How to create a Self-Image: for dummies

...Frank rarely read, he found it to be a tiring pastime. In fact, hardly anyone reads these days. But there was one exception. There was one book which nearly all twenty-third century citizens read and lived by; notwithstanding it was in e- format. Its title was "How to create your own personal Self-Image; For Dummies". It's influential equivalent is something like the Bible to Christians. Most of the world then, as now, lived and died by this pompous handbook.

...It had large glossy photo's illustrating different ways to reflect your self image by what you wore; from your underwear to your makeup. (And especially regarding makeup, the general rule seemed to be, wear plenty of it) At this time the fad was electric blue, it was the color currently believed to boost one's self esteem and came in all shapes and sizes. Black was also undoubtedly "cool", so it was worn heavily around the eyes. As a result many of your average citizens walked about black and blue; the living offspring of a brow-beaten society.

...Although most of the world was wearing electric blue, Frank preferred orange. It stimulated his creative drive, namely pursuing self-gratification. In light of this he often wore orange, ordered orange cars, bought orange furniture, typed his words in orange font, and drank carrot/orange smoothies. (I would have also said he used little orange pencils, but they are only relics of the day when people got "writers cramp". )

...Frank's favorite section in "How to create your own personal Self-Image: for dummies" is a chapter titled "Ten Ways to Flatter Yourself". Since you might appreciate an excerpt, the following is his favorite part of his favorite chapter of his favorite book.

..."Self gratification is to be arrived at by any means. One cannot depend upon others to deliver this essential need of the human body, a basic necessity. So rise above the thought that without others you cannot be successful or loved; the best person to appreciate and love you is you. Become independent, become what you want to be. The only one holding you back is you, so let go. Here are ten things to say to yourself, and do for yourself, which will encourage a healthy realistic view of life."

1. "Do for yourself what you think others ought to do for you"
2. "Always seek your own interests, others are doing the same so its in the interest of self-preservation."
3. "There is no such thing as selfishness, except for the state of being self."
4. "The Sky is my floor, I do not have a limit."
5. "Children are an extension of self, keep them that way. (It's hard to do this when you have too many)"
6. "I should not have to think for myself, that's why I have a sacrificing government."
7."I am the only thing worth living for, so I need to make myself worth it".
8. "My code of ethics should not tear down others self-image if it can be helped."
9. "Everything I do should be an expression of the beauty in me".
10. "Whatever I want can be obtained if I put my mind to it."

...Yes, Frank is sickeningly stuck in himself. As this chapter illustrates, but does this mean he has no hope? Stay tuned to find out....

Episode 2; Extraneous Roots...

...New buildings were popping up everywhere, like daisy's on a grave. Parts of the world were dying, dying of a self inflicted malady called population decline. Back in the twenty-first century a procedure was developed called abortion; it allowed people to control how many children they "produced" by killing off the unwanted ones. This appealed to the West, because of their lazy consumer lifestyles. It appealed to China because of its mass producing-busy one. And it appealed to the rest of the world because people could bear as many sons as they wanted, without any daughters.
...Because of all this, the world is now in the twenty -third century, 70% male and most Europeans are a dying race. (Europeans had not replaced the old generation with a new generation, so the economy was cut in half. No workers and no tax payers) And since most of the world had been so intent on producing strong sons, they forgot that even strong sons need wives for a society to thrive. As a result finding a wife was extremely difficult, especially since the girls that were left often had no "need" for men in their life; so most people did not marry, although they would "date" when they could.
...Also more and more men were becoming effeminate in a world where women were so scarce. Real men barely existed. Frank was a girlie guy, growing up he had always preferred the "chick flicks" over stories of heroism; and he would rather play "pin the crown on the princess" holographic board game than violent 3D video game simulations. In some this preference saved him from the opposite extreme; becoming a deluded macho, Machiavellian like, salivating over wars and rumors of wars.
...And if Frank was an average citizen, then what must the un-average have been? I won't even try to describe them; just remember that "un-average" can mean several things. It can mean un-conformed to the dictates of society, which in some cases can be good. (think here of homeschoolers and Christians) Lets be on the lookout for the un-averagers, we might have more in common with them than we think.
...Frank had come to a climax in his life, which branch of Blogeology would he major in? We could call it the climax of his life, for it is very likely he won't have another; unless that invisible Hand mercifully brings him a decision of another kind.
...For the first time in Franks life he was exhausted, and it was because he spent long hours searching for the answer to his dilemma. His parents refused to help him, smiling and saying "Only he knows, we had to go through it when we were his age too-it will soon be over".
...The extraneous roots of the problem were thus. There are several ways, answers which could be right, and each seems to fit. But only one will be the solution which shapes Franks life and his purpose. Of course, Frank didn't know that. He thought that all roots were simply roots, all jobs were simply jobs; and the decision affected nothing but his health in later life. "Do I want to be more or less involved, which will make me happier?" Clearly the "Releasing Blogs Agency" would be the easiest job. And it was the one which most people took.
... Then Frank met Art, an avid TSBD who loved his job. "There is just so much in there, Frank" he said. Art was enthusiastic, he actually liked his job! Frank felt strangely drawn to Art, who was quite unlike him in character. Art had even had a wife; though he had also had the misfortune to lose her to- but we won't go into that, Frank wasn't exactly sure how. Divorce rates are so high that its a miracle if a marriage takes place at all, now people are filing for divorce before buying the rings. The World record for the "longest marriage" of 2201 was ten days!(women were just too picky, after all there are so many men to choose from!) Frank knew Art had been married before 2201, and that his marriage had lasted longer that ten days; but since Art never talked about it, he never asked questions.
...Still, Art seemed a nice guy who enjoyed his job. And Frank liked him. So perhaps under the influence of peer pressure, or perhaps due to a crazy turn of mind, Frank chose the Top Secret Blogeology Division. And life went back to normal at least for now. Had he chosen the "root" or was he following an extraneous one down to its inconclusive end?

