Posts by Peter Phillips32

cosmictinker21 said:Quote : Understanding Marijuana

It’s not quite this, nor that, nor even particularly necessary... but based on how you're acting, you're just drifting through a haze. Either you're nodding off, or you're lost in some daydream, and then you end up hungry and even more exhausted, looking like you've been staring at nothing for hours... I haven't heard of a single local consumer around here ever producing a masterpiece that actually made its way into the annals of American history, let alone the global cultural, artistic, or scientific heritage. It’s a great way to distance yourself from reality, I suppose. Though, most people never really find their way back...

So, what’s the deal with smoking when you aren't even sick? Is this supposed to be some kind of preventative measure? I mean, when it comes to medical use, there are very specific, measured doses of active ingredients for a reason... but with this random stuff floating around, you never really know if you're strong enough to handle it without getting stuck. I know plenty of people who thought they were fine, only to end up completely bogged down. Then they start craving something even stronger. It usually ends with them finding "enlightenment" in the form of dropping out of school, letting their responsibilities slide, and spending every waking hour chasing the next high... though I suppose a few others managed to use it for recreation and actually kept their lives together. Still...

You never really know... you never truly know if you’re strong enough to just stick to the occasional recreational use. If you actually believe you have that kind of willpower, then what's the point of all those flavor enhancers, colors, and scents? Some kind of reality e-beautifier or whatever... can you even stand them?🤷

I can only get behind the tomato caricature part, but as for the rest... I don't really fit into those generalizations and stereotypes you're throwing out there.

I haven't heard of a single local user producing any kind of masterpiece that actually made its way into the annals of American, let alone global, cultural, artistic, or scientific heritage.

Anything less than an epic masterpiece isn't worth wasting time on like that...
Quote: it's a great way to distance yourself from reality. and plenty of people never make it back.I have no idea what you mean by "distancing yourself from reality," so I'm stuck saying "Huh?" Who exactly are these "plenty of people"? Give me some context, because right now you're just feeding into the same old murky propaganda.

so people smoke even when they aren't sick? Is that supposed to be for prevention?

That's a bad joke.

well, for medical purposes, there are very specific doses of active ingredients. with this kind of crap, you never truly know if you're strong enough to not get stuck. I know plenty who thought they were, but they got stuck. Then they wanted something even stronger. And in the end, they found "enlightenment" in the form of dropping out of school, neglecting responsibilities, and wasting days and nights on partying, while others just used it for recreation and moved on.

Yeah, and?

you never know if you're strong enough to stick to occasional recreation. if you think you're so tough, why do you even need such a flavor, color, and scent enhancer—some kind of e-beautifier for reality? Can't you handle it without it?🤷

I've used it to tolerate reality (or your famous "escape"), but never for the latter. As for modifying the experience, well, exactly...

cosmictinker21 said:Larry Wilson5@

without believing in your own strength, you’re basically going nowhere

People crave power. They convince themselves they need some external Force just to exist or create anything of value.

And it’s honestly pathetic... instead of digging deep to find that drive within themselves, they go hunting for it in incense, tea blends, or some magical dust. 🤣 It’s like they’ve convinced themselves they’re fundamentally broken, so they start reaching for these mental crutches—grabbing whatever fancy, jewel-encrusted support they can find to lean on. They get so used to those artificial stabilizers that their actual natural ability just withers away. All it takes is a patch of black ice or a slick hardwood floor to send the whole thing crashing down like a cheap vase.

And then what? Then they realize their mental muscles have completely atrophied and all those little shortcuts didn't actually build any real strength. Sometimes, they don't even have the capacity to realize it anymore. 🤷

Do they really feel that weak, that helpless, that incapable that they need chemical intervention? Is their brain truly unable to produce something on its own? It’s almost as if they’ve viewed themselves as some sort of disadvantaged underdog since birth, deciding that due to "natural reasons," they can't achieve their goals without a constant external prosthesis or a flywheel to keep them spinning. 😕 Ugh, I imagine that’s a pretty miserable way to live... 🤣🤣

It’s not necessarily tragic, nor does it mean someone is sick—and even if they are, that isn't inherently bad. It doesn't mean Cannabis is a gateway drug, or that it causes addiction, or that using it inevitably leads to some massive downward spiral where a person loses their mind and becomes incapable of handling basic everyday life.

So what happens then? Then he realizes his brain muscles have basically gone on vacation and all those little "enhancers" didn't do a damn thing to help them grow. Sometimes, you lose the ability to even realize it's happening.🤷

What kind of "average person with a child's brain" are you talking about here, and what exactly is your problem with it?

Does he feel so weak, helpless, and incompetent that he absolutely requires chemistry to function? Is his brain truly incapable of creating something on its own? Does he genuinely view himself as some sort of handicapped orphan from birth, unable to do what he wants due to "natural" limitations, requiring a constant external prosthesis or a flywheel to keep moving? 😕 Ugh, man, that sounds like a miserable way to live. 🤣🤣

I guess if it isn't minimalist or (artificially) "natural," it’s automatically garbage, right? If we use (natural) resources that actually contribute to something—even an improvement—then why is that considered wrong? Is it because of demonizing propaganda, pure ignorance, or just that "only-natural-is-good" kind of elitism where people get to decide what counts as natural?

Quote : Understanding Marijuana said:Driven by a mix of economic incentives and a growing sense of social justice, the
world has slowly drifted toward making progress in respecting diversity. People are
starting to show a bit more respect for one another, regardless of how old they are, their ethnicity,
gender, job, sexual orientation, religion, political views, or
level of education. A lot of folks argue that this increased level of respect is a win for everyone. We
maybe we can eventually reach a stage where folks actually learn to tolerate people with different viewpoints.
Like, imagine if we just let people use Cannabis if they aren't
hurting themselves or anyone else in the process.

Larry Wilson5 said:It slows down the journey to any meaningful experience, I guess.
The illusion of achieving a "fire" state comes from triggering and burning through your chakras—those energy or fire centers—using borrowed power from cannabis. Whatever you experience, you won't be able to stay there. You probably won't even dream again.
Burnt-out centers mean impaired perception, poor access, and a lack of environmental awareness. The ego becomes its own universe; it grows heavy, like a tank with a sputtering engine.
Someone once said it’s shameful to burn your own internal fires just to inflate the ego. That’s the gist of it.
By the way, the out-of-body experience you're thinking of is extra-physical. Chakras connect all bodies...

