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Post by asiaticdarkperson on Dec 22, 2012 11:15:50 GMT -5
articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-12-21/entertainment/bal-nra-lapierre-media-violence-lies-20121221_1_national-media-media-critic-media-companiesThis is why you shouldn't write stuff when you're angry. Dear Mr. Whatever your name is: Guns aren't corrupting people's minds. Guns aren't putting stupid ideas about what's cool and what's not in children's heads. But the media is doing both and much more. Sir, I tell you, Prozac and TV are much more responsible for modern mass psychosis than guns. If you don't agree, you're an idiot. And how on earth is the NRA responsible for some jackass who went on a suicide-killing spree?? Aren't there supposed to be trained professionals in schools identifying these potential murder-maniacs? I tell you, it's the education system's fault long before the gun or gun companies' fault. P.S. You're absolutely right, I am bought and paid for by the gun companies. In fact, they payed me five thousand dollars to say all this.
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Post by grainnerhuad on Jan 4, 2013 15:37:06 GMT -5
It may be a tad late but yes, no decisions should be made while still mad. The stupid shit said and put in motion after that tragedy still pisses me off.
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Post by asiaticdarkperson on Jan 5, 2013 5:26:16 GMT -5
www.realitysandwich.com/sandy_hook_collective_nightmareThis is a good read. "What if an individual client came into my office and shared their previous night's dream, and it was what had happened in Newtown? What would this dream be showing us about the state of this person's psyche?"
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Post by karlsie on Jan 5, 2013 6:15:11 GMT -5
I still find it very hard to form an opinion regarding what happened at Sandy Hook. It feels like shell shock. To say it was a disturbed young man is not strong enough. Someone who can look coldly into the faces of small children and murder them has no shred of humanity. He is a monster. Who do we blame? Ourselves? Each other? Perhaps if we knew him and couldn't see the monstrosity that was certainly beginning to taint him; deform him. But when you're separated by miles and towns and social differences? How can we say this is what we have created, what society has created?
We are blighted by a disease, and that disease is a massive flight to promote an agenda when a tragedy of these proportions occur. It is as callow in its own way as the murders, for instead of hands reaching out to comfort and give counsel, it is just a mad scramble to prove whatever side of the fence you're on is right. Something has been set in motion and it seems it can't be stopped. All we can do is hold onto our humanity, our love and compassion and wait for the insanity to end.
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Post by asiaticdarkperson on Jan 6, 2013 5:10:43 GMT -5
You guys should definitely watch the British movie "Heartless."
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Post by grainnerhuad on Jan 9, 2013 15:10:56 GMT -5
I will tell you how I feel about people who commit crimes like that at Sandy Hook. They are not monsters (usually) they are people without places who feel unimportant. It is not their fault, it is not always their parent's fault. It is the fault of a society that requires much and gives little. That has no place for people who are different to feel important or needed. And that spends more on war than on helping people. The day after the shooting I read an article by a woman who has a son who she feared could do this someday. It is here: www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/i-am-adam-lanzas-motherI thought, I know personally many families and kids like this, I have also worked professionally with too many people to count that either are this kid or their families. She is right, there is not a lot offered in the way of help or even respite so the family can keep going. I wondered in the wake why it was usually males of a certain age that commit these crimes. I believe it is because they need desperately to be noted as having done something, anything. Killing themselves will not do for them because they will not be remembered. This is a problem that will take more than one generation to sort out. Gun control will not do it. Medication will not do it. Hospitalization will not do it. We must find a place for these people to do something of note that is noteworthy to them. And we must also stop glorifying people who do absolutely nothing like athletes and politicians and friends of movie stars and "real housewives" because I think part of the pain comes from the question asked in the minds of these disturbed people "why are those people noticed and loved and not me?"
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Post by asiaticdarkperson on Jan 9, 2013 16:39:43 GMT -5
I would suggest the opposite approach. I think people feel much too important, and take themselves way too seriously. We are all worthless dirt, bloated egos, afaic. I think if people learned to feel less self-pity, and stopped believing they "deserve" anything, things will be on the right track.
The next step after that is learning not to want anything. But if we could all do that we'd have utopia already.
Wanting things for our selves is IMO a symptom of a form of psychosis called self-importance. Our idea of self is a mental image. (I'm not arguing whether our idea of self is true or false, or wrong or right, just that it is an 'image' that exists in our mind. Agreed?) Well, that image has somehow become alive and rules over us now, or so it seems from where I stand.
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Post by grainnerhuad on Jan 9, 2013 16:52:51 GMT -5
I think I am mis-communicating this. It's not a self-importance in the sense of gimme and see me and feed me and pet me or deserving anything.
It's knowing that one has a place. A purpose may be a better way to put it.
Definately self-importance is what leads to all that wasteful garbage of pop-culture and pumped ego.
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Post by asiaticdarkperson on Jan 10, 2013 7:01:46 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure there is a place for everyone in the world, Grainne. But the same can't be said about human society. Our society demands that you conform or GFY.
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Post by karlsie on Jan 10, 2013 20:10:31 GMT -5
I'm mulling. I read the other day that the elimination of ego is an Eastern philosophy, while Western philosophy extols independence and self worth. I still consider baby killers monsters, and have no sympathy for any ego that would justify preying on the innocent and helpless, no matter what their motivations. However, I'm still weighing out the statement, which I find a bit astute. It's a matter, once again, of finding balance. I would be interested in continuing this discussion in the hope that I can formulate an objective conclusion.
