_LiveFree_

First, a heartfelt congratulations on your journey to self-discovery! It's awesome to see individuals come such a long way from serving the state. Here is why I think you were floored by the question "Why are you an anarcho-capitalist?". You've arrived at ancap through turning away from political philosophies that you realize don't serve you. The problem is that by coming to a conclusion through the negation of other flawed conclusions doesn't give you an understanding of the former conclusion. If you want to fully understand why ancap is correct, the first step is to completely throw everything out. Have no conclusions at all. This is a very scary concept, to live without knowing. It is an essential step. Otherwise what you'll find is that even though you may subscribe to ancap theory, other not so logical ideas will creep into what you consider ancap. With that said, here is the short answer to the question, "Why are you an anarcho-capitalist?". "I am an anarcho-capitalist because by starting from first principles, specifically the Non-Aggression Principle, I have determined that only voluntary interactions between human beings are morally good. The very existence of government implies the initiation of violence as a means to coerce behavior." Now to get all psychological on you, and to go out on a limb, I would suggest that the reason this is fuzzy for you is not because you lack the logic or smarts. It is because you are still acting like a tyrant towards yourself. See, anarcho-capitalism is not a political theory, it is a way to describe the interaction you have with yourself. So what I'm saying is when you stop acting psychologically violent toward yourself, ancap naturally emerges and you will empirically understand the ancap position. Thanks for the article!

In a review of Tipler's [/size]The Physics of Christianity, [/size]Lawrence Krauss described the book as the most "extreme example of uncritical and unsubstantiated arguments put into print by an intelligent professional scientist".[/size]^ Lawrence Krauss, More Dangerous Than Nonsense, New Scientist, May 12, 2007, page 53. http://genesis1.asu.edu/Tiplerreview.pdf

I'm still trying to figure out what Ken meant by "Observable Science" and "Historical Science". A traumatized mind can't help but compartmentalize the world around it. I think if any scientist or secularist is to engage in a formal televised debate with a believer, they should start of by defining some of these typical psychological defense mechanisms and then ask the audience to watch for them. If facts and logic about the "world out there" were enough to win this debate it would be over already. The only way to win is to play the man, not his cards.

I understand being polite. But Bill Nye is being soft. I don't know how productive it is to try and debate science with someone who completely rejects reality. It is amazing what childhood trauma can do to the mind. Ken Ham really believes what he's saying and really believes it is logical. He doesn't understand basic logic much less science. Maybe there is benefit in making these kinds of people look utterly foolish in front of young people.

Thanks for this thread. I would definitely agree. After a recent break up of the healthiest relationship I ever had, I've realized that no matter what I do, I can never have the future that I want while still chasing my family of origin. I'm coming to grips that I have to not only let my mother go for good, but my sister too. And also, my best friend of 14 years who's been the closest thing to a brother. After 15 years, I think I finally have the courage to face that I have always been alone in this world. It seems that the fear of facing the truth of alone-ness is what keeps this cycle going. Anybody else experience the thought of being alone feeling like the threat of death?

It ended because in the process of exploring ourselves and being completely honest we came across something that was totally irreconcilable. And I'm going to leave this thread at that. This thing has actually spurred so much in the last 48 hours. In the past, I've had difficulty accessing my mecosystem. All the sudden I'm talking to many different parts of myself and it's been completely overwhelming. I'm going to consider this thread done since I now have something tangible to work with. Thank you all once again. This community is amazing.

Damn. I thought about this all day. My father was a narcissist. It was after living with him that I began this behavior of apologizing in heightened emotional states, which were always negative. It's like I'm apologizing for the situation being what it is, for the other person getting worked up. Shit this sucks. I remember during our last conversation when she and I were bawling our eyes out saying goodbye, I said "I'm so sorry!" and she said "Don't you dare apologize!" I was taken aback by this. Part of what made the relationship so great was her ability to see what I couldn't see and vice versa. In this instance, even in our shattered states, she knew this was past abuse talking and not what was really in my heart. Thank you for this insight. I'm feeling better today than I did yesterday. I know the decision we made was the right one. Thank you everyone for your replies.

http://emptyclosets.com/forum/ http://lgbtcommunityforum.com/ http://www.lgf.org.uk/get-support/ http://www.experienceproject.com/groups/Am-A-Lesbian/165 This is just what I could find. There is a number to call on the third link. Good luck to you, Jami.