I’ve been through some pretty heavy stuff lately, and honestly, I think I’ve actually leveled up a bit because I started messing with THC.

You get this massive, fake sense that you’ve finally tapped into some kind of fiery, enlightened state just because you started messing around with activating your chakras—you know, those energy centers people obsess over—but honestly, you're just running on borrowed power. Whether it’s through some spiritual shortcut or just getting high on cannabis, it’s all an illusion of actual achievement. And once you go down that rabbit hole and experience that peak, there’s no going back; you can't just hang out in that headspace forever, and you definitely aren't ever going to find your way back to that same dream again.

I’ve actually managed to hit, and honestly, kind of blow past, some of the milestones I thought were untouchable.

Fried centers... man, that’s just code for having your perception totally shot. You lose your grip on everything—your access, your situational awareness, all of it. Your ego starts swelling up until it becomes its own little universe, hardening into this massive, stubborn tank where the engine is just coughing and sputtering in place, going nowhere fast.
So, someone out there actually had the nerve to claim that it’s straight-up shameful to burn through your own resources just to feed some massive ego, and honestly, they kind of hit the nail on the head, didn't they? That's really the core of the whole mess. It’s like watching someone set their own house on fire just so they can stand in the driveway looking like a hero while the neighbors watch—it’s pathetic, it’s messy, and at the end of the day, you're still standing there with nothing left but ash and a bruised pride. I mean, why even bother? You're basically sabotaging your own future just to win an argument that nobody else cares about, and frankly, it's a losing game every single time.

If you’re already acting like this much food is enough to send you into a total meltdown, just wait until you see how much of a wreck you'll be when the hotel room turns out to be a complete disaster.

So, someone was out there claiming it’s absolutely pathetic to just fan your own flames just to give your ego a little boost, and honestly, I can't say I disagree with the sentiment, even if the way they said it was a bit much. It’s that constant, exhausting need to perform, you know? Like people walking around acting like they're the main character in a blockbuster movie just because they managed to do something basic, and it really just feels hollow when you strip away all that manufactured bravado.

Look, I told you guys already, it’s not exactly shameful, it’s just... man, it's a bad call. Buying those cheap, fast-burning rolling papers when you've actually got some high-end Skunk sitting right there? That’s just asking for trouble. Honestly, half of it just drifts off into the wind before it even hits your lungs... what a waste.

cosmictinker21 said:That was beautifully put. There's really no need to inflate the ego or try to turn a human being into some supernatural monster or a Frankenstein creature. It should be enough to nurture your own energy through sheer effort and hard work, so that in return, you can fully develop and refine your true self. That's the only way we actually stay grounded...

I mean, Huxley could have written *Brave New World* without any substances—he was just born a Huxley. Similarly, Freud probably would have stumbled upon his theories without whatever he was using, and Marley would have been singing and playing regardless of the smoke, simply because he was Marley. Maybe we should all just try to tap into our own internal systems and focus on our own mental centers to find ourselves, instead of relying on outside help. It's like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole... it just doesn't work...🤣

I mean, at the end of the day, there’s just something about putting in the actual legwork yourself—you know, grinding away to grow your own veggies, getting a nice, golden tan under the sun, and then just absolutely chilling out. It's the dream, really.

Jacob Mitchell3 said:Anyone who truly awakens to the inherent futility of existence eventually finds themselves trapped in this exact predicament.
In Confessions, Tolstoy wrote:
"Life became loathsome to me—an irresistible force drove me to seek an end to my existence by any means necessary. I cannot say that I wished to die. Rather, the force pulling me away from life was more powerful, more absolute, and more pervasive. It was a force much like my former will to live, only acting in the opposite direction."

"I realized that I had only truly lived when I believed in God..."

The only two things that are actually senseless here are generalizing based on this one case—because I personally haven't found myself in a situation like that—and the way people act like this whole "life vs. nothingness" dichotomy is some massive deal. It’s honestly not even surprising that people... well, run off into those strictly controlled daycare centers.
Quincy:

Tolstoy wrote in Confession: "Life became loathsome to me—some irresistible force was driving me to find any way possible to rid myself of existence. I can't say I wanted to kill myself. The force pulling me away from life was stronger, more complete, and all-encompassing. It was a force similar to my previous will to live, just acting in the opposite direction."

It’s honestly pretty pathetic when people turn to fiction just to try and find answers for reality.
Quincy:

"I remembered that I had only truly lived when I believed in God..."

And instead of actually focusing on something meaningful, he just fills his own emptiness with something as flimsy as Swiss cheese. Talking about holes...

Just wanted to jump in here and add my two cents.

Scott Long71 said:Nothing happens when I'm just walking around or heading down some stairs.

The whole thing really comes down to how much you're bending the knee. If the leg is mostly straight, you actually have to bend it past, what, 90 degrees before that clicking sound even shows up. Plus, once the muscles are warmed up—you know, after you've been hitting the gym for a while—the noise pretty much disappears entirely.

So, even with those exercises that feel like you're pedaling a massive cruiser bike, you’ve got to go through that full range of motion, from max extension to deep bends, to really feel it.

Man, I’m right there with you on this one. I spent a solid year absolutely hammering my legs at the gym, just going all out, and after about twelve months of that grind, I started hearing this weird clicking in my joints, plus this constant pressure in my knees. It was super annoying. Since I stopped hitting the heavy weights, that pressure has mostly cleared up, though I still get an occasional click here and there every now and then. I honestly think it might be some wear and tear on the cartilage, so these days I stick to mobility work and stuff to get the blood flowing back into the joints—like doing those cycling motions while lying on my back.

As for all those other aches and pains you get from crushing it in the weight room, I've actually found that some specific moves from a certain yoga system really help take the edge off.

Kenneth Barnes7 said:Forgive my intrusion here. 🙂

But what about loving both yourself AND others? How do you strike that balance? Is it about equilibrium, or should we prioritize others over ourselves?
When you're purely self-centered—it's obvious; that love blinds you and keeps you small. When you love others—are you loving everyone, or just specific people? It comes down to whether you're just seeing reflections of yourself in them or actually seeing them for who they are...
And if you love others more than yourself—is that a deficit of self-love, a failure to value yourself, or is it simply an open heart reaching for genuine connection?

