Posts by Brandon Kelly6

Morgan King77 said:I think you might have missed the heart of what I was getting at here.
Power is this fundamental force that exists as a basic part of our reality.
Because individuals and groups possess varying levels of influence, social structures and orders naturally emerge in the world, almost like gravity pulling things together.

But couldn't someone have power simply because of the position they hold within your "order"? huh?

Morgan King77 said:Think of power as a phenomenon because it's something that actually manifests itself in our everyday lives, much like how a sudden summer storm rolls in over the Midwest.
And it acts like a law too, since it works to establish order, similar to how the Constitution provides the framework for everything we do in this country.

Not really... power doesn't just show up, people build it. And as for the order you're talking about, I think power creates its own order naturally, so it doesn't need to be a law. It's all just about that balance of forces I mentioned before...

Morgan King77 said:It feels like you’re focusing on how much influence a single person or a whole crowd actually holds, rather than looking at power itself as this fundamental force of nature!

But what if power isn't even a phenomenon? If I had to define it, I guess I'd just call it a current ratio of strength. Maybe. Constants don't really factor in here...

Sam Hayes said:Power is ultimately just a matter of will...

It isn't.

Morgan King77 said:Power is actually a constant phenomenon
so it isn't really relative at all
It’s just a relative fact that being aggressive makes you feel powerful.

What do you mean by constant? Can someone be sick today and powerful tomorrow? Or the other way around? Where's the constant in that?

Power is completely relative, even setting aside what I'm saying here. And it isn't some "presence." I don't even know what that means... I've never had much patience for those kinds of vague, fluid definitions...

brisktiger56 said:Look, if you're a grounded person, you probably realize that you actually have the agency to make things happen—and how you choose to act ends up defining you, just as much as it affects everyone else. That’s what power is. Whether it's big or small, whether you're physically fit or navigating life in a wheelchair, you've got some kind of leverage, and you can do a lot with it. If Sršen had ever sold herself short, or played down what she was capable of by retreating into her own head... she'd likely just be posting depressing stuff in those "mental health struggle" threads, moping about how powerless she is.

"When she was 12, Ana Sršen had a leg amputated due to a sarcoma. She took up swimming and started competing at a serious level back in 1995[1]. In 2000, Ana Sršen launched training programs and a swim school specifically for children with special needs."

Link to the article

Today, Ana has that power, and she's channeled it into helping kids who really need it.

I disagree. If you're being realistic, you know that you can't just do anything you want.

Whether she was young or old, physically strong or using a wheelchair, there's always some kind of power to wield, and you can really do a lot with it. If Sršen had sold herself short, downplayed what she could do, or just shut down... she'd probably be posting depressing stuff in a "mental health" thread, crying about how powerless she is.

That doesn't really have much to do with power. Let's say she just worked incredibly hard to make the best of her situation...

Morgan King77 said:Power isn't something you can just call relative.
What *is* relative is where that energy actually comes from, kind of like how different fuel sources change how fast a car can go!

it's definitely relative.
try explaining how you can separate it from its source, then we can talk about relativity...

Timothy Green19 said:Back in the day, the master blacksmiths who forged swords were often held in higher regard than the warriors who actually carried them. I suppose when you have two masters at the absolute top of their game, choosing a winner is an impossible task. So, they reached a sort of agreement—each would forge a single blade, and then they’d put them through a test to finally settle the score.
The test was simple, if somewhat unconventional: they would plunge both blades into the bed of a stream, edge-up, facing upstream. And that is exactly what they did.
It was autumn, and a few stray leaves were drifting lazily down the current. As each leaf drifted into the path of the first smith's sword, it would be sliced clean through.

But on the second smith's blade... not a single leaf managed to touch the edge. It stayed untouched.

So, which of these blades is actually the more powerful one?

I like this story. But I wonder how much power either would have if there were rocks rolling along the bottom of that creek? You know what I mean... power is relative...

wearyhawk83 said:Look, you either have that perspective or you don't. So wouldn't it be smarter to just adapt your mindset to whatever "environment" you're actually dealing with?

this tiny bit of "power" I have is totally insignificant in the grand scheme of the universe. And honestly, that's exactly what I want—to see and understand it without kidding myself into thinking I can change anything major.

In the context of the entire universe, sure, it's basically nothing—but inside your own head? It's everything.

It really depends on what you're looking for. Usually, after trying to force that kind of adaptation, you just end up frustrated...

brisktiger56 said:Most people tend to underestimate that "little" bit of influence they actually do hold.

How do you decide what's underestimated versus what's overrated? What would you say is the "real price"...?

Michelle Murphy61 said:Operating on pure philosophy, are we? 😁
Or perhaps you’re just hunting for a new muse to worship.

Oh, look at her go...😁
Nah. I'm being serious. You can tell...

brisktiger56 said:Well, if you follow that logic, everything around you is just some transient, unreal sensation... You're definitely underselling the influence you actually have, though. You really are.

People generally tend to exaggerate their feelings and shrink the whole world down to just their own perspective.
this little bit of "power" I have is honestly insignificant in the grand scheme of things. that's what I want to learn and understand... without kidding myself into thinking I can actually change anything important.

It’s just a feeling. Usually fleeting and pretty unrealistic...

crimsonhound80 said:I don't hang out in the politics sub much, but I honestly can't wrap my head around this section where people just toss around insults like moron, idiot, or imbecile at politicians. It makes zero sense to me.

For instance

I actually reported that guy for a similar insult once—though, naturally, nobody ever reacts.

Is this happening because the moderators are all just leftists who can't seem to separate their own feelings from the actual job of moderating? Or is this somehow actually permitted under the sub's rules? I mean, seriously.

These people calling "famous" public figures names—they clearly have no clue that maybe, just maybe, one of that politician's kids is lurking right here on this forum. Imagine if they stumble upon a post calling their mom or dad a jerk, an idiot, a slut, or some other low-life slur...

I can only imagine how that would feel. 🙂

And what happens if that person decides to strike back at the author of the "Dwyane Wade is an idiot" post with the exact same energy? Like...

"Your dad is an idiot, you little brat." ☕

I bet you anything they'd be hit with all kinds of warnings or get banned instantly. Everything in a heartbeat. 🙂

Being the child of a politician isn't easy. They really have to watch themselves...