MysterionMuffles

Not sure if loving is the right term to describe her mother...but yeah rewatch it and pay closer attention to the relationship. Examine if it's loving or controlling.

Hm...I'm feeling absolute ambivelance in responding to this.

Yeah, I really like the Bad Seed episode a lot. It's an excellent episode and it has the best example of UPB. lol it's also the episode that made me accept the CMC for once. I used to hate their episodes a lot, but when Sweetie Belle says "why does life have to be so ironic?!" I grew to love the CMC and their silly antics. Then I made a point to rewatch their episodes without begrudging reluctance that they make the show more childish than it should be. Kind of weird to say since it IS a kid's show, but I do think it is at a higher level most of the time when episodes feature the Mane 6.

The episode is called Bart's Inner Child, it is the 7th episode of the 5th season. If you know how to access free streaming shows online there's the info. I would post a direct link but I dont know what the rules are here for posting "illegally pirated" content on the interwebz.

Hmm...I guess I'm a failure that I'm 25 and still live with my parents who nag the hell out of me to find a full time job so that they can retire(they got almost a decade left before they can)...meanwhile, they never taught me anything valuable about work or money. Just horded money for themselves and denied me almost everything I wanted unless I jumped through numerous hoops of whining for what I want, all until it got to the point where I didn't even want it for the sake of having it anymore, rather to justify the time I invested in making my desires known. It was actually me who had to initiate an allowance system in order to feel like I can earn a game that I wanted at the time, but it never stuck for reasons I don't even remember. I was encouraged to get my first job a paperboy when I was 13, but there was no goddamn point in doing it since my mom took 80% of my menial income to pay her back for something she bought for me before that, and that set me in a spiral of confusion with money. The only way I could ever make money throughout high school was ask for weekly lunch money that I just ended up saving to get stuff with, and never did I feel motivated to get a part time job because school was already bad enough as it was with tons of homework. I didn't even start working until I was 18 and did such a good job at my co-op placement that they decided to hire me on a paying basis. Wow, what a post. I would love to say to them "you fucked up!" but I think it's kind of irresponsible to make them shoulder ALL the blame for my vocational incompetance. Don't know if you can provide this too, but I would like to ask you how I could bring this up to them without falling under the trap of making it a guilt trip session?

Does anybody remember that episode of The Simpsons where Brad Goodman, a self help guru, comes to Springfield? Before he comes to town, Homer and Marge watch one of his videos and get inspired to learn how to communicate with each other in a more peaceful way. I think one of their interactions in the episode is like THE perfect example of a Real Time Relationship going right. Tell me what you think. It sort of went like this: Homer and the kids are in the living room, and Marge comes in asking, "Homer, did you eat my whole pan of brownies?" And Bart's like, "uh oh you're in for it now, dad." So Homer goes into the kitchen and the kids watch as they hide behind the door frame, expecting him to get scolded by Marge. Homer starts off with saying, "Marge, I'm feeling a lot of shame right now..." She says, "I'm hearing that you're feeling a lot of shame." "And I feel that you hear my shame." "I'm feeling annoyance and frustration, but also tolerance," Marge says with a slow smile overcoming her frown. And Homer just says, "I feel validated by that." "Good, I'm glad we had this talk." "Me too," and Homer just walks away whistling while Bart and Lisa look at each other in confusion. Would this be a good example of how RTR could go right?