Best, 🙂

Look, there’s no such thing as "balance" here—it’s actually impossible. Life isn't a level playing field, and honestly, it shouldn't be. You have to prioritize yourself at the top, with your inner circle sitting right just below you. Trying to find an equal split is a total fantasy, and if you let your own needs drop below someone else's, you're basically just sabotaging your own existence.

When you're purely selfish, sure, that love is blinding and it shrinks your world. But when you love others—are we talking about loving *everyone* out there, or just specific people?

You can't love everyone. That's just logically impossible if you look at what love actually is.
Love is this intense, heavy pull of affection. And affection comes from a place of being inclined toward someone—being friendly, well-disposed, or genuinely kind toward them.
That means real love can only happen within a tight, small circle. And you have to mention the time factor too, because you don't become friends on a first date or before you've even met; you build that connection through shared time and actual experience.

A massive example of this tiny circle of devotion is found in cult followers. They only care about their one specific God, not the thousands of other people standing right next to them.
I'll give you two more everyday examples to drive the point home.
If you have a close friend, you might let them crash on your couch for a few days because that bond of affection is real. But a guy begging on a street corner in NYC? You might feel a little bit of sympathy and toss him five bucks, that's it.
You might even adopt a baby, but you aren't going to go out and adopt a homeless man, especially not an older one. You're just gonna hand him a five-dollar bill once in a while.

It depends though, whether you're seeing yourself reflected in others or if you're truly focused on them...

Since we're speaking in generalities here, and this part doesn't really follow the logic of what I just said, it's pretty much extra fluff that just leads to more confusion.

And when you love others more than yourself—is that a lack of self-love, a way of devaluing yourself, or is it just opening your heart to true love?

Well, that isn't actually love. It's really just a question of "how much do you actually care about this person." If you're constantly acting in someone else's interest at your own direct expense... then something is fundamentally broken with the person doing the sacrificing.

Speaking of love, I've got a photo in mind. It's an easy way to tell whether someone actually cares, feels love, or... well, something else entirely.
1994 Pulitzer Prize - Editorial Photography, Kevin Carter


Also, I’ve gotta say, this whole "self-love" thing just sounds incredibly tacky and awkward to me. It feels like some kind of circular logic loop, or maybe just a fractured personality trying to convince itself it's whole...

mistyscout2 said:Peter Phillips32 - I was actually planning to transcribe this specific section from Blackmore's book, "meme machine," and post it over in that thread Florine started a while back—you know, the one about those "incubus" things that sit on your chest or whatever they call them. But then I went ahead and returned the book to the library:

One of the main keys to understanding alien abductions is the phenomenon of sleep paralysis. While we're dreaming, most of our muscles are essentially paralyzed so we don't actually act out our dreams in real life. Usually, by the time we wake up, that paralysis has already faded away, and we aren't even aware it ever happened (unless, of course, some experimenters interfere). However, the mechanism that separates waking from dreaming can occasionally glitch, especially in people who work irregular shifts or deal with really fragmented sleep. Sometimes a person will wake up, able to look around and think clearly, yet find themselves completely unable to move a single muscle. Along with this type of paralysis, you'll often experience buzzing or humming sounds, a sensation that your body or your bed is vibrating, a heavy feeling that someone or something is present in the room, or even seeing strange floating lights. Since sexual arousal is a common part of dreaming, that can be present too. Occasionally, people feel as though they're being touched, pulled, or even lifted right out of their bodies. If you recognize these symptoms and manage to stay calm, the best thing to do is just relax and wait; the paralysis usually lets up within a minute or two. If you try to fight against it, you'll only make things worse.

The Memplex of alien abductions. 😁

I’ve met so many people who claim they were "abducted by aliens." Honestly, it was such a letdown when I finally realized they were all actually just experiencing sleep paralysis... 😢 😁.

I’ve spent some time jotting down little snippets from books that are just too damn charming not to reread and copy-paste later on.

😁The Memplex of alien abductions.

Man, I've met so many people who claim they were "abducted by aliens." And honestly, my biggest disappointment was realizing they were all actually just "abducted" while they were asleep... 😢 😁.

Personally, I'm only sorry—purely in a technical sense, obviously—that absolutely no probes ended up in anyone's backside. 🙂

Larry Wilson5 said:No, if I may observe, he actually suggested the author should just heal herself. Calling him a Hater doesn't quite capture his obsession with being the arbiter of common sense. He might as well suggest brainwashing or a sophisticated pill-based lobotomy just to ensure a world of uniform reality. This hardly qualifies as constructive debate; it’s more like a crude interpretation of reality served up by academic psychologists working for the establishment. Every flicker of light gets swallowed by the dark. It seems to justify his dismissal of someone else's experience—his refusal to accept any reality outside his own narrow view. Before which authorities does he stand, so certain of his own sanity, that he feels entitled—aside from the moderators—to label the author mentally ill?
Whether one believes or not, why bother? If we choose to accept a specific version of the truth, what purpose does it serve? How does it help anyone survive their current situation?
Sobriety, I suppose. It’s about looking at your own circumstances. As for alien abductions—where witnesses describe states of dreaming, a detachment from daily life, memory loss, or hypnosis used as a way to remember—I’m only interested in the lived experience. I care about questioning the direction of one's perspective, not some objective "truth" regarding a hallucination. Where we are, whether awake or dreaming, and what we perceive, is the only reality available to us. In our own time, we are there. We choose to be there. We survive there.
What else is there to do with someone else's experiences besides respect them? Just leave them be.
Don't believe in anything, yet maintain faith. Even I believe I'll succeed, and I believe the author will too. Peter Phillips32, you, and everyone else should just preserve your own little worlds. Forcing a chosen or imposed reality on others isn't helpful. The spirit doesn't bypass anyone.
So, perhaps "PDF spirituality" is a bit backwards. Or maybe I shouldn't go so far and say it's backward in relation to the spirit itself.
Taboo realities are defined, quarantined, and handled with surgical gloves,
dissected like they're a threat to "palatable" reality. They are watched like a President, surrounded by bodyguards, journalists, and watchful eyes. All serving a purpose...
But where is the realization of one's own power in all this?

The topic has been derailed; instead of spirituality, we've opened the doors to a psych ward.
Still, the author courageously values her own experiences with her heart, much to the chagrin of all the rationalists.

because I, much like Prot (K-PAX), am fully convinced that any person can find their own way to healing. If someone's entire writing style is just "my dad did this," "my dad did that," "I haven't forgiven my father"... well, clearly there's an issue there. So fine, let them go through the healing process on their own.

what kind of authority is standing there, so certain of their own sanity, that they feel allowed—aside from the moderators, of course—to declare the thread starter mentally ill?

