Posts by Brenda Cook4

Larry Wilson5 said:But what exactly is that mechanism?

At its core, this kind of self-reflection is really just a value judgment. If the term "mechanism" feels a bit off—since in Psychology we usually reserve that for subconscious functions—then let me clarify. What I mean is a specific process, a sort of recurring pattern that brings something into being or shapes how someone acts in any given moment.

placidwolf27 said:Sure, people will try to dictate their own wants based on a set of values, but that’s not quite the same thing...

If a desire is irrational—if it stems from something fundamentally illogical—then how can a person even maintain a conscious grasp on what they truly want or don't want? And I don't mean something basic, like being hungry and wanting food...

Maybe I'm being a bit emotionally stunted here, but I honestly don't see how one can know what they want if they lack the capacity to communicate with the deeper parts of the psyche where those desires are actually born or manifested...

And what happens when there's a direct collision between what a person "wants" and what they feel they "ought to be"? How does that conflict get resolved? Especially when it involves something purely practical—something where nobody is even bothering to ask for your input...

Maslow isn't helping much here; I've never really understood his work beyond the fact that he spent his life spinning colorful theories about how "normal" people function...

In those moments, a rational person should be able to kick into gear their internal mechanism of self-control.

Alright then, the moderator over at Psychology agreed to reopen the thread, even though the whole topic was framed through a philosophical lens... there we go.

Desire usually comes before intention and action. When we’re talking about a rational agent, desire is essentially the byproduct of normative rationality—it stems from what one believes to be true. To me, being "rational" simply means acting based on a full set of information, or rather, the cognitive state of the individual at any given moment. But here's the kicker: if that desire isn't driven by logic, then a self-control mechanism ought to kick in... or maybe it shouldn't...

Gary Carter said:Why do mods delete posts on certain threads that aren't even off-topic chatter or spam, but actually part of the discussion? Take a thread about Philosophy, for instance—two of my posts were wiped out. I was just answering the OP's questions directly; it wasn't spam, it wasn't vulgar, and I definitely wasn't trolling. Plus, the moderator didn't even give me a heads-up as to why they were pulled. Hmm? 😕

Can you tell me which Philosophy thread you mean?

the chosen people say:
We’re living in an era where very few people still kid themselves into thinking that hugging liberal capitalism is our ticket to a bright future. The whole communist experiment was a spectacular failure. Why? On paper, everything looked perfect. Humanistic. It was just the people who failed.

That’s why we need structure—we need a system. Maybe man isn't a wolf to man, or even a dog to man. A person can be anything to another person; they can be a saint or a villain. We simply can't bank on individual nature alone. We need a system to neutralize that unpredictable human factor. But isn't there a paradox there? After all, we are trying to organize a community of actual human beings, not just a collection of minerals. Is that why we struggle? Even under capitalism, labor rights exist on paper, yet they're ignored in practice. Is the flaw in the design, or is it just human nature at work? To what extent can we actually shape reality through social engineering?

Can structural changes, for instance, actually root out corruption?
Or consider this: we have an independent judiciary, an executive branch, and so on, yet it often feels like none of it is truly independent. Isn't there a tendency in both communism and capitalism for a powerful elite to emerge? An elite that prioritizes its own interests above all else, handing out just enough scraps to the public to prevent a revolution from brewing?

If changing the structure leads nowhere, should we focus on shifting human consciousness instead—say, through education? Should we try to "improve" people? Or does that just lead us straight into another totalitarian trap?
Maybe the goal is to teach people how to think for themselves. But how?

So, I’ve thrown these questions out there. Feel free to weigh in. I haven't laid down a specific thesis because I don't have the answers; I'm just mulling it over alongside you.

I see it not as man vs. the system, but rather the system vs. man. A system is supposed to be a set of elements working toward a common goal, but during the process, it starts to feel like there are more non-human elements driving it than human ones (and the further it goes, the stronger that inclination becomes). The system is definitely sick.
Education? Sure, that's really the only thing we can rely on, but I mean genuine education—not the brainwashing the system usually serves up. Honestly, I don't know if anything can help. We've been trapped in the system since day one.

Benjamin Taylor6 said:So, is hiddenpuma75 back or what? I’ve been hearing all this weird chatter about some Prometaja1 being an alleged clone of hiddenpuma75. Honestly, the whole thing feels a little sketchy to me. 😕🤷

Yeah, he’s back—though if you look at those heavy-duty clones he was posting alongside while he was "solo," it's almost like he never really left... but let's not get sidetracked. He can be himself again, the hiddenpuma75 we all know. There’s no conspiracy here. He might be running low on creative fuel for a bit, but hey, that's just how it goes with him.😁

Pars, just stick to the forum rules like everyone else. No getting personal or calling people out in your posts. One slip-up like that and you'll find yourself back in the penalty box.

Look, I've always maintained that you're capable of this, even if you sometimes miss the mark when it comes to spirituality. The admin takes my word for it, and in return, I promised to step in and handle any tricky situations if they arise—though I really hope it doesn't come to that. So, welcome back.

edit:
14:32
So, there's my simultaneous response.

