DanielB Posted May 6, 2014 Posted May 6, 2014 Hi people, My name is Daniel, 51 years old, married, two teen boys. Currently reside in Spain but I am Dutch by birth. I have worked most of my adult life in IT, but have also served in two armies. Traveled a lot. I have a wide range of hobbies but have had a philosophical streak since early puberty, albeit with mostly a practical application to life in mind. I have almost no formal schooling in the subject. I've been a libertarian before I even knew the word existed. I've only recently discovered Stefan Molyneux but I've always lived my life according to the "everybody's free to do what they want as long as they don't encroach upon the freedom of others" principle, which I feel comes pretty close to NAP. I've been reading up on modern libertarianism and it seems to me a no-brainer that this is how society should be 'organized' (for lack of a better word). In 2010 I stopped working full time, I basically burned out. Almost the only thing on my mind since then has been the meaning of life (yes, big Monty Python fan), and I made some real progress. What I've learned may also be relevant to many of the topics discussed on this forum. So I hope to contribute, and I'm certain I'll be wiser for being a member here.
dsayers Posted May 6, 2014 Posted May 6, 2014 Hello and welcome. I have a wide range of hobbies but have had a philosophical streak since early puberty, albeit with mostly a practical application to life in mind. I have almost no formal schooling in the subject. I've been a libertarian before I even knew the word existed. I've only recently discovered Stefan Molyneux but I've always lived my life according to the "everybody's free to do what they want as long as they don't encroach upon the freedom of others" principle, which I feel comes pretty close to NAP. I've been reading up on modern libertarianism and it seems to me a no-brainer that this is how society should be 'organized' (for lack of a better word). I was wondering if you see a contradiction in everything quoted here and "serving" in two armies?
Jer Posted May 6, 2014 Posted May 6, 2014 Welcome Daniel. Hello and welcome. I was wondering if you see a contradiction in everything quoted here and "serving" in two armies? I was also in the military and I had a problem with that term long before I had a problem with the military. I joined because I needed a job and couldn't even get an interview at wal mart. When I was in training I had to walk around in uniform and people would say "thanks for your service" and I'd smile and remind them that I get paid to go to school walking distance from the beach...
DanielB Posted May 9, 2014 Author Posted May 9, 2014 Hello and welcome. I was wondering if you see a contradiction in everything quoted here and "serving" in two armies? No, but apparently you do. Feel free to tell me about it. 'Serving' is just a way of saying I 'was' in two armies. And you do actually serve, although who and what purpose you serve may not always be what you would choose. I served at a time when I didn't care whose purpose was served by my serving, all I knew and cared about was that MY purpose was served. I'm still not undecided if there was anything wrong about that. Welcome Daniel. I was also in the military and I had a problem with that term long before I had a problem with the military. I joined because I needed a job and couldn't even get an interview at wal mart. When I was in training I had to walk around in uniform and people would say "thanks for your service" and I'd smile and remind them that I get paid to go to school walking distance from the beach... That's not why I joined. For me it was basically thrill seeking. It was one of the ways to suck the marrow out of life. The way I see it it's mostly people living sad dreary lives, no real high points, very little real low ones. Nice and safe. That's not what life is for, IMHO. You only get to do it once, I really wanted all it had to offer, and I still do.
dsayers Posted May 9, 2014 Posted May 9, 2014 Could you look past the word serve and actually answer the question please? You talked about a philosophical streak since puberty, practical application to life, libertarian, and everybody's free to do what they want as long as they don't encroach upon the freedom of others. How are any of those four items not in direct contradiction to being in the military? Additionally, your defense of the word serve in the context of military participation also contradicts these items.
DanielB Posted May 9, 2014 Author Posted May 9, 2014 Could you look past the word serve and actually answer the question please? You talked about a philosophical streak since puberty, practical application to life, libertarian, and everybody's free to do what they want as long as they don't encroach upon the freedom of others. How are any of those four items not in direct contradiction to being in the military? Additionally, your defense of the word serve in the context of military participation also contradicts these items. Bald assertion. Please show the contradiction.
dsayers Posted May 9, 2014 Posted May 9, 2014 Military folk are paid with stolen monies by the biggest criminals in human history. This is not philosophical, practical, or libertarian, and doesn't encroach but flat out violates the freedom of others. Self-knowledge is a very important component of philosophy. Particularly accepting one's own capacity for error. I do not feel you exhibit this. As a result, I feel that your claims regarding philosophy, practicality, liberty, and freedom are compromised and cannot be accepted at face value.
Steven Andrew Stalma Posted May 10, 2014 Posted May 10, 2014 Hi Daniel, I'm new here too. Hope everyone makes you feel welcome! *nudge nudge, wink wink*
powder Posted May 11, 2014 Posted May 11, 2014 No, but apparently you do. Feel free to tell me about it. 'Serving' is just a way of saying I 'was' in two armies. And you do actually serve, although who and what purpose you serve may not always be what you would choose. I served at a time when I didn't care whose purpose was served by my serving, all I knew and cared about was that MY purpose was served. I'm still not undecided if there was anything wrong about that. That's not why I joined. For me it was basically thrill seeking. It was one of the ways to suck the marrow out of life. The way I see it it's mostly people living sad dreary lives, no real high points, very little real low ones. Nice and safe. That's not what life is for, IMHO. You only get to do it once, I really wanted all it had to offer, and I still do. you joined the military for thrills? I would like to learn more about your childhood.
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