Obsession
Who is Roland without his obsession?
Who are we without our obsessions?
These questions are running all around in my head for days...
Can we really blame Roland for anything when we think about our own crazy things and manias??
It's a thread about obsession.
Do we create our obsessions or do they create us? Who are we without them? Do we find them or do they find us?
If Roland hadn't got hooked on the Tower... would he have found something else? Another cell?
Roland would have understood.
Obsession is what make us human.
My obsession is writing, hence the name, but even though I may be obsessed, I still find it difficult to pursue it. Ideas come and go like flowing water.
you need to get an idea canteen to catch it all.
i'm obsessed with good stories, pizza, art supplies, trying to project my astral body, and coffee.
I hear what you are saying here Nikolett and I say thankya. In my humble opinion I don't think Roland was obsessed with finding the tower, but I think he knew his sole PURPOSE in life. Maybe their much the same and mayhap you need at least a little obsession to fulfill your purpose but I don't believe so. I think obsession, true unbridled obsession, is unhealthy. Take things in moderation and you will lead a much more healthy life. So I guess my question is can you fill a purpose in life without obsession?
"As for gunslingers, Roland," Cuthbert says, "I am here. And we are the last."
When two fit, it makes you think
I got the cute one, my woman
She says, "Lovin's all I bring"
And it's her loving that's a wonderful thing.
Lovin' yes we are, it's such a wonderful thing
When two fit it makes you think
See us both in the black
She lays on me so relaxed.
-Big D and The Kids Table
idea canteen
I like that
Originally Posted by J. Todd Hash
Well spoken. I see your point, and say thankya. There is a connection between obsession and purpose, but they don't rule each other. To answer your question, yes, i believe it is possible to fill you purpose without entire obsession, but let's face it, there will be some obsession in your quest to fill it.
Very insightful
1. What? Oh please tell me about it more. Why do you think so? I think he was absolutely obsessed with finding the Tower. For me it's not a question so I am damn interested in your view.
2. I don't say I don't agree because there is a lot in what you say but I have questions here, too.
Why is it unhealthy?
I think there are things we cannot control. We aren"t lords we are humans.
3. What's your answer to your own question, dear?
Roland would have understood.
I just never saw Rolands quest to the tower as an obsession. I've always seen it as his sole purpose in life. When I think of obsession, I think Rea of the Coos depleting herself staring into the Pink Grapefruit. Peeking more and more for longer periods of time even though it was destroying her. I see The Prisoner as an obsessed character. I see Eddie on a mission.
"As for gunslingers, Roland," Cuthbert says, "I am here. And we are the last."
When two fit, it makes you think
I got the cute one, my woman
She says, "Lovin's all I bring"
And it's her loving that's a wonderful thing.
Lovin' yes we are, it's such a wonderful thing
When two fit it makes you think
See us both in the black
She lays on me so relaxed.
-Big D and The Kids Table
Is Roland the exception? Him?
He would have been able to give up everything -e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g- for it. What is it if not an obsession?
Roland would have understood.
someone who knows how to get the job done. I do hear what you are conveying, say thankya. I never really saw it that way. You have shed new light.
"As for gunslingers, Roland," Cuthbert says, "I am here. And we are the last."
When two fit, it makes you think
I got the cute one, my woman
She says, "Lovin's all I bring"
And it's her loving that's a wonderful thing.
Lovin' yes we are, it's such a wonderful thing
When two fit it makes you think
See us both in the black
She lays on me so relaxed.
-Big D and The Kids Table
Why did he look for the Tower?
Just because.
Because he wanted to see it.
To feel its bricks under his palm.
It's not a job.
Eddie told him once he's a Tower junkie... a prisoner like him. I think Eddie could see into Roland's soul.
Roland would have understood.
Well I agree it was Roland's obsession - infact, I think J, that the point was conveyed very strongly in the books, but thats whats so great about forums - you learn its never the same perception for two people
Without his Tower obsession what was Roland? A man who was passionate about the way of the White. Maybe not always a sympathetic man, but an honest man, and honesty is hard but just as far as I see it.
What a nice answer, Lisa.
I can feel love from your words.
Roland would have understood.
I have endless love for Roland
You are most similar to Jake.I have endless love for Roland
You have endless love for Roland.
You are hot.
*keeps thinking*
We really must be relatives.
Roland would have understood.
sisters is it then!
You are most similar to Jake.I have endless love for Roland
You have endless love for Roland.
You are hot.
*keeps thinking*
We really must be relatives.
I love seeing stuff like this. You are right Letti, you guys have much in common.
