Man, society, progress, and spirituality

slymaker9 said:Certain anxieties are universal. No one escapes them because they are baked into the human experience. No amount of achievement can erase that; to suggest otherwise would be to suggest we aren't human. Therefore, total eradication is impossible—it's really just a question of intensity.
Life is a constant cycle of struggle and joy for everyone.
As for why my nervous system overreacts to stress, who knows? A doctor calls it a "vulnerable personality structure" (which is just a clinical way of saying I'm sensitive). 😉 By that metric, I'm definitely not average. I once actually fainted from sheer distress. 🤣
Does success make me stronger? It does, which is why my bouts of anxiety and depression are cyclical; they are fundamentally reactive.
Could some massive success eliminate them entirely so they never feel overwhelming again? I don't know.
Success might suppress them for a significant period of time—that much is proven.
But life involves stress. Period. For everyone.

When things are as intense for me as they are, someone who hasn't experienced it simply won't understand.
You don't even have the strength to give up.

Look, let’s say you’re just calibrated a certain way. You even mentioned it yourself—it’s about intensity. Some people are calibrated for high intensity, kind of like pneumatic jackhammers used for breaking up asphalt or those massive jet engines on a Boeing. Then there are others who are more like tiny jeweler's hammers used for delicate gears, or perhaps those little electric motors that drive highly precise mechanical devices.

Why has modern life evolved toward increasing the intensity of pleasure while sacrificing refinement? Well, I imagine it's because intensity is easier to mass-produce than quality. It’s much simpler to churn out something like a Red Bull than it is to craft a fine Champagne that needs to age for a century to reach its peak flavor. Even modern perfumes seem raw; they either hit one heavy note or create a bouquet of mismatched scents that, frankly, just smell bad. 😉

And, interestingly enough, progress isn't possible without creativity and creative individuals. In a way, creativity is similar to psychosis—just a thought. A high IQ alone isn't enough for true creativity; you also need high LI (latent inhibition) and SM (fantasy proneness). Of course, IQ matters, but people with high IQ and high LI tend to see everything the exact same way, even if they are brilliant, so they aren't truly creative since they don't question things from multiple angles. The downside of low LI—that tendency to constantly question everything as if seeing it for the first time—is that the same trait exists in psychotic individuals. The same goes for fantasy proneness.

So, there’s this thin line separating geniuses from the mad. It seems that rapid progress through reducing latent inhibition would lead to general madness rather than advancement, which might be why society needs a larger number of inhibited people to keep things from spiraling. It’s possible you are intentionally inhibiting yourself as a sort of shield against psychosis, but if you overdo it, you might end up suppressing your own creativity and inviting melancholy or depression... well, we shall see.

slymaker9 said:At the end of the day, all a person truly needs is very little.
One of my favorite thinkers and philosophers, Toma Bebić, captures this beautifully in this song (though unfortunately, I could only find the version covered by Banov):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v5xuBSI7T4

What do we actually need to survive? Food, clothing, shelter, understanding, acceptance, and love from others—that’s it. Some people also require spirituality, while others feel they don't need it at all.

If we look back at history, people worked hard to secure their basic necessities. Once those needs were met, it brought them a genuine sense of satisfaction, achievement, and fulfillment.

So, what has progress actually given us? While life is easier and more convenient in many ways, we are constantly bombarded with information. We are told we can't live without every single thing on the market, and we are perpetually categorized, ranked, and labeled.
Essentially, we have been turned into tools serving capital. Even those who possess wealth are, in a sense, instruments of it, because at some point, money takes control and usurps power over its supposed owner.
Capital has become both a god and a tyrant on this earth. Like water, it always finds a crack to seep through, turning things around in ways no drill ever could.
Some have embraced this easily, making capital their god; others struggle with it, seeking answers, peace, and even solace in spirituality.
Despite all the advancements and conveniences progress has provided, people today are unhappy, alienated, tired, and exhausted.
It seems to me that we are unhappier, more exhausted, and more disconnected than ever before.
We have distanced ourselves from nature, from God, from one another, and in part, from our very essence.
Is progress a revolution that will eventually consume its own children?
P.S. I hesitated between posting this in Philosophy or Spirituality, but I decided Spirituality was the better fit.
If the moderators feel another subforum is more appropriate, I have no objection to moving it.

It’s the exact same story we're seeing today, only back then people actually had a shred of humility left, whereas now the collective ego in this country has ballooned to a level that's honestly just pathetic.

Quincy:

And what has all this "progress" actually gotten us? Sure, life is supposedly easier and more convenient in a hundred different ways, but we're being absolutely bombarded by a non-stop flood of information, constantly being brainwashed into believing we can't survive a single day without every single shiny new gadget hitting the market, all while being incessantly categorized, ranked, and slapped with labels like we're nothing more than data points.