Just wondering, you know? By the way, everyone is considered sick until proven otherwise!

sobriety. is looking at your own situation,

What you're missing is 'reality.' Looking at your own situation realistically. I guess that's not always a given when you're dealing with human testimony.

(both while awake and in dreams, witnesses describe the same state of dreaming, a detachment from everyday reality, memory loss, and hypnosis acting as a method for recalling shifts in perspective)

And honestly, whatever source you’re trying to pull from isn't even relevant to what we're talking about here. So go ahead, cite it... even if you do, it doesn't change the point I'm making one bit.

what am I supposed to do with my own experiences other than just respect them? leave them be, exactly as they are.

Are you seriously still wondering why I call you such a hopeless romantic?

don't believe in anything, but have faith—that's me, I believe I'll make it, and because of that, I believe the author will succeed too, and Pashko Pata'q and you and everyone else can preserve their own little worlds; being aggressive won't help, those chosen or imposed-upon worlds. the spirit doesn't bypass anyone. nobody.

Wait, you actually think being assertive is the same thing as being aggressive?

so, it's a bit "off" regarding PDF spirituality. not to get too carried away and say it's "off" in relation to the spirit itself.

Watch it, once you start going down that "off" path... seriously, do you even realize how far off you already are? Acting like there's no such thing as being "off" when it comes to spirituality... man, you're such a pure, elitist snob.

taboo reality is defined, quarantined, handled with surgical gloves,

You're still doing these mental gymnastics... reducing all thought down to just two camps. You've got the philosophical side (dealing with the immeasurable) and the scientific side (dealing with the measurable). Both are absolutely necessary, but you elitists act all shocked and offended whenever someone mentions that the world isn't just black or white, or light versus dark. You just swing wildly from one extreme to the other.

where is the realization of one's own power in all this?

The whole topic is derailed now; instead of talking spirituality, we've basically walked straight through the doors of a psych ward.

You really need to sort out your psychological baggage before you try to go toe-to-toe with spirituality. Can you do both at once? Well, the answer isn't a simple 'yes' or 'no,' because emotions play a massive role in how everything resonates.

Linda Walker37 said:I’ve gone through plenty of similar experiences following a tragedy
Those feelings are just... indescribable...
Forget all those scientific theories and their rigid explanations 😉
You have a real knack for telling what's reality and what's just an illusion
And honestly, it’s nothing out of the ordinary
It happens to so many people
Once you've lived through it, there's no "understanding" it, nor do you need to—it doesn't even matter 😉

Alright, since you're so fond of those cheap little tricks of yours, I’ve actually got a quote for you too. Honestly, just read it and maybe you can finally heal yourself... if that's even possible.

I was just sitting here thinking about how Susan Blackmore’s book basically treats the whole damn thing like some kind of massive meme machine, and honestly, it gets me spiraling a little bit. It’s one of those ideas that just sticks in your brain and won't let go, you know? Like, once you start looking at the universe through that lens, everything feels a bit more chaotic and interconnected in a way that’s almost hard to wrap your head around. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love a good deep dive, but sometimes I feel like my brain is just spinning its wheels trying to catch up with these concepts. It’s a lot to process when you're just trying to exist, but hey, that's what makes life interesting, right? Or maybe it just makes me more tired. Who knows. says:
So, this is how we end up stumbling into that pretty awkward "discount hunting" concept—where you basically hand out breaks to people who desperately need them just because it ramps up their sense of debt toward you. It’s a weirdly tactical way to look at things, honestly. You could even argue it's a way to force certain moral values onto people, since there’s actually a payoff in punishing the cheaters—and maybe even a payoff in being lenient with those who fail to call out the cheaters.
Honestly, if you look at all the psychological studies out there, they pretty much all point to the same thing: we’re incredibly easy to sway when it comes to the people we actually give a damn about. It turns out that if someone you truly care about—someone close to your heart—tries to push an idea on you or convince you of something, you're way more likely to just swallow it whole. It’s like our brains are hardwired to let our guard down around our inner circle, making us super vulnerable to whatever influence they’re throwing our way.

So I was sitting around thinking about Susan Blackmore’s book and how she talks about that whole meme machine concept, and honestly, it just gets me wired. It's like, you start looking at how ideas spread through the culture—not just as bits of info, but as these living, breathing things that jump from brain to brain—and suddenly the whole world feels like one giant, chaotic meme machine. It's kind of overwhelming if you dwell on it too long, but man, it really changes how you view everything we consume. You can't help but feel like we're all just caught up in this massive, swirling cycle of mental contagion, and once you see the gears turning, there's no going back to being blissfully ignorant. says:
Look, if you're the type of person who wants to coast on everyone else's kindness—you know, just soaking up all that generosity like a sponge without ever actually giving anything back—well, there's a little trick you can try. If you really don't want to pay the price of actually being a decent human being, you could always just try acting the part. Just pretend you're some kind of saintly, generous soul, and maybe people will fall for it. It's basically just playing a role, honestly.

I was just sitting here thinking about how much of a trip Susan Blackmore’s work is, especially when you start diving into that whole meme machine concept she talks about. It's one of those things that really makes you question everything if you stare at it long enough, you know? Like, we think we're so in control, but then you realize we might just be biological vessels for these little pieces of information hopping from brain to brain like some kind of cosmic virus. It’s wild. I mean, honestly, the more you read, the more you feel like you're losing your grip on what's actually "real" versus what's just an idea running its course through the collective consciousness. It's a lot to wrap your head around while you're just trying to grab a coffee and get through the day. says:
Look, it’s pretty simple: people are way more likely to fall under the spell of someone they actually like, and once that connection is made, they’ll practically jump through hoops just to do what that person wants or buy whatever they’re peddling. It’s basic human nature, really. If you want to know what makes someone tick in that "likable" department, it usually boils down to a few things—physical attractiveness, having stuff in common, being willing to play ball, or even just that weird little psychological trick where you genuinely believe the other person thinks you're cool. Once that vibe is set, the game is basically over.

