even more unfortunately, the apple didn't fall too far from either tree on this one.
One of my favorite scenes in the Matrix, is where Mr. Anderson is in his boss' office at the software company, and his boss begins to intone
"You have a problem, Mr. Anderson. You beleive you are special. That the rules do not apply to you. Clearly, you are mistaken."
It's brilliant foreshadowing by the Wachowski brothers, because as the movie progresses, we see that the rules don't apply to him, and he can in fact fly, dodge bullets, etc.
I do love that scene though, from a strictly authoritarian point of view. I wonder how many people in our call centre get told a message not dissimilar to this on a regular basis, and wish that for them, the ending would turn out to be more of a heroic adventure (a la Matrix) rather than a final written warning, and a "perp walk" back to their desk.
I think that's why the Matrix resonates on so many levels - because at it's heart it is about one man single handedly taking on a "system" so vast and pervasive that most people not only participate in it, but do it totally unwittingly.
But I digress.
The reason I bring all of this up, is because there are days I feel like having the Mr. Anderson talk with Isaac. I know it's going to have to happen at some point. I am going to have to explain that he is bound by the rules of "the house", or "the school", or "the law", or "gravity" (can't you see him jumping off the roof with a cape on?), and I know he is not going to like it.
I think I will try and delay him seeing the Matrix for as long as possible.
So things are progressing at a normal three year old pace with Isaac. As I may have mentioned, everyone who actually HAS kids, says the terrible twos are a myth - it's when they turn three that things get interesting.
So now Isaac has a number of very cute phrases he uses regularly.
"That's Brilliant!" which I think he picked up from Bob the Builder.
"That's tragic" which he picked up from me...only when I use it, I'm being facetious. He doesn't get that.
But the one that really gets us, is if we ask him to do something (or for that matter tell him) or especially if we tell him that he has done something we don't approve of - i.e. Do NOT stand in Sam's baby seat, you're going to break it - he knows he will get a good talking to if he says "No!" (which he does sometimes anyway).
So in his little boy craftiness, he has hit upon a response that indicates his displeasure, without (in his mind, anyway) being outright defiant. And that sound, is a loudly shouted "Bah!" as in "Bah humbug."
In fact the more he gets in trouble for saying "No", the more "Bah" seems to be surfacing. It's getting to the point where we're going to have to take steps - we really need to stay one step ahead of this kid all the time. Either way, I'm sure "Bah" will be replaced with something more subtle, but at the same time quite defiant.
Unfortunately, this is a kid who absolutely hates
a) Being told what to do, when it's not his idea in the first place, and
b) Being told not to do something he is currently doing, no matter how destructive, dangerous, or just annoying it is, because if he wanted to stop doing it, he wouldn't have started in the first place, now would he have?
Even more unfortunately, the apple didn't fall too far from either tree on this one.
One of my favorite scenes in the Matrix, is where Mr. Anderson is in his boss' office at the software company, and his boss begins to intone
"You have a problem, Mr. Anderson. You beleive you are special. That the rules do not apply to you. Clearly, you are mistaken."
It's brilliant foreshadowing by the Wachowski brothers, because as the movie progresses, we see that the rules don't apply to him, and he can in fact fly, dodge bullets, etc.
I do love that scene though, from a strictly authoritarian point of view. I wonder how many people in our call centre get told a message not dissimilar to this on a regular basis, and wish that for them, the ending would turn out to be more of a heroic adventure (a la Matrix) rather than a final written warning, and a "perp walk" back to their desk.
I think that's why the Matrix resonates on so many levels - because at it's heart it is about one man single handedly taking on a "system" so vast and pervasive that most people not only participate in it, but do it totally unwittingly.
But I digress.
The reason I bring all of this up, is because there are days I feel like having the Mr. Anderson talk with Isaac. I know it's going to have to happen at some point. I am going to have to explain that he is bound by the rules of "the house", or "the school", or "the law", or "gravity" (can't you see him jumping off the roof with a cape on?), and I know he is not going to like it.
I think I will try and delay him seeing the Matrix for as long as possible.
posted by Jason Allen at 9:11 PM
1 Comments:
you know, i've really got to say this whole matrix obsession with you is really getting rather tiresome...in fact, I think it has moved beyone obsession and has reached a borderline personality disorder with you. I feel at best you could be referred to as a "Neo-phyte." or at worst, you're Matrixly retarded. Now I know this is not anything that would fall into the realm of political correctness, but personally I think you to be a man, nay, a boy in possession of little more than down covered testicles. You heard me. You sir, do not have the true Cahones of Waterfowl. But you are well aware that there are others amongst us, one large burgeoning, movie obsessed man in particular, (where is my casablanca tape you thieving bastard!?) that do in fact posses the feather-covered testes of true manhood, and you fear this man. As wise old Clubber said, 'Why you duckin' me Balboa?'. I will await your response, you know where to find me...and if nothing else be sure to drop by a new blog that will be starting up soon, Musings and Mayhem...coming soon to a blogspot near you. Ps.-you keen fashion sense won't save you this time Buffy. I throw down the gauntlet, oh Downy-T. Are you man enough to pick it up? Do you own a phone? Why does Noelle stay around? Probably the same reason Jody stays here, we make them laugh. Contact me soon little one, there is much to discuss.
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