Back in the day, social classes, labels, and status rankings actually meant something—they felt heavy, permanent, and genuinely life-altering, unlike the shallow nonsense we deal with now. Of course, that was before this whole consumerist craze took over everything. Honestly, I think this obsession with buying stuff is just a direct byproduct of everyone’s massive, bloated egos getting bigger by the second.

Quincy:

We’ve basically been turned into nothing more than tools for capital to play with. Even the people who think they actually own the wealth are just pawns in the end—it's all a trap where the money eventually takes over and starts pulling the strings of the very people who claim to hold the power. Capitalism has basically become God and a heavy-handed bully ruling over this entire planet. It’s like water, though—it always finds that one tiny crack to seep through, eventually turning everything upside down in ways you'd never see coming. Some people just swallowed the whole thing whole, letting greed become their god, while others are struggling big time and desperately hunting for answers, peace, or even some kind of spiritual solace to make sense of it all.

Capitalism is basically just a giant mirror held up to our own selfish, pleasure-seeking nature. It takes all that dark, greedy stuff buried deep inside us and lets it run wild on a massive scale, which honestly serves as the ultimate wake-up call for humanity. At the end of the day, capitalism—with all its absolute filth and corruption—is only there to show us exactly who we really are and force us to face the evil we're capable of.

Quincy:

It’s honestly pathetic how people today feel so miserable, lonely, and just completely burnt out, even though we're surrounded by all this high-tech crap that was supposed to make our lives easier and push us forward. It honestly feels like they’re more miserable, exhausted, and completely burnt out than ever before—just totally alienated from everything. We’ve completely lost our connection to the great outdoors, we’ve turned our backs on God, and honestly, we’ve become totally alienated from one another—it’s like we’ve fractured our own souls just to keep up with this hollow, modern way of living.

We aren't exactly born this way, but let’s be real—we’ve drifted apart, and we’re all becoming strangers to one another. You can't even begin to fix the absolute mess we're in until you actually face the fact that everything is broken. The tragedy of humanity right now is that everyone can feel this deep, sickening sense that something is wrong, but nobody has a clue why it’s happening or what kind of medicine could actually cure us.

Quincy:

Is progress just some kind of runaway revolution that eventually turns around and devours its own children?

Nah. Everything is working exactly how it should.

dustyskipper3 said:Look, let’s say you’re just calibrated a certain way. You even mentioned it yourself—it’s about intensity. Some people are calibrated for high intensity, kind of like pneumatic jackhammers used for breaking up asphalt or those massive jet engines on a Boeing. Then there are others who are more like tiny jeweler's hammers used for delicate gears, or perhaps those little electric motors that drive highly precise mechanical devices.

Why has modern life evolved toward increasing the intensity of pleasure while sacrificing refinement? Well, I imagine it's because intensity is easier to mass-produce than quality. It’s much simpler to churn out something like a Red Bull than it is to craft a fine Champagne that needs to age for a century to reach its peak flavor. Even modern perfumes seem raw; they either hit one heavy note or create a bouquet of mismatched scents that, frankly, just smell bad. 😉

And, interestingly enough, progress isn't possible without creativity and creative individuals. In a way, creativity is similar to psychosis—just a thought. A high IQ alone isn't enough for true creativity; you also need high LI (latent inhibition) and SM (fantasy proneness). Of course, IQ matters, but people with high IQ and high LI tend to see everything the exact same way, even if they are brilliant, so they aren't truly creative since they don't question things from multiple angles. The downside of low LI—that tendency to constantly question everything as if seeing it for the first time—is that the same trait exists in psychotic individuals. The same goes for fantasy proneness.

So, there’s this thin line separating geniuses from the mad. It seems that rapid progress through reducing latent inhibition would lead to general madness rather than advancement, which might be why society needs a larger number of inhibited people to keep things from spiraling. It’s possible you are intentionally inhibiting yourself as a sort of shield against psychosis, but if you overdo it, you might end up suppressing your own creativity and inviting melancholy or depression... well, we shall see.

This kind of inhibition stifles imagination, which effectively traps a person in a state where they can't see any alternative solutions.

slymaker9 said:Certain anxieties are universal. No one escapes them because they are baked into the human experience. No amount of achievement can erase that; to suggest otherwise would be to suggest we aren't human. Therefore, total eradication is impossible—it's really just a question of intensity.
Life is a constant cycle of struggle and joy for everyone.
As for why my nervous system overreacts to stress, who knows? A doctor calls it a "vulnerable personality structure" (which is just a clinical way of saying I'm sensitive). 😉 By that metric, I'm definitely not average. I once actually fainted from sheer distress. 🤣
Does success make me stronger? It does, which is why my bouts of anxiety and depression are cyclical; they are fundamentally reactive.
Could some massive success eliminate them entirely so they never feel overwhelming again? I don't know.
Success might suppress them for a significant period of time—that much is proven.
But life involves stress. Period. For everyone.