Ok, if grown men were to act like babies, then that wouldn't entirely be a bad thing because babies are gentle and kind. Babies are also curious about their environment, absorb it entirely and test its empirical provisions as well as limitations to no end. Isn't this why we're Libertarians and philosophers? To conduct our interactions with peace and understanding? To conduct our interactions with reason and evidence? Where is your evidence that supports the idea that there's a pedophile element with Bronies? Fan fiction writers, fan artists and fan musicians who remix the show's music --mostly grown men--have met with the 13 year old voice actresses who do the children's voices on the show, and it's just like any other meet and greet with people who admire each other for their craft and the circulation of inspiration. There's where they were asked what they thought about Bronies, and they weren't flattered about the fandom in any sexual or weirded out way that had anything to do pedophilia. I really thought they would say something along those lines, but they didn't. They did think it was weird for grown men to enjoy the show at first, but welcomed it because not only was it an unexpected fandom, but also because of the original content they're able to generate.MLP portrays a lot of philosophical significance in a way that doesn't talk down on kids, rather shows them through realistic conflicts.Yeah, a show with non human characters can be realistic in the way the characters feel towards each other. I can honestly say that the relationships in MLP are much more mature and realistic than the ones found in the Twilight saga. Not a fan of Twilight, but even I was open minded enough to see what the craze was about, and despite of how much I hate how Twilight for perpetuating the acceptance abusive relationships, I can see why it had wide appeal. Some people just like to relate to that and that's fine. That's their own dysfynction to deal with. How do I know this for sure? Because I didn't take the internet's word for it, I experienced it for my self first hand. I didn't jump to conclusions and make assumptions based on my own blindness to it. I admit the rule 34ing of the show is sickening, I mean I used to go to 4chan to try talking about the show, but I couldn't stand the MLP board because it was cluttered with pornographized versions of the characters. But that happens to any cartoon with a wide following, there are a bunch of perverts out there who want to ruin it for everyone else and their own fun. So I implore you, sir Heath, direct me to some credible links where there is empirical proof that a Brony has molested a little girl, having direct use of their common interest in MLP to bring that about. Not just intolerant bloggers stating their subjective opinions and theories as to why they think Bronies are creepy. Or you can accept an alternate challenge from me and just watch an episode. One that I will provide for you because much like any other show, it's not impervious from having an episode that doesn't hold up to the quality of the other ones, especially if you're jumping into it with a certain bias set in mind. What do you think?

lol best example of UPB is the Bad Seed episode where the Cutie Mark Crusaders recognized that they became bullies after being bullied by Babs. NAP example would be...well...any Fluttershy based episode

Violent media used to be a huge part of my life, now it's just...there. Like I used to feel like I HAD TO watch some gory stuff be entertained, but my taste in media has become more defined. Kind of hate action flicks now with endless bloodshed and explosions. I'd settle for indie films or anything else inspiring to true life stuff. I can barely stand any fantasy or over the top stories, and would much rather read or watch something set in reality, with only a few supernatural or fantastical aspects added in. BUT anyways, I wanted your thoughts on this. I am highly sensitive to violence in my real life, like when people get aggressive to each other, but from time to time, I do enjoy violent-ish video games because some of it looks really cool. In particular Soul Calibur is the only weapon based fighting game I know of and I am entertained that a guy can get impaled by a 5 foot sword, survive, and get up to fight back. I also love playing Assassin's Creed multiplayer where you can shove a blade up someone's chest or chin after stealthily sneaking up on them. It's good fun. So is it a twisted dichotomy for me, or is it normal that I AM entertained by well coreographed violence, but utterly dislike when there's violence or the hint of violence in my real life?

Wow that's right. The characters do have some human like dysfunctions. I really love the mental breakdowns, and now I see why. Because I can relate to them lol. Anyways, I think rule 34 is the worst rule of all, utterly disturbing. I watched the documentary and thought it was a little extreme. The couple that became a couple thanks to the movement was cute, but I don't understand the other guys the documentary focussed on. Like the guy who lives waaay down south where he knows that kind of thing is shunned upon, yet he customized his car to have MLP characters on his back windows. He was kind of asking for the rednecks to bully him I think. I wonder what Stef would think of Bronies, or the show as a whole and if he has watched it with Isabella.

I think there's a vast number of people already doubting the power of the state. The fact that its wrongdoings are much more blatant these days, you'd be an idiot not to recognize it.

what do you mean by that?

Heath, let me ask you one fundamental question: What makes you uncomfortable with the fact that adult men--and women--are in love with this show? Have you watched an episode for yourself yet? (I suggest a Rainbow Dash episode like Read it and Weep or Sonic Rainboom, to see just how ungirly it really is) Forget the common comments you read from articles about it. I read the articles before watching the show and I really thought it was part of some pedophile agenda, but after watching the show and even the documentary about Bronies, it's easy to see that it's all just propaganda to turn people away from what could possibly provide philosophy and entertainment in one of the simplest forms out there right now. I may be digging too deep here, but I think MLP contains some philosophical elements to it like UPB and NAP. It's really weird, for a concept based on being kind to people and whatnot, it's not that fruity as one would expect lol.

