Posts by Lawrence Bailey77

Roger Kern16 said:Does anyone else feel like their brain just operates on a completely different frequency than the rest of the population? It’s not like my thought process is a straight line... it’s more like a massive web of associations. I’m constantly spotting patterns and making connections that seem totally nonsensical to everyone else, using this alternative logic that only makes sense in my own head. Plus, I'm a super visual thinker—just constant imagery flashing around in my mind—though I guess maybe that isn't that weird.
And yeah, I often find myself hyper-analyzing the deep, complex layers of a situation while somehow completely missing the obvious, glaringly simple point right in front of me. 😬 My thoughts are incredibly fragmented and abstract... they’re hard to pin down, let alone control.

Does it make sense to link all this to something like bipolar disorder or ADHD, or is it something else entirely?

The artist, the art. It’s a concept that carries such heavy, often exhausting weight, isn't it? I find myself pondering whether we can ever truly separate the creator from the creation, though perhaps that’s a futile endeavor. One wonders if the essence of the work exists independently, or if it remains forever tethered to the psyche of its maker. It’s a messy, complicated relationship, I suppose. Maybe there is no distinction at all. 🙂 I realize how intimidating it can be when you're surrounded by such blatant primitivism, but honestly... it’s exhausting. In a truly advanced society, someone like this would actually be embraced; there would be support for their growth and development. But here? Here, you're viewed as nothing more than a threat simply because you pose a risk to the status quo of this local ignorance. I suppose that's just the way things work in places that refuse to evolve. ☕

It seems to possess a modicum more logic than those endless cycles of endless diagnoses, where psychiatry only serves its own self-serving purposes, or perhaps when one gets caught up in the tedious dragging out of treatments through alternative medicine. I suppose it’s all just a bit much. ☕

Quinn:

I wonder if there is any merit in attempting to draw a connection here to, say, bipolar disorder or perhaps ADHD, or if we are looking at something else entirely. I suppose it’s difficult to say for certain without more data, but one might consider if there is an underlying link to something else altogether.

I suppose it all depends on who is actually initiating the connection. It’s a matter of perspective, really. 🙂 I suppose I should frame these inquiries within the broader context of intelligence itself. It seems somewhat futile, really, though perhaps necessary. If we assume that we actually "exist" within a universe governed by cause and effect, then the answers provided aren't even remotely close to being intelligent. Or maybe they are; it’s hard to say for certain. 😉

Justin Richardson said:I know I don't really respect myself.
When I think about my anxiety, or this constant sense of being depressed, and I look back at all my relationships throughout my life—it's pretty obvious I never actually built up any self-respect (or self-confidence, obviously).
It’s always felt weird to me how other people seem to have at least a little more self-esteem than I do. How did they learn it, and why, honestly, haven't I developed it?

Do you guys think psychotherapy could actually make a difference here?
I guess it's probably a long road to get to something like that...

Well, I suppose anything is possible... therapy might help anyone, including those people you find yourself comparing yourself to. At the end of the day, they’re just humans too, I guess..

I imagine it's quite a long road to achieve something like that...

It all starts with that first step, though I suppose if you haven't walked that path before, it's hard to truly grasp how long it really is 🙂 or what lies ahead. There isn't much else to it; you just have to be brave enough to try. 👍

Hannah Allen5 said:It feels like we’re seeing more and more instances lately where it’s actually the kids who are calling the shots and basically raising their own parents. I swear, I can't go anywhere without spotting some parent losing their absolute mind in public because they've completely lost control of the situation.

And let's be honest, parents are just people... and frankly, very few individuals actually possess true self-control.

It’s often said that the greatest power one can wield is mastery over oneself.🙂

However, I would argue that the concept of "controlling a child" is a fundamentally unproductive motivation...

Or, to put it in the words of neonsailor26, if it isn't the ultimate goal, then it should merely be a tool.

The actual objective—which, naturally, should be the primary aim of any parent—ought to be helping the child mature into an adult... someone independent, capable, and self-sufficient, and so on.