Just a little bit of Stop SOPA/New York City 02. 11.

Susan Green15 said:What could possibly be the noble reasoning behind an omniscient God choosing not to share the kind of knowledge that could save millions of lives or simply make our existence less of a struggle?
During the Middle Ages, countless millions perished from the plague and various other ailments, not to mention the periods of famine caused by things like potato blight wiping out crops.
Why didn't God explain the mechanics of the plague or how to treat it, instead just watching silently as millions died, leaving us to stumble upon the cures entirely on our own?

Why do people continue to praise Jesus for miraculous healings rather than criticizing him for using his knowledge and abilities for his own promotion and glory, instead of teaching humanity medicine so we could actually heal ourselves—both in greater numbers and long after his passing?

It’s actually quite simple: God can't exactly "share knowledge" when the people who put those books together didn't have any idea what they were talking about in the first place.

Peter Doyle2 said:Wait, can you actually delete a profile? I always assumed that wasn't an option... I guess you have to submit a formal request or something?

Not just by asking... if you check the terms of service, it's all laid out there.

Peter Doyle2 said:This might be out of place, but it reminded me of something I’ve always wondered about and just didn't know where to ask 😁
Basically, sometimes when I'm scrolling through a thread, I'll run into a post where the author has "no nickname"—it's just text in the standard post font rather than a clickable link, and the post count says n/a. I can't quite remember which specific threads I saw this in to dig up the links for you guys... though I do recall one of those "names" was Enigma (and no, I don't mean Enigma)

So, I guess I'm wondering, what actually is that? Is it a deleted account? Or maybe someone requested it? :confused:

EDIT: Okay, I found an example:http://www.forum.us/showpost.php?p=506098&postcount=29

n/a You'll see "n/a" popping up around here from time to time. It’s just the standard American shorthand for "not available." In the context of our community, you'll usually spot it next to the usernames of members whose profiles have been deleted.

Glossary — A breakdown of the specific terms we use around here. Posted by moderator Wrbhhh Quote

Frank Reed4 said:No, there’s absolutely no need for that. It just looks foolish—don't take that personally—when you tell us it was some sort of experiment, claiming you were changing Spectre's handle and then suddenly just stopping. It isn't that I'm confused; it's that I am genuinely, truly baffled. 😵

What am I even supposed to believe here? 🙂

Believe what you want, but that’s just the reality of the situation. I actually reached out to Sasha to see if I could merge my username into a single word, but it was a no-go. Apparently, someone else already snagged that specific handle, and they wouldn't even let me use capital letters to differentiate myself from the existing account. So, for now, I’m stuck with this version until they make a final call on the policy.

rustydrifter10 said:I don't see that thread listed in your open topics. Which PDF file was it attached to?

rustydrifter10, I'm pretty sure it's this specific thread, but you can't actually enter it because it's sitting inside the Trash folder.

Arthur Flores2 said:The intention really wasn't to hurt anyone's feelings—I honestly have no clue why it came across that way. The whole point was just to spark that Christmas spirit, you know? To bring everyone a little closer together. I truly don't see how anyone could take offense, because when I wrote about them, I just used those general, recognizable traits that people usually use to define themselves anyway...

And speaking of which, you actually ended up hurting my feelings quite a bit this Christmas. You painted me as some kind of Catholic who would take the holiest day of his faith—Christmas—and turn it into a weapon for insults...

Besides, if I did manage to offend someone, all I've done is open the door for fifteen different people to send those insults right back at me in their replies...

I mean, what kind of guy—especially a Catholic—would actually want to be insulted by fifteen different people during the Christmas season?

Well, fine, it is what it is. The card was a total flop...

Maybe that's why we didn't even get any snow for Christmas...😢

It didn't fail, unfortunately! Here they are—the lucky ones who were the targets. They have plenty of chances to read it over and over, and I'm sure that sense of togetherness and community will just blossom from here😁

I hope this doesn't offend you, but Merry Christmas and all the best to you in the days ahead...

Thanks... of course it won't, because I celebrate Christmas, I decorate the tree, I bake cookies, and I head to midnight mass, just like any decent atheist😬 who keeps up with the traditions of his country. Wishing you nothing but the best once again.

Anthony Perez9 said:I really have to thank my favorite religious expert, Arthur Flores2, for sending me the longest Christmas greeting ever! 🙂

Happy St. Stephen's Day—since we’ve already cruised right past Christmas!

P.S. It’s probably for the best that the thread was eliminated. lol

Sure, it's gone from the PDF where the thread was open, but let's be real here: the goal was achieved by copy-pasting that exact same deleted post. The whole point was to make sure people read it and felt insulted by those "warm" Christmas wishes. If they didn't pull it off over on the Religion board, they figured they'd try it here on the General Discussion board (which is why it got nuked in the first place)... so, honestly, the quote from the deleted post should probably be wiped out too.

Arthur Flores2 said:Can anyone help me out here?

It feels a bit late to be sending out greetings tomorrow, and if my post gets flagged or removed for some reason, I’m worried I might get banned just for trying to restore it without permission...

