The Violet Platypus

Sounds You Can Trust in the Noise

We live surrounded by noise.

Information floods our screens every day: truths, half-truths, outright lies.

Finding something trustworthy within that chaos isn’t just helpful; it’s necessary for survival.


Metaphor in the Cracks

Ellie is born, The Last of Us (HBO)
Screenshot from HBO’s The Last of Us, used for commentary.

I rewatched Season 1 of The Last of Us recently in preparation for Season 2. One detail from the finale stood out: Ellie is born immune to the zombie fungus at the exact moment her mother is bitten.

This isn’t just for dramatic effect.
It's symbolic.

Ellie represents a new generation born into broken systems:
People who develop resilience despite chaos and dysfunction.

The Fireflies, desperate for a cure to the fungal infection that collapsed civilization, represent institutions that exploit youthful idealism, pushing Ellie towards self-sacrifice for their own ends. Marlene, the Fireflies' leader, claims confidently, “This is what she’d want,” speaking for Ellie rather than truly considering her best interests.

Joel sees through this ruse clearly. Haunted by loss and protective instincts, he makes a difficult and controversial choice: rescuing Ellie at the cost of killing Marlene and the medical team, and later lying to Ellie about what really happened.

Joel’s decision is deeply complex, driven by trauma and fierce love. Beneath it lies a critical truth: sometimes clarity means protecting agency even when it's costly or unpopular.

Great storytelling doesn’t just entertain. It exposes what’s broken and dares us to imagine what could heal.


A Familiar Pattern

This echoes something very real:

Institutions frequently exploit young people’s idealism, energy, and willingness to sacrifice for greater causes.

Consider unpaid internships, idealistic political campaigns, or social movements often driven more by institutional ambitions than genuine youth agency. Young people’s hunger for meaning is often co-opted and bent toward agendas they don’t choose, control, or even understand.

Protest sign that says `Question The System`
Does this solve anything?

Systems cling to dysfunction and silence those who might transform them because genuine change is threatening.


Why This Hit Me

I grew up immersed in confusion.

Uncertainty wasn’t abstract. It surrounded me. Within that chaos, you quickly realize that confused systems protect themselves, not truth or clarity.

Like Ellie, I've experienced others dictating my purpose, using my desire to make a difference for their own ends. Like Joel, I’ve faced moments where clarity demanded tough, unpopular decisions to preserve my own or someone else's integrity and agency.

Survival becomes about learning to clearly see truths that others might prefer you overlook.


Today’s Lens

Today, as a software developer and amateur athlete, clarity is essential in everything I do.

In coding, clarity is fundamental: messy logic breaks apps, wastes resources, and consumes valuable time.

Visual Quicksort - a common and efficient sorting algorithm
Visualization of quicksort, a common sorting algorithm.

In cycling, clarity isn't simply about speed or power. It’s about rhythm, presence, and systematically filtering distractions until only breath, pacing, and bodily connection remain.

Both disciplines reinforce Joel’s crucial insight:

Clarity is the ability to distinguish signal from noise, even when clarity demands difficult choices.


The Systems We’re In

Educational, political, and technological institutions often amplify chaos.

They don’t always intentionally deceive.
But they frequently reward the loudest voices, drowning out quieter, more authentic truths.

Attack on the senses.
How do you combat these distractions?

In these environments, clarity becomes an act of rebellion and defiance. It’s the courage to notice, name, and challenge distortions directly at its source.


Practicing Clarity

Clarity isn't innate; it's a skill cultivated through deliberate practice.

Like controlling breath in athletics, clarity can be intentionally developed:

It requires quieting immediate reactions long enough to actually hear what's being said.

It means regularly asking yourself:

  • What’s really happening here?
  • Whose voice is being amplified, whose is being silenced?
  • What truths remain after emotions cool?

Why This Blog Exists

This space exists for those who notice the noise but refuse to accept it as inevitable.

  • If you feel overwhelmed yet not defeated.
  • If you see brokenness yet believe it can and should be mended.
  • If you value clarity, agency, and integrity in a noisy world:

This space is crafted specifically for you.

Person breathing out cold air in the dark.
When is the last time you breathed cool refreshing air?

What to Expect

I won’t pretend to have all the answers. Instead, I’ll share honest stories, thoughtful experiments, and reflections on navigating chaos and reclaiming clarity.

You’ll find here:

  • Personal narratives about clarity within confusion
  • Experiences building (and sometimes breaking) systems
  • Honest insights on navigating complexity
  • Practical strategies for sharpening perception amid distractions

My aim isn't to preach. It's an invitation to explore openly, together, one thoughtful post at a time.


The True Goal

Not merely surviving,
but truly thriving.

Beyond resisting chaos lies a greater challenge: creating meaningful order within it.

Like Ellie, we might be born into fractured systems. But like Joel, we’re not powerless. We can reclaim our clarity, agency, and purpose.

Each of us has the potential to turn confusion into clarity, and noise into truths worth trusting.

Welcome.

Sunny path in the mountains of upstate New York.
A quiet path in the Catskills, NY