[allimsaying]

I'm not talking about the darkness of depression. I know about that. What I mean is like dark poetry, dark music, dark movies. Why is it so appealing?

[Hellion]

It's interesting and I can relate to much of it.

[allimsaying]

Thanks Hellion. Is it something you love? How would you feel without it? What would you replace it with? Does it help with your feelings? Does it sometimes create your feelings? I dont know where Im going with this but thanks for humoring me.

[WrongTurn]

Originally Posted by allimsaying

I'm not talking about the darkness of depression. I know about that. What I mean is like dark poetry, dark music, dark movies. Why is it so appealing?

Its appealing to me because in general I am a pessimist and see a lot more darkness in the world then light.
Most of the imagines we are presented with in the media are false, or at the very least exaggerated. I dont want to see smiling, happy, successful people.
I dont want to constantly see the happy ends
I dont want to see good triumphing over evil
Not when I see and experience the opposite in my life

[allimsaying]

Thanks WrongTurn. I definately understand how you feel about seeing more dark than light. Some days I cant even see a flicker of light. Its always in those times I have to try to find hope somehow, anyhow I can. I cant bear to live in a world as dark as the one Ive felt in my heart and soul at times. Then I realized seeing only darkness was happening to me because that was where I focused my attention. Just a little searching confirmed for me there was ugliness and unkindness everywhere. I felt this way day after day, week after week, month after month. Ive slowly learned to change my focus.

Most of the images we are presented with are someones manufacturing scheme. I dont want to be a sucker for them or anyone. I dont mind seeing smiling happy people tho (but I admit there were times when I hated that). It reminds that life can be good.

Im sorry life has been the opposite for you.

[whenwillitend]

i don't know what the dark side is, all i know is they have cookies.

[allimsaying]

There being half truth in all humor is it ok to say the light is equally endowed with yummy recipes?

[0w6c379]

I think the dark side is appealing because it is somewhat taboo. It is not generally accepted or approved by the masses.

[allimsaying]

That is a thing about the dark side. WAAAAAY back when I was young there were some things they told me to avoid. Dark magic was one of them. Inclusive of that I have placed so called dark arts. I really try to have an expanded mind and imagine things going full cirlce so I can imagine that life is death and death is life, yet, I worry in light of recent current events. Also, I have tried to avoid whatever the masses believe. Thank you Michelle.

[Hellion]

Originally Posted by allimsaying

Thanks Hellion. Is it something you love? How would you feel without it? What would you replace it with? Does it help with your feelings? Does it sometimes create your feelings? I dont know where Im going with this but thanks for humoring me.

I enjoy darker music, movies and other related things quite a bit and don't really know what I'd do without it. I'd probably feel even more disconnected from everthing. In my opinion it helps me deal with my feelings, it can create feelings but usually because the lyrics remind me of things I've experienced. I usually find music helpful but sometimes i can't even enjoy that which is depressing.

[lindammarie]

I've been thinking about the dark a lot this holiday season. Reading dark poetry, watching dark films, listening to dark music, praying dark prayers -- I think those things give me something to which I can relate. But I'm not so down on "dark". I simply think it is the other side of "light".

When a seed is planted, it must go into the dark to grow. The womb is a dark place. The night is dark, but it enables us to see "lights" that would otherwise go unnoticed....

Kind of like that old song, "Turn, Turn, Turn"... to everything there is a season.

[allimsaying]

Originally Posted by Hellion

I enjoy darker music, movies and other related things quite a bit and don't really know what I'd do without it. I'd probably feel even more disconnected from everthing. In my opinion it helps me deal with my feelings, it can create feelings but usually because the lyrics remind me of things I've experienced. I usually find music helpful but sometimes i can't even enjoy that which is depressing.

Thanks for your honesty Hellion. It saddens me to think that you have become so despondent that even your music cant lift you up but I can relate. I hope you know its not my intention to make you feel worse in any way. As I was thinking about this thread it occured to me that for some, this music, this entertainment genre, may be the only lifeline many are able to connect with in thier most isolated times and in that way it has a positive purpose by bringing hurt and suffering people into a place where they can connect with the feelings of being human. The feelings of loss and sadness validated when there are so few IRL willing to listen and take time to understand. I would feel like a monster to want to deprive anyone of that deeply needed connection so my purpose is not to ostracise. I have many emotional responses to your statement. Most of all I just want to reach out and tell you that I feel your vulnerability.That Im impressed with the bravery with which you are facing your conflict and dilemmas. I have always had a dificult time expressing my inner thoughts and I have hope that your ability to self explore will take you farther, quicker, than my own self analysis has.

Intellectually I am struggling with how to express my exact opinon of the influence 'dark' material may have upon someones psyche. My own psyche in particular, but others who are struggling and may not yet be aware of how important it is to moderate our intake. Once I was young and thought it a good idea to try everything once. Now I am not so sure. Those little 'parental guidance suggested' warnings mean more to me now than they did then. I suppose I would do nothing diferently if I had a do-over. How can I know a thing is harmful unless I try it myself? Maybe they are just trying to keep me from enjoying what they themselves are afraid to enjoy? How would I know a thing unless I had studied it and learned what its potential dangers and harms are? How can I just take somebody elses word for it?