When things are as intense for me as they are, someone who hasn't experienced it simply won't understand.
You don't even have the strength to give up.

Landing in that state wasn't an accident; it's teaching you something. Accepting the doctor's diagnosis of a "sensitive structure" offers a bit of comfort, but it isn't enough—it just keeps you hovering on the edge of a total collapse. You need to lean into that frustration until you hit your limit—just make sure someone is there to hold your hand, because even your therapist can't do more than that. That process teaches you how to prevent that structure from being so "vulnerable," helping you find the balance between being creative and losing your mind.
A friend of mine—a gay guy—hit a wall of total depression after a few disastrous breakups, only to resurface months later with this self-deprecating grin: "I eventually grew to loathe myself for all that self-pity."

I know you mean well, and I truly believe your intentions are good, but sometimes the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
That said, I have to admit that when I was responding to Vertigo regarding whether a certain success would help me, I actually broke down in tears.
This is just who I am, and I don't see any reason to justify my nature to people who, thank God, possess healthy and resilient nervous systems. My situation isn't even that extreme; seeing the absolute chaos and the walking dead in hospital waiting rooms puts things in perspective. I am not looking for hospitalization, nor will I do anything to cause myself harm.
I won't lose my mind in the sense of experiencing psychosis. However, it isn't simple, even with medication. It is a completely different experience when you are genuinely okay versus when you are relying on medicine.
I haven't done anything wrong; this is simply how my nervous system functions. It has always been this way.
Just as someone with poor vision needs glasses, someone else might have a more sensitive nervous system.
I don't understand why people fail to see the parallel. You wouldn't tell a blind person to just take off their glasses and "try harder" to see; no matter how much willpower they exert, their vision remains blurred.
Compared to a diabetic or someone with severe visual impairment, I actually have an advantage because I have periods where I feel fine and don't require medication. For me, this condition acts more like seasonal allergies.
I have only fainted once, 😛 which was due to a sort of neurological circuit breaker. When the stress becomes too much, the body essentially pulls a fuse to protect itself. Consciousness simply cannot handle the load, and the person collapses. It is a 100% defensive mechanism.

As for my attempts at exposure therapy and similar methods—we aren't living in some hyper-sensitive bubble where everyone runs to a therapist the second they feel a bit down. To put it briefly, without getting into the weeds, those methods didn't work; they were actually disastrous.
Some people claim that the pain of a depressed person can be compared to the physical pain of a quadriplegic. I won't claim that is my specific experience, but what I deal with is a legitimate illness just like any other. I refuse to apologize for it, nor am I ashamed to speak about it. If anyone wants to stigmatize me, let them. If I had high blood pressure, I would simply say, "I take medication for my blood pressure." I don't have high blood pressure, I have a low tolerance for stress, and when I need pills, I will take them. Once I don't need them anymore, I'll stop. I certainly won't behave like a primitive by just lying in bed and giving up, especially since some people struggle to grasp that I need external serotonin to function, go to work, and live my life.

Again, I know your intentions aren't malicious, but unfortunately, those methods simply do not work for me.

dustyskipper3 said:Look, let’s say you’re just calibrated a certain way. You even mentioned it yourself—it’s about intensity. Some people are calibrated for high intensity, kind of like pneumatic jackhammers used for breaking up asphalt or those massive jet engines on a Boeing. Then there are others who are more like tiny jeweler's hammers used for delicate gears, or perhaps those little electric motors that drive highly precise mechanical devices.

Why has modern life evolved toward increasing the intensity of pleasure while sacrificing refinement? Well, I imagine it's because intensity is easier to mass-produce than quality. It’s much simpler to churn out something like a Red Bull than it is to craft a fine Champagne that needs to age for a century to reach its peak flavor. Even modern perfumes seem raw; they either hit one heavy note or create a bouquet of mismatched scents that, frankly, just smell bad. 😉

And, interestingly enough, progress isn't possible without creativity and creative individuals. In a way, creativity is similar to psychosis—just a thought. A high IQ alone isn't enough for true creativity; you also need high LI (latent inhibition) and SM (fantasy proneness). Of course, IQ matters, but people with high IQ and high LI tend to see everything the exact same way, even if they are brilliant, so they aren't truly creative since they don't question things from multiple angles. The downside of low LI—that tendency to constantly question everything as if seeing it for the first time—is that the same trait exists in psychotic individuals. The same goes for fantasy proneness.

