individualism, freedom and the Machine

[Bhode_Sativa]

ok so i've been rolling over the issue a littlebit last night, and maybe i could approach it from another angle.
"think for yourself, schmuck"
is this really such a good idea?
because if everybody would only think for themselves, it would be kinda hard to keep this whole civilisation/society/culture thing going. since it's all rather complicated and we're reaping the benefits of structures that are much larger than ourselves, you have to have cooperation and especially some people to keep a birds-view perspective on things.

Ditch civilization/society and adapt culture so that we can all live on the planet without fucking it up, which would be the height of self-interest and interconnection with other people and the rest of the world too.

[B_M_W]

ok so i've been rolling over the issue a littlebit last night, and maybe i could approach it from another angle.
"think for yourself, schmuck"
is this really such a good idea?
because if everybody would only think for themselves, it would be kinda hard to keep this whole civilisation/society/culture thing going. since it's all rather complicated and we're reaping the benefits of structures that are much larger than ourselves, you have to have cooperation and especially some people to keep a birds-view perspective on things.

Ditch civilization/society and adapt culture so that we can all live on the planet without fucking it up, which would be the height of self-interest and interconnection with other people and the rest of the world too.

Okay. You go first.

[hunter s.durden]

ok so i've been rolling over the issue a littlebit last night, and maybe i could approach it from another angle.
"think for yourself, schmuck"
is this really such a good idea?
because if everybody would only think for themselves, it would be kinda hard to keep this whole civilisation/society/culture thing going. since it's all rather complicated and we're reaping the benefits of structures that are much larger than ourselves, you have to have cooperation and especially some people to keep a birds-view perspective on things.

Ditch civilization/society and adapt culture so that we can all live on the planet without fucking it up, which would be the height of self-interest and interconnection with other people and the rest of the world too.

Okay. You go first.

Awesome reply!
It's the old easier said than done. Do people realize how hard it is to just be. Lets say I want to leave behind the bullshit of my current society (i'm trying). So I go to live in the woods. I'll build a shack and harvest my own food. Uh oh! Those woods are privatly owned by Ted Turner, and the King dosen't want the surfs killing his deer. In the Modern Fuedal system we live in it is really easier said than done.
I'd ask someone on here for advice, but since we are all using computers, i'm guessing you're just as stuck as I.

[P3nT4gR4m]

Agreed. So, given that talking about it is gonna get us nowhere and action is ultimately going to accomplish much the same, where do we go from here?

[LHX]

Agreed. So, given that talking about it is gonna get us nowhere and action is ultimately going to accomplish much the same, where do we go from here?

go in as deep as we can, understanding that we are gonna get crushed

keep on broadcasting what we find and tactics to keep going further

make the knowledge available to people who are looking for it

go into unknown regions

be intelligent about it

figure out a way to enjoy what you have been taught to be afraid of

do it on your own terms

etc

[hunter s.durden]

Good Ideas.
I twisted myself in circles for years with this "unexamined life isn't worth living" buisness. I wasted so much time examining shit that I never had any fun. I still search for better ways, but i'm in it for the laughs. All the learning I get is just a bonus. I'm having some fun and bringing people with me. Nothing to regret here.

I believe in subjective reality. If you're fine with who, what, and where you are, whats the problem?

[LHX]

I believe in subjective reality. If you're fine with who, what, and where you are, whats the problem?

obstacles

there is fates worse than death currently occurring on this planet

[P3nT4gR4m]

Good Ideas.
I twisted myself in circles for years with this "unexamined life isn't worth living" buisness. I wasted so much time examining shit that I never had any fun. I still search for better ways, but i'm in it for the laughs. All the learning I get is just a bonus. I'm having some fun and bringing people with me. Nothing to regret here.

I believe in subjective reality. If you're fine with who, what, and where you are, whats the problem?

You, dude, are well on your way to becoming my second favourite person in the whole wide universe!

[B_M_W]

I believe in subjective reality. If you're fine with who, what, and where you are, whats the problem?

obstacles

there is fates worse than death currently occurring on this planet

And it seems that there always has been
and always will be


So,

Its best to keep on your toes yo.

[LHX]

weve covered a lot of ground recently...

[Bhode_Sativa]

I'm having a hard time adjusting to the futility of it all.  I see people like Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, Alexander The Great, Einstein, and many others who really did change the world, and I think "Why shouldn't I try to do what I can?  Maybe if I yell loud enough I could change a few minds.  If I manage to be in the right place at the right time, what's to stop me from changing something?"

I don't think I'm as smart as those guys, but I'm just not comfortable with giving up.  Why not fight until I can't anymore?  Yet I get this nagging suspicion that my energy might be better used in other directions, I just haven't figured out what.  That's why I come here, to expose my mind to other intelligent people that have a similar view of the world, even if the details differ, in the hopes that I might learn something and/or benefit someone else.

[vexaph0d]

you are told that you are your occupation, your possessions, your reputation.  you are not your thoughts or your ideals.  you are what you do.

the Idols (ghandi, einstein, buddha, marilyn monroe) are NOT their occupations or their possessions. they get to be defined as their ideals, their beliefs, their actions.

this way, you make yourself incapable of achieving greatness -- not because you cannot for some inherent reason be a great person, but because you must always identify yourself completely outside of the entire framework of definitions you use to identify those who are "great."  this is a forced illusion, splitting "who i can be and what i can do" from "who i am now and what i have done."

we are fed this cognitive instruction set that is essentially a complete fabrication.  in truth, no one is 'great,' but some get more media coverage for reasons that shift all the time.

[Bhode_Sativa]

I hadn't thought of that.  Good call.

[P3nT4gR4m]

You are here to to experience the universe. Enjoy it.

Just saying.

[Bhode_Sativa]

I've been working on my education lately with books about how fucked up the world really is.  It's had a negative impact on my enjoyment level, but a positive one on my information about what's really going on.  I'll be happy again soon, I just need to adjust.