So, I was sitting around thinking about that whole Susan Blackmore thing again, specifically her take on the meme machine, and man, it just gets me spiraling. You know how it is when you start pulling at one thread and suddenly the whole sweater is unravelling in your hands? That's basically my brain every time I dive into this stuff. It’s like, she’s laying out this framework, this idea of how information jumps from head to head, and it feels so much more visceral than just some dry academic theory. It’s almost like we're all just walking, talking processors in this massive, chaotic biological network, constantly feeding the machine. I mean, honestly, sometimes I feel like I'm just a glitch in the system myself, just stumbling through the day trying to make sense of the sheer randomness of it all. But then you look at the way ideas actually spread—how they infect us, how they change our entire perspective without us even realizing it—and it’s kind of terrifying, isn't it? It makes you wonder if we ever truly own an original thought, or if we're just being piloted by these little bursts of data passing through us. It's heavy, I know, and I'm probably just rambling now, but I can't shake the feeling that once you see the mechanism, you can't unsee it. says:
It’s one of those things you pick up pretty quick in social psychology—this whole weird, built-in glitch where people feel like they absolutely have to pay back any little kindness thrown their way. It’s like this heavy, nagging sense of obligation that just sits there in the back of your mind if you don't return the favor immediately. Honestly, it’s kind of exhausting how much we're wired to feel indebted to everyone for basically nothing.

So, I was thinking about Susan Blackmore's book again—you know, that whole deep dive into how ideas spread like viruses—and it honestly feels like we’re all just living inside some massive, glitchy meme machine. It’s wild when you really sit with it. Like, you think you’re making these big, conscious decisions, but then you realize you're just reacting to whatever cultural virus happened to infect your brain this morning. It’s kind of heavy if you dwell on it too long, but also just incredibly absurd. We're basically walking, talking hard drives being overwritten by random bits of digital nonsense every single day. The user says:
So, what I'm getting at is that Meg isn't just catching feelings for Janet because she was being nice or whatever; it's more about the fact that by siding with her, Meg basically settled the score. Like, Janet probably did her a solid—maybe offered a hand or even just treated her to a coffee—and by jumping on the same page, Meg’s effectively paid her back. Now there's no lingering sense of owing her anything, you know? It's like the slate is clean.

Karen Alvarez4 said:Linda Walker37@: I totally get what you're saying. You can't really explain it to someone who hasn't felt it—that feeling that actually gives you the strength to keep going, like proof we aren't just a bunch of meat... and I know exactly what I felt. It was my dad... I don't care if some expert tries to tell me it's just my brain doing things, I know what I felt and how I feel now.

The thing is, we struggle to spot those signs because life moves way too fast, you know? We're always rushing, stressed out, never just *being*... it makes it impossible. But when something like this hits you, you realize nothing else matters except you and your family. Work, money, whatever—it's all noise. You gotta live for the moment. I guess I realized that too late, and there's so much I could've done differently... so many missed chances. But hey, at least I have the memories and the knowledge that he's still there watching over me. I felt him reach out, and honestly? No scientist or shrink in the US is gonna talk me out of it.

You can try to deny it all you want, but honestly, every single time you post, you’re just proving my point. 🙂 Look, you’re getting way too emotionally invested in this, and honestly, it’s totally messing with your ability to actually process anything rationally.

So, I was talking to this guy the other day—someone I know who’s always preaching about his "perfect" dating strategy—and honestly, I started wondering if he’s been spending way too much time at a local church or something. He goes on and on about how meticulously organized his entire life is. It’s wild. He basically loves it when people do all the heavy lifting for him; he just sits back, lets others do the thinking, and delegates his own responsibilities like it's his job, all just to hit some sort of fake sense of balance in his head. His little defense mechanism is working pretty damn well for him, wouldn't you say?

I know exactly what I felt, okay? And I know, deep down in my bones, that it was my dad... I don't care how much anyone tries to explain it away or tell me it’s just some glitch in my brain or some chemical reaction happening up top, they can talk all they want. I know what that sensation was, and I know exactly how I feel now that it's happened. It wasn't just "science" or whatever—it was him.

Actually, no, you really don't get what's going on here. You’re just so desperate for it to have been your father that you've completely lost the plot. You want this version of him so badly that you're shutting down anyone who tries to tell you otherwise, and honestly, you won't even embrace the silence when things get heavy, which might actually be the only thing that makes sense right now.

Look, I don't care if you throw a PhD at me, drag some shrink out of their office, or bring in the entire scientific community—nobody is ever going to talk me out of this. It’s settled. Period.

It’s just you against the whole damn world, but honestly, why? Like, what is actually driving you to need that so badly? Why does it have to be this way?

So, I stumbled across this one article the other day, and it got me digging through my own stash of notes—you know, the stuff I actually bother to keep around. I figured I’d just dump them all here for you, so maybe you can educate yourself a little bit and start connecting the dots between the pieces of the story, including your own. Honestly, if you do that, you might just manage to heal yourself...

I was sitting in this lecture hall today, just staring at the back of some senior’s head, and it hit me like a freight train: most college upperclassmen are still absolutely clueless when it comes to actual scientific reasoning. Like, you’d think after three or four years of grinding through labs and staring at data sets, they’d have developed even a shred of critical thinking, but nope. It’s like they’ve spent all that time just memorizing formulas to pass a midterm instead of actually learning how to think. They can recite the textbook word-for-word, sure, but the second you throw a real-world variable at them or ask them to interpret a messy graph without a guided worksheet, their brains just totally short-circuit. It’s honestly kind of depressing to watch. You see these kids walking around acting like they’re ready to go out and change the world with their degrees, but they can’t even distinguish between correlation and causation if their lives depended on it. It makes me wonder if we're even teaching science anymore, or if we're just teaching people how to play pretend in a lab coat. It’s a mess, man. Just a total, disorganized mess.

It’s honestly kind of wild how we keep acting like a college degree is some sort of magical certificate that automatically upgrades your brain, because from where I’m sitting, a lot of seniors out there are still completely tripping over the basics of scientific reasoning. You’d think after three or four years of being shoved under the nose of professors and drowning in lab reports, people would finally grasp how to actually process logic without getting their feelings hurt or jumping to massive, unearned conclusions, but nope—it’s like they’ve spent all that time just memorizing definitions to pass a midterm rather than actually learning how to think. It’s this weird, frustrating cycle where you see these students who are practically halfway out the door toward graduation, yet they still fall for every single logical fallacy thrown their way, treating anecdotal evidence like it’s some kind of holy gospel instead of just... well, an anecdote. They get so caught up in their own preconceived notions that the second you present them with actual data that contradicts their little worldview, they just shut down or start throwing around buzzwords they don't even understand just to sound smart. It’s almost comical, really, if it wasn't so incredibly exhausting to witness, seeing this massive gap between "having information" and actually possessing the cognitive tools to analyze it properly. says:
Look, if we’re being honest here, science education basically has one massive job: it has to drag people kicking and screaming away from their own gut instincts. I mean, sure, intuition feels great and it's handy when you're deciding which cereal to buy at Safeway, but if you actually want a clear, unvarnished look at how the world really works, your "gut feeling" is usually just a liar. We’ve all been there—thinking we know exactly how gravity or time or reality functions, only to find out our brains are just playing tricks on us. If we want anyone to actually grasp the mechanics of the universe, we have to teach them that their first instinct is almost always wrong.