So, there’s this thin line separating geniuses from the mad. It seems that rapid progress through reducing latent inhibition would lead to general madness rather than advancement, which might be why society needs a larger number of inhibited people to keep things from spiraling. It’s possible you are intentionally inhibiting yourself as a sort of shield against psychosis, but if you overdo it, you might end up suppressing your own creativity and inviting melancholy or depression... well, we shall see.

Yes, I am calibrated exactly as I am, through the big things and the small.
And what would I even do with creativity? Write solutions in verse?🤣

By the way, a client once told me that my response was dry and stereotypical; he wanted a "human" answer from me. Get this: I gave him a 15-day deadline, and he had the nerve to give me one for 7.😂

slymaker9 said:I know you mean well, and I truly believe your intentions are good, but sometimes the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
That said, I have to admit that when I was responding to Vertigo regarding whether a certain success would help me, I actually broke down in tears.
This is just who I am, and I don't see any reason to justify my nature to people who, thank God, possess healthy and resilient nervous systems. My situation isn't even that extreme; seeing the absolute chaos and the walking dead in hospital waiting rooms puts things in perspective. I am not looking for hospitalization, nor will I do anything to cause myself harm.
I won't lose my mind in the sense of experiencing psychosis. However, it isn't simple, even with medication. It is a completely different experience when you are genuinely okay versus when you are relying on medicine.
I haven't done anything wrong; this is simply how my nervous system functions. It has always been this way.
Just as someone with poor vision needs glasses, someone else might have a more sensitive nervous system.
I don't understand why people fail to see the parallel. You wouldn't tell a blind person to just take off their glasses and "try harder" to see; no matter how much willpower they exert, their vision remains blurred.
Compared to a diabetic or someone with severe visual impairment, I actually have an advantage because I have periods where I feel fine and don't require medication. For me, this condition acts more like seasonal allergies.
I have only fainted once, 😛 which was due to a sort of neurological circuit breaker. When the stress becomes too much, the body essentially pulls a fuse to protect itself. Consciousness simply cannot handle the load, and the person collapses. It is a 100% defensive mechanism.

As for my attempts at exposure therapy and similar methods—we aren't living in some hyper-sensitive bubble where everyone runs to a therapist the second they feel a bit down. To put it briefly, without getting into the weeds, those methods didn't work; they were actually disastrous.
Some people claim that the pain of a depressed person can be compared to the physical pain of a quadriplegic. I won't claim that is my specific experience, but what I deal with is a legitimate illness just like any other. I refuse to apologize for it, nor am I ashamed to speak about it. If anyone wants to stigmatize me, let them. If I had high blood pressure, I would simply say, "I take medication for my blood pressure." I don't have high blood pressure, I have a low tolerance for stress, and when I need pills, I will take them. Once I don't need them anymore, I'll stop. I certainly won't behave like a primitive by just lying in bed and giving up, especially since some people struggle to grasp that I need external serotonin to function, go to work, and live my life.

Again, I know your intentions aren't malicious, but unfortunately, those methods simply do not work for me.

The only way you’re ever going to actually thrive is by putting yourself in the right environment, period. That’s where your real freedom lies. If you pick the right circle, the problem solves itself; if you don't, you're just going to face the consequences, just like everyone else who makes that mistake. Nobody gets "punished" for who they are or what they do—that's just how life works automatically—but choosing your surroundings is a free choice, and you have to own the fallout. People who choose toxic environments end up suffering for it, while those who pick the right ones grow and move forward without all the unnecessary drama. If you just drift through whatever crowd happens to be around you, you're going to end up totally lost and confused because you aren't taking responsibility for your direction, especially when it comes to your spiritual growth. You're searching for something, but you don't even know what it is or where to look... at least, that's how it looks from where I'm sitting...

Since our environment basically dictates our values, we're essentially at its mercy. Because of that, we have to be intentional about picking a space that reinforces the values we actually want to live by. This gives us a real shot at self-improvement—by controlling our environment and how much we let ourselves get sucked into it, we take control of our own lives. In the end, it all comes down to where we point our energy. So, pull yourself together, take a breath, and really sit there and think about it through some deep self-reflection:where exactly are you pointing your finger, and where are you reaching out?

