Michael Castillo said:rustymaker5, is there anything about you besides being fake?
First, you were whining about lack of education and illiteracy—but honestly, it’s pretty clear that stuff doesn't bother you at all (your attitude doesn't suggest it does, anyway)
Then you moved on to complaining about people acting like know-it-alls who are always right—I highly doubt those types actually annoy you (I didn't see you call out a single post where someone explicitly claimed "I know everything," despite plenty of them popping up)
Now you're attacking someone's ego—even though you just dropped twenty posts in a row following one specific person, all starting with some variation of "you're beneath me, but I'm superior (and magnificent)." Clearly, an inflated ego wasn't your problem, since you had zero issues with it.
As for hurting others—it would be a lot wiser if you didn't bring up that topic.
Anyway, I don't really care. Heading back to my own thread.
(And why did I even reply? Probably because it hits a nerve. )
This pseudo-spiritual nonsense is nauseating. Truly disgusting.
Look, Sanya, I'm not sure what you mean by "whining," but you're right about one thing: other people don't bother me. Especially not in a digital space where I don't have to interact with anyone if I don't feel like it. Why are you always so wound up?
feralranger said:At the end of the day, a fellow member is just a human being, so I fail to see why we should bother with such tedious double standards—as if there were some distinct moral code applied to "members" versus everyone else.🤷>
Honestly, I don't even think it’s about double standards... I mean, in the real world, it’s sometimes just harder to dodge those awkward, face-to-face confrontations because you can't exactly walk away or take a breather, but in a digital space like this, that shouldn't be an issue at all... unless it is, which seems to be the case more often than not. It just comes down to the individual... people can't really escape who they are, I guess... 😁
feralranger said:Comparing an ad hominem to a slap in the face? Where on earth did you get that notion? 🤷
For instance, if I were to assert that George W. Bush and Joe Biden are exceptionally narcissistic figures, and therefore their actions and statements should be viewed with a healthy dose of skepticism, I have technically leveled an ad hominem against those two... however, I might then proceed to build a perfectly legitimate line of reasoning upon that observation, arguing that one simply shouldn't trust people of that temperament...
It really hinges on the context. If we are engaging in a debate regarding a specific topic within the hard sciences, then an ad hominem is, without question, a completely invalid way to structure an argument...
I was talking about addressing a specific person on this forum directly, not some random third party...
Sean Cruz said:The whole point of this forum is to actually debate. Most of my time is spent talking to people I completely disagree with, because what’s the point of a discussion if we’re just nodding along and patting each other on the back? 🤷
True, there used to be plenty of people here who were just looking for a group hug. Fortunately, they don't show up much anymore.
I honestly don't mind if someone tells me exactly what they think, even if their approach is ad hominem. I don't see how that could ever be considered an "equivalent" to a physical confrontation in real life. And even if it were, I can hold my own...
Ignoring someone is the best move when you realize there's simply nothing worth discussing, they aren't interesting enough for any kind of dialogue, and you truly couldn't care less about what they have to say.
Look, I get it—ignoring someone when there's zero common ground or they’re just totally uninteresting to you makes perfect sense. But then what's the whole point of all the fighting and the constant need to throw insults? Does that mean the person being attacked and insulted instead of just being ignored is actually considered worth communicating with somehow?
Since you all seem to be such brilliant minds on here, I was wondering if anyone would care to weigh in on a little thought of mine... personally, when it comes to communicating in this digital space, using ad hominem attacks is basically the online equivalent of getting slapped in the face in real life, and we all know people resort to that kind of low blow the second they run out of actual arguments and just want to force their own narrow perspective on everyone else as the absolute truth. So, what does that actually say about those kinds of users? Does it mean they lack basic social etiquette, or are they just aggressive types, or maybe—and this is my guess—they’re just deeply insecure people? Because it seems incredibly easy to sidestep that whole mess by just ignoring them, yet so many people refuse to take the high road. I get it, not everyone is going to click with everyone else, but I truly don't grasp the desperate need to turn everything into a violent confrontation...🤷
Raymond Walker5 said:How on earth did loading times drop from five agonizing minutes down to a lightning-fast 30 seconds? You guys managed to break everything... 🤣
honestly, someone should just 🙂
...it's crawling along again and I think I'm just gonna go grab some bandages... gotta stay tough I guess 🙂
Seriously, it took me more than three minutes just to get this thread to load, and then I had to sit there for another full minute before I could even type a single word. Yesterday was actually even worse... honestly, it's enough to drive anyone absolutely insane! I mean, what am I even supposed to say, how do you even begin to describe this kind of luck... and who is there to even complain to? 😁
Kenneth Howard7 said:I’m not entirely sure if I’ve picked the luckiest headline possible, but I hope my explanation makes my point clear:
It has happened to me more times than I care to admit—when faced with several different paths, I deliberately pick the lesser option. It's almost as if I am terrified of the responsibility that comes with actually pursuing what I truly want.
