Rev Roger, Sermon #80: Pull Your Head Out of Your Ass

[ñͤͣ̄ͦ̌̑͗͊͛͂͗ ̸̨̨̣̺̼̣̜͙͈͕̮̊̈́̈͂͛̽͊ͭ̓͆ͅé ̰̓̓́ͯ́́͞]

I think there is nakedness, but the uniforms appear once you have to navigate any kind of culture or society. It's possible to, say, sit in nakedness out in the hills without having to pretend to be anything. It's also possible to be naked in the mind, while uniformed in behavior.

For OP, mittens. I wonder, have you ever seen someone be fanatical about laughter?

You're still describing roles that are culturally mediated:

• fucking hippie
• I'm a Dreamer, man
• "enlightened" bhodisattva AKA Auto-erotic Flatus Inhaler
• Authentic™ but only in isolation, see
• Mind Nudist Uniform Wearer

No, I'm not. Where did I say any of those things?
If you describe nakedness to the culture, it will start to take those roles depending on who hears it or how you describe it.
Doesn't mean you can't get nekkid.

Those are all uniforms you may be wearing whilst you convince yourself of your nakedness.

I'm arguing that the idea of nakedness or being without a uniform isn't possible, as we all* have a model of reality which is shaped and mediated by the cultural roles we grow up and live within.

*Except for feral children, which I would think only primitivists would think are better off.

[Epimetheus]

Those are all uniforms you may be wearing whilst you convince yourself of your nakedness.

Could be. Doesn't have to be.

I'm arguing that the idea of nakedness or being without a uniform isn't possible, as we all have a model of reality which is shaped and mediated by the cultural roles we grow up and live within.

I do think it's possible to lessen the grip of those models, if at least temporarily. And if it's possible to lessen the grip, it's possible to quiet it more and more until it seems not to make a peep at all. At least temporarily.

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

I think there is nakedness, but the uniforms appear once you have to navigate any kind of culture or society. It's possible to, say, sit in nakedness out in the hills without having to pretend to be anything. It's also possible to be naked in the mind, while uniformed in behavior.

For OP, mittens. I wonder, have you ever seen someone be fanatical about laughter?

You're still describing roles that are culturally mediated:

• fucking hippie
• I'm a Dreamer, man
• "enlightened" bhodisattva AKA Auto-erotic Flatus Inhaler
• Authentic™ but only in isolation, see
• Mind Nudist Uniform Wearer

No, I'm not. Where did I say any of those things?
If you describe nakedness to the culture, it will start to take those roles depending on who hears it or how you describe it.
Doesn't mean you can't get nekkid.

Those are all uniforms you may be wearing whilst you convince yourself of your nakedness.

I'm arguing that the idea of nakedness or being without a uniform isn't possible, as we all* have a model of reality which is shaped and mediated by the cultural roles we grow up and live within.

*Except for feral children, which I would think only primitivists would think are better off.

Troof.

If you wake up and hang out in your underwear all day and don't give a fuck, that's a uniform too.

I think the OP was about not being CONFINED to a certain uniform, though.

[Epimetheus]

If you wake up and hang out in your underwear all day and don't give a fuck, that's a uniform too.

How so? I see that it's making some kind of personality, and it may fit into other people's ideas of uniforms when they see you doing it, but that's on them, not on you in your underwearness.

I think the OP was about not being CONFINED to a certain uniform, though.

Agreed.

[AFK]

I tend to strive for a Uniform of Many Colors, to borrow from an old cliche.  That is, the many different roles I play, are all informed by who I am at my core.  Though, the thing is, some may ignore or not be on touch with the core, while still others will suppree in order to gain the favor of another.


Ther are times when many of us have to play The Game, but hopefully we don't allow it to play us.

[Epimetheus]

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Discordianism is yet another uniform. Where are YOUR multiple sides, Mr Reverend?

It is?  If it is, then it changes every day.  This, of course, can be a little hectic...I am, after all, the king of the violent mood swing (in case nobody noticed).  Today I am spouting the word.  Tomorrow I will probably contradict it.  Or seem to, anyway.  There aren't any actual contradictions in what I do, just different ways of looking at the same problem.