It would be quite the spectacle, for instance,
court order
The motion is granted—wow, just wow.
Rationale
Given that your creation
has met every single requirement that should
be outlined in this rationale.
This court order is hereby issued,
to both our great delight.
Notice of right to appeal:
If any part of the proceedings was flawed
or if you find any part of this court order unsatisfactory,
you may contact the Department of Creation
to file an appeal.
However, $17 you must include the necessary filing fee,
and they aren't playing around when it comes to those fees.
🤣

slymaker9 said:It would be quite the spectacle, for instance,
court order
The motion is granted—wow, just wow.
Rationale
Given that your creation
has met every single requirement that should
be outlined in this rationale.
This court order is hereby issued,
to both our great delight.
Notice of right to appeal:
If any part of the proceedings was flawed
or if you find any part of this court order unsatisfactory,
you may contact the Department of Creation
to file an appeal.
However, $17 you must include the necessary filing fee,
and they aren't playing around when it comes to those fees.
🤣

😍
.
.
.
☕

That law isn't man-made for people to just go around tweaking; it's how reality itself functions.
So, if you've got a problem with it, you can take it straight to the CEO of Reality. That’s usually where you end up anyway. 😍...and as for those "evidences," He already settled that—in advance. 😍

Brian Foster3 said:😍
.
.
.
☕

That law isn't man-made for people to just go around tweaking; it's how reality itself functions.
So, if you've got a problem with it, you can take it straight to the CEO of Reality. That’s usually where you end up anyway. 😍...and as for those "evidences," He already settled that—in advance. 😍

Where am I supposed to find that kind of environment? When I talk to my friends, everything is fine, but in daily life, I mostly run into nothing but trouble,😳 so I might as well just buy them a drink.
It wasn't meant to be a poem; it just turned out poorly on the fly.😍

slymaker9 said:Where am I supposed to find that kind of environment? When I talk to my friends, everything is fine, but in daily life, I mostly run into nothing but trouble,😳 so I might as well just buy them a drink.
It wasn't meant to be a poem; it just turned out poorly on the fly.😍

The poem is freaking awesome!!! 😍

If you actually want to find your tribe, you will—it doesn't just happen by accident. You have to make it happen. That means taking a hard look at who you are and where you're standing, while being dead certain about the kind of community you want to belong to. You aren't going to find a real answer to that overnight. 😉

Surroundings

I am searching for the right environment,
to dive into the depths?
To soar to new heights?
Or just stay centered in the middle?

If I dive too deep,
I might fall into a void
where neither mountains nor valleys are in sight.

If I take flight toward the sky,
I could crash or burn out;
it’s better to keep my feet on the ground.

Staying in the center feels comfortable,
yet somehow remains empty.

Once I build a little cabin, somewhere between heaven and earth,
that is where I will settle down and invite all my friends
to come and build a community around me.

Now, I know this isn't exactly creative; if I were graded on four main criteria, I'd probably get a 5 out of 100. 😂

And hey, feel free to ignore these verses; they aren't exactly "The One," but they kept me entertained. 🙂

slymaker9 said:Surroundings

I am searching for the right environment,
to dive into the depths?
To soar to new heights?
Or just stay centered in the middle?

If I dive too deep,
I might fall into a void
where neither mountains nor valleys are in sight.

If I take flight toward the sky,
I could crash or burn out;
it’s better to keep my feet on the ground.

Staying in the center feels comfortable,
yet somehow remains empty.

Once I build a little cabin, somewhere between heaven and earth,
that is where I will settle down and invite all my friends
to come and build a community around me.

Now, I know this isn't exactly creative; if I were graded on four main criteria, I'd probably get a 5 out of 100. 😂

And hey, feel free to ignore these verses; they aren't exactly "The One," but they kept me entertained. 🙂

👏👏👏

Why wouldn't they be? They totally are. Honestly, this whole poetic atmosphere is exactly where I belong...😉😍

slymaker9 said:Certain anxieties are universal. No one escapes them because they are baked into the human experience. No amount of achievement can erase that; to suggest otherwise would be to suggest we aren't human. Therefore, total eradication is impossible—it's really just a question of intensity.
Life is a constant cycle of struggle and joy for everyone.
As for why my nervous system overreacts to stress, who knows? A doctor calls it a "vulnerable personality structure" (which is just a clinical way of saying I'm sensitive). 😉 By that metric, I'm definitely not average. I once actually fainted from sheer distress. 🤣
Does success make me stronger? It does, which is why my bouts of anxiety and depression are cyclical; they are fundamentally reactive.
Could some massive success eliminate them entirely so they never feel overwhelming again? I don't know.
Success might suppress them for a significant period of time—that much is proven.
But life involves stress. Period. For everyone.

When things are as intense for me as they are, someone who hasn't experienced it simply won't understand.
You don't even have the strength to give up.