Now, I find myself facing a similar dilemma regarding a potential career move. I am tempted to make a foolish choice just to play it safe; if I opt for the inferior path, I have a built-in excuse for my dissatisfaction. But if I actually go after my dream job, then any failure rests solely on my own shoulders.
I feel that this particular psychological trap is rarely discussed in our society, yet I see so many people struggling against social pressures that prevent them from living authentically. What are your thoughts on this? Do you believe it is right to conform to societal norms and stay within standardized life patterns, rather than doing what truly fulfills us?
See how it works? 😉
And besides, no matter what you choose, the responsibility is yours and yours alone.
After spending so much time diving into different spiritual authorities and exploring all the various paths people take toward enlightenment, I’ve come to one inescapable conclusion: all the theory in the world is completely useless if you don't embrace it from the core of your being... if you aren't following it out of a genuine, raw connection to Absolute Love. So, every single day, I find myself praying to the Absolute Truth—to God—asking for help to wake up my heart, basically trying to pry my soul loose from this heavy illusion that material things actually matter... and as for my mind, I’m working on keeping it in check, constantly trying to steer my thoughts toward doing good for others. Since I can't really pull any of this off on my own, I just surrender everything to the Higher Will, handing over the reins of my life's chariot to the universe, while I just try my best to follow the Golden Rule and not do to others what I wouldn't want done to me... though, honestly, my success rate with that is still pretty hit or miss... 🙄 All in all, for now, I’m mostly noticing improvements in the physical side of things... I feel a sense of calm more often during situations that used to totally throw me off balance, and I'm finding it easier to keep my anger and rage under control; there's also this growing ability to accept people and circumstances exactly as they are, without that feverish, desperate need to change them or bend them to my will; I'm becoming less attached to people, stuff, and events... I'm more patient, and somehow more peaceful in my daily life... and well, I'm really just at the very beginning of this spiritual journey, so I'm not even sure how far I'll actually get in this lifetime, especially since I'm still struggling with certain desires and passions I just can't seem to shake. 🤷
I have a bit of a situation here and I’m hoping someone might be able to shed some light on it... My late husband was the owner and the sole employee of his own small business, which was run right out of our home. After we went through the probate process, I didn't actually transfer any of the company shares into my name, so on paper, the business is still officially under my husband's name—even though it isn't actually operating anymore. Someone at the Commercial Court told me that since there are no outstanding debts, I should just wait for the company to be dissolved by operation of law after three years... but now, out of nowhere, I've received a notice regarding a garnishment order. This is for something related to a lawsuit the company lost about nine months after my husband passed away. So, my big question is, can they actually come after me personally as an individual? I mean, technically I haven't officially taken over the firm, so am I liable just because I inherited the estate? Thanks in advance.
Honestly, if you actually stop to think about it for a second, there’s a certain logic to what Fyodor is putting out there... because it doesn't feel like he's just talking for the sake of it you know how they say "long hair, short wits," but since we all know spirituality flows from the heart rather than just some intellectual brainpower, everything seems to be aligning in this sort of cosmic direction 😛
🤣 I mean, forget about the hair... I really think it was that damp, salty environment that did it, kind of like how a wick reacts when it's soaked in the same stuff! 😂
From everything I've been hearing lately, it isn't just about hair on your head, but all body hair for that matter, and honestly, we are in a massive bind because full-body grooming has become such an absolute obsession, which actually makes it no surprise at all that our spirituality has hit such a pathetic low 😁
anyway, they say that baldness is actually a reflection of a fundamental distrust in life, suggesting a certain level of fear, tension, and this desperate need to keep everything under tight control, which are definitely traits of people whose spiritual nature is buried deep within their unconscious 😛 ...yet I still know plenty of people with full heads of hair who act exactly the same way... so I really don't know what you make of it 🙄...but the fact remains that when the Bible mentions Samsonov’s long mane and the power he was hiding, it certainly wasn't mentioned just for the sake of it...🤷
Anyway, let me try my luck here too... I managed to snap some absolutely insane photos on my phone from right in the front row, but then in a total moment of stupidity, I accidentally wiped them all out. 🙂 Does anyone happen to know how to fix this, or maybe someone would be willing to help me get them back? 🙂 I’ve already tried messing around with it myself, but nothing is working... 😢
Pure insanity, they were absolutely phenomenal! I was right there in the front row, standing on my feet for four hours straight, but honestly, every single second was worth it... 👍
I mean, I’ve been sitting here staring at my screen for twenty minutes just trying to wrap my head around what rustymaker5 actually meant by that... because if you really dig into the logic they used, it feels like we’re all just circling the drain of some massive misunderstanding that nobody wants to address... and honestly, it makes me wonder if anyone is even listening anymore...