Is there any way to get a post back up? Or maybe just move it into the main thread with all the other holiday greetings?

Come on, at least answer that much for me...

Wouldn't it have been much simpler to just say "Merry Christmas" like a normal person?😁 But no, we apparently need to poke and prod each other a little, don't we? Personally, I wouldn't go that route... I mean, if you're addressing someone specifically with that kind of intensity, please, just drop the crude language and stuff like that... but if they aren't exactly your best friend (and you clearly went out of your way to show they aren't), maybe just stick to wishing the people you actually care about well... you know, in the true spirit of Christmas, maybe on an open card... what do you think?

I'm so sorry, I'm just now getting a chance to reply.

Merry Christmas!

rustydrifter10 said:I couldn't agree more. 🙂

Those topic indexes are honestly such a lifesaver, and most of the PDFs actually include them now. Plus, there’s really no need to go throwing out sanctions for minor slip-ups that can be fixed in two seconds, especially when nobody was actually trying to cause trouble or break the rules.

But if I could pivot to something else mentioned above that I find even more concerning, it’s this whole business of editing posts. In my opinion, a user's post should stay exactly as they wrote it, unless it's just some minor aesthetic cleanup—you know, fixing a broken quote or trimming down extra fluff in a citation. Aside from that, what a person writes should either be left entirely alone or the whole post should just be deleted. 🙂

I am right there with you on this.

crimsonsailor7 said:It’s honestly such a bummer because it feels like around here we just focus on handing out punishments 😁 instead of actually connecting with people or giving them a heads-up first... It’s just frustrating, you know? Like, when someone rolls in with 5,000 or 10,000 posts under their belt, someone who’s opening their fourth or fifth thread in the Legal section asking "how do I dodge my cable bill," even though the massive thread about subscriptions is sitting right there on the front page and clearly visible in the topic list... it just shows they didn't put in even a shred of effort to check the FAQs or the pinned PDFs. There are plenty of users here who know exactly how to post in the right spot from day one, so I really expect at least that much basic courtesy from the veterans 🤷

Oh, absolutely not. This isn't meant to be a rule; it's more of a general reflection on the idea of "search the threads, then the search bar, then Google, then the thread search" before getting banned. And honestly? All those search functions are pretty useless anyway, so why even suggest them as a solution? Sure, there are times when a thread is buried way too deep, but otherwise, relying on these massive group threads is just impractical. How are you supposed to find an answer if it was potentially buried on page 29,549? If the search tools actually worked... which they don't... it might be different. That's all I'm saying 😬

rustydrifter10 said:The thing is, the search function actually has this awesome feature where you can search specifically through PDFs so you aren't sifting through the entire forum at once. 😍 Plus, you have the option to search within individual threads separately if you want to be precise. 🙂

If the built-in forum search isn't cutting it for you, don't forget there's a Google search bar right there in the top left corner of the forum—it works like a charm. 🥳

Excuse me, but I have to say this: 😬

Yeah, "wonderful" is one way to put it—I'd personally describe the current search function as "completely useless." Sure, using Google to search the forum is a step up, but you end up wading through ten pages of results that you have to sift through manually. And don't even get me started on searching within a single thread. 🤣

Look, those PDF topic lists are definitely helpful tools, but I feel like we're being way too harsh when someone gets penalized for posting a "duplicate" thread. A user shows up with a question, looking for a quick answer, and they're expected to dig through everything mentioned above? Honestly, they might as well head over to a university library and start researching from scratch. If a moderator sees a duplicate, just merge the thread or give them a nudge. We have plenty of mods around to help out. This isn't some intense FBI interrogation where you're being judged for a technicality or a procedural error... and then getting slapped with a strike on top of it. Just be a little more lenient. But hey, that's just my two cents.

wearyhawk83 said:edit: Actually, hold up—humans aren't just reactive machines. We're machines that have the power to *choose* our reaction. The absolute key to unlocking that potential is mastering intention and willpower. And let's be real, you aren't born with those; you build them by learning how to operate your own internal machinery.

From where I'm standing in America, all I see is everyone whining constantly without having the slightest clue why they're doing it. They probably think the system is some kind of mother who's going to coddle them, pick them up, and give them a hug. Seriously, who's actually whining? Who has ever accomplished anything by crying about it? If anything, it’s proof that we aren't "underdeveloped"—it’s crystal clear why we end up stuck in this cycle of complaining.

It’s not even about *how* we react; it’s about understanding *why* we react that way and, like you said, deciding what we want to build and what we're striving for. We need to strive through action, not just empty mantras.

Let's drop the "records" for now. I'm still processing all this, and you're responding faster than the speed of light!

Of course, I'm not diving deep into intentionality right now, but it all falls under the broader umbrella of reacting to stimuli.

“Who is whining?” Sadly, a massive number of people. Are we at fault? Yes. But life isn't easy, and eventually, we’re going to have to start thinking seriously about where we went wrong and what we truly need to do... what we ought to strive for, which requires a much more serious anticipation of the consequences of acting this way.