God vs. reality (check)

[joeactor]

Hey all,

I just got a reply on another forum that raised my hackles something fierce...  Here's the story:

I'm a Voice-Over actor and participate on several forums.

Recently, a newbie posted a welcome that told how he does call-center work, and was told he has a good voice, and went to a local (Christian) radio station and cut a VO demo.  He's heard from others that he "should be in radio" all his life...

My reply was to welcome him to the forum, let him know there was good info available for beginners, and plenty of folks to answer questions.  I also told him that having a good voice is just the starting point, and that a lot of hard work normally happens prior to being ready for a VO demo.  I asked if he had any other acting experience (a must, trust me).

The response I got was brief, mentioned God at least 6 times, and let me know that he had no acting experience.  Basically, it was all about what god wanted of him, would make things happen, etc.

I've chosen not to reply at this point, but it definitely ticks me off.

It's like someone telling you that you have good hands and should be a mechanic.  Without any prior knowledge or training, you go to Sears and buy a huge box of tools, show up at the local garage, and expect to be hired!

Anywho, I'm mostly just venting, but I really don't know what to say to someone who is so disconnected from reality.

What's your take on all this?

Thanks for listening,
JoeActor

[crocofish]

It's just part of the religious culture to credit god with skills.  On awards shows and after sporting events, I frequently see people thank god for them winning.  Skill, hard work, or luck really allowed them to win, but the audience sees the winners thanking god for the victory.  It leaves people with the impression that they just need god to hand them the victory.  The people who did not succeed aren't quoted as thanking god for losing.  Sometimes they will say "I guess it was not god's plan for me to win".

With self-help books like "The Secret" being extremely popular, it reflects what a lot of people want to believe.  In those kinds of books, working hard for a goal is secondary to wishing for something to happen and letting some supernatural power do the work for you.

[Smarmy Of One]

I find it odd that this person was seeking advice from strangers about something that "god" chose them to do.

Hmmm ...  

[joeactor]

I find it odd that this person was seeking advice from strangers about something that "god" chose them to do.

I agree... why solicit advice if god's gonna take care of it for you?

Oh, and Crocofish, I'm wishing for you to have a corned beef on rye sandwich... lemme know when it shows up ;-)

[Will]

Apparently, god wants me to be an atheist.

I wonder what the young man would think of that.

[susangail]

This is just the religious, God-following mindset. Everything is in "God's plan". From the time I was 5, I was under the impression God wanted me to be a missionary when I grew up. I was positive about it. All because my dad gave me a Kenya coin when I was 5, so I thought it was God's way of saying I would evangelize there when I was old enough. I had never even heard of Kenya until then.

I can see how it is really annoying though. Here's something you've worked hard at and then this guy comes along, saying he can do it without working at it because God says so. I'd be pissed.

Apparently, god wants me to be an atheist.

I wonder what the young man would think of that.

Nice. I also wonder what that guy thinks about those people who say God wants them to kill people in His name.

[Smarmy Of One]

This is just the religious, God-following mindset. Everything is in "God's plan".

It is also a copout. People invoke the will of god when they are afraid that their plans will not work out. It absolves them from the responsibility of being a failure if they don't succeed. Then, like Crocofish was saying, if they do fail, that person can claim they misread the signs and god must have a "greater" plan for them.

 

[joeactor]

Thanks gang - I knew I could count on you for a bit of support and a tad of comedy!

Will: somehow I don't think he'd get it... ;-)

Sue: you hit the nail on the head.  That's why I'm pissed!

I think actors (and others too) have a tendency to constantly compare ourselves to others.  If someone "makes it", and either has a very easy time climbing the ladder, or doesn't seem to have much in the way of talent, it irks us.

Best to focus on my own path, do the best I can, and not be distracted by others.
... and if I can help a few others on their path, good.

Happy Just-Another-Day,
JoeActor

[crocofish]

If someone "makes it", and either has a very easy time climbing the ladder, or doesn't seem to have much in the way of talent, it irks us.

Success is a mix of hard work, skill, and luck.  You can't do much about the "luck" part; it is just the outcome of a random process.  You can control how much effort you put into something, and that affects the probability of success, but there is still a chance of something less than success.  And some people can have little skill or don't put in much effort, but there is still some chance they will make it big.  Yes, it is irksome, but life is a random process that sometimes seems unfair.

[Kylyssa]

Giving God credit for success is one of the things that makes me sad about religion.  It compounds the idea of original sin and the idea that everyone is sinful.  So basically, you're a piece of shit without God and anything great you do is just God working through you.  I've known a few people who experienced quite a few self-esteem problems due to these ideas.

To the original question - oooooh it makes me so mad when people do that!  I worked as an award winning florist up until I became disabled about a year ago.  Years of training are involved and after 17 years at the profession I still feel there's more to learn and discover.  I couldn't tell you the number of women I've encountered through the years that felt they had a God given gift and needed no training to be florists.  It's not brain surgery but it is a skilled trade which one learns through classes and on the job training, not through divine inspiration.  The very idea is demeaning to any skilled professional.

I think some people use the concept to feel better about themselves.  They haven't accomplished anything and they like to feel what you have accomplished is a gift from God so thus you have really not accomplished anything, either.

[Smarmy Of One]

Those are all really good points. I also think giving god credit for your success is a form of arrogance. If a person thanks god for their success they are suggesting that god took time out of a hectic heathen smiting schedule to anoint them with a gift.

That's one of the reasons we know there is no god. No god would be blessing some piece of shit pop star with a grammy. He would be breaking them out in sores or filling their Miata with locusts.  

[McQ]

Joe, I can see why this would get to you. It would me, too. He simply doesn't understand anything outside of god's plan for him. susangail nailed it. As much as it gets to you, I think that if you respond, you should take the high road as much as you are able. The thing is that he won't get it if you try to show him the reality of the amount of training he'd need to be a real pro. Well, at least most likely he won't.

Most people don't understand how difficult acting is, especially voice artists. Like any profession, it takes years of training, and a lifetime of honing skills.

Most likely this guy will have a small and short "career" in local stuff, and never go beyond that.

[joeactor]

I'm really glad I posted this... Nice to know that others go thru the same bull...

Can't wait to see a Locust Filled Miata!

JoeActor

[Evolved]

Life has a cool way of rewarding those that work hard for what they want - and it has an equally cool way of making those that don't work hard fall flat on their faces.  I wouldn't be concerned in the least about this particular individual's god-given gift.  He might as well walk into a physics class without studying.  If you're really quiet, you might hear the thud.

You know what really chaps my ass?  When people thank god for other people's hard work.  Any time that I hear a weepy parent/child/spouse thank god for the "miracle" that a surgeon performed on their loved one, it makes my blood boil.

[susangail]

You know what really chaps my ass?  When people thank god for other people's hard work.  Any time that I hear a weepy parent/child/spouse thank god for the "miracle" that a surgeon performed on their loved one, it makes my blood boil.

Yeah seriously! Like when my sister passed the RICA (a crazy hard exam you have to pass in order to be a teacher), me and my mom jumped up and down screaming "OMG you passed the test! Yay Sandra!!!" and my dad's response was "praise God!" when my sister was the one that worked her ass off, not God.