first off, just a heads up—this is strictly my own take on things. I’m trying to kick off a discussion from a more philosophical angle, even though most people here just tend to shove their personal biases down everyone's throats. honestly, that's fine by me; your bias is basically what builds your whole philosophy anyway.
I haven't actually sat down and read any books by the "real" heavy-hitter philosophers. I skimmed some stuff on "moral relativism"—can't even remember the author because it was pretty twisted and didn't really click with me.
but man, it's wild how most "philosophical" debates just end up being people recycling quotes or rephrasing a handful of guys who've been dead for centuries.
hardly anyone actually pushes the topic further than just applying some stale, pre-packaged versions of ethics or morality.
having lurked on this forum for a few years now, whenever I drop in, it feels less like a community and more like some weird social experiment that I happen to be watching from the sidelines.
the bottom line I've landed on is this: humans are just animals.
let me break that down and get ahead of the inevitable backlash: people are fundamentally selfish. everything is about "me" first.
I tried testing this out with a little mental exercise:
look at my basic needs—what am I actually looking for? food, drink, sex, warmth, affection (fill in the blanks as you see fit)—it's always easier to grab those things if I use other people to get them. so, I start layering on all these manufactured moral and ethical codes... I try to squeeze out as much benefit for myself as possible while staying within the lines of that "morality," essentially masking my true self.
it sounds blunt, and look, writing isn't exactly my forte, but I'm convinced everyone operates on this exact same frequency. kindness and solidarity? they're just convenient fictions we made up; they aren't baked into our DNA.
everyone wants to be the alpha in the pack because it serves the individual interest. you can see it in action: anyone jumping into an argument with me is just trying to prove they're superior. I'm sure someone's gonna chime in saying, "No way, I just want to find myself and be a good person." But seriously, think about the actual motives there. Why would you do that? If you show people your "true" face, you're just lowering your status in the pack.
In my book, almost every decision a person makes starts with one question: how is everyone else going to perceive this?
anyway, those are my thoughts. I got there just by observing myself and how I carry myself around others.
maybe take a harder look at your own motives?
Maybe you should actually try reading a bit more before jumping to conclusions...😉
first off, just a heads up—this is strictly my own take on things. I’m trying to kick off a discussion from a more philosophical angle, even though most people here just tend to shove their personal biases down everyone's throats. honestly, that's fine by me; your bias is basically what builds your whole philosophy anyway.
I haven't actually sat down and read any books by the "real" heavy-hitter philosophers. I skimmed some stuff on "moral relativism"—can't even remember the author because it was pretty twisted and didn't really click with me.
but man, it's wild how most "philosophical" debates just end up being people recycling quotes or rephrasing a handful of guys who've been dead for centuries.
hardly anyone actually pushes the topic further than just applying some stale, pre-packaged versions of ethics or morality.
having lurked on this forum for a few years now, whenever I drop in, it feels less like a community and more like some weird social experiment that I happen to be watching from the sidelines.
the bottom line I've landed on is this: humans are just animals.
let me break that down and get ahead of the inevitable backlash: people are fundamentally selfish. everything is about "me" first.
I tried testing this out with a little mental exercise:
look at my basic needs—what am I actually looking for? food, drink, sex, warmth, affection (fill in the blanks as you see fit)—it's always easier to grab those things if I use other people to get them. so, I start layering on all these manufactured moral and ethical codes... I try to squeeze out as much benefit for myself as possible while staying within the lines of that "morality," essentially masking my true self.
it sounds blunt, and look, writing isn't exactly my forte, but I'm convinced everyone operates on this exact same frequency. kindness and solidarity? they're just convenient fictions we made up; they aren't baked into our DNA.
everyone wants to be the alpha in the pack because it serves the individual interest. you can see it in action: anyone jumping into an argument with me is just trying to prove they're superior. I'm sure someone's gonna chime in saying, "No way, I just want to find myself and be a good person." But seriously, think about the actual motives there. Why would you do that? If you show people your "true" face, you're just lowering your status in the pack.
