What is The Machine™

[P3nT4gR4m]

?? you want to take it even further into the direction of the metaphor-taken-too-far/cast-too-wide?

The machine as a self replicating fractal seed.

[/brainfart]

[Triple Zero]

i've seen self replicating fractal seeds ..

they're funny.

UNTIL THEY SWALLOW YOUR BRAIN

and those spirally thingies have razorsharp edges.

[LHX]

yeah its not verifiable

like i said before - there are a few conversation-enders in this philosophy we deal with
the 'we are all one' perspective is one
the 'if there was no machine we wouldnt even be here' perspective is another


the realization that most of the illest music is the result of wickedness and suffering is not a pleasant observation in and of itself


'put enough pressure on it and watch - it explodes!'

yeah - thats us


all things bad are directly or indirectly attributable to the machine



we live in a place where we are forced to do things which seem unnecessary

can we visually observe whatever it is that is causing this? no


but we can make deductions

in that regard, what RWHN said is pretty sharp

[P3nT4gR4m]

the realization that most of the illest music is the result of wickedness and suffering is not a pleasant observation in and of itself

We strive for luxury and comfort and all things sugar and spice but, in doing so we create collateral suffering. Then, when we've found our comfy bed and the struggle is over, we lapse into depression because our zest for life has vanished. The hideous realisation dawns that it's the shit we deal with that makes us feel alive and, from the doledrums, the cycle repeats itself.

This is the oil that greases the wheels of the machine.

[LHX]

there is a balance to be had in not striving to achieve illusions


zest is as natural as breathing

and if it isnt, then it prolly means a person needs some sleep

[P3nT4gR4m]

there is a balance to be had in not striving to achieve illusions


zest is as natural as breathing

and if it isnt, then it prolly means a person needs some sleep

Personally I feel most alive when I'm pushing myself to the limits. Climbing a mountain, paddling a kayak through some stretch of water that I've no business expecting to make it out of alive, or wrestling with stolen adobe software trying to make a religious programme. It's the struggle that makes the success worth it.

[LHX]

i dont know about 'worth it'

bottom line is - your life is either exciting and fulfilling or it isnt

and if it isnt, and you dont take it upon yourself to make it exciting and fulfilling, it will eventually be made that way for you

there is nothing more exciting than not being sure if youre gonna make it thru the night / hour / minute

and when you are in that situation often enough, it becomes second nature


these are no universal truths

just some conclusions that i seem to be coming to

[P3nT4gR4m]

i dont know about 'worth it'

bottom line is - your life is either exciting and fulfilling or it isnt

That's what I meant by worth it. Worth is weighed by me and me alone and triumph over adversity is the only currency I count. I savour moments of peace, tranquility, happiness and good sex but those only hold value to me in light of the bad stuff.

[LHX]

interesting

the thrills and spills


now that i re-read my post - it seems that there can be a difference between 'exciting' and 'fulfilling' as well


fulfilment can possibly be found in ways other than excitement

but excitement is a sure-fire way to get the job done



if you really want to make your life full, all you have to do is put yourself in a catastrophic situation



there are places where boredom does not exist

[Benaclypse]

Sometimes striving is thriving.  I know my life wouldn't be complete without strife.

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The Machine is seven billion people seeking survival and seven kajillion corporations that will only sustain several million Masters of society.  The Machine is a trillion dollar terminator super army gunning countries into the ground and a bazillion industries that refuse to live in balance with nature.  The Machine is Grayface lording the black iron prison and suffering his own ball and chain the size of an empire.  The Machine is mass
morality and a glitch in the conscience.  The Machine is a monkey wrench sabatoging its
own gears.  The Machine is the virtue of human's pride and the vice of human's pride.  The Machine is unstoppable, but Chaos always humbles the Machine down to less than a microchip.

[Triple Zero]

if you really want to make your life full, all you have to do is put yourself in a catastrophic situation


there are places where boredom does not exist

THANK YOU SIR MAY I HAVE ANOTHER SIR

no but seriously thank you (and silly) for saying that, i think needed to hear that.

fucking catastrophic situations and their trying to make my life "interesting" hrmpf! i'll show them grtfrgrtffggrr..

it's funny how something seemingly boring period of waiting can suddenly turn "interesting", when time gets short.

[LMNO]

The Machine is a monkey wrench sabatoging its
own gears. 

Niiiiice.

[AFK]

I don't know, it's pretty concrete in my mind.  My visualization of it may be wrong, but I like it goddamnit.  To me, The Machine(tm) is the force that was created when civilized societies emerged and thus created pressures.  Pressure to be a certain way, pressure to do things a certain way, pressures to live a certain way, etc., etc.  Explicit and Implicit.  It's the hidden drive that tries and mostly succeeds to drive our inner drive.  It's what makes you forget yourself and forget seeing yourself.  I know this all sounds metaphorically mumbo jumbo but I guess when I think of it, it's pretty obvious.  Again, that's my perception of it. 

I like your perspective on it, but if there's any element of evangelism to it, I think you'd do well to avoid the battle of reclaiming it's definition.

Well it's MY definition anyway.  People can see it how they want to see it.  It is useful, I think for us to discuss it for the excercise of crystallizing our individual views.  I don't think the goal should be to get everyone on the exact same page, but if we are all reading the same book, then at least we have something to center around. 

[LMNO]

I really have to edit that pamphlet....

::sigh::

so many good ideas, so little time.

[LHX]

I don't know, it's pretty concrete in my mind.  My visualization of it may be wrong, but I like it goddamnit.  To me, The Machine(tm) is the force that was created when civilized societies emerged and thus created pressures.  Pressure to be a certain way, pressure to do things a certain way, pressures to live a certain way, etc., etc.  Explicit and Implicit.  It's the hidden drive that tries and mostly succeeds to drive our inner drive.  It's what makes you forget yourself and forget seeing yourself.  I know this all sounds metaphorically mumbo jumbo but I guess when I think of it, it's pretty obvious.  Again, that's my perception of it. 

I like your perspective on it, but if there's any element of evangelism to it, I think you'd do well to avoid the battle of reclaiming it's definition.

Well it's MY definition anyway.  People can see it how they want to see it.  It is useful, I think for us to discuss it for the excercise of crystallizing our individual views.  I don't think the goal should be to get everyone on the exact same page, but if we are all reading the same book, then at least we have something to center around. 

and at some level, we are reading the same book

not that i want to make a RealTruth claim, but i dont really see the point in denying that other than to become a candidate for a orbital barstool strike