I'm not a Brony, though I do love the show and its music, and I am also a Libertarian...I think my chances of finding a woman are even more stumped, lest I hold back from revealing these critical aspects of my self lol. Being a fan of MLP and being a Libertarian is like the new gay. I'd have to come out with it at some point if I did happen to find a woman to date and have not told her about these things I hold dear. But you know what? Any woman who would criticize for having either interests with a complete narrow mindedness would be instant red flags anyway. Because I think what truly makes a man is being comfortable with what he enjoys (as long as it doesn't harm anyone else). I have a friend whom I play Dungeons and Dragons with, AND he's THE Dungeon Master of our campaign. At first glance he does act and look like a complete nerd, but he still manages to work out a lot and get a girlfriend. What makes the Brony movement so interesting is that it uncovers what really isn't mutually exclusive to each other. Like the stigma that if you play Dungeons and Dragons, you can't get a girl in real life so you resort to flirting with them in the game...even though it's your own dude friend who is acting as a girl.

If Stef and Rogan had a conversation, my mind would explode. They are my go to bald guys of widsom.

Has anyone taken philosophy in high school? I wanted to know if you get the true essence of philosophy or if there was a cap as to how much of it you could really learn, so that you don't learn too much about reason and evidence enough to, let's say, figure out that religion and the state are faulty? My cousin goes to a catholic high school and takes philosophy, so I wanted to know how much of genuine philosophy she's really being exposed to.

I don't know if anyone knows of this internet icon named Maddox who runs [link=http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.com]The Best Page in the Universe[/link], but some of his articles are pretty funny. They're kind of hit or miss, but always consistently obscene. The first article I was ever exposed to by him was one that satirically condoning why you should beat your kids. Even as a 14 year old I thought the arguments he put forth were full of crap and for a while avoided his site. I eventually got into his other articles that poked fun at pop culture and a few things that truly were BS about it, but I dunno...looking back and remembering this one and only article, I kinda feel compelled to take him off my Facebook friend's list or likes (can't remember which one he has) since I've kind of outgrown his obscenity noticing it's just a pathetic crying out. http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=beat here's the article that condones physical violence towards children.

I know this topic has ended quite a while ago, but I would like to say thanks once again. I think I realize what it means now that I need to make the argument from morality instead of effect. Maybe I mentioned it already, but I have no way of knowing that amidst the troll battle that killed this topic initially. Also too lazy to go through the pages lol. But I realize now, my approach of course was wrong because those scares about the future of my cousin's child does nothing since it's not immediate. What matters is the now and how everyone feels about it. I listened to a few podcasts as well as kept in mind all of your advice, and I think I'm better prepated now to confront my family on this if the time ever comes. Fortunately there hasn't been any abusive episodes, and it's not like I'm hoping for it to happen, but if I catch wind of this kind of maltreatment again, I will turn the questions inward into my cousin and her husband, asking them seriously if they think using physical violence to modify behaviour is moral. And if they would hit each other to have the same effect. Yes my neice is the catalyst for this, but I dont think she really has anything to do with their problems with themselves.

You're right, knowing where all this comes from isn't enough. You have to feel and re-experience these things even if only in the realm of your mind, because thinking hard enough can make your body feel the sensations of what you've experienced in the past. If it's anything traumatic and you know how horrible it felt, that growing empathy lets you know how to better conduct your life. You start to realize that whatever happened to you should never happen to others, so maybe that's another reason why some of us fall under the trap of trying to manage other people's emotions. It's a trap sometimes if these people aren't willing to gain the level of self knowledge you've attained, but on the contrary, your successful healing of others can in turn heal you. I dunno, does that even make sense?

LOL awesome response. Alright, I will give them one last go to fill my life with (hopefully beneficial) spiritual babble. Might make me feel like that insecure kid I was only 4 years ago and remember that willingness to improve my self, you know as opposed to that innate daily thing that it is now. Which can't be a bad thing, we all gotta respect where we came from right?

right that's what I fear about it. The skipping of anger towards the instant forgiveness thing that Stef talks about when he mentions therapy. Sometimes it isn't just our egoes that cook up fears about certain people, it is actual intution that some people are just unempathetic evil doers. Not sure if Eckhart ever addresses this but I am interested to see his conversation with Deepak Chopra later this month. I'm on the fence about it. It's been years since I was into their work, but now I can't be bothered. I've moved on to bigger things: philosophy without the guise of spirituality! But back then I was always wishing and hoping the two of them would come together (Eckhart and Deepak) and have this mind exlpoding conversation, and now it's gonna happen. What do you guys think? Should I pay that $25 to get access to it or just continue to move on?

