27 posts shown.
So, this discussion kind of spiraled into some weird tangents. 😵
I’m gonna break this down in plain English—layman style—before that sharp-tongued critic kicks me off this PDF. 😬
Personal freedom is my top priority.
But when I talk about freedom, I mean the freedom to set my own rules and decide my own boundaries.
Basically, if someone tries to dictate how I live or pressure me into something by using fear tactics—claiming "you have to do this or else X will happen"—I’m just not interested. Of course, I play by the rules of the land because I’m a civilized person living in a society, not some outlaw. I respect legitimacy.
Naturally, things have to work that way.
Don't get me wrong, I care what people think, but it’s definitely not the most important thing to me.
That’s actually what 🙄 was trying to get across in the original post.
A lot of the paths we take in life—our actions, our thoughts, our general direction—are dictated by deep-seated guilt or the fear of consequences from things we've done or others have done.
It spans everything from family and friends to your spouse or partner.
The problem is, we waste way too much time overthinking how we appear to others and constantly questioning whether we even have the permission to be ourselves...
Samuel Miller21 said:I wouldn't go so far as to say that human nature is inherently free.
Just look at how many ways we tend to torment ourselves, even when there isn't some external "whip" driving us.
We all carry internal mechanisms designed to restrict our own freedom; human nature is actually quite far from being truly liberated.
Freedom is one extreme, and total subjugation is the other. Humans always exist somewhere in the middle. We are constantly seeking a balance—when we lack freedom, we dream of it, but when we are free, we often find ourselves searching for something to bind us to, or some way to submit.
Maybe.
I'm trying to look at this objectively, but I think my own nature leans toward the extremes. 😁
It feels to me like you can actually reach higher levels of freedom through curiosity, asking questions, and constant learning.
It's really about consciousness. Even in relationships—where everything from basic friendship to marriage involves limiting your own autonomy—it's basically just a series of voluntary sacrifices of your freedom.
I don't think the concept of absolute freedom would even work for us because humans are social creatures by design. Relationships require compromise.
It all feels like one big loop; on one hand, there's that innate drive to push back against dogma and forced values, but then there's what you said—you break free from a dictator just to tie yourself to something else.
Maybe it's all about moderation.
Or maybe I've just talked myself into a massive knot, Bog help me. 🙄 😁
Sandra Parker3 said:"The devil within" is just who we really are when the mask slips.
edit:
It's us without any guilt, having given ourselves permission—basically "forgiving" ourselves—to be flawed, regardless of how we look to ourselves or everyone else.
I'm not religious, so I don't have a higher power telling me what to do; I'm my own dictator.
👍
I think
Kyle Nelson2
touched on this quite a bit. At the end of the day, we're all our own worst dictators. We just call it conscience, morality, or ethics to make it sound better. But how does a person even get to that point? 🙂
Kyle Nelson2 said:No, let me get back to my point...
So why on earth is the devil such a massive enemy to us?
Maybe it’s because he’s the one actually providing freedom—you know, doing all the things that are strictly forbidden...
Look, I don't want to turn this into some religious debate or whatever... but was the devil essentially just the opposition party standing up to the dictator?
Freedom comes with responsibility, and responsibility inevitably brings fear.
The fear of failing and taking the blame, or the fear of making choices that shape your own life and everyone else's—choices that lead to more guilt if they turn out to be wrong.
Kyle Nelson2 said:No, let me get back to my point...
So why on earth is the devil such a massive enemy to us?
Maybe it’s because he’s the one actually providing freedom—you know, doing all the things that are strictly forbidden...
Look, I don't want to turn this into some religious debate or whatever... but was the devil essentially just the opposition party standing up to the dictator?
Being the opposition to a dictator is just human nature. We're wired to be free and curious, pushing back against rules forced upon us. It's evolution; it's how humans grow by asking questions, exploring, and digging deeper. And that usually leaves you with more questions than answers.
A dictator is the one who labels that freedom as "evil" just because it sounds bad and makes people feel guilty.
And once you control someone through guilt, you control them. 😉
We’re basically a society built on fear and guilt. Honestly, it feels more like a reign of terror driven by those two things.
It's like a fundamental rule of market marketing. I honestly wonder why it works that way.
You touched on religion, and that's where everything starts getting relative.
To put it bluntly: blackmail.
The pitch is always: Bog is good and Bog is love. And Bog will love you as long as you follow the rules. If you don't, you'll burn in hell—that's the punishment. Or, to put it less dramatically, Bog will be saddened, and you're the one who caused that eternal harm (that's the guilt). It’s how they keep the masses in line under the guise of morality and "doing the common good."
It all sounds great when you wrap it in a cloak of goodness and say it's "for your own benefit," but once you peel back even a single layer, you're left with the naked truth: it's just fear, threats, and manufactured guilt.
But honestly, this pattern shows up in pretty much every human interaction.
Even in your own home, where it’s basically a micro-market: be good, do this or that, and you'll be rewarded with a kiss, a hug, warmth, or some pocket money...
Guilt just breeds more guilt.
Cause and effect, and effect becomes the cause.
A vicious cycle that just keeps spinning.
Actually, I have to ask: how much of that was her truly acting, and how much was she just an object being acted upon? How much was her ego pulling the strings and giving her permission to walk away?
People stay objects until the moment they consciously decide to shift from passive to active.
And yeah, guilt and fear play a massive role in that transition.
It happens once you've exhausted every option and realized the old story just doesn't hold water anymore.
Not me doing something good just to boost my reputation in your eyes, but because... I don't know, I just want to do good... or bad... whatever...
You put that beautifully, and I'm totally with you.
There's just one tiny catch in that last part, though; "I want to do good... or bad..." — that's where freedom kicks in. But where does that freedom end, and who actually sets the boundaries? Anyway, that's a whole different conversation.
🙂
Peter Davis6 said:The real issue with stuff like Deep Relief is that it just masks the pain. You start thinking you’re fine, push yourself too hard, and end up doing even more damage to the injury. It’s better to play it safe and bypass that temptation.
With injuries like this, the discomfort can linger for a couple of months—not trying to freak you out, just being realistic. Can you manage without using your computer for a bit? If so, try to give that arm a total break for a few days. It might actually give you a chance to start healing.
Not an option. My entire livelihood depends on being at my desk...
Hey Maggie.
My hand is killing me.
Doc says it’s because I’m glued to my mouse for ten hours a day. Fair enough.
So, he wraps my arm up, slathers on some random cream, gives me a shot, and tells me to grab some Deep Relief so I don't overwork my right hand so much. 🙄
That was last week. Honestly, the pain hasn't actually stopped; it just feels slightly less intense. I try stretching every day, but besides feeling more sore during the stretches, I've seen zero progress. And every time the pain flares up, my veins start popping out everywhere. 🙄
Anyone got any ideas, tips, or even just a suggestion?
P.S. My left hand is basically useless—not like I haven't tried leaning on it more (if you can even call clicking a mouse and typing "overworking" something... 🙄 )