Unfortunately, there is a sort of traditional pathology at play here where children are essentially enslaved because they are the most vulnerable. It's a form of psychological manipulation where "parents," driven by their own deep-seated immaturity, choose to cripple their children rather than simply stepping back and allowing them the dignity of growing up on their own once they can no longer provide direct guidance.🙂

In certain circumstances... if establishing any kind of dialogue with a child proves impossible, or if they simply descend into aggression... from my own personal experience (and I am firmly against physical force or any other form of violence)... a hand has found its place on a backside, much like 😬

It isn't a burden for me to spend hours on what some might call "brainwashing," though it really just boils down to minimizing the effort needed to eventually establish communication—essentially delivering the message of what is acceptable versus what is permitted

I would honestly rather they "fear" my endless lecturing than develop an aversion to aggression, especially when they are growing up in an environment saturated with it. From everything I have seen, this approach leads to a much happier and more stable life ☕

Try to maintain the relationship just as it was before... don't let him project his own pathology onto you. As far as that goes, maybe suggest he seek professional help? It might be worth emphasizing that you know he wasn't always this way—that there's surely an underlying cause for this behavior. People tend to process stress in vastly different ways, and their reactions can be quite unpredictable 🙂

And honestly, stay consistent for your own sake. Otherwise... well, you're just inviting trouble until the very end. Pathology is contagious. I'm not saying you'll become identical to him, but you've already mentioned the issues he's causing you. Who knows how much you've had to manage on the fly throughout your life? You say you've become independent and built your own life, but coming from a family dynamic like this, I find it hard to believe everything was ever truly seamless or went exactly according to plan, whether people realized it at the time or not

Situations like this don't just happen overnight. Life partners often find themselves in these circumstances only because they've been living in a state of delusion, deceiving both those around them and themselves

Though, I suppose I am being perhaps too absorbed in "their" pathology, even if I am merely speculating, generalizing, and making assessments based on my own limited experiences and what I see in my own circles

In any case, hold fast to the systems and structures that have made your life productive and opened doors for you. Don't destroy yourself. Realistically, you cannot live his life for him, nor can you solve his problems. If you end up feeding into his pathology, you'll likely only end up hurting both him and yourself 🤷

Good luck

Honestly, just let people do their jobs in peace. Maybe in a few hundred years, they’ll actually manage to learn something meaningful... but certainly not while being squeezed by this kind of constant pressure. I mean, who could possibly achieve anything worthwhile under these conditions? 🙂

There's no substitute for the grind of actual learning. 😬

Joseph Bailey41 said:Exactly. But honestly, I think we also need to let go of that constant "striving for good," because that can lead down just as many distorted paths. At the end of the day, it's really just about being who you truly are.

Why "in short"?! ... I’d prefer to take my time with it. 😬

To be what I am, obviously... and I can't really be anything other than what I already am.

🎉 A HUMAN 👋

made of blood and damn flesh. 😍

But no! People are constantly getting in the way of anyone trying to think straight... they wound you, and then they itch at your conscience, refusing to let you just exist as yourself... they mess with your head from the very beginning.

I guess swearing is one of the more positive symptoms of a disorder, though personally, I’m just struggling with a certain mental exhaustion... so perhaps I'm not exactly qualified to speak on clinical disorders. However, as an objective observer, I might notice that far more "disorders" are actually socially accepted... or rather, they are a form of societal extortion 🐔 that has to be repeated and explained so many times that I hesitate to say how much effort it takes just to make them visible, let alone start defining them... goodness, there is so much work to be done and so little time. 🙂

Once you finally tackle the supposed problem of evil, you find yourself shedding much of that traditional, schizophrenic obsession with the binary struggle between "good" and "evil"😵. You start to realize that Santa Claus is actually the one true god; he simply rewards the well-behaved children and punishes the rest with various psychological disorders🙂
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Just as one must accept genetic conditioning—those inherent limitations we all face—one must also accept everything that serves as a symptom of sound 😉reason
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In the absence of reason, or perhaps when one refuses to acknowledge plain facts, mental disturbances will inevitably become more frequent🙂
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FIRST, an individual is "educated"—which is really just brainwashing—within their familiar social circles using concepts of good and bad and other such nebulous nonsense
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SECOND, they are convinced that they are inherently broken and destined for suffering; they're told that happiness and a meaningful life are fleeting trifles, and that dwelling on them too much is somehow socially unacceptable🤣—heaven forbid they contaminate their environment with any sort of uplifting solutions😂.

