Hi, I'm Eli Rose. I studied computer science and creative writing at Oberlin College and now live in Cambridge, MA.
This blog is for writing stuff down that would otherwise fly through and out of my life. Also, so other people can see it.
I am habitually analytical. It is natural for me to ask "why?" I am strongly driven to understand things in their essence, in simplest terms, and am often unsatisfied with explanations I feel are too complex or too surface-level. In other words I am driven to refactor my understanding, often in conversation with other people. My analytic nature leads to my enthusiasm for math, computer programming, literary + music criticism, science, and introspection.
I feel emotions very strongly. I cry or come close to crying pretty often, during difficult conversations or in response to art. Abstract considerations can cause strong emotion for me — for example, suffering in the world (negative) or an idea about our how we are all connected (positive).
Sometimes I will be unable to function normally because I feel so bad, even though there is no immediate cause. Other times I will spontaneously feel like everything is great. Both states last a handful of hours and end when I go to sleep.
I find I tend to speak too quickly, to say 'uh' a lot, or to mumble.
Other people's mental states have a big impact on me — for example, if two people are having an argument on the street, I will be disturbed for a while after I've passed by them. Same goes for social dynamics, even in conversations I'm not a part of. For example, I remember a conversation strangers had near me in a coffee shop in 2016, just because one of the participants said something embarrassing. If I feel that the social dynamics of a conversation are bad, it will distract me and I'll be less able to participate.