People living in metropolis are subtly heavily loaded with societal pressure. Walking at a pushing pace are women wearing high heels and men clad in business suits. We are economic animals who are struggling harshly inside the tall cement trees and bathing subconciously in unlimited desires and uncountable dreams. Time and bodies are rented out to the lucky masters; strength and talents are for the benefits of the stronger and cleverer survivors. The real characters and tactics of each bread-winner of us rarely come forth to the screens, for these are secret weapons that could move us higher or to the contrary, fatal bugs that would bring us down and even dead. We, the city dwellers, have already accustomed ourselves to this complex cage.

Innocence and naivety are turning rusty and may eventually vanish. Sometimes, we find ourselves straying from the track we used to follow. Our acts no longer belong to our conciousness but purposes. We are getting confused or gradually lost in dreadful constraints, in scrumptious temptations, in ignorant influences, and in suffocating competitions. The original meaning of things we learnt in the past are interpreted from a different perspective today, and will not stop changing. What we think and how we feel of a particular issue will change as a result of what we experience and how we are taught to deal with it in other related or non-related matters.

I wonder what is human nature. Are we born good and taught evil, or born evil but tamed good? I also wonder what is good and what is evil. Who is just enough to be the judge? This question came across my mind as I read Death Note — a dark and controversial Japanese comic that is of suspense, psychology, and supernatural. The main character who possesses good looks and rare super-intelligence is a mass killer but claims himself as justice of the world. People in metropolis are sort of like him as a matter of fact, always thinking themselves as right and thus doing things the way they think that is right. Like-minded people come together and mingle up, and killing silently the odds and executing the opponents.

We are wounded in battles in metropolis; ideals are left in ruins. Although most winners would like to share what they won with the less fortunate, this does not ensure eradication of misfortune. Unfairness exists in every corner — some are given more and better opportunities to success since birth; some, however, have not even been provided with the most fundamental securites of living till death. But we cannot place the blame on anyone, anything. Not to look at the world in a macro picture, just look at our fingers for micro view: there are 10 fingers of different lengths linking together in the hand. This has apparently demostrated the absolute existence of unfairness, and that nobody can really do anything about it.

Is everyone fed up with the situations and surroundings? I don't think so. Some are pretty good at playing camouflages and can make all headaches and troubles manageable after all neccessary but unnoticeable practical trainings. Some have become numb to challenges and transformed into a kind of machine that will upgrade itself once they have to overcome danger. After climbimg a mountain, they find another one, intentionally or unintentionally, to climb over. They find it very interesting and exciting. However, some who fail to go on due to exhaustion may consider end the game unwisely.

The New York, London, Paris, and Tokyo cultures are penetrating every market across the world now. Their impacts on the new age people, especially ones in the melting pot Asia, have been enormous and significant. These are metropolises that have been brainwashing the cosmopolitan societies and creating new cultural trend, if not revolution. The Big Four Cities are the spiritual leaders of the modern world; labels and tags, and ideas and thoughts they create are automatically marked as the standard of good and beautiful.

I very much enjoy living under lights and noises; I don't quite like living under lights and noises. I love metropolis; I don't love metropolis.

Now Playing:
Water From A Vine Leaf
William Orbit