THIRD, they are given outlets, like posting on a forum, where their minds are further poked and prodded if the initial brainwashing wasn't quite thorough enough🙂.

FOURTH, the individual continues to speak honestly... telling everyone they missed the mark, that they were lied to, that they are living in a delusion... that they are wasting energy maintaining lies built upon even greater lies. But I suppose none of that would matter if it weren't for the existence of the 😵Madman
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The point, in the context of this desperate need to "seek out" positivity, is that it is ultimately just a search for negativity🙂.

!"#$%&/()=?=)(/&%$#"!#$%&/()=?=)(/&%$ .... 😬

restlesstiger49 said:It sounds like your mother is a textbook toxic parent. There’s actually a famous book titled "Toxic Parents" that dives deep into this exact dynamic.
Given how she treated you, it’s honestly no surprise you're feeling the fallout. When a child is handled that way, they end up internalizing those parental attitudes through a process called introjection. It basically prevents you from ever developing a healthy sense of self-confidence.
To be blunt, your mom isn't as mentally strong as you might think. Truly resilient people empower others to find their own solutions; they don't belittle people, they encourage growth. Using aggression is just a sign of weakness. When she insists, "Do it my way," she's really just acting out her own immaturity and projecting her unresolved traumas—she likely dealt with the same thing from her own parents.
The good news is that by educating yourself on the impact of this kind of parenting and doing the inner work, you can start to recognize these negative influences and their effects. Just keep in mind that healing is a long road; it doesn't happen overnight.

I don't mean to discourage anyone, and I truly believe that reaching this level of awareness—in any context, really—is a step toward a happier, better life. However, one must realize that awareness itself is just... well, awareness. It isn't a magic fix; it doesn't erase the past or the root causes of what happened. The consequences remain for a lifetime. We are talking about permanent scars, I guess. But surely, a person navigates life with a bit more grace when they actually understand who they are, why they act the way they do, and what shaped them. At the end of the day, being conscious matters.🧐

They say it takes courage to see the world for what it truly is, wisdom to make sense of it, and then—somehow—having the heart to love it exactly as it stands.😬 If that isn't the ultimate strength, I honestly don't know what is.🙂

Jack Jones7 said:It all boils down to whether a lifestyle change is actually feasible.

So, the intrinsic value of a human life is contingent upon their way of living?! 🙂

p.s. I suppose this is a rather arrogant stance to take, and even though I am merely posing the question, I can’t help but feel a bit hypocritical... asking such a thing, or rather, adopting a position regarding the valuation of a human being... if the implications aren't clear, then perhaps the phrase "playing God" carries more weight than one might realize; just imagine how it would feel if someone were to play with you in that exact manner.😈

p.s.s. when will it be my turn for an evaluation?🙂

😢 I suppose I have to start with myself (since there isn't really any other logical point of departure 🤷)... and I find myself wondering what my own worth actually is. As for everyone else, I tend to leave it to them to judge their own value 🙂

If I were to ask you, would you consider yourself worthy of that person?

And can one human being truly be considered worthy of another if they spend their time devaluing them? 🙂

My answer is always yes. I believe every single human life holds inherent value, even when others choose to condemn, belittle, isolate, categorize, select, censor, kill, steal, lie, cheat, assault, maim, shame, ridicule, or undermine. And, perhaps most egregiously, even when they engage in the theater of politics, whether as a career or merely as a hobby 😵

The conformists, of course, will always scramble for excuses... or perhaps they'll just start new threads on a forum like this, hoping someone else will validate their way of life 😵

Jeffrey Fisher5 said:It isn’t merely a matter of fashion—though people love to obsess over trends—it is more of an inescapable reality that everything for any given human being begins and ends with themselves... 😉
Some people catch on early—it’s almost impressive, really—while others take their sweet time, and then there are those who simply... never quite arrive at the realization. It's a spectrum, I suppose.

Well... I suppose it's all fine... and entirely human... there's no arguing that part

But I suspect that acting as the center of one's own universe is, first and foremost, quite exhausting for a person. One can never truly "step out" of oneself to experience anything external—if not other people, then perhaps nature itself... I suppose there are no limits to how much one can retreat inward. 😵

Some realize it sooner, some later, and some, I imagine, never at all.