Carla Hannaford's Smart Moves said:Honestly, when you really sit down and chew on it, it feels like all our emotional and cognitive processing is just basic biochemistry playing out in real-time. Like, you encounter some situation, and boom—your brain starts firing off specific neurotransmitters left and right. If you look at it from a purely objective standpoint, for both the body and the mind, every single experience is just one isolated event. But then we go and decide how to perceive that event, painting it with all these different emotional colors, and that’s what dictates our reaction and whether or not we actually learn anything from it. I mean, at least 80 percent of what we actually "see" in life is just stuff being constructed inside our own heads, depending entirely on where we choose to point our focus. It makes me think that if we could just shift the direction of our attention, we might actually be able to reshape our reality.

Carla Hannaford Smart Moves The user said:Look, this isn't just some isolated case of learned helplessness; it’s actually a perfect blueprint for how crappy pedagogical strategies basically sacrifice long-term growth just to chase these cheap, shallow wins in the short term. A textbook example of this mess is the way we obsess over testing low-level skills—you know, that mindless rote memorization and those repetitive, mechanical drills where kids are forced to race against a clock two or three times a week throughout their entire school career. Honestly, rote learning is such a linear, shallow process; it doesn't require any actual depth of understanding because it never forces the brain to fully engage or activate its full potential. To put it bluntly, memorizing facts doesn't actually require anyone to *think*. These constant tests just breed learned helplessness by training kids to only care about passing the next exam, leaving them stuck in a cycle of perpetual anxiety and chronic stress because they're constantly living in fear of the next grade.

Look, given how things are going right now, there’s just zero time or room left to actually dig into what these concepts mean. We aren't exactly sitting around testing out new ideas through discussions or writing assignments, and don't even get me started on developing any actual deductive reasoning skills. Honestly, the long-term fallout from this kind of schooling is about as predictable as it is depressing. The National Science Foundation actually took a look at the six most common standardized tests used across the country, along with the assessments tied to the four biggest math and science textbooks used for middle school and high schoolers, and the results are pretty grim.

So, I was digging into this, and it turns out these standardized tests are basically just glorified memory drills—nothing more than rote memorization and plugging numbers into basic formulas. It’s honestly kind of a joke because they completely miss the mark on actual problem-solving or critical thinking, which is exactly what every expert in the field says should be the whole damn point of education. But get this: the research also found that these tests are accidentally dictating how teachers spend their entire lives. Since the federal government uses these scores to rank schools and decide who gets promoted or even hired, teachers are basically forced to teach to the test just to survive. It’s a total mess.

So, I was digging into some research by Herman Epstein, and honestly, it’s kind of a gut punch once you actually sit with it. He basically laid out how our entire American education system is failing at the most fundamental level because the way we teach kids just doesn't do anything to encourage actual formal reasoning. It’s not even about being smart; it's about the framework we give them, which is clearly broken. He found that when kids hit eleven, only a measly five percent of the population can actually engage in formal thinking. Like, five percent. That's it. Then, by the time they're fourteen, you've only bumped that up to a quarter of the group. And if you look at adults? It gets even more depressing. He discovered that only about half of grown adults are even capable of fully functional, formal-logical reasoning. We're basically walking around with half-baked logic skills, and it's all because the school system isn't even trying to build those mental muscles. It's wild, really.

I was just sitting here thinking about how Susan Blackmore’s book basically treats our entire reality like some kind of massive, glitchy meme machine, and honestly, it’s a lot to wrap your head around when you're just trying to get through your day. It’s wild to think that everything we perceive might just be this endless loop of information spinning through the universe, almost like we're trapped inside some giant, cosmic social media feed where nothing is actually "real" in the way we want it to be. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love a good deep dive, but sometimes you just want to exist without feeling like you're part of a programmed sequence, you know? It's heavy stuff, definitely makes you question if there's any actual substance behind the curtain or if we're all just riding the wave of some infinite digital echo. says:
If you really want to wrap your head around what an alien abduction actually entails, you’ve gotta look at the whole sleep paralysis phenomenon. It's wild, honestly. When we're deep in a dream, our brains basically pull the plug on most of our muscle movement so we don't go physically acting out our dreams and smashing ourselves into the furniture, right? Usually, by the time you wake up, that paralysis has already faded away and you don't even realize it was happening—unless, of course, some researchers decide to mess with the process. But sometimes, the mechanism that separates being awake from dreaming just... glitches. This happens a lot with people working crazy shift jobs or anyone whose sleep schedule is a total wreck. You can find yourself wide awake, looking around the room, thinking perfectly clearly, yet you're completely stuck, unable to move a single muscle. It's terrifying. Along with that physical freeze, people often report this intense buzzing or rushing noise, or this weird sensation like the bed itself is vibrating under you. There's also that heavy, unmistakable feeling that someone—or something—is standing right there in the room with you, or seeing these strange lights floating around. And since, let's be real, sexual arousal is a pretty common part of dreaming, that can show up too. People describe feeling touched, pulled, or even like they're being lifted right out of their own bodies. Look, if you ever recognize these symptoms, my best advice is to just stay cool. Don't freak out. If you can manage to stay calm and just relax, the paralysis usually breaks in a minute or two. If you try to fight it or panic, you're only going to make the whole experience way worse.

Hmm, let me see here.
If you actually understood how sensory perception works, things would be a lot clearer. You’d see how, amidst this massive flood of information—which most people just subconsciously block out because their emotional wiring is basically broken—you suddenly notice three specific trees (one or two of which you hadn't even registered until that exact moment) that serve as the perfect sample for whatever weird shock you're experiencing. But nah, you don't actually want to dig into the what, the how, or the why of it all; you're just hunting for an echo chamber.
Check? Check.
M'da, this isn't really about spirituality, it's more like some kind of Alternative, or maybe a session on a Psycho-couch...