You're just too sensitive.

slymaker9 said:Certain anxieties are universal. No one escapes them because they are baked into the human experience. No amount of achievement can erase that; to suggest otherwise would be to suggest we aren't human. Therefore, total eradication is impossible—it's really just a question of intensity.
Life is a constant cycle of struggle and joy for everyone.
As for why my nervous system overreacts to stress, who knows? A doctor calls it a "vulnerable personality structure" (which is just a clinical way of saying I'm sensitive). 😉 By that metric, I'm definitely not average. I once actually fainted from sheer distress. 🤣
Does success make me stronger? It does, which is why my bouts of anxiety and depression are cyclical; they are fundamentally reactive.
Could some massive success eliminate them entirely so they never feel overwhelming again? I don't know.
Success might suppress them for a significant period of time—that much is proven.
But life involves stress. Period. For everyone.

When things are as intense for me as they are, someone who hasn't experienced it simply won't understand.
You don't even have the strength to give up.

"Kruzne" isn't really the right way to put it. "Cyclical" hits much closer to the mark. 😬

Ronald Rogers27

slymaker9 said:Surroundings

I am searching for the right environment,
to dive into the depths?
To soar to new heights?
Or just stay centered in the middle?

If I dive too deep,
I might fall into a void
where neither mountains nor valleys are in sight.

If I take flight toward the sky,
I could crash or burn out;
it’s better to keep my feet on the ground.

Staying in the center feels comfortable,
yet somehow remains empty.

Once I build a little cabin, somewhere between heaven and earth,
that is where I will settle down and invite all my friends
to come and build a community around me.

Now, I know this isn't exactly creative; if I were graded on four main criteria, I'd probably get a 5 out of 100. 😂

And hey, feel free to ignore these verses; they aren't exactly "The One," but they kept me entertained. 🙂

Maybe then you'll finally see what we're actually dealing with 😍

Tyler Baker6 said:Maybe then you'll finally see what we're actually dealing with 😍

Honestly, it doesn't matter if you're stuck in the middle, at the bottom, or hitting the heights... as long as you're putting in the work and doing what actually works for you, rather than just chasing what you think you *should* be doing.

I'd say there’s definitely a baseline level of "size" that acts as a threshold—whether people are satisfied or not, that part is one thing, but anything beyond that is really just down to individual tastes, physical capabilities, and whatever else comes into play...

Like, take a 2.7-inch guy (that's the bare minimum), he can still satisfy a woman; anything beyond that is just playing into visual preferences or specific sensory stuff...

Ronald Rogers27 said:You're just too sensitive.

"Kruzne" isn't really the right way to put it. "Cyclical" hits much closer to the mark. 😬

Ronald Rogers27

The correct term is "feedback."😛

Furthermore, using "cyclical" is problematic because it brings to mind bipolar disorder—where mania and depression cycle back and forth—whereas this is a constant condition without healthy phases. 😬

slymaker9, not Ronald Rogers27😉

Peter Phillips32 said:Honestly, it doesn't matter if you're stuck in the middle, at the bottom, or hitting the heights... as long as you're putting in the work and doing what actually works for you, rather than just chasing what you think you *should* be doing.

I'd say there’s definitely a baseline level of "size" that acts as a threshold—whether people are satisfied or not, that part is one thing, but anything beyond that is really just down to individual tastes, physical capabilities, and whatever else comes into play...

Like, take a 2.7-inch guy (that's the bare minimum), he can still satisfy a woman; anything beyond that is just playing into visual preferences or specific sensory stuff...

🤔
7 cm
Where did you get that figure from, and what state are we talking about—7 cm flaccid or erect? 😕🤷

slymaker9 said:I know you mean well, and I truly believe your intentions are good, but sometimes the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
That said, I have to admit that when I was responding to Vertigo regarding whether a certain success would help me, I actually broke down in tears.
This is just who I am, and I don't see any reason to justify my nature to people who, thank God, possess healthy and resilient nervous systems. My situation isn't even that extreme; seeing the absolute chaos and the walking dead in hospital waiting rooms puts things in perspective. I am not looking for hospitalization, nor will I do anything to cause myself harm.
I won't lose my mind in the sense of experiencing psychosis. However, it isn't simple, even with medication. It is a completely different experience when you are genuinely okay versus when you are relying on medicine.
I haven't done anything wrong; this is simply how my nervous system functions. It has always been this way.
Just as someone with poor vision needs glasses, someone else might have a more sensitive nervous system.
I don't understand why people fail to see the parallel. You wouldn't tell a blind person to just take off their glasses and "try harder" to see; no matter how much willpower they exert, their vision remains blurred.
Compared to a diabetic or someone with severe visual impairment, I actually have an advantage because I have periods where I feel fine and don't require medication. For me, this condition acts more like seasonal allergies.
I have only fainted once, 😛 which was due to a sort of neurological circuit breaker. When the stress becomes too much, the body essentially pulls a fuse to protect itself. Consciousness simply cannot handle the load, and the person collapses. It is a 100% defensive mechanism.