And then there are those who simply force their entire perception of the world to bend toward their own fleeting emotions 😵... for an entire lifetime 😢... it seems a rather tedious way to live, though, I suppose, it is a human choice... 🙂 I merely wonder if, had they known any other way, they might have chosen differently. 😉

Why on earth do people assume their personal feelings are some sort of vital factor for the rest of society to consider?

If they actually were... I mean, how could anyone possibly be expected to recognize the shifting moods of every single person they cross paths with during a day? 😵

Where did this whole "trend" even come from—this idea that "I feel this way, therefore it matters"—it really grates on me... it's just 😵

Were you all somehow conditioned to fear growing up? Have you ever even heard of terms like maturity, emotional intelligence, or simple respect?

No one is telling you that you aren't allowed to have feelings, but at the end of the day, a drama queen remains a drama queen, regardless of how much you try to rebrand it. 😉

Joseph Bailey41 said:The only way a believer can actually "defend" their faith—meaning their underlying philosophical stance—is through the way they live their life.

It’s all just part of the mechanism. Identifying your entire ego with some random ideology. What a joke. It’s a cluster of ideas, really. You start feeling like the ideology is actually you—part of your DNA—so when someone calls out your position, you take it as a personal hit. You snap back to defend yourself, but you're really just defending a bubble of thoughts that your ego decided to latch onto.

Why would an atheist's attitude and their critique of a massive set of ideas even bother someone who believes?
If faith is enough on its own, there’s really nothing left to defend.
Even a believer will feel bad for an atheist—not just because they're headed straight for Jesus's hell, but because they're missing out on all the good stuff that faith brings to a believer's life.

Why do believers lose their minds the second you poke fun at Jesus, God, the Bible, the Quran, Krishna, some guru, or Muhammad?

People really love tying their whole identity to an ideology—it’s all about the aesthetic and the ego, none of it actually being about what they believe.

We all have free will and the power to choose. Every "atheist" has the opportunity to learn about Christ and make a decision based on that knowledge. There is no such thing as a "hell," you're getting way too caught up in that concept.

It’s all just part of the mechanism. Identifying your entire ego with some random ideology. What a joke. It’s a cluster of ideas, really. You start feeling like the ideology is actually you—part of your DNA—so when someone calls out your position, you take it as a personal hit. You snap back to defend yourself, but you're really just defending a bubble of thoughts that your ego decided to latch onto.

Why would an atheist's attitude and their critique of a massive set of ideas even bother someone who believes?
If faith is enough on its own, there’s really nothing left to defend.
Even a believer will feel bad for an atheist—not just because they're headed straight for Jesus's hell, but because they're missing out on all the good stuff that faith brings to a believer's life.

Why do believers lose their minds the second you poke fun at Jesus, God, the Bible, the Quran, Krishna, some guru, or Muhammad?

People really love tying their whole identity to an ideology—it’s all about the aesthetic and the ego, none of it actually being about what they believe.
When someone insults your parents, don't you get angry?
☕
They aren't worth much, but I won't let anyone insult them. :saffron:

To be honest, I usually try to shut down any baseless insults, gossip, or bad-mouthing of others. Primarily because I don't think it's fair to talk down about someone who isn't there to defend themselves. Since God is defined as being omnipresent and all-powerful, He doesn't really need an advocate. ☕

They can't be "emotionally hurt." They just feel this sense of "righteous indignation" that helps them protect the achievements of civilization from anyone who follows a different deity. 😁

Actually, I think we're asking the wrong thing here. A much better question would be: "Why are atheists so obsessed with God and religion if, according to what they claim, He doesn't even exist?" It's funny, really—so many atheists these days spend a massive amount of time acting like they're the smartest people in the room. They tend to look down on anyone who believes, and then, get this, they expect everyone to treat their opinion as the absolute truth. Of course, a believer is going to get annoyed when someone acts like they're somehow superior or more enlightened than everyone else. In their eyes, being a believer makes you a primitive. Honestly, it usually just comes down to some deep-seated personal complexes.
It's because those topics just keep popping up everywhere. I honestly wish we could just have normal conversations without God and religion getting shoved into everything, but clearly, that's not happening.