Finally I am beginning to realize something many people learn early on. That the existance of something does not make it evil or bad. But it gives us a choice. We can make what we feel are the most healthy choices for ourselves (YAY Freedom!) and in that way prepare ourselves for the best things to happen to us instead of the worst. Years of stumbling and recycling my previous mistakes have taught me to filter my intake and question the true health value of of some consumables. I wish you the best in your journey, I hope this hasnt harmed you, you truly seem to me to be a gem amongst us.

[allimsaying]

Originally Posted by lindammarie

I've been thinking about the dark a lot this holiday season. Reading dark poetry, watching dark films, listening to dark music, praying dark prayers -- I think those things give me something to which I can relate. But I'm not so down on "dark". I simply think it is the other side of "light".

When a seed is planted, it must go into the dark to grow. The womb is a dark place. The night is dark, but it enables us to see "lights" that would otherwise go unnoticed....

Kind of like that old song, "Turn, Turn, Turn"... to everything there is a season.

Deep and true lindammarie. A very well balanced view in my opinion, and healthy too. And still in my head I hear the cries of those trapped in some dark, lonely, cold, place from where there seems to be no return and sadly, for some, there is none.

i do agree with what others say here...

i'd be lost without the dark music/ movies.

i can relate a lot as well

with me, it matches my mood.. so if i stick with it, then i feel alive

[lindammarie]

Originally Posted by allimsaying

Deep and true lindammarie. A very well balanced view in my opinion, and healthy too. And still in my head I hear the cries of those trapped in some dark, lonely, cold, place from where there seems to be no return and sadly, for some, there is none.

My heart grieves for those trapped in any sort of darkness. I remember visiting Mammoth Cave when I was a child. They turned out the lights at one point and the darkness was so heavy you could feel it.

But I do try to keep the word "balance" in mind.

At any given time, most of us seem to lean toward the dark or the light. And how far we lean seems to fluctuate for most of us...

It bothers me, though, when I feel pressure (often from myself) to pretend like I'm always leaning toward the light. That pressure, I think, sometimes makes me over-emphasize my feelings. It sort of takes away the ability to simply "be".

Unfortunately, many times people around us aren't comfortable with letting us "be"... That, too, makes life difficult.

[allimsaying]

Originally Posted by shattered sanity

i do agree with what others say here...

i'd be lost without the dark music/ movies.

i can relate a lot as well

with me, it matches my mood.. so if i stick with it, then i feel alive

Its important to find something that makes us feel alive. Thanks S.S.

[allimsaying]

Originally Posted by lindammarie

My heart grieves for those trapped in any sort of darkness. I remember visiting Mammoth Cave when I was a child. They turned out the lights at one point and the darkness was so heavy you could feel it.

But I do try to keep the word "balance" in mind.

At any given time, most of us seem to lean toward the dark or the light. And how far we lean seems to fluctuate for most of us...

It bothers me, though, when I feel pressure (often from myself) to pretend like I'm always leaning toward the light. That pressure, I think, sometimes makes me over-emphasize my feelings. It sort of takes away the ability to simply "be".

Unfortunately, many times people around us aren't comfortable with letting us "be"... That, too, makes life difficult.

My heart grieves with yours linda, I suppose thats why Ive come here to PC, because I just cant abide watching the suffering lonely without doing something, even ill prepared, to express that I care and would like to help anyone in need. Ive been there. Im sure that's why youre here too.

Getting a bit off topic, but as for balance, something Ive noticed as Ive begun to spiral out of my depression is that the precepts of living in balance is another way of saying its ok to be down. For me, it isnt so I have tried to move away from having balance and try to move more "upwards".

Im sorry that you or any of us have felt uncomfortable at anytime in being ourselves

[lindammarie]

Originally Posted by allimsaying

My heart grieves with yours linda, I suppose thats why Ive come here to PC, because I just cant abide watching the suffering lonely without doing something, even ill prepared, to express that I care and would like to help anyone in need. Ive been there. Im sure that's why youre here too.

Getting a bit off topic, but as for balance, something Ive noticed as Ive begun to spiral out of my depression is that the precepts of living in balance is another way of saying its ok to be down. For me, it isnt so I have tried to move away from having balance and try to move more "upwards".

Im sorry that you or any of us have felt uncomfortable at anytime in being ourselves

I agree with you... and it takes a lot of discernment to know whether one needs to move "upwards" or "downwards". Maybe all of us are moving toward our OWN balance, you think?

Once I was told I had turned to "the dark side" because of my political beliefs. Funny -- because I'm guessing those who agreed with me may have thought I was "on the side of light"...

I think it is hard (maybe impossible) to judge peoples' motives and such. And often our judgments create even more suffering in the world...