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Post by asiaticdarkperson on Jan 11, 2013 5:45:40 GMT -5
karlsie, the curtailing of ego has a prominent place in Eastern and Western (Amerindian) mystical doctrines. The capitalist false-West is the only place you will find ego-worship not only tolerated, but encouraged, afaik. (Psychedelics, historically used by pretty much all native tribes of America (with access to them) are boundary-dissolvers that cause ego-death when taken in large enough doses.)
Without a good deal of self-importance, capitalism (and the worship of money and material goods that go with it) just wouldn't have any legs to stand on, the way I see it.
Edit: Off topic but (when I am ever on-topic anyway?) the reason psychedelics result in expanded awareness and new perceptions is exactly because they stop the ego. (what I call the self) The self normally takes up all of our energy. So, you see why there is such emphasis on getting rid of it or at least keeping it under tight control.
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Post by karlsie on Jan 12, 2013 9:13:56 GMT -5
Shh, you've given me something to think about. Part of the persuasiveness of this other friend's argument was the word "independence"; equivalent to the self-determination of today's Native American philosophy. However, self-determination is not necessarily the expansion of the ego. It is a careful evaluation of all points of view for exercising independent thought. For this reason, a self-determined person does not often join organizations with established doctrines.
Nor on close examination, could you consider a capitalist independent. Independent people draw upon their own resources; physical objects, personal strength and/or stamina, logic, practical applications, etc. A capitalist depends on the weaknesses, naïvete, ignorance and perceived needs of others to trick or force them out of their resources. This is a direct catering to an ego that feels an accumulation of wealth or assets demonstrates superiority over others.
Of all the ad nauseum attitudes of Western thought, the winner mentality is the most corrupting and obnoxious. The Arctic Winter Games have no true winners. They are merely opportunities for demonstrating your strength and endurance and are played just for fun. The blanket toss is the most world renown, but they have other simple game skills that are not so widely celebrated, such as looping a cord over your ear and seeing how much weight you can withstand on the dangling ends. These are not contests with a winner declared at the end of the exhibition. Anyone can play and everyone who does is applauded. Remove the winner mentality and all you have are people willing to test their individual abilities.
Grainne said, "I believe it is because they need desperately to be noted as having done something, anything. Killing themselves will not do for them because they will not be remembered." Notoriety is not necessary. Self worth is knowing who you are and the extent of your capabilities. Once you realize your worth is no greater than or less than any other, you can kill the ego freely, for the ego only wishes for you to win a contest, which is a false presentation of worth.
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Post by asiaticdarkperson on Jan 12, 2013 11:06:38 GMT -5
Shh, you've given me something to think about. Part of the persuasiveness of this other friend's argument was the word "independence"; equivalent to the self-determination of today's Native American philosophy. However, self-determination is not necessarily the expansion of the ego. It is a careful evaluation of all points of view for exercising independent thought. For this reason, a self-determined person does not often join organizations with established doctrines. The true ancient mystical doctrines have no public front, organizations or congregations IMO, karlsie. Their knowledge is concealed, but not hidden, from the general population. To follow their invisible path, one needs energy, and not any organization or established doctrine. I agree. We are all equal, and the delusion of superiority based on material wealth is most certainly the ego's doing. Also, IMO the average person seeks approval and acceptance in the eyes of those around him, and calls that self-confidence, thus his sense of self-worth and self-esteem always come from without. I'm not sure what my point is. Bye for now.
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Post by grainnerhuad on Jan 16, 2013 15:47:53 GMT -5
I feel I should make it clear that I don't find this over inflated ego grabbing at needs for self worth okay. I just note that this is what is happening in our society. And there are no teachers of a different way. (no surprise) nor help for those dealing with this dispairity. (again no surprise because Americans are 'can-do' thinkers largely)
Also I think anyone's need to have something different awakes in the collective the uneasy feeling that something is not right with all of us. This of course gets stuffed right away with rhetoric about how one should behave and fit into the society that is here. They are failures so We don't have to be.
Self esteem is a phrase I would like to throw out. Esteeming yourself does very little for yourself. That is not to say one should beat up on themselves. But, doing normal things does not require a prize or any note at all. What should be nurtured depends on the results the society wants. It 's clear we want shitty results right now. I would rather see us nurture people finding a place for themselves whether that be pulling weeds or creating infrastructure.
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Post by asiaticdarkperson on Jan 16, 2013 17:20:53 GMT -5
I think a lot of people are generally psychotic because they feel their possibilities/alternatives are extremely limited. They are stuck in life-situations and behavior patterns that they can't get out of. Their life is a repetition of a handful of predefined routines. I'm sure I don't have to say any more...Everyone knows what I'm talking about right?
Physicists define energy as the ability to do [work.] So, the more energy one has the more varied are ones possibilities.
We live in the midst of a universe of infinite potentialities. Yet we are stuck performing boring routines for the entire duration of our lives. I think it's perfectly natural for people to go crazy and end up shooting dozens of little kids. (I mean, what else are they gonna do? Their boring routines?)
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