PatrickC

Perhaps this is softball, but I'm a painter and I certainly own all of my paintings.. At least the ones I never sold. I am open to offers of course..

Yes, that's entirely plausible. Except they decided by their own volition to seek me out personally and discuss my absence in this regard.

You know it's interesting you mention this. I have recently had two old friends get back in contact with me after I took a five year hiatus from them. Both of them apologised for their behaviour towards me in the past and displayed demonstrable steps in self improvement. Not just in the way they interact around me or others, but in their own lives as well. I'm still somewhat cautious around them, but I found it interesting that my absence had really caused them to rethink their lives. Of course it's all anecdotal and there are perhaps more benign folk on the periphery of our lives that we can still engage with from time to time. But engaging closely with people that don't share your values will cause you all kinds of unpleasant anxiety and dissociative effects.

In one sense they are right. You could certainly attribute the phrase 'wage slavery' to that of debt, high property values (and in turn high rent), childcare, inflation and a stagnating economy. Of course they all have little to do with your actual wages (other than feasting on them), since it's not your employer that is robbing you blind, but the banks and the state.

I'd like to stress of course that your look doesn't particularly bother me. But I think it's an interesting point, since a lot of people have made the same one on this thread. That a more conservative look might improve your listenership. Some people will be turned off, others not. But if you wanted to reach the widest possible audience, then it might be worth reconsidering your appearence a bit more. I saw a video with Stef recently, suggesting that since he talks about really radical ideas like anarchism. That he purposefully goes out of his way to look as normal and conservative as possible, so as to put the listerner at as much ease as possible. I just watched your latest video you posted on this thread and was struck by the poor quality of it. Which made you look kind of scruffy. I'm certain you weren't of course, but HD would have improved your appearence no end. If the camera is all you've got at the moment, then you might want to consider tying your hair back and wearing a collared shirt in the meantime.

Welcome back Noesis I think the conversation has moved on since those many years ago.. I think the Noesis challenge was probably a good one for the board back then. As a means to step up our game, which clearly seems to have occurred.

Just going to give you some of my own anecdotal experience here. Which by the way, you definitely should take or leave. I decided to take a hiatus from all my previous relationships several years ago as I went through therapy and the like. Interestingly of late some of those older friends have returned to me, with apologies for past behaviour and a demonstrable difference in their approach not only to me, but to others. I have decided to re-enagage with some of them because a part of me really enjoys some parts of them. Not entirely sure where it will end up frankly. That said, you really should just ask yourself, 'how much am I enjoying these interactions currently?'. I think in there you will get an answer, albeit perhaps temporarily. See how they respond afterwards. But always ask yourself the same question each time you meet with them.

Some of your stuff reminds me of my friend Darius on the boards, who created a site called Self Archaeology. You may have heard of him perhaps. He has been slowly building up content over the last 2 years now and has built some substantial content and quite a following for himself as well. His stuff is perhaps more psychologically rooted than your own. But there are certainly definite parallels with each others content that you both might benefit from. http://blog.selfarcheology.com/

The problem with this statement, is that it provides no help whatsoever. Personally I have no idea of LP's relationship/home status and I'd guess, neither would you. If there is an issue with the content then discuss that and in detail if need be. Making assumptions based on visual appearances alone will not bring decent people into your life and will mostly drive you away from those you'd like to get to know.

Yea, the haircut is rather unnecessary frankly and the accent is fine.. I can see the appeal for certain folk, but as they always say, 'content' is king, not 'form'. Do you have a blog at all? Many of the successful Youtubers I've known have a blog whilst juxtaposing a YT channel which they update less frequently. The blog often becomes less important as your popularity increases. Why not throw in some podcasts too, which can be longer and more informative perhaps. You could also contact other YT'ers/bloggers who have similar content perhaps for interesting conversations etc.

Please, concern trolls that throw out one dimensional memes like a 'useful idiot' have been ten a penny round here over the years. Why not create your own forum and see how that flies for you. I'll happily listen to your arguments when you actually start making something of them. I have little or no problem with people that can make at least one cogent argument, even if I disagree with the rest of what they say.. Otherwise really, just bugger off.

Restoring Guy, I do wonder what you are attempting restore sometimes. It's frankly rare that you ever make sense to me.. Could be me of course, but I'm kinda doubtful.

From what I hear Pheonix, there are a lot of western web developers that hang in the beach province of Pattaya, just southeast of Bangkok.. Despite it's somewhat sleazy reputation, it seems to be a more pleasant environment and cost compared to Bangkok. At least from what I hear from the few that have been living and working in Thailand for a number of years now. I can attempt to introduce you perhaps. FB me on that, if you're interested. Chiangmai, is kind of quiet from experience... Great place to visit of course.

Whatever positivity people might feel (or imagine) exists with the left minded. Just remind yourself the next time they demand something should be banned or a persons preference should be punished. The Left are frankly parasites at best and wannabee despots at worst. All the while attempting to cloak themselves in their own 'make believe' virtue and nobility.

"Don't you walk through my words. You got to show some respect" "Don't you walk through my words, cause you ain't heard me out yet" "I don't like cricket oh no, I love it"..

This is just anecdotal on my part. But of all the good Christian girls I knew. They certainly went for marriage and behaved themselves quite well (according to doctrine). As opposed to the Christian girls that were regularly beaten who secretly put it out to every guy that they were smitten on. That said, the girls that got married were mostly divorced by 35. Whatever seemingly functional aspects I see within religious (primarily Christian from xp) households. It rarely if ever ends up in the fairy tale manner it inferred it would. In fairness this could just be a cultural or generational problem. But I think parents need to fess up and stop relying on 'make believe' to tutor either their sons or daughters, whether they are religious or not.