The kindness of close friends is like a warm blanket
SPOILERS
It seem there is a misinterpretation here. The tower wasn't Roland's obsession, it was his addiction. Roland even says 'the tower calls me'. An obsession doesn't call you, but an addiction does. As we all know from the ending of the book Roland continuously seeks the tower. Roland is a slave to the tower, to 'ka' and essentially admits (without outright declaring it) that he is a slave to it's whims. An addict is a slave to their addiction, often resorting to dark deeds to fulfill their needs.Spoiler:
Last edited by Jean; 09-20-2007 at 11:41 PM. Reason: spoiler tags added
Actually, if you look up addiction in a thesaurus, obsession is a given alternative - as are: compulsion, craving, dependance, fixation and habit.
I don't know yet what I think of the difference between the notions that Mattrick has given (haven't had the time to think), but I am sure distinguishing between notions is good heuristics; very often it, even when seems hair-splitting, in fact helps us understand lots of things previously concealed.
Ask not what bears can do for you, but what you can do for bears. (razz)
When one is in agreement with bears one is always correct. (mae)
bears are back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, in this context I think Mattrick's definition of an addict is no different to that of someone caught in the midst of an obsession.
Mattrick, you say: An obsession doesn't call you, but an addiction does. And I would beg to differ. An obsession overrides your mind, it posesses your thoughts, all you want to do is indulge in your obsession - thats pretty much a calling I'd say
it's not easy for me, not being a native speaker, but I would say it was obsession rather than addiction; if a distinction had to be made, I would say that you can be addicted to processes (not necessarily having a goal - such as gambling that can go on endlessly), and obsessed with something that can be completed/solved/achieved, like seeing the Tower or saving the world.
Ask not what bears can do for you, but what you can do for bears. (razz)
When one is in agreement with bears one is always correct. (mae)
bears are back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Darkthoughts and Jean~ Love the conversation that occured above.
Great insight
When half of your friends become addicted to heavy drugs you can then tell me obsession and addiction are the same thing. They clearly aren't. Look at the definitions.Well, in this context I think Mattrick's definition of an addict is no different to that of someone caught in the midst of an obsession.
Mattrick, you say: An obsession doesn't call you, but an addiction does. And I would beg to differ. An obsession overrides your mind, it posesses your thoughts, all you want to do is indulge in your obsession - thats pretty much a calling I'd say
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/obsession
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/addiction
Vast differences.
An obsessed fan might so, break into a house and wait for a pop star to sleep before getting a lock of their hair or root through their garbage but there aren't too many of them willing to steal and kill to support their obsession. In the instance of drugs, a junkie may do ANYTHING in order to get a fix.
Eddie called Roland 'a tower junkie' because Eddie understand addiction and being enslaved by something.
Mattrick, my dear, I love to debate - but I'm always wary of debating with someone such as yourself who appears to take everything very personally. You have no idea whether or not my friends have had such battles - yet you assume they haven't and try to belittle my opinion because of it - debate should be objective, that comment was not. As a matter of fact a close friend of mine died from his heroin addiction a few years ago...and still, obsession and addiction are very similar terms in my mind.
I wouldn't say vast at all. Also, those sites are wiki type sites that can be edited by members...I prefer to use something more solid for debates:
Encarta World English Dictionary:obsession 1. PREOCCUPATION an idea or feeling that completely occupies the mind 2. STATE OF BEING OBSESSED the state of being obsessed by sb or sth 3. UNCONTROLLABLE PERSISTENCE OF IDEA the uncontrollable persistence of an idea or emotion in the mind, sometimes associated with psychiatric disorder.
addiction 1.DRUG DEPENDANCE a state of physiological or psychological dependance on a substance, especially an illegal drug or one liable to have a damaging effect 2. DEVOTION great interest in sth to which a lot of time is devoted.
So if you check out definition 2 for each (and definition 1 for obsession to also compare to def.2 for addiction), they have a meaning in common - depends on the context.
So breaking into someones house and taking their hair isn't theft...not to mention mildly disturbing!? Plus, look at John Lennon's murder...the product of a serious obsession. A junkie may do anything, but someone who is obsessive may do anything also - because they are both extremes of behaviour.An obsessed fan might so, break into a house and wait for a pop star to sleep before getting a lock of their hair or root through their garbage but there aren't too many of them willing to steal and kill to support their obsession. In the instance of drugs, a junkie may do ANYTHING in order to get a fix.
Yes, Eddie could empathize with Roland's obsession - Roland was enslaved by the tower Eddie was enslaved by drugs. It doesn't differentiate between the two in this example really.Eddie called Roland 'a tower junkie' becuse Eddie understand addiction and being enslaved by something.
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