In my book, almost every decision a person makes starts with one question: how is everyone else going to perceive this?
anyway, those are my thoughts. I got there just by observing myself and how I carry myself around others.
maybe take a harder look at your own motives?
That’s really just the fundamental struggle for people who like to pretend they have a philosophical bent to their souls... 🥳
first off, just a heads up—this is strictly my own take on things. I’m trying to kick off a discussion from a more philosophical angle, even though most people here just tend to shove their personal biases down everyone's throats. honestly, that's fine by me; your bias is basically what builds your whole philosophy anyway.
I haven't actually sat down and read any books by the "real" heavy-hitter philosophers. I skimmed some stuff on "moral relativism"—can't even remember the author because it was pretty twisted and didn't really click with me.
but man, it's wild how most "philosophical" debates just end up being people recycling quotes or rephrasing a handful of guys who've been dead for centuries.
hardly anyone actually pushes the topic further than just applying some stale, pre-packaged versions of ethics or morality.
having lurked on this forum for a few years now, whenever I drop in, it feels less like a community and more like some weird social experiment that I happen to be watching from the sidelines.
the bottom line I've landed on is this: humans are just animals.
let me break that down and get ahead of the inevitable backlash: people are fundamentally selfish. everything is about "me" first.
I tried testing this out with a little mental exercise:
look at my basic needs—what am I actually looking for? food, drink, sex, warmth, affection (fill in the blanks as you see fit)—it's always easier to grab those things if I use other people to get them. so, I start layering on all these manufactured moral and ethical codes... I try to squeeze out as much benefit for myself as possible while staying within the lines of that "morality," essentially masking my true self.
it sounds blunt, and look, writing isn't exactly my forte, but I'm convinced everyone operates on this exact same frequency. kindness and solidarity? they're just convenient fictions we made up; they aren't baked into our DNA.
everyone wants to be the alpha in the pack because it serves the individual interest. you can see it in action: anyone jumping into an argument with me is just trying to prove they're superior. I'm sure someone's gonna chime in saying, "No way, I just want to find myself and be a good person." But seriously, think about the actual motives there. Why would you do that? If you show people your "true" face, you're just lowering your status in the pack.
In my book, almost every decision a person makes starts with one question: how is everyone else going to perceive this?
anyway, those are my thoughts. I got there just by observing myself and how I carry myself around others.
first off, just a heads up—this is strictly my own take on things. I’m trying to kick off a discussion from a more philosophical angle, even though most people here just tend to shove their personal biases down everyone's throats. honestly, that's fine by me; your bias is basically what builds your whole philosophy anyway.
I haven't actually sat down and read any books by the "real" heavy-hitter philosophers. I skimmed some stuff on "moral relativism"—can't even remember the author because it was pretty twisted and didn't really click with me.
but man, it's wild how most "philosophical" debates just end up being people recycling quotes or rephrasing a handful of guys who've been dead for centuries.
hardly anyone actually pushes the topic further than just applying some stale, pre-packaged versions of ethics or morality.
having lurked on this forum for a few years now, whenever I drop in, it feels less like a community and more like some weird social experiment that I happen to be watching from the sidelines.
the bottom line I've landed on is this: humans are just animals.
let me break that down and get ahead of the inevitable backlash: people are fundamentally selfish. everything is about "me" first.
I tried testing this out with a little mental exercise:
look at my basic needs—what am I actually looking for? food, drink, sex, warmth, affection (fill in the blanks as you see fit)—it's always easier to grab those things if I use other people to get them. so, I start layering on all these manufactured moral and ethical codes... I try to squeeze out as much benefit for myself as possible while staying within the lines of that "morality," essentially masking my true self.
it sounds blunt, and look, writing isn't exactly my forte, but I'm convinced everyone operates on this exact same frequency. kindness and solidarity? they're just convenient fictions we made up; they aren't baked into our DNA.
everyone wants to be the alpha in the pack because it serves the individual interest. you can see it in action: anyone jumping into an argument with me is just trying to prove they're superior. I'm sure someone's gonna chime in saying, "No way, I just want to find myself and be a good person." But seriously, think about the actual motives there. Why would you do that? If you show people your "true" face, you're just lowering your status in the pack.
In my book, almost every decision a person makes starts with one question: how is everyone else going to perceive this?
anyway, those are my thoughts. I got there just by observing myself and how I carry myself around others.
maybe take a harder look at your own motives?
