BaylorPRSer

Video gave me some closure on this topic. With the $ example mentioned, there has to be a degree of objectivity to that, no? If over 99.9% of people in a given area are able to instantly know what a symbol means, how can we say they're completely subjective? Isn't a symbol somewhere in between subjective and objective?

The Mason symbol was brought up in a different thread. With all the rebel flag business lately, I've been wondering about symbols a lot, so I'll bring some questions here: 1. What is a symbol? 2. Is a symbol in the realm of philosophy? I guess another way to ask that would be is a symbol in the realm of sense data? 3. If they are not in the realm of philosophy, then are they in the realm of interpretation and subjective experience? 4. Can it be objectively determined that X is a symbol for Y? If so, how? 5. If it is in the realm of subjective experience and interpretation, then what would that mean as far as the rebel flag is concerned? Would it be valid for one to interpret it as a symbol of racism and another to not?

Befree, I can't follow what you're saying. Will you give specifics please? Also, what's wrong with not giving the whole truth in the beginning? If a teacher thinks that revealing truths in a specific order is the best way to do it instead, then that's his or her right, no? It's not necessarily malicious.

Eat plants and animals. Develop discipline with your cravings and eat sugar as little as possible. Cutting down on cabs has also been linked to improved immune system/mental function. Exercise, all I can say is establish your goals first. If you want to put up big numbers, research strength programs and get on one. If your goals are purely cosmetic, then get on a body building program. If you're exercising purely for immune system/mental function, then there are other health experts with insight about that. Carbs*.

Sorry I forgot about this. Yes, I looked at one of their profiles, saw he was from Houston, then I messaged him. As it turned out, another Houston listener messaged him as well. He is my current roommate. I'm not aware of any FDR meetups in TX. Yes I went to Baylor. Yup. I'm in. I love Austin. Idk if I can get the other guys to roll with, but if you come down here, I'm sure they'd love to meet you. Either way is fine with me.

This will set both him and his kid(s) up for disaster. Insecurity must be tackled from within. If the OP has kids before fully grieving what he didn't get from his Dad, it could be very bad. My equivalent experience was in sex. For various reasons including getting teased for being a virgin, religious repression, having my ego absolutely annihilated by my experiences in public school, my mind identified having sex with a hot girl as something that would a massive amount of insecurity. I was wrong. Having sex with a beautiful woman had absolutely no healing power whatsoever. Our relationship was doomed to fail from the day that it started because I had impossible expectations. She did as well, but that's a different chat. Parents often make the mistake of seeing their kids as a way to bring healing. When the children inevitably don't provide that, the parent inevitably resents the children. I think it's great for philosophical people like the ones here to have kids, but don't do it to make yourself better. Make yourself better on your own time, then bring children here to make the WORLD better.

RJ, Thanks for the kind words. It reminded me of what a lot of people say after they break up: "the good was the good, but the bad was the bad." It was tough because he came and saw both of my bands play multiple times. I had no other friends that did that. As I observed myself while I was around him, I realized had a difficult time relaxing and enjoying myself. I was constantly on guard for the next thing he'd say that would damage me emotionally. I definitely hurt him and don't enjoy doing that.

I see what you're saying. I ended a friendship recently with someone who traumatized me and I feel really conflicted. That's likely informing my views at the moment.

Shirgall, I found out last night Stephan Kinsella is a determinist. Maybe a debate with the Stefs is in order? lol

good ish

Hi J.D., Sorry, it may have played a role in his decision to leave is more appropriate. I don't have any issue with what u said in that thread nor do I know who down voted him. Also, I fully accept that it could have had nothing to do with him peacing out. Who knows? maybe he plans to return. I was only speculating.

For me personally, whenever I've hurt someone's feelings in the past, it bothers me. Even when I didn't do anything wrong. However, I get that some people need to be ostracized (which I understand can mean to either put pressure on someone to change his or her behavior, or exclude someone completely).

No, I'm not prevented from doing that. I just realized that 'ostracize' seems like a strong word for what we are discussing. Basically, I'm glad this got brought up is what I'm saying. I think we should evaluate (in the form of threads like this) this habit people have of down voting harmless posts just because they disagree and/or don't like the person. I'd hate to see MMX no longer post (not saying he cares, idk) because he links to some cool stuff and brings perspectives drastically different from most people here. The cop thread that I mentioned was not the end of the world. You're right about that, but that's because it's just one thread/person. However, if this turned into turning away hundreds of interesting people or more, I would say it's fairly important to me. I've gotten a lot of value from people I've interacted with here as well as threads that I didn't participate, but nonetheless found lots of rich content.

