Questions Answered

Am I gonna be posting answers to questions that did not get read on camera. (Some questions that did get read on camera, may be edited out, tough luck on those.)



I did this thing with Active, where people send in questions over the internet, then a camera guy comes and films someone asking me the questions, and me answering them. Then they post it on their website and YouTube. There were so many questions that I though I would answer some that were edited out here:



Here we go:



Sean says:

February 3, 2010 at 12:42 pm

Q: Ed, if you had one question to ask yourself and that question would win you some cool stuff from one of your sponsors, what would that question be?

A: So I get to ask myself a question? That I know how to answer? And the consequences of this question being answered correctly is get free stuff from my sponsors? #1, they are my SPONSORS, that means I get free stuff already! #2, the consequences of getting free stuff does not make this question very important. So to answer you, my question to myself would be: Why do you even spend time blogging?



drane says:

February 3, 2010 at 3:07 pm

Q: ed, you seem to be incredibly prolific and responsive to life -what do you think your ‘purpose’ in life is? if you believe to have that all figured out, how and when did you settle on the answer, and have you ever second guessed this? has your ‘calling’ changed over time? what led you to finding the path you are on now and do you feel there is something you are really supposed to be doing? or are you just existing doing what feels good/what works?

A: These are some loaded questions! It would take a book to fill the answers properly, but I will attempt to do it in a very short manner. Purpose in life? I know we all grow up with this idea that everyone has a "purpose." but that is bullshit. We are all born - something we have no control over, and like any animal, need to survive. Where you are born and by what parents, again, we have no control over. The circumstances into which you are born will be the biggest deciding factor of your life. I happened to be born in Southern California, and relative to the rest of the United States and the entire world, that is a pretty lucky birth, even if my family was poor, and my dad was an asshole. I was born into a rich suburb- (relative to the rest of the state, country, etc.) -a big leg up. My purpose is the same as yours, through total random chance I was placed where I am, and all that is left is survival. Survival is relative too. For me to survive I had to navigate my family, my schooling, my society, and what is expected of youth in my society. So for us in the USA survival means do good in school, get a nice job. Pursue a hobby, maybe even get famous. These things get falsely labeled as "purposes." Since we are calling Survival "Purposes" now, I can move to your next question, When did I figure it all out, and have second guessed it? I don't have it figured out, I never will. People who say they have it figured out are liars, or filthy rich, or both. I have been very lucky to have made a life doing things I love to do, not many can say that, so I feel very fortunate. But I don't have all the answers. And as far as second guessing. Even for me, with so many things to be thankful for, of course you second guess. There is always the question of "What if?" Has my "calling: changed. Yes. I have been transitioning from a person who functions as a paid athlete, (a finite endeavor as age progresses,) into a company owner, and artist. Everything is constantly changing and no goal is fixed, they always move. I don't have feelings that there is something else I should be doing, and for sure I just do what works, but with guidance towards an ideal.



Vinny says:

February 3, 2010 at 3:08 pm

Q: I heard you’re currently searching for the next heir to the toy machine throne (since you’re getting so old and stuff) and that 5 boards in the next Toy Machine deck series are going to come secretly packaged with golden tickets, kinda like a willy wonka maneuver. Is this true, Ed?

A: No



dave kleiser says:

February 3, 2010 at 3:13 pm

Q:I don’t read much, so when I do I like to make it count. Out of all the books you would have a 22 year old caucasian artist/musician read, what's the one book you think I should read?

A: I would say stick with the classics. Read some Mark Twain, or Kurt Vonnegut. Cat's Cradle I liked. I really like Jerzey Kosinski, so I guess I would say you should read "The Painted Bird" by J. Kosinsky.