So if it's a uniform, it's one that doesn't bore me.  It would be almost like a crotchless wet suit.  Imagine a black doormat with fur sticking out of unmentionable places.  Oh, yeah.  That's what I was trying to say.

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

KNOCK OUT DRUGZ, KNOCK OUT DRUGZ,
LET'S ALL DO OUR PART!
TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT IT
AND THAT'S A REAL GOOD START
KNOCK OUT DRUGZ, KOCK OUT DRUGZ,
NIXON'S THROBBING KNOB
MADE ME SHIT A LITTLE BIT
AND THEN I SHIT A LOT! HAY!
                                                           /

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

OK, back to uniforms....PLEASE...

[The Good Reverend Roger]

There's not much to discuss here because I completely agree. Mittens, awesome post, vindaloo-salute, etc.

For the sake of conversation, I'm going to wear the asshat uniform.

Fact:  Once you've put on a uniform, you tend to filter everything through it.  You become what you espouse...A two-dimensional being that sees only the things that their uniforms allow them to see. 

If uniforms can be equated with identity politics or reality tunnels or Butt Iron Prisons, then what is the alternative? Nakedness? What would that mean?

We can't escape our Butt Iron Prisons, that is to say, we have to limit our perception in some way, we have to come at things from an angle, or to use the uniform idea—we can't escape cultural roles. There is no, "nakedness" then, if I'm understanding the metaphor correctly. Then the best we can do is be able to change our uniforms at will, and wear whatever uniform that best enables us to do what we want.

Or

Nakedness?  Nobody's naked unless they also have severe brain damage, or even more Holiness™ than myself.  Change your clothes once a day, at minimum.  No uniform can hurt you if you don't keep it on too long.

That was the meaning behind the whole TGRR/Doktor Howl thing, from which I have decided I am no longer gaining any benefit.

[AFK]

Fabulous!


Though the hair isn't quite right. 

[Epimetheus]

TGRR, are you calling a uniform the defined cultural role we play, or the set of personality/behavior we exhibit?

[P3nT4gR4m]

Everything you are is tantamount to a uniform. The whole ego is a uniform. Every personality trait. Every. Single. One. Burn the fucker up and start again. You'll be accused of being fake. Don't worry about it. Truth is, there's no such thing as real when it comes to personality.

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

There's not much to discuss here because I completely agree. Mittens, awesome post, vindaloo-salute, etc.

For the sake of conversation, I'm going to wear the asshat uniform.

Fact:  Once you've put on a uniform, you tend to filter everything through it.  You become what you espouse...A two-dimensional being that sees only the things that their uniforms allow them to see. 

If uniforms can be equated with identity politics or reality tunnels or Butt Iron Prisons, then what is the alternative? Nakedness? What would that mean?

We can't escape our Butt Iron Prisons, that is to say, we have to limit our perception in some way, we have to come at things from an angle, or to use the uniform idea—we can't escape cultural roles. There is no, "nakedness" then, if I'm understanding the metaphor correctly. Then the best we can do is be able to change our uniforms at will, and wear whatever uniform that best enables us to do what we want.

Or

Nakedness?  Nobody's naked unless they also have severe brain damage, or even more Holiness™ than myself.  Change your clothes once a day, at minimum.  No uniform can hurt you if you don't keep it on too long.

That was the meaning behind the whole TGRR/Doktor Howl thing, from which I have decided I am no longer gaining any benefit.

Has Dok been consigned to the Realm of Little Billy? 

[The Good Reverend Roger]

TGRR, are you calling a uniform the defined cultural role we play, or the set of personality/behavior we exhibit?

Both, but primarily the roles we assign ourselves.  That's the best part about The Machine™.  You will find your own place in it, most times.  The sole difference is Discordianism, which is WHY I am a Discordian, and what makes it different is nuance.  If you're a Discordian and you have your head in the right place, everything should be as different as possible every day.  That's why, for example, the weed/libertarian/magickle/IP threads are so infuriating.  You're doing the same shit you've done before, almost verbatim.  Nothing new is being introduced.  It's a rerun.  You can get THAT on the teevee.