I can't say I'm exactly on board with this whole made-up concept you're pushing here, though I suppose I am somewhat curious... if you had to pick, what would be your absolute ideal way of actually getting your point across? 🙂
first off, just a heads up—this is strictly my own take on things. I’m trying to kick off a discussion from a more philosophical angle, even though most people here just tend to shove their personal biases down everyone's throats. honestly, that's fine by me; your bias is basically what builds your whole philosophy anyway.
I haven't actually sat down and read any books by the "real" heavy-hitter philosophers. I skimmed some stuff on "moral relativism"—can't even remember the author because it was pretty twisted and didn't really click with me.
but man, it's wild how most "philosophical" debates just end up being people recycling quotes or rephrasing a handful of guys who've been dead for centuries.
hardly anyone actually pushes the topic further than just applying some stale, pre-packaged versions of ethics or morality.
having lurked on this forum for a few years now, whenever I drop in, it feels less like a community and more like some weird social experiment that I happen to be watching from the sidelines.
the bottom line I've landed on is this: humans are just animals.
let me break that down and get ahead of the inevitable backlash: people are fundamentally selfish. everything is about "me" first.
I tried testing this out with a little mental exercise:
look at my basic needs—what am I actually looking for? food, drink, sex, warmth, affection (fill in the blanks as you see fit)—it's always easier to grab those things if I use other people to get them. so, I start layering on all these manufactured moral and ethical codes... I try to squeeze out as much benefit for myself as possible while staying within the lines of that "morality," essentially masking my true self.
it sounds blunt, and look, writing isn't exactly my forte, but I'm convinced everyone operates on this exact same frequency. kindness and solidarity? they're just convenient fictions we made up; they aren't baked into our DNA.
everyone wants to be the alpha in the pack because it serves the individual interest. you can see it in action: anyone jumping into an argument with me is just trying to prove they're superior. I'm sure someone's gonna chime in saying, "No way, I just want to find myself and be a good person." But seriously, think about the actual motives there. Why would you do that? If you show people your "true" face, you're just lowering your status in the pack.
In my book, almost every decision a person makes starts with one question: how is everyone else going to perceive this?
anyway, those are my thoughts. I got there just by observing myself and how I carry myself around others.
maybe take a harder look at your own motives?
Not me, honestly, and I know plenty of people who couldn't care less about what the neighbors think... You really believe that matters? 🍿
first off, just a heads up—this is strictly my own take on things. I’m trying to kick off a discussion from a more philosophical angle, even though most people here just tend to shove their personal biases down everyone's throats. honestly, that's fine by me; your bias is basically what builds your whole philosophy anyway.
I haven't actually sat down and read any books by the "real" heavy-hitter philosophers. I skimmed some stuff on "moral relativism"—can't even remember the author because it was pretty twisted and didn't really click with me.
but man, it's wild how most "philosophical" debates just end up being people recycling quotes or rephrasing a handful of guys who've been dead for centuries.
hardly anyone actually pushes the topic further than just applying some stale, pre-packaged versions of ethics or morality.
having lurked on this forum for a few years now, whenever I drop in, it feels less like a community and more like some weird social experiment that I happen to be watching from the sidelines.
the bottom line I've landed on is this: humans are just animals.
let me break that down and get ahead of the inevitable backlash: people are fundamentally selfish. everything is about "me" first.
I tried testing this out with a little mental exercise:
look at my basic needs—what am I actually looking for? food, drink, sex, warmth, affection (fill in the blanks as you see fit)—it's always easier to grab those things if I use other people to get them. so, I start layering on all these manufactured moral and ethical codes... I try to squeeze out as much benefit for myself as possible while staying within the lines of that "morality," essentially masking my true self.
it sounds blunt, and look, writing isn't exactly my forte, but I'm convinced everyone operates on this exact same frequency. kindness and solidarity? they're just convenient fictions we made up; they aren't baked into our DNA.
everyone wants to be the alpha in the pack because it serves the individual interest. you can see it in action: anyone jumping into an argument with me is just trying to prove they're superior. I'm sure someone's gonna chime in saying, "No way, I just want to find myself and be a good person." But seriously, think about the actual motives there. Why would you do that? If you show people your "true" face, you're just lowering your status in the pack.
In my book, almost every decision a person makes starts with one question: how is everyone else going to perceive this?
anyway, those are my thoughts. I got there just by observing myself and how I carry myself around others.
maybe take a harder look at your own motives?
Look, everyone’s entitled to their own perspective. But if everyone else started baring their souls and talking about their underlying motivations... do you actually think that would change your mind one bit? 🙂