When I first started poking around here, it was my experience that assholes had negative reps. Now, it seems like a joke to people and I find myself up voting posts I don't agree with because there's simply no assholery to be found in the post. "Ostracism isn't a bad thing." I agree. Although I do like what Chomsky said during his interview with Stef about how it's harmful for both those doing it and receiving it, it absolutely has its time and place. Let's ostracize the behavior of incessant down voting then. They may have played a role in driving off the cop who introduced himself. I was disappointed because I have some complex feelings towards cops and wanted to see how Stef's material, and debating philosophical and mature adults who can handle the difference of opinion, affects his thinking.

I'm not particularly pleased with the way down voting has been abused as of late. It seems that there are people who simply down vote when they disagree, which I think is unfair.

I'm down for sushi literally anywhere lol, an adult beverage in midtown, galleria, or Washington. It maybe organize a jog at Memorial Park. That would be kinda weird, but who knows, maybe a bunch of winded philosophers will make great conversation. Either way, Houstonians, let's discuss some personal logistics (job hours, location within this spread out as hell city, etc.) and get something going. Cheers, Chris

While I am highly intrigued that you're here, I would caution you to be mindful of how consuming the resources associated with this website affect your psyche. Universally Preferable Behavior, the non aggression principle, etc., as I'm sure you're aware, have very serious ramifications for police work and parenting. As the logic of of the aforementioned flows through you, it could very well cause some highly unpleasant dissonance if some changes in your behavior do not accompany this. The one foot in one foot out approach can do more harm than good.

Indeed. There is an unavoidable incongruence that's happening as a result of my current dependencies. I can't feel like an adult to the extent that I would if I was fully separated physically, intellectually and financially. I'll keep working toward it.

I don't think feigning disinterest necessarily means lying. It could just be turning away from her for a couple of seconds.

Stefan said that anger is meant to be acted on, but when the same thing or sorts of things happen and you are powerless to change the scenario/environment (childhood essentially) and your efforts to act on your anger yield nothing, which was the case for me as a child almost every time, the anger turns rancid and then you're left with rage. I'm honestly not sure what to do about rage. Curtail time spent with the people it's directed towards and do your best to be empathetic toward it I suppose.

A lot of things are coming up for me when I read this. First, not telling them is an act of someone who has truly broken from his family. I think a part of me wanted to avoid the grief one experiences when completely breaking like that. The act of taking space and telling my parents I wanted to curtail all phone/email conversations and our time together triggered so much grief that I could see how my mind would not want to experience the inevitable grief even more intensely. Second, they do have decent advice from time to time (I just only wanted it in certain areas, not the reasons why I should or shouldn't go). Third, they still pay for my cell phone. I get paid shit at my current job and they want me to have cell service so they can contact me. This will discontinue when I go to Vietnam, but it's something relevant. I've hit my brother on the back of the head before when he was insulting me/making fun of me. One time my Dad insulted me, and I became so overwhelmed with rage that I grabbed a potato and threw it against the wall making it explode. I was being manipulative. After reading this, I realize I was trying to milk more money out of them. I decided to get TESOL certified in a live classroom. The certification was super expensive. I did indeed get $800 for my birthday to put towards the certification. I think I do have a certain attachment to people understanding me. I don't really know what it means to be understood or if I ever have been understood. I know that it doesn't make sense to cling to an outcome (people understanding you) that you have so little control over, but it's a habit I suppose. I don't know what it's trying to teach me. That some relationships are beyond saving? That my family, Christianity, and the public school system have robbed me so deeply that they have incurred an insurmountable debt, which they have absolutely no intention of repaying, so maybe it's saying to take what's mine by any means necessary? I honestly don't know what action steps it wants me to take. All of the ones I can think of will get me into trouble. I think my rage may be part of what's driving my decision to move.

I think feelings get involved. If you're having sex with someone with any regularity (once a month or more is how I'd define that), you're lying to yourselves if you think feelings won't get involved. If you're going to sleep with a friend, do what you can to ensure that it's a one time thing. I feel pretty convinced that the friends with benefits arrangement is not good for you psychologically.

Do you think a sober person having sex with a drunk person is not UPB compliant?

26. Will do.

My rage must be a very important part of me then. It rarely gets heard by someone other than myself and therapist. I'm trying to get perspective on myself before I do any healing work with my parents, but part of me wants to discuss my rage with them more. Sometimes, I feel like they genuinely want to know and understand me and my rage, but other times not. I'm having a hard time.