I would assure you that Eckhart's books are honest for the most part. He does talk about the innocense of children and how much more present they are than adults. He himself was a victim of a very hostile home environment and recognized the hostility in his school environment, so he would run away from home or skip school a lot and bike out to find peace in nature. The very core of his message is for readers/listener's to see theirselves as they are within this moment, free of judgement and free of past. He respects that things have happened to you in your past, but reminds you that within the eternal Now, this very moment is all you ever have. When you think of the past or future, you still experience the thought of it in the Now. He also talks about how the Ego confines us in repetitive negative thoughts to only some regards to how the past has shaped your behaviour and thinking, and that the only way to break free is to be present in the moment. It sounds easy peasy, but the part of it that I find disingenuous is the idea that thinking about your past too much and trying to rationalize it is worthless. Thinking CAN be used for good when it comes to constructive things, but when it comes to your past and life, you ARE creating a story and that story keeps you limitted. He's kind of onto something, but at the same time, you do need to think of these things to connect the dots and figure yourself out.

In a way that's a good thing because if more and more people get charged for miniscule crimes, they start to question the miniscuality (is that even a word?) of the police. That is of course they have any sense or desire of personal freedom. My uncle got charged over $100+ for speeding only 10 km/h over the speed limit ON THE PASSING LANE where you're supposed to go fast anyway. Now I don't know what near accident he may have gotten into or not, but I do think someone reported him as such because of their own personal fear of getting rear ended. I wasn't there, so I don't know if he was nearly tail gating, but still. It usually becomes an outrage for people to get charged with tiny offenses, and that I think is a good stepping stone to uncovering the veil of illusion that the cops are there to serve and protect. In actuality it's just to be bossy and abusive with their authority, no matter how trivial the instance is.

Lol maybe he also mentioned how to find the clitorous, but people want it to remain a myth. In all seriousness though, this is the kind of intolerance and body hating propoganda that keeps our society from growing. How the hell do you teach sex-ed without giving the proper terms for the organs required?! Besides, 10th grade is already so damn late to be learning about sex, so what kind of over sheltered life do they want these kids to live in? By then, some of those kids have had already discovered masturbation or had been involved in some minor or major sex act with someone. Stacy La, that Facebook group member to save the teacher, has the most ultimate answer. If you really want to control what your kids learn, homeschool. Period. GENIUS!!! Because I remember the talk going out of hand in a class full of other kids who weren't as mature as I was to handle the material. (I already knew what sex was since I was 4 because my cousin grossed me and my brother out with the details from what he learned in grade...something. He is much older than us so yeah.) And it just gets goddamn awkward, co-ed or not. Sex-ed is the kind of talk only parents should have with their kids, not stand in parents ie teachers who either are too uncomfortable to do what their curriculum requires of them. I hope Tim McDaniel survives this retarded slander and finds a better school to teach at. Or better yet, a better damn job.

What does everybody think about this wave of self help gurus that have come onto the scene this past decade or two? Do they really contribute to the self knowledge movement, or is it a derailment to true self knowledge? I personally think that there can be some self help gurus out there who are all about the super fun time goody feeling of thinking positive, while others are genuine in their approach. There's a whole lot of them and I'm not in the phase anymore where I need to look into their work, so that's why I want to ask what everyone else's experience is with them. For me, the one that had the most impact was Eckhart Tolle. When I read The Power of Now, it made me feel like I have overcomplicated my life all from my own doing. Basically his message, for those who don't know, is that life can only happen in the Now, the present moment. It was such a simple message, but that simplicity is often buried beneath a lot of egoic behaviour and thinking patterns. I consumed that book in three days and felt the hours slip by nicely, as opposed to dreading each tick of the clock when I worried so damn much about what I was going to do with my life. At the time, I had just graduated high school after taking an extra year, and I was confused what direction I was gonna take. Was I gonna work, was I gonna go to post secondary? I was so obsessed with comparing my self to everyone else around me and at first envied their situations, but even to them they didn't seem all that satisfactory. So with the help from The Power of Now, I learned to cool my damn jets and just enjoy life as it unravels before at this very moment. Recently though I find his videos kind of boring, even though he has developed the ability to add humour to his talks. It's just as if I had levelled up to something bigger and more beneficial to my life, but at the time, I could appreciate tremendously how it helped me open up my eyes to the basic idea of self knowledge. I really was at a loss with who I was back then. The concerns of who I was up until that point and who I will become, those ever nagging concerns were trifled when I realized shaping my future can only happen within one time frame: The Now.