Drew Morgan said:You don't need to take my word for it; just look around. You'll see the pattern everywhere. Every individual is different.
He does. He isn't stuck in a cage; he runs the show, and we even take him out to roam through the meadows. Honestly, his life is pretty much what he wanted when he was desperately trying to claw his way out of a box at Petco. I spotted him there and bought him on impulse. He was unique—you could see his drive for independence. Then again, how much can anyone truly claim to be free within the constraints of physical existence? In a sense, he’s freer than I am because he doesn't have to worry about survival. Of course, the trade-off is that we manhandle him sometimes, which he hates. We need some kind of payoff too; we aren't just here to be servants.😍
When I compare that to my friend who keeps her cats locked indoors "for their own safety" (she's not the only one)... well, that's selfish love. It's all about her ego, not them.
That sounds more like setting boundaries to protect your own autonomy, whereas breathing down someone's neck is a total disaster. Psychologists teach us that sacrificing your own freedom just to soothe someone else's excessive psychological needs leads to absolute chaos.
It's an excellent book—witty and brutal. It's only 60 pages and you can download it online. A great guy from the Philosophy forum recommended it to me.
I see that, but