Janet Collins
Billy MFear Is the Mindkiller
January 23rd 2007 13:02
Guns don't kill people. People kill people. Someone once told me that if you have extensive training in Karate, then you are classified as legally armed. And what I just told you could be false - that is to say that neither statement is completely factual. In any possible universe, in any realm of imagination, everything is a matter of perspective - and more importantly, whose perspective.
When electro-metallists Fear Factory wrote their EP compilation "Fear is the Mindkiller", what exactly were they trying to say? Was it just a cool name, that seemed so fitting for a Death/Thrash metal band? And why was that record just a remix of "Soul of a New Machine"? I'm sure that no-one took much notice. But your mind provides the structure of who you are, who you intend to become and your reason for getting there. Without that, how we are any different from any other organism on this planet?
But what happens to your mind when you become afraid? I mean completely, pathologically frightened. It can be the most destructive force we know. This is when the metaphysical transcends reality and becomes its own problem. This is when you consider that may not make it through that moment, that you might get hit, that you may die - this is when your mind begins to race and the realisation of what you fear would be less painful than the fear of its occurrance.
Fear as a weapon is entirely more dangerous in a democratic society, in which we are taught freedom, choice and the notion of being at the mercy of no other than your own desires. Is the fear of terrorism worth avoiding public events? But if you do go and something happens... then you'll be sorry. But is false security really worth a trade for freedom?
Maybe fear isn't the mindkiller. Maybe it's the overanalytical mind that destroys itself....
I need a rest.
The inspiration for this post
But what happens to your mind when you become afraid? I mean completely, pathologically frightened. It can be the most destructive force we know. This is when the metaphysical transcends reality and becomes its own problem. This is when you consider that may not make it through that moment, that you might get hit, that you may die - this is when your mind begins to race and the realisation of what you fear would be less painful than the fear of its occurrance.
Fear as a weapon is entirely more dangerous in a democratic society, in which we are taught freedom, choice and the notion of being at the mercy of no other than your own desires. Is the fear of terrorism worth avoiding public events? But if you do go and something happens... then you'll be sorry. But is false security really worth a trade for freedom?
Maybe fear isn't the mindkiller. Maybe it's the overanalytical mind that destroys itself....
I need a rest.
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Comment by David
I'm reading your post ... and thoughts are coursing through my mind like ... 'Fuck ... this is so deep and profound ... I'm going to have to spend an hour digesting this post and then write some 'wow' comment ... but I get to your last line? ... And just piss myself laughing ... What a great post ... !!! ...
David ... (phew ... I don't have to write anything profound myself ...
But man? Your mind? ... Deep as man, deep as ... I love it ... (in a non-gay way okay? ... *
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Someone in the band may have been reading the book.
It was part of a small prayer or affirmation that people told themselves when they needed courage. A bit like "though I walk throught the valley of death..."
I found it an interesting concept and very true in many ways. The concept was based upon understanding what fear is logically so that you can reject it logically.
Full points for anyone who was able to put it into a song.
Comment by AnthonyB
Thank you for your kind words. I try to come up with cool things to say, but doesn't always work. You, however - you've always got great, and recent, material on your site. How do you do it, Dave ? HOW ?!
The end was so natural too. I got sick of asking questions, and I needed sleep - so just lucky I wrote it at night. Else I would've tried to answer my own questions for hours.
Thanks for everything, David !!
My Apologetics, Damo (hehe, I like that). I didn't realise it was a novel first. Thanks for correcting me and crediting the literature.
It is an interesting concept ! I know many people who are badly affected by inhibitions and the concept of other people watching and judging them and the like. One of them - usually quite stolid - turned around in year 10 camp and said, pale from fear, "what the hell is that?" it was a tree casting a shadow, but he thought it was some guy in a cloak with a knife.
Thanks for the background info. And thanks for posting guys !!
- Anthony
Comment by JoshZ
A Simple Christian
Fear is the mindkiller, it is the small death that leads to ultimate oblivion. I will let my fear pass through me, then I will turn my inner eye upon it. Where it was, there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
Or something like that.
Great post though. I need to hang here more often.
JZ
Comment by AnthonyB
I don't always write about fear and death but maybe I will.. seems to possess the same properties as that movie... Happy Feet ? Yeah that's the one
"had the audience floating out of the cinema on feel-good clouds" EXACTLY like this post !
Thanks again Josh !!
Anthony