Anyway, here's a little tangent of mine, something I've been sensing a "Sign" for (honestly, I've been "waiting" for the right moment for days now).
A long, long time ago, most people believed Earth was the Center of the Universe (physically speaking). Then a "revolution" happened, and ever since, the consensus is that Earth is just part of the Solar System, orbiting some massive black hole at the center of the galaxy, surrounded by countless other galaxies.

And a long, long time ago, most people believed "I am the Center of the World" (psychologically speaking). Despite all the revolutions in science, there hasn't been a single word or act to change that—I'm still the Center of the World (and honestly, that's exactly how I carry myself).

Here's a bonus question to chew on. Consider this a chance to earn some spiritual points. Whoever can correctly interpret why someone won't reincarnate as a worm, a frog, or a donkey, but instead as a human being, wins. You'll just have to take my word for it that I have the authority to hand out a few spiritual points (and look, I'm not asking for worship, money, land, an inheritance, or even hanging out with your pre-pubescent kids—I'm not even asking you to buy me a drink).

So, how does psychological restructuring actually fit into the whole spirituality thing?

ambersailor85 said:Technically, you could just put the food on the ground; you won't poison yourself, even if you're stuck in eternal chambers. 😁 But I guess that would ruin the dignity of a person eating off the floor. Any kind of dropping or landing stuff carries a stigma of being rude, regardless of what religion you follow—eating like an animal is pretty much a universal flaw.
It makes it seem like the only way to keep your dignity is to feed each other. If you're dropping stuff from a height, you're definitely going to get messy, and the food ends up hitting dirty ground.

What about sandwiches or fast food? We don't eat those with spoons. 🤣
Does that mean opening a McDonald's or a Burger King somehow invalidates religious beliefs? 😉

Are you seriously trying to sell me this "wisdom" or just making stuff up as you go?

But I guess then you'd be stripping away the dignity of a man who eats off the ground.

Honestly, since I clean my floors pretty often, I end up eating most of the stuff that falls down anyway. And frankly, I couldn't care less what you think about my "dignity."

Any kind of dropping or wasting food carries a mark of rudeness, regardless of which faith you follow.

That has absolutely nothing to do with being part of some organized group or whatever "religious affiliation" you're clinging to, so since you're such an expert, why don't you go ahead and name one single religion where they explicitly state that "dropping food" is a specific mark of rudeness?

unrefined eating is somehow a universal flaw.

You clearly don't grasp what you're saying if you think culture is this universal thing, so either you actually believe "unrefined eating is a universal flaw," or you're just such a massive egoist that you've decided every messy eater in existence is a universal failure?

Watch out you don't pass gas near yourself, especially while you're eating...

It turns out the only way to preserve your dignity is by feeding someone else, and having them feed you.

That doesn't "turn out" to be true; it's just a nonsense theory you cook up when your logic is failing and you have to start inventing fluff to fill the gaps.

If you drop things from a height, you'll surely make a mess and the food lands on unclean ground.

I don't mind getting messy, and neither does the "absolute being." In fact, he actually appreciates my resourcefulness. It’s only you—and just you—who gets bothered by getting messy while eating or having food land on "non-sterile" ground.

What about sandwiches or fast food products? We don't eat those with a spoon. 🤣

Who is "we"? Speak for yourself.

So, does opening up a new McDonald's or a Burger King actually kill off traditional beliefs or something? 😉

Good grief, here we go again with another one who thinks just playing the system is some kind of substitute for actually using their brain... 🤦

ambersailor85 said:Not sure where I picked this up, but it’s a killer metaphor for how society works today—even if it feels like an old fable from somewhere out East.

Basically, some higher power decides that when you pass away, you head to a place that looks like a dining room filled with every delicious meal imaginable. The rule is simple: once you've eaten, you get to indulge in whatever your heart desires next—whether that's just lounging around, chasing romance, or whatever else—and the cycle just repeats every day. It doesn't matter if you were a saint or a sinner; everyone goes to the same place. The only catch? You have to eat using chopsticks that are over six feet long.

Selfish people who end up there can never actually enjoy anything. Their greed drives them to try and grab as much food as possible, but they’ll never succeed because those massive chopsticks make it impossible to grab a bite. On the flip side, generous people will just feed one another and live better than they ever did on Earth.

What’s your take on the people who only care about themselves?

I heard this specific version was used to describe the souls stuck in Hell.

Christians usually know this silly little parable by heart.

Like, is being selfless the *only* thing that makes someone capable or willing to feed another person from two meters away?

Just because I'm selfish doesn't mean I lose my ability to handle those two-meter rods (and let's call them rods, not chopsticks, they're way too big for that). If I take one end, I could just let the food drop into my mouth from a height of plus two meters (maybe something just flies right in; is there a breeze or what?) and I wouldn't even need to hold the other end. Being selfish doesn't automatically make you stupid; I could find a much more efficient way to eat.

For all I know, why couldn't I just threaten to beat someone over the head with my rods if they didn't feed me?
Man, these simple little stories... reminds me of some nonsense my elementary school teacher used to tell us about faith. "When you cross the street, you lead with faith that you'll make it." Yeah, really! I thought you checked left and right first, which is leading with actual knowledge.

"Souls in Hell"? And "What do you think about people who only care about themselves?" — please. If people like that actually existed, the world wouldn't be such a black-and-white way of thinking.

Morgan Gonzalez56 said:No, I certainly won't say an entire nation is mentally ill. But did madness prevail? Yes. That's how it always goes in war. People cast aside whatever scrap of humanity they have left, and that's where your point about ideology fits in. People lose their minds and lose all touch with reality. Brainwashed, or whatever you want to call it (I've never been part of any ideology or big movement, for that matter), just pure mob mentality. That's why I resist patriotism and religion so much. "Homeland" and "God" are often just excuses for people to start acting like animals and scavengers. Once someone stabs you in the back, they will almost certainly take a second shot at you. People don't change, and remorse is usually just for show. I don't believe in sincere repentance, unless someone does something terrible by accident, against their better judgment; in those cases, they really are sorry. But someone who went out with a calculated plan and a motive to commit atrocities... well, yeah. You stay far away from people like that. It's the only safe bet. 😁

Cut it out, man, because John and I are right there with you on that one.