As for my attempts at exposure therapy and similar methods—we aren't living in some hyper-sensitive bubble where everyone runs to a therapist the second they feel a bit down. To put it briefly, without getting into the weeds, those methods didn't work; they were actually disastrous.
Some people claim that the pain of a depressed person can be compared to the physical pain of a quadriplegic. I won't claim that is my specific experience, but what I deal with is a legitimate illness just like any other. I refuse to apologize for it, nor am I ashamed to speak about it. If anyone wants to stigmatize me, let them. If I had high blood pressure, I would simply say, "I take medication for my blood pressure." I don't have high blood pressure, I have a low tolerance for stress, and when I need pills, I will take them. Once I don't need them anymore, I'll stop. I certainly won't behave like a primitive by just lying in bed and giving up, especially since some people struggle to grasp that I need external serotonin to function, go to work, and live my life.

Again, I know your intentions aren't malicious, but unfortunately, those methods simply do not work for me.

I just finished reading Segismund. Life is a dream. From Pedar Calderon of Barca When Love

If love doesn't drive you a little bit crazy, then it isn't really love at all..

I was actually thinking of you, honestly, because I spent the whole night crying too—from around 9 p.m. all the way until who knows when.
I just feel so much lighter now—it's such a relief. I’m finally at peace, and honestly, it feels like a weight has been lifted for years.
So, I’m a Rat in the Chinese zodiac, and honestly, I don't need anything else. I just keep on surviving with this relentless, stubborn grit. I guess when you're born a bit of a menace like that—someone who could watch the whole world sink and still just paddle along on the surface, moving right along—you learn how to handle whatever comes your way.
Some people might call me conceited, but honestly? It’s just my survival instinct kicking in. That's just how I roll.
All I really needed was some headphones in my ears and a chance to just sing, cry, and play some guitar. I also ended up glancing at a certain rat for just a split second—just enough to toss a few words his way like, "Are you still on this planet?" Honestly, I wasn't even looking for an answer; I just needed that tiny bit of validation knowing there’s someone out there who recognizes you exist. That was enough for me. It wasn't until the next morning, right when I arrived at work, that I finally checked my messages and saw that he had replied with that divine, "Yeah, I'm here..."

I don't know, I've basically been training myself since I was a kid to rely primarily on my heavenly parents. A hundred versions of _nobodyja_ couldn't shake me; they can act out all they want, but I’d much rather find the compliments in everything people say than deal with any kind of nonsense. 🙂
I actually took his part of the dialogue as his way of practicing being ruthless—or, let's be honest, just training himself to be strict, LOL. His condescending jabs were honestly more entertaining than anything else; they ended up revealing so much about him, and quite a bit about myself too.

So, let's get back to the Prince. Prince Segismund was born with a certain predisposition toward darkness, which led his father to essentially handicap him from birth just to prevent him from tearing the kingdom apart. And honestly, he lived up to those fears; he proved to be a total piece of work and a complete pessimist. Even after his father gave him a second chance, he wasted it, forcing his old man to throw him back into chains. But everything shifts when the rebels set him free. In that moment, he finds himself through God, the ultimate source of all that is good. He undergoes this incredible transformation fueled by the power of love, turning into an exemplary man, and eventually marries his princess, slymaker9 (yes, really, her!). It’s a powerful reminder that nobody is born stuck being one way; in God, anything is possible.

Why did I start quoting people like this?
I just wanted to tell you that you’re actually much stronger than you give yourself credit for. If you were to wish for something like a "happy pill" or a silver platter served with instant success, any effect would be nothing more than a temporary fix. Honestly, if something helps you get through the moment—just like taking Tylenol when you've got a fever—then go ahead and take it.

But when you look at the big picture, in the long run, nothing really carries you through quite like divine providence.

I’m gifting you these verses by Da'D Crawford-Greathouse and David Mullena: Life is a dream.




Or just another spiritual thought from Anointed:

not The i but The you in me you have walked into my Life you have painted All my dreams til The Colour of Your Love is The Colour of me you Can look into my Heart and you Can read my mind you Can read about yourself in between The lines Every good thing i have Dona Everything that i ’ ve become Everything that's turned out right is because you're in my Life and if i ever teach a C

