Geneloper Posted November 27, 2014 Posted November 27, 2014 Hello everybody! I have been a long-time listener since 2010. Recent events have alerted me to the urgency of spreading truth around. I had a rough childhood. I have always thought that something was wrong with myself. In kindergarten, I found it hard to play with other kids. In primary school, I was a top student but somehow, always managed to be bullied and ostracized. I couldn't understand. I hid in the library and made friends with other recluses like me. In middle and high school, I had terrible acne that put down my already low social confidence. To make things worse, I had discovered procrastination and my grades, which were about the only thing I felt great at, took a dive. I became depressed during exam periods and sought counselling from the school social worker. Before 2012, I didn't understand any of this. I thought my childhood was great, my family relationships were perfect and it was all my fault. But I kept being victimized, and everytime I was, I went in search of answers. And answers I did get. In 2008, I found Ron Paul, thanks to widespread youtube spam. That led me to libertarianism, free markets, Austrian economics, Zeitgeist and Ayn Rand. And I realized how much adults Then, one cold winter night procrastinating in my college dorm, I was feeling meta and youtube-searched "procrastination". I found Stefan Molyneux - Putting off Procrastination (https://www<DOT>youtube.com/watch?v=h1WC6hNTONg) I remember thinking "Gee, this guys spot on". I began to look for my real passions, identify my false self, pursue self-knowledge and seek help. And I listened more. I would cry myself to sleep every night, after major insights that shed light on my psyche. And in the morning, I'd wake up feeling lighter, more happy. I've learned and changed more about myself in the past 2 years than my entire past. On this Thanksgiving, I feel more grateful, even lucky, that I am what I have become and all that I can be - I will be. I guess my main reason for joining the forum, is to be amongst my tribe. But why join now? My motivation was simple - the recent "Occupy Central", or "Umbrella Movement" in Hong Kong. For the past 3 months, people have been realizing how little we really need government for, how terrible governments are and how anarchy works in this technological, connected age. And while the banners say it's protest for democracy, the real issue and reason behind the desire for democracy seems to be government oppression, threats to human freedom and the immorality of the initiation of force. I have been spreading the message of freedom and stateless society here. People here understand the non-aggression principle, at least in the context of violence. Many are looking for answers - unwilling to back down in a face-off with one of the most powerful and ruthless regimes in the world (China's communist party), yet unsure of how to continue and finish what's been started. I'd like to close with perhaps my main question. I agree that a stateless society will almost certainly take more than my lifetime and the solutions proposed will take quite a while too. How does one work to empower and free in this lifetime? How to defend my freedom and that of others now? Looking forward to the discussions! Sincerely, Geneloper.
Leevan Posted November 28, 2014 Posted November 28, 2014 Hello everybody! I have been a long-time listener since 2010. Recent events have alerted me to the urgency of spreading truth around. I had a rough childhood. I have always thought that something was wrong with myself. In kindergarten, I found it hard to play with other kids. In primary school, I was a top student but somehow, always managed to be bullied and ostracized. I couldn't understand. I hid in the library and made friends with other recluses like me. In middle and high school, I had terrible acne that put down my already low social confidence. To make things worse, I had discovered procrastination and my grades, which were about the only thing I felt great at, took a dive. I became depressed during exam periods and sought counselling from the school social worker. Before 2012, I didn't understand any of this. I thought my childhood was great, my family relationships were perfect and it was all my fault. But I kept being victimized, and everytime I was, I went in search of answers. And answers I did get. In 2008, I found Ron Paul, thanks to widespread youtube spam. That led me to libertarianism, free markets, Austrian economics, Zeitgeist and Ayn Rand. And I realized how much adults Then, one cold winter night procrastinating in my college dorm, I was feeling meta and youtube-searched "procrastination". I found Stefan Molyneux - Putting off Procrastination (https://www<DOT>youtube.com/watch?v=h1WC6hNTONg) I remember thinking "Gee, this guys spot on". I began to look for my real passions, identify my false self, pursue self-knowledge and seek help. And I listened more. I would cry myself to sleep every night, after major insights that shed light on my psyche. And in the morning, I'd wake up feeling lighter, more happy. I've learned and changed more about myself in the past 2 years than my entire past. On this Thanksgiving, I feel more grateful, even lucky, that I am what I have become and all that I can be - I will be. I guess my main reason for joining the forum, is to be amongst my tribe. But why join now? My motivation was simple - the recent "Occupy Central", or "Umbrella Movement" in Hong Kong. For the past 3 months, people have been realizing how little we really need government for, how terrible governments are and how anarchy works in this technological, connected age. And while the banners say it's protest for democracy, the real issue and reason behind the desire for democracy seems to be government oppression, threats to human freedom and the immorality of the initiation of force. I have been spreading the message of freedom and stateless society here. People here understand the non-aggression principle, at least in the context of violence. Many are looking for answers - unwilling to back down in a face-off with one of the most powerful and ruthless regimes in the world (China's communist party), yet unsure of how to continue and finish what's been started. I'd like to close with perhaps my main question. I agree that a stateless society will almost certainly take more than my lifetime and the solutions proposed will take quite a while too. How does one work to empower and free in this lifetime? How to defend my freedom and that of others now? Looking forward to the discussions! Sincerely, Geneloper. Welcome. To answer your questions, realize how free you are already and why you are free to that extent. Protect your freedom as you would anything else. Learn, grow, evolve, bathe your mind in wisom...realize your limitations...realize our limitations...realize what limits us...don't become overly focused on saving people...teach but do not lecture...etc.