Meet Frank

Introduction; "Two hundred years in the future, Blogeologists are born."

...Some people are concerned with the rapid disappearance in the world today, of age old professions; like wheelers, wagon wrights etc... Since we no longer traverse the prairies in covered wagons, and have rubber manufactured wheels instead of wooden ones; this should not be a problem. There are some important concerns regarding the ways we live- especially the great accumulation of technology lately. But on a whole it seems that as society changes the new jobs needed would be created. (unless we invent machines that build machines to serve our every need)

...In a sudden flight of fancy the following came to me. Is it an accurate portrayal of the future? I certainly hope not, and only time will tell. I guess one day someone will know. For now it rests as a speculative hypothesis intended to amuse and educate. Don't take it too seriously, and do enjoy!

Frank the Blogeologist; Episode 1. "Cognitive Profession"

...Frank is an average person for his time, except that his name is on record as the longest for the year 2200. Sometimes growing up Frank wandered why his parents had named him such a long, difficult to pronounce and old fashioned name. It bothered him. Most of the kids at the highly developed school he attended were named short efficient names like "Bob", "Joe, "A.J", "K" and so on. ("K" being the favored abbreviated form of "Kathy" these days, it is said historically "Kathy" was the abbreviated form of "Katherine"-phew aren't we glad for modern common sense?)
...It seems every day that life just gets better and better for Frank. His career was programed into his brain as a young child-so he can confidently answer any questions on that regard. (Yes, people still ask "What are you going to be when you grow up?" The difference is that now there is a ready, literally downloaded set of answers available and expected. There are only so many careers on the list-so the questioner has a good chance of guessing before hand. "O, you are in training to become on Oculist-I can tell because you've already upgraded to the mechanical eye!) When Frank was a baby he was put through the normal routine of "life planning". A colorful assortment of 3-D video game sequences was downloaded before his face on a holographic screen, each was a demo of different politically correct lifestyles. Then based on his response an acceptable career was chosen. No parent would have the embarrassment of a child not knowing his chosen career at three years old, it was unthinkable!
...So Franks life growing up was appropriately fashioned to provide the greatest stimulation for his job, Blogeology. Yes indeed, Frank was entering into that respectable, if dangerous field. The government had created a careful course to help young blogeologist's in training form the needed safeguards which the job required After all, accessing the ancestors writings brought up many controversial topics contrary to the global peace which permeated every corner of the world. Those Ancestors were notorious thinkers; a dangerous pastime.
...Blogeologists are divided into tree distinct branches. Those who discovered the blogs and filed them, called Blog detection agency, BDA for short; those who cleaned up and edited the blogs of dangerous material before releasing them to the public, called TSBD or "Top Secret Blogeology division"; and finally, the division who took the selected files and released them to public domain for school use. Frank was not sure which branch he wanted to specialize in, and it was a constant source of irritation. To decide he would have to think, which was regrettable. In fact, Frank was not the only one frustrated with the governments inadequacy to provide up to date career choosing products. "If they have programs which can determine early on a career, why can't they narrow it down to a branch or specialty?" people whined.
...Perhaps M.J, Franks former school friend sums it all up best. Walking by, flaunting a new techno makeover and a stylized wireless ipod jewelry set she comments; "Gosh Frank, When you graduate like me soon, life will get hard! I mean, its like, I have to think, you know? Why can't they help us isolate our "specialty" as well as our job? I don't even know whether to go into the Pock star musical filming, or aim at a Rop setting! I mean, come on!Whats a world idol like me to do? (Pock and Rop are the emerging combined rock and pop cultures)
...Blogs are dangerous, too many were thinking in the twenty first century. And thinking is a waste of precious energy which needs to be conserved for the use of personal self-congratulation. The government say's "Thinking promotes conviction and change of personal habit, this tears down the perfect self-esteem we are each born with."So in the interest of self esteem preservation the buried level of blogs from the twenty-first century was isolated and a new field of profession was born, Blogeology. But what branch would Frank pursue?