“We don't need to step foot in an asylum to witness a fractured psyche; this whole planet is basically the universe's psychiatric ward.” John

Paul Campbell3 said:Not yet, but I'm getting there.
I actually got the recommendation from someone I respect immensely—and trust me, they aren't some religious fanatic. 🙂

Word is, his writing is brilliant and incredibly sharp.

Honestly, lacking that religious foundation isn't exactly a selling point here...

People say his writing is beautiful and incredibly sharp.

Sure, it’s "beautiful" in the sense that it's smooth and easy to digest, but let’s be real—it only makes sense because he’s narrowed his worldview down to such a tiny, cramped territory that he basically agreed to it without even realizing it. It's not "smart." He just traded away his intellect for a fleeting sense of comfort, a sort of fake, low-rent version of freedom.

Man, what kind of vocalist is Darth Vader and his little backing band, Ransacked Arses? They honestly seem to think they’re some big-shot heartthrobs with all those groupies following them around, but they actually just burned out... now he's pivoted straight into African spirituality. You better hop on the train while you still can... choo chooo, choo chooooo...

Karen Perez44 said:The Guru hymn during Guru Day

Ugh, just more media-driven, over-the-top idol worship.

Susan Price30 said:Would a trip into space or taking that first step on the Moon be considered "idiot proof," for instance?

First off, no, because those are repeatable things—just look at the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. And honestly, it doesn't even fit that category since we're talking about one specific, unrepeatable moment in history.

jademarlin26 said:I couldn't say. Perhaps we should send an idiot into orbit just to see if they can find a way to mess things up or abuse the opportunity there, too.

Exactly, the whole idea is that if there isn't a downside, we'll eventually find 🙂

Robert Martinez6 said:Ever had this dream of living in some refined, civilized utopia populated exclusively by decent people?🙄

I’m just too polite—too well-bred, really. In today’s world, that seems to be a liability, a fact I've learned the hard way.
My parents raised me this way, and frankly, I can't seem to shake it—even though part of me wishes I could.
For instance, if there's even a slight misunderstanding with a neighbor, my first instinct is to extend an olive branch—to check if *I* was the one in the wrong and offer them a drink to smooth things over.
I always greet acquaintances on the street, I always give up my seat on the subway, I actually use silverware (yes, even for watermelon), and I have a genuine distaste for any form of crudeness...
I was just heading down to the corner store. In those ten short minutes, I witnessed absolute chaos: people blocking the crosswalk while they chatted (forcing me to walk through the grass just to get past), some guy spitting right on the sidewalk, and some idiot flying through a red light and splashing pedestrians with a puddle...

The rude ones always seem to come out on top, but I simply don't have it in me to change...

Look, making broad strokes about groups—whether it's dozens or thousands of people—is kind of a necessary evil of how we process things; but taking one single person, especially yourself, and using them to define an entire category? That’s just plain wrong.
Quincy:

The rude ones always seem to come out on top, but I guess I'm just stuck being who I am...

It isn't about how much "culture" someone has; it's really just about who can navigate whatever mess they find themselves in more effectively.

And honestly, you aren't going to change anything as long as you keep telling yourself it's impossible; once you actually start believing that growth is even on the table... well, then it becomes possible.

Bradley Gonzalez4 said:Seriously, how can you eat corn like that? 😕

With a knife and fork 😕

I mean, probably with a knife and spoon; using a spoon is way more efficient if you're in a rush, right?😉

Brenda Adams2 said:Look, I’m not the type to hold a grudge. If I realize I messed up, I’ll be the first to say "my bad" and own it..
Sometimes, depending on how bad things get, I don't just forget it—it leaves a nasty taste in my mouth, you know? But I still forgive. I just refuse to carry around someone else's bitterness, hate, or garbage... I have zero interest in turning into some bitter, hateful old woman. For me, forgiving is actually kind of healing. As for the person who hurt me? I don't wish them any ill will, but things aren't ever going to be the same. I'm more cautious now, definitely more skeptical, but I still try to believe there's at least a tiny shred of good left in everyone. If there isn't... well, they'll have to answer to God for that..
I always go back to that saying: To err is human, to forgive divine.🙂

Oh, wonderful. It’s just great to feel like some kind of deity, isn't it? Even if it's just for a fleeting second when you’re smugly wielding the power of forgiveness like it's some tool you've selfishly decided to let others use... I mean, I guess that's the ultimate goal, right? To be godlike.
But honestly, who actually manufactures this "goal," and what's their angle?

If you want to wrap your head around why forgiveness is basically just a complementary product designed by some (organized) follower group to balance out their other product—sin—you have to look at it through the lens of psychological defense mechanisms.

The whole premise is built on a flawed foundation because it tries to pit forgiveness against the ego, when in reality, they’re actually working hand-in-hand.
Setting them against each other implies conflict, and what ever comes from conflict? Like, when two sides go to war, is there even a winner or a loser? Everyone fighting is losing, period. Even in an "internal" struggle where different manifestations of the ego clash... well, no matter which part of the ego wins, you're still just left with a fragmented ego.
Who else builds their entire future on the ashes of their enemies?

So, if the idea is to use forgiveness to feel "godlike," then obviously the act of forgiving stems from the ego—it's an inherently ego-driven move. But there’s more to the story than just that.

Someone commits an act that’s labeled a sin, something "wrong" or "invalid," and then this "forgiveness" is prescribed to neutralize it. But think about what that actually entails...
Forgiveness is framed as this divine power (or so they tell us), so when someone acts as the forgiver, they're playing God. It's a massive ego trip.
The way forgiveness works is that it attempts—though fails miserably—to change what already happened. It's a total mental gymnastic stunt. Since you can't actually rewrite history, all you're really doing is performing a little psychological trick to relieve the pressure or guilt caused by the action.
Essentially, the person granting forgiveness puts themselves in a superior position compared to the person receiving it, creating this unnecessary power imbalance. One person holds all the cards, and the receiver ends up in debt. They’re suddenly beholden to the person who "allowed" them to be forgiven.

And that’s where gratitude enters the fray. Gratitude serves as a way to restore psychological equilibrium between the person in debt and the person holding the claim.
But what is gratitude really about, besides paying back a debt? It’s also about the praise the recipient gives to the forgiver. In that moment, the forgiver is feeling superior, and they seek out that validation—that ego boost—through praise to reinforce their dominant position.

So, whether we're talking about praise, thanks, forgiveness, or sins, they all seem to follow this same pattern. It's all part of the same machine.