It seems like everyone keeps asking me... 🕺
😍

It seems to me that everyone is constantly asking me the same things... 🕺

I didn't mean anything by it personally... I suppose my question was intended to be more of a general observation regarding society at large. And really, I wouldn't dream of stepping out of line; I'll give you full credit if I’m even permitted to take what might be considered an arrogant position by momentarily attempting to "judge" you. 🧐

I suppose there isn't much to say here, though I find myself wondering why anyone would even bother starting a thread with such a minimalist prompt. It feels somewhat aimless, I guess. Perhaps it was just a slip of the fingers, or maybe a test of the system's responsiveness. Either way, it leaves me sitting here, staring at a single character, contemplating the sheer emptiness of it all. It’s rather bleak, if I'm being honest.

Where exactly does this emotional wounding stemming from differing opinions originate? I suppose one could argue it’s a deeply ingrained psychological defense mechanism, though I hesitate to be so definitive. It seems to me that when someone encounters an idea that contradicts their own, they don't just see a disagreement; they perceive a direct assault on their very identity. Perhaps we have become so tethered to our personal ideologies that any deviation feels like a crack in the foundation of who we are. It's a heavy burden to carry, this constant need for validation, and I often wonder if we've lost the capacity for simple, detached discourse. Maybe we are just fundamentally ill-equipped for the friction of diverse thought.

It seems to me—though I could be mistaken, given how little sense anything makes lately—that we are looking at a case of pure emotional immaturity, or perhaps even some underlying psychological instability. It’s hard to say for certain without more context, I suppose, but that’s my initial impression. ☕

Gerald Hill said:I believe that no one has the right to cause me harm, and that people should help me whenever they are able. To be clear, while I can certainly appreciate the good deeds of noble individuals, that is where it ends. I don't want to hear them dwell on it, because I fear I might eventually hear something from them that leads to disappointment. For instance, when I help someone, I often struggle when they say "thank you," because that person then sincerely expects me to return the favor by thanking them for helping me in the past. If that is their mindset, then they don't truly understand nobility, as they seem to believe that every act requires a reward, whether it be a compliment or a kind word.

Is that how it works? Is help somehow an obligation owed specifically to you... just whenever you happen to need it? ☕ And how on earth are you supposed to discern who possesses the means to help and who doesn't? Besides, can't you manage to assist yourself?

How does that sit with you? 😉

Quincy:

To be clear, I can appreciate the good deeds performed by noble individuals, but that is where my interest ends. I have no desire to listen to them dwell on their actions, as I suspect I might eventually hear something from them that leaves me feeling quite disappointed.

Well, you might be able to... but someone else might not. Some people aren't even aware of what you're talking about. How can you hold them responsible for their ignorance? It isn't as if anyone ever taught them, explained it to them, or gave them the lived experience to understand.🙂

Quincy:

When I lend someone a hand, for instance, the issue arises when they say "thank you." It seems to me they genuinely expect me to reciprocate with gratitude simply because they did me a favor.

Something feels fundamentally off here... perhaps give your own words another read. What was it you actually said? 😵

Quincy:

If that is the case, then that person fails to grasp the essence of nobility, since they seem to believe they deserve a reward—whether it be a compliment or a kind word—in exchange for their help.

Would you truly want to attempt to instruct people on things they don't know, based solely on what you feel they *should* know?

And would that knowledge actually serve them as well as it serves you?

Are you perhaps judging selectively what is beneficial for others, or are you viewing everything through your own narrow lens—considering your thoughts on personality cults, totalitarianism, terror, tyranny, monarchies, and those other uncompromising systems?

The ultimate question, I suppose: is everyone (including YOU) truly equal under the rules you've established?

Gerald Hill said:I find myself drawn to people because of their capacity for emotion, yet I am often repelled by their fundamental character. To my mind, the depths of human feeling—love, empathy, and true nobility toward others—are profoundly sublime qualities. However, I frequently find myself avoiding social interaction because the sheer weight of certain personalities can be mentally exhausting and quite irritating; frankly, I have little patience for trivialities. In your view, are the concepts of philanthropy and misanthropy frequently misunderstood? Furthermore, what is your own stance regarding humanity?