not The i but The you in me you have walked into my Life you have painted All my dreams til The Colour of Your Love is The Colour of me you Can look into my Heart and you Can read my mind you Can read about yourself in between The lines Every good thing i have Dona Everything that i ’ ve become Everything that's turned out right is because you're in my Life and if i ever teach a C
not The i but The you in me you have walked into my Life you have painted All my dreams til The Colour of Your Love is The Colour of me you Can look into my Heart and you Can read my mind you Can read about yourself in between The lines Every good thing i have Dona Everything that i ’ ve become Everything that's turned out right is because you're in my Life and if i ever teach a C
not The i but The you in me you have walked into my Life you have painted All my dreams til The Colour of Your Love is The Colour of me you Can look into my Heart and you Can read my mind you Can read about yourself in between The lines Every good thing i have Dona Everything that i ’ ve become Everything that's turned out right is because you're in my Life and if i ever teach a C

not The i but The you in me you have walked into my Life you have painted All my dreams til The Colour of Your Love is The Colour of me you Can look into my Heart and you Can read my mind you Can read about yourself in between The lines Every good thing i have Dona Everything that i ’ ve become Everything that's turned out right is because you're in my Life and if i ever teach a C
not The i but The you in me you have walked into my Life you have painted All my dreams til The Colour of Your Love is The Colour of me you Can look into my Heart and you Can read my mind you Can read about yourself in between The lines Every good thing i have Dona Everything that i ’ ve become Everything that's turned out right is because you're in my Life and if i ever teach a C
not The i but The you in me you have walked into my Life you have painted All my dreams til The Colour of Your Love is The Colour of me you Can look into my Heart and you Can read my mind you Can read about yourself in between The lines Every good thing i have Dona Everything that i ’ ve become Everything that's turned out right is because you're in my Life and if i ever teach a C

not The i but The you in me you have walked into my Life you have painted All my dreams til The Colour of Your Love is The Colour of me you Can look into my Heart and you Can read my mind you Can read about yourself in between The lines Every good thing i have Dona Everything that i ’ ve become Everything that's turned out right is because you're in my Life and if i ever teach a C
not The i but The you in me you have walked into my Life you have painted All my dreams til The Colour of Your Love is The Colour of me you Can look into my Heart and you Can read my mind you Can read about yourself in between The lines Every good thing i have Dona Everything that i ’ ve become Everything that's turned out right is because you're in my Life and if i ever teach a C
not The i but The you in me you have walked into my Life you have painted All my dreams til The Colour of Your Love is The Colour of me you Can look into my Heart and you Can read my mind you Can read about yourself in between The lines Every good thing i have Dona Everything that i ’ ve become Everything that's turned out right is because you're in my Life and if i ever teach a C
not The i but The you in me you have walked into my Life you have painted All my dreams til The Colour of Your Love is The Colour of me you Can look into my Heart and you Can read my mind you Can read about yourself in between The lines Every good thing i have Dona Everything that i ’ ve become Everything that's turned out right is because you're in my Life and if i ever teach a C

oh yeah, one more thing... my little secret...
neither success nor any kind of praise helps me when I'm feeling down—only H2O works
literally: a shower
water washes everything away
just like I mentioned in my other post on this topic: every new shot starts from zero! using a tennis analogy, I might play brilliantly in the first game (success), but that doesn't help me at all in the second! in the second game, I know I have to start over from scratch! every single hit feels like it's my very first!
you can't live off past glories! neither on old successes nor on empty boasts! that's just being spoiled!!
you always have to prove yourself all over again!!

keep smiling 👍

and, don't forget to leave your enemies to God 👍

always fight them in one and only way— with the truth!
and do that with the smile of a winner on your face 🙏
(I didn't say—be a cynic)

if you have a choice—distance yourself from the negative people
walk right past them like you're passing a quiet cemetery in rural Kentucky
W.A.L.K. past them, and do it with a smile on your face—I'm not saying you should freeze up or hold back
and enjoy the memory of those who send you positive vibes

if it's helped me for decades, it'll help you too 🙂

hasta la vista 🙂

Thanks, dear Lisa Morales4. 🙂

P.S.
Just so there's no confusion, nothing Ronald Rogers27 said actually bothered me. I see his behavior as part of the forum's dynamic—it's more entertaining than anything else. What actually got to me was what I said myself; it hit a nerve regarding Vertigo m, simply because it touched on a very sensitive subject for me.

Peter Phillips32 said:Honestly, it doesn't matter if you're stuck in the middle, at the bottom, or hitting the heights... as long as you're putting in the work and doing what actually works for you, rather than just chasing what you think you *should* be doing.

I'd say there’s definitely a baseline level of "size" that acts as a threshold—whether people are satisfied or not, that part is one thing, but anything beyond that is really just down to individual tastes, physical capabilities, and whatever else comes into play...

Like, take a 2.7-inch guy (that's the bare minimum), he can still satisfy a woman; anything beyond that is just playing into visual preferences or specific sensory stuff...

"Whatever women"? Give me a break... I seriously doubt there are that many out there who actually think like that, let alone that they all do! 😁