Pleasant Tales - Brendan Connell

[gveranon]

Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Veech

...what would a Pleasantist say concerning the following quote: "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." - Philip K. Dick

In that case, a Pleasantist would politely show reality the door.

[Justin Isis]

Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Veech

That makes me think of Bishop Berkely's own brand of idealism, i.e., phenomenalism. Regardless, what would a Pleasantist say concerning the following quote: "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." - Philip K. Dick

Probably something like, "Pleasant day outside, isn't it PKD! Hope you're enjoying this fine weather in the ontologically-concealed gnostic Roman Empire that never ended. BTW seen any more of those transcendentally rational, information-rich pink lasers from God recently?"

[Justin Isis]

"Two young sisters enjoy the gustatory delights of chocolate pudding. A healthy young man takes a walk in the park and offers sage employment advice to strangers. A sinner estranged from God considers turning over a new leaf. In this set of exceptionally brief and mild stories, very little conflict occurs, and the characters are not developed in any great depth - if at all. If you're tired of exciting story arcs and dramatic events, Pleasant Tales II expertly withholds the conventional rewards of fiction. A collection especially appropriate for juvenile readers and those utterly bored with the ancient and mercenary strife of the human heart."

PTII will be out soon...would have been out earlier but I felt that there was still conflict in the book that needed to be expunged...it is now more mild

[Invectivist]

Quote Originally Posted by Justin Isis

"Two young sisters enjoy the gustatory delights of chocolate pudding. A healthy young man takes a walk in the park and offers sage employment advice to strangers. A sinner estranged from God considers turning over a new leaf. In this set of exceptionally brief and mild stories, very little conflict occurs, and the characters are not developed in any great depth - if at all. If you're tired of exciting story arcs and dramatic events, Pleasant Tales II expertly withholds the conventional rewards of fiction. A collection especially appropriate for juvenile readers and those utterly bored with the ancient and mercenary strife of the human heart." PTII will be out soon...would have been out earlier but I felt that there was still conflict in the book that needed to be expunged...it is now more mild

fuego

[Justin Isis]

Pleasant Tales II also contains "The Vague and Terrible Uncertainty" which was previously posted on this site...the story is an attempt at a Ligottian story except with a happy ending as normally Ligotti does not include super pleasant resolutions

[Evans]

For curious readers I can confirm: reading Pleasant Tales induces a mildly optimistic state of mind in which it is possible to assess Life’s problems constructively.

[Mr. Cheev]

Quote Originally Posted by Justin Isis

Pleasant Tales II also contains "The Vague and Terrible Uncertainty" which was previously posted on this site...the story is an attempt at a Ligottian story except with a happy ending as normally Ligotti does not include super pleasant resolutions

Quote Originally Posted by Evans

For curious readers I can confirm: reading Pleasant Tales induces a mildly optimistic state of mind in which it is possible to assess Life’s problems constructively.

I can't tell which post made me laugh harder.

[Mr. Veech]

Quote Originally Posted by Evans

For curious readers I can confirm: reading Pleasant Tales induces a mildly optimistic state of mind in which it is possible to assess Life’s problems constructively.

Well, I imagine too much pleasant thinking ultimately leads to suicide for sensitive souls because it doesn't conform to reality. The pessimist lives according to reality, i.e., he or she acknowledges facts.

[Evans]

Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Veech

Quote Originally Posted by Evans For curious readers I can confirm: reading Pleasant Tales induces a mildly optimistic state of mind in which it is possible to assess Life’s problems constructively. Well, I imagine too much pleasant thinking ultimately leads to suicide for sensitive souls because it doesn't conform to reality. The pessimist lives according to reality, i.e., he or she acknowledges facts.

Not at all; in the confirmed pessimist pleasant tales induce a warming sense of defiance. The pessimist feels listless and angry with himself for failing to die then along comes a pleasant tale and suddenly his veins are filled with blood again, his heart with fire - his will to live affirmed he must rush to the internet to neutrilise the optimistic threat and thus justify his new found lust for life.

The pessimist moralises; the cold, indifferent cosmos does not care. The pessimist moralises;the warm, pleasantly disposed cosmos decides the pessimist needs cheering up and sends a new volume of something deliciously bleak, Benetar maybe or Rosenberg. You know which world you live in ;)

Edit: although I am disappointed in this forums poor emoji range. Posts as pleasant as these warrant garlanding with flowers, smiling suns and kittens.

[Mr. Veech]

I'll indulge in antinatalism/pessimism from time to time when I'm all by my little lonesome. For now, I have a special meeting with a special someone, so I'll gladly put aside all things morose. Some might call that "inconsistent," but I prefer to call it "human."