The definitions themselves are quite clear... or at least they ought to be.

Interpretations, however, remain entirely up to you; one can choose to accept any word exactly how one sees fit.

Without intending any offense, and with all due respect to your individuality, you strike me as somewhat young—perhaps a bit of a "typical" young intellectual. If I may offer a less academic observation on your point:

I don't quite grasp why you seem to think other people should appeal to you, or that they have some obligation to satisfy your internal sense of "good" feelings.🙂

Nor am I attempting to force you into deep thought, though I hope I don't provoke you in the process. Do you perhaps expect yourself to bring happiness to everyone around you? As noble as that sounds, it borders on being fanatical—if I may use such a heavy term.

If I were to offer a suggestion, I would say you might benefit from focusing on your own emotions and defining them more precisely. After all, those feelings belong to you; they are products of your own being, not the direct result of others. They stem from your core. That is simply a fact. Or, perhaps you have counterarguments. I am currently attempting to practice some self-criticism myself, and as the saying goes, two heads are better than one. As for other people—those whom I neither hate nor love—I listen to what they say, form an opinion, and move on without letting their stupidity or wisdom trigger an emotional response. Do you follow my meaning?🙂

It is easy enough to say all this, and even easier to give advice. But mastery is a skill; it is a sport, a science, and an art. Nothing is achieved without sustained effort and discipline.👍

Joseph Bailey41 said:It’s all just part of the mechanism. Identifying your entire ego with some random ideology. What a joke. It’s a cluster of ideas, really. You start feeling like the ideology is actually you—part of your DNA—so when someone calls out your position, you take it as a personal hit. You snap back to defend yourself, but you're really just defending a bubble of thoughts that your ego decided to latch onto.

Why would an atheist's attitude and their critique of a massive set of ideas even bother someone who believes?
If faith is enough on its own, there’s really nothing left to defend.
Even a believer will feel bad for an atheist—not just because they're headed straight for Jesus's hell, but because they're missing out on all the good stuff that faith brings to a believer's life.

Why do believers lose their minds the second you poke fun at Jesus, God, the Bible, the Quran, Krishna, some guru, or Muhammad?

People really love tying their whole identity to an ideology—it’s all about the aesthetic and the ego, none of it actually being about what they believe.

It’s all just part of the mechanism. Identifying your entire ego with some random ideology. What a joke. It’s a cluster of ideas, really. You start feeling like the ideology is actually you—part of your DNA—so when someone calls out your position, you take it as a personal hit. You snap back to defend yourself, but you're really just defending a bubble of thoughts that your ego decided to latch onto.

Why would an atheist's attitude and their critique of a massive set of ideas even bother someone who believes?
If faith is enough on its own, there’s really nothing left to defend.
Even a believer will feel bad for an atheist—not just because they're headed straight for Jesus's hell, but because they're missing out on all the good stuff that faith brings to a believer's life.

Why do believers lose their minds the second you poke fun at Jesus, God, the Bible, the Quran, Krishna, some guru, or Muhammad?

People really love tying their whole identity to an ideology—it’s all about the aesthetic and the ego, none of it actually being about what they believe.
Man, that’s heavy. 😲

I honestly can't imagine what someone has to go through to end up in that kind of headspace. 😢
Man, that’s heavy. 😲

I honestly can't imagine what someone has to go through to end up in that kind of headspace. 😢
Have you ever considered the role of upbringing? 😬

People are molded from the time they are small... their minds are essentially programmed. I suppose that's the only way to explain how any specific "culture" comes to be.

And that's not even touching on religion or the general national mentality. 😵

Professional diagnosis > an authorized expert..

The users here are regularly cautioned, penalized, or even banned when they attempt to issue (do) diagnoses ☕

Depression is a far more serious condition, so perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad idea to actually trust the medical institutions that are meant to be doing their jobs 😬 Let them do a little work on you for once 🙂

Good luck 👍

Carl Rivera43 said:I mean, seriously, why do genitals even exist in the first place?

👏 I suppose I am somewhat relieved that someone finally decided to pose such a question... regardless of how absurd it might seem on the surface. It is an objective truth, I guess. It feels as though everyone is just pretending they have all the answers to life's grand mysteries when, in reality, nobody actually knows anything at all.🐔