Ya know, I was thinking about this. I've always apologized for things that really don't need apologies. I think this is connected to me finding broken women and taking on their issues, which are not my responsibility. Will definitely bring this up on Thursday. It would be nice to finally find the root of this. Thank you, Rex.

Thank you, Kevin. That means a lot. I've never lost someone I loved before except for my parents. I spent 20 years avoiding the loss of my parents and childhood, then just this past year finally mourning and grieving the loss. This is the first time I can legitimately say that I'm grieving over the person I was actually in a relationship with. I spent the day in the fetal position listening to FDR and Elliot Hulse podcasts which were interrupted by excruciating bouts of sobbing. Sounds melodramatic, but it doesn't even come close to the pain I feel. I want to apologize and thank the forum for allowing me a bit of self-indulgence with this thread. I won't have any personal help until tomorrow and then thursday is my next therapy appointment. I know i have to move on, while also respecting my need to grieve the loss. Maybe this thread is useless.

Thank you for your response! I totally understand how it appears. And maybe there is something to that. However, at this time, I have no reason to believe there was a lack of honesty involved. Quite the contrary. It was our willingness to be honest with each other that brought us to this point so quickly and at such a high point in our relationship. I don't want to go into any specifics so as to respect and protect the lady involved. I glossed over that part for a reason. It wasn't to hide from myself or lie to myself. It was to protect her. I listen to FDR podcasts daily, have a therapist I see weekly, have a small circle of friends I can talk to, and have already spoken with my mom about it. I would just like to hear what some of you here at FDR might say. Sorry, there will be no details of the situation given. What I can say is that she and I both think and agree that we should not talk for a while in order to heal the wound. Friendship in the future is a definite possibility.

So I called into the show Wednesday September 4th, 2013 (podcast 2474) and asked Stef about romantic relationships and finding the right woman. Here is the podcast. My call starts at about 1 hr 4min.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FreedomainRadioVolume6/~3/mo7sxiqZzcM/FDR_2474_Wednesday_Show_4_Sep_2013.mp3 I listened from podcast 0 to 500 before that show, and after, 500 to 1190. Needless to say I have a lot of tools to work with, thanks to Stefan and this awesome community. Since that call, I found a wonderful woman and fell completely in love with her, and she with me. Now in all my relationships prior, I used the relationships as a way to not be alone. I didn't do that this time. I was always 100% honest and open, curious, and empathetic. She reciprocated the whole way. Throughout our relationship we never had one fight, but did disagree on a few occasions. We'd tell each other when we got hurt and talk through it. It was by far the most fun I have ever had and the most happy I have been since I was maybe 5 years old. Due to circumstance beyond either of our control, and to the heart break of us both, we realized we had to end our relationship. I've lost my best friend and confidant, and the most amazing person I've ever met. In my prior relationships, I could always look back and see all the horrible mistakes that I made which contributed to the ending of those relationships. In this case, though, while I was not perfect, I feel like I gave everything I had. I was all in for the first time. Neither of us did anything to cause the other person to want to end the relationship. I feel like I've overcome my pattern of seeking out broken women to be in a romantic relationship with and then hiding from them. I feel older. My question is this: Basically, how do you deal with loss when you did nothing wrong? I feel I trained for the Olympic swim team, broke records in qualifying, and on the day of the final meet, broke the world record by 10 seconds, but before I reached the end of the swim they turned all the lights off and closed down the Olympics forever. This is all still very raw for me so I apologize if it's rambling or grandiose or disjointed. Any help on what comes after a healthy yet painful break up would be appreciated. I've never had a healthy break up before. Thanks again FDR, Nathan

Great point at the end, dsayers. DeerBearBeer, Stefan has laid an incredible foundation here at FDR, but the experience of talking with you and watching you go through this has been the most astonishing and inspiring thing I've ever seen. You're an incredible human being. I look forward to many more conversations with you. I cannot describe the amount of joy I feel that you are now feeling again and facing yourself in this way. The tools don't change though; honesty, curiosity, rationality. They can take you so far beyond what you've imagined. You're so cool!! Babies and young children are like little truth machines. If you listen, they'll teach you so much about yourself. Time for endless hours of big chatty forehead podcasts!