Kevin Beal Posted November 28, 2014 Posted November 28, 2014 Hi Geneloper! Welcome to the boards Part of your post was chopped off, the fourth paragraph down ending in "And I realized how much adults". I really want to hear that thought completed. And I would really love to be able to help you by answering your questions, but I'm afraid they are slightly too abstract for me. Is there something more specific about becoming free that you want to accomplish? One thing that I think helps is that if you want to accomplish something, it makes it much easier to phrase it in actual todo items that can be finished unequivocally. How do you really know when you've finished becoming free? Are you out protesting in China? I'd be interested to hear more if you wanted to share Take care
Geneloper Posted December 3, 2014 Author Posted December 3, 2014 "And I realize how much the adults don't really know. I came to see everybody as equals." "How do you know when you are actually free?" That's a good question. My criteria is simple. I want to have fully processed my childhood, without re-occurrence of depression or helplessness. With consistent therapy, supportive people and full honesty, I think I am well on my way to this. On goals, I want to be completely confident in myself and the people I surround myself with. And of course, I want those rights and freedoms supposedly guaranteed by the laws here. No... I haven't been protesting outside of HK. But I have been spreading the truth about government and peaceful parenting wherever I go. I find it's far more powerful and easier to swallow, than any political message about democracy or rights. I admit that the culture of self-censorship is high among most of my mainland Chinese circles. My experience is most will avoid the topic and if I press the point, will often dismiss their own intellect with an "I don't know...<shakes head>". Communist party members I know are staunch defenders of all government decisions, which makes them lots of fun to debate. In any case, China has a long way to go to statelessness. Protesting in #OccupyCentral. (I'm sorry if this is a bit long. There are many aspects to the protest.) Occupying a bland part of road in the middle of a business district is not easy. People need entertainment and food, phones need charging, toilets need cleaning, students need to study and so on... And solutions arrived overnight - people donated enough supplies to last months, generators provided electricity, volunteers cleaned the toilets and tutors came to help students for free. The enthusiasm was amazing. Everyday at OccupyCentral, I witness practical anarchy in action. Right outside China's PLA HQ (the organization that brought us the TianAnMen Massacre of 1989), under government headquarters (which keeps lying), beyond police cordons (the police 4pm press conferences are a satire sensation.) It couldn't be more starkly contrasted. http://time.com/3523217/occupy-central-hong-kong-harcourt-road-admiralty-democracy-anarchism-anarchist-collective-china-protest/ We joke about how Occupy is solving HK's housing problem (it's one of the most expensive cities to live in and young people can't afford reasonably-sized housing.), yet we know it's no joke. It really could. Just live on the road. Cramped housing. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/propertypicturegalleries/9888398/Overhead-photos-of-cramped-apartments-in-Hong-Kong.html?frame=2489581 All things considered, I think there's no place I'd rather be or feel freer in, than here in the rain, with people who believe in freedom and the NAP. If it could be summed up in a phrase, I'd have to say an anarchic collective rejecting the initiation of force, demanding political freedoms from one of the most oppressive regimes ever. Ironic and hilarious. But what can we do in the short-term? Beijing keeps trying to shut the door to greater political autonomy and tries to push censorship, SOPA-like laws. Except HK likes Facebook, Whatsapp and Twitter, I like Youtube and we're fans of not being censored. (I'm happy Freedomain Radio isn't blocked! .) And in the midst of police brutality (which some people call mild compared to western nations), there's no better time to spread the word about the widespread effects of childhood abuse, violence and peaceful parenting. If anything, this is a great opportunity for the real solutions to go mainstream. To finish, this is a video (former live-feed) of where I've spent, will spend many nights. (狼英下台 means "Down with the ruthless chief-executive") ) Cheers!
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