f.1 what is fluidity?
One of the three tenets of my professional designs is fluidity, with the other two being intuity and utility. What, then, is fluidity? In design, it is the ability to effortlessly switch or transition between on task, screen, or action, to the next. But what is fluidity in humanity?
To answer this question, one must first define what it means to be human. Biologically, one must be of the species homo-homo-sapiens to be human, but nothing else. Many people often speak of “being human,” but of what exactly do they speak? Furthermore, how does that relate to fluidity? (The relationship between humanity to utility and intuity shall be discussed in a subsequent posting) Foremost on my mind as I write this is the intrinsic ability of some people to “bend” whereas others are quite rigid. I disdain stereotypes of any kind, but I find that the less educated one is, the more likely one is to be on the “rigid” end of the spectrum.
Fluidity is not, however, synonymous with flexibility. When discussing the precept of fluidity it must be understood that in this context, there are no synonyms. Fluidity is the ability to move with, around, under, over, and through obstacles in our journey in life. Indeed, humanity is the journey that we experience from birth until death. Whatever comes after death, if anything at all, transcends humanity. The degree to which one agrees with the likes of Heidegger, Jaspers, Marcel, and Sartre, and the philosophy of existentialism, may have broader implications with respect to how fluid one views life. Predestiny is the belief of serving the wishes of some form of providence – in my opinion – goes against the very nature of self-determination and free will.
Theology is a relevant topic that has come up frequently in my recent discussions with friends, all intelligent, with varying viewed thereof. I do not judge the rightness or righteousness of any individual view except the level to which I personally agree or disagree with said view. Unlike facts, which are provable and largely immutable by definition, individuals are and must be entitled to opinions. To prohibit freedom of opinion is utterly against fluidity. Each individual’s fluidity is unique, and where two people’s lives intersect there ranges a level of turbulence from zero to extreme. The more disconcordant two people’s worldviews are, the more the convergence resembles white-water rapids. The most turbulent interactions I find are people who have faith versus the people who have blind faith. To those who have blind faith, it is the equivalent of driving down a busy highway and closing one’s eyes for thirty seconds and blinding having faith that you will open them again unscathed. (Note: I do not recommend you attempt said exercise)
One correlation that I have through my own, unofficial research is that the more one embraces and embodies fluidity, the happier one tends to be. When troubles arise, those who are most fluid find away around, under, over, or through the trouble with the least disturbance in their daily purpose. Troubles range from frustration at a long-red-traffic light to death of a loved one. (Interestingly, the more fluid one was, the more likely he or she was to believe that death is a natural part of the cycle of life instead of a thing to be feared.)
Unfortunately, it seems that fluidity is largely intrinsic and involuntary; some people are just not fluid by nature. While I don’t necessarily ascribe this to genetics, I find that telling people who are not fluid to “go with the flow” to be as effective as demanding a sinestrous person to suddenly become dexterous [c.f. Latin definitions.] Predispositions aside, I wish for maximal happiness and, yes, fluidity in your life and that when you encounter difficulty, that you can overcome it in the most fluid way your nature allows.
-fin-
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