How bad are things when you have to use a message board to set up a situation where you get to play the victim?....again. How bad will things have to get for you before you decide to stop repeating this behavior pattern? Is playing the victim something that you want to do your whole life? If you're right in your positions, what strategy are you employing to correct the wrongs? Is this strategy working? Do you have evidence that it is?

So then why are you surrounding yourself with blue pills?

Did you feel like my questions were accusatory or attacking you? (I know I'm being annoying but I am trying to get at the root of what's happening for you.)

How can you have empathy for others if you don't show it to yourself first? You do realize that there are 7 billion people on the planet and only a small fraction of them take the red pill? Do you feel a loss of energy for all of them or just people in you are close to? If so, what's the difference between the two?

And how would that feel?

OK. So what do you feel physically when you see someone "take the blue pill"?

I think you mean disgust. What do you feel physically when you see someone "take the blue pill"?

Do you understand how absolutely difficult this stuff is? You're blaming this guy for not wanting to become a 10th degree black belt philosopher. If you became friends with him because you thought he would take the red pill, that was your first mistake. Look at what people do, not what you think they will do. There are personalities out there that will mirror whomever is giving them attention at the time. You literally will get back what you put out until what you demand requires fundamental change. Be gentle and curious. 1st and foremost with yourself. If this interaction with this guy left you disgusted and frustrated, ask yourself why without passing judgment. How can you demand integrity within others when you don't show it to yourself first?

The vast majority of people are not ready to hear this philosophy. Keep concentrating on those that show interest. Multigenerational change doesn't mean go blow your load on TV. I'd take 5 minutes on the Joe Rogan Podcast over a 20 minute interview on Fox any day.

If you have 1 person out of 100 able to engage you and have a rational conversation, you're doing far better than anyone I know! Remember, when you debate in places where people have your similar rational views, debating things is easier. But go out into the world and you can go your whole life without finding an audience, even of one. You were respectful and didn't do anything wrong in this particular case. Even before you brought up the ad hom, I could tell he wasn't going to be able to hang in the convo. As mentioned before, you don't need to point out someone's aggressiveness in order to counter it effectively. Pointing out every attack is like stopping every punch thrown at you by catching his fist. Eventually your hands will hurt and you'll miss one punch showing him exactly where to focus his attack. Best defense to a punch is to not be there when it comes your way. See it coming and move before you're hit. Best defense against verbal attacks is to know who your dealing with before you engage in a debate. The internet is like a bunch of 2nd week Karate students who are going full contact sparring. Ouch. Build up a rapport with people before you challenge them, otherwise you just look like an instigator. Anarchy is not about politics, it's about relationships. When you challenge people on it, deep down they know this. You're confronting them with what they perceive to be eternal exclusion and lonliness.

Not something I'd donate to. Massive waste of money, imo.

By facing and working through (with a therapist helps) whatever traumas are associated with that music. To fear the horror and frustration of the past is to remain trapped in the past. You'll always be able to feel what you've felt. This is actually healthy. But to fear what you feel is not. An emotional hangup is a place of fear. An instance that comes to mind for me,.... I liked this girl. I associated a song with liking this girl. The relationship didn't work out. I started to hate listening to the song because it reminded me of what I'd never have. Every time I'd hear the song I'd feel disgust. Once I faced what I feared, my role in the relationship not working out, the song was no longer associated with her. I can now listen to it and enjoy it. My fear was facing my own bad behavior; looking in the mirror to see what I did wrong. Likewise, once I realized that I had nothing to do with my parents' divorce, Adagio for Strings became enjoyable again. An emotional hangup, for me at least, is most likely the result of not looking at and examining a dark spot within yourself or the way you were treated by those in your past. It is a blot of fear unexamined. The music is a sign post telling you where to go to rid yourself of the fear. If you stare at the sign post, you'll never get where you need to go. But heeding it's instruction is beneficial.