It is interesting mind that some Christian fathers do at least seemingly attempt to tutor their daughters in personal responsibility.. That said, their blurring reality with fairy tales doesn't particularly add to their credibility.

I normally reserve the word 'creepy' for special occasions.. Like Zetaman, this is one of em.

Wow, I'm very sorry to hear this man. Good for you for your own will to change. I'm at a loss as to what to suggest, other than perhaps employing a child psychologist who is in favour of peaceful parenting and can give her the facts professionally. I also think as LP suggests, that looking inwardly and talking outwardly (with your wife) at your relationship with your wife and how you interact together is deeply important of course. This is probably a challenging time for you both and probably requires a more empathetic approach. Best of luck all the same.

It's interesting you bring up this topic Magnus. Pre-fab(ricated) homes as they were known were very popular here in Britain after the first and second world war. It allowed people on working class incomes to purchase and build their own homes very cheaply. It's funny really because the case against them now was that they didn't last very long. They supposedly only had a 20 year lifespan. Although I've seen many on the Dorset coast in England that are still standing and with occupants. Whilst today's modern home has at best a 60 year life span built into them with the full knowledge of the developer. The difference being that you could replace parts of your pre-fab in sections whilst still living in it. Whereas replacing the modern house would require ripping the whole thing down and spending a solid two months or more building a new one. I was heavily involved in the building industry for a number of years with a small business as a groundsman. Building regulations became so oppressive in the 90's after Tony Blairs succession to the political throne. That not only were small businesses like mine bought up (or discarded by their owners) by larger ones, that even the medium sized companies were taken over by the larger corps. I believe there are now only 4-5 large grounds companies that operate in London today. Barring the small guy that builds extensions, sheds or patios. Whereas there were upwards of around 30-40 companies back in the 90's. To give you an example of the worst regulation. Developers are now forced when building a new development to set aside 10% of the stock for 'social housing'. Sounds great huh? But the net effect is that no one who has the money to buy them wants to live around these welfare households. So they often become 'buy to lets', which means they house yet more welfare recipients, since the tenants can claim housing benefit to pay for the rent. I personally prefer to call these developments, 'matriarchal villages' myself. Adding to the predicament, it can take a developer upwards of 5-7 years to get a permit as he negotiates with his local council before he can build anything. Although I hear things may have improved in that direction more recently. Overall it just means less building goes on as demand sky rockets. Great for the big crony developers that manage to get all the contracts and permits of course. The irony of all this is that those that are working, even people like me on well above average incomes in London are either resorted to paying two thirds or more of their income on rent/mortgage or downsizing significantly. On the other hand welfare recipients get to enjoy subsidized living like my own parents paid for themselves back in the 70's and 80's. So yes, ridiculous meme frankly.

The 'Left' cannot help themselves. Whether they call themselves anarchists or not. They want to enforce their will on things, like controlling or abolishing markets or property. Things that occur quite naturally amongst ourselves. However many different ways the Left would like to present themselves. They are fundamentally authoritarian and have a very well documented history of systemic murder. I have little time for these people that currently dominate the world with their wild verbosity. Time to point out who they really are.

I quite agree that some people are what you might call 'materialistic'. That they often desire useless stuff, stuff they may never use even. That is more an individuals psychological issue that some advertisers take advantage of. Although I will say, it's not the advertisers that create the unnecessary desire, they are merely meeting a market demand and expectation that already exists. But personal desires in of themselves there is nothing wrong with. So long as they don't harm someone or are consensual, they are part of what makes us human. For instance, I don't need this tablet I'm using right now to sustain myself. But it fulfills a desire in me and brings me great pleasure. Your desire to live in your 'earthworks' environment, creating your own sustainable energy is clearly something you deeply desire, because it makes you happy. Desire is a subjective need that comes from wanting to experience the world in a certain way. If we all lived by needs alone, we'd be a terribly boring and bored lot. Anything that people advocate for that involves 'banning' or making 'illegal', requires men with guns to enforce. That would be a tyranny by definition and not something that is morally justifiable. Case in point we have the current 'war on drugs', an unmitigated disaster of course. Achieving consensus voluntarily would be the only ethical way to have this debate.

I suspect your issue is not with markets, but sustainability. Without markets, all the above you mentioned would never have existed. To be clearer about what markets actually are, we ourselves are engaging in a market of ideas on this very thread. Markets are merely mediums of exchanging value between individuals (voluntarily). The only way you can stop markets is by force. Markets are quite naturally created amongst individuals as they negotiate the things they either need or desire throughout their lives with each other. As the lack of sustainability occurs in a product the price will increase exponentially dependent on that lack of available resources. At some point the price will become so high that people wont bother and look for an alternative resource. I really suggest reading Henry Hazlit's book, 'Economics In one Lesson'.. Look, I even have a free copy for you. http://mises.org/books/economics_in_one_lesson_hazlitt.pdf

I've been mulling over Jeffrey's article for while now. Whilst he does make some very decent qualifiers, I can't help but find the genesis of what he says as an appeal to the 'Left'.. I'm still undecided entirely.. I'm just conscious the 'Left' would enjoy co-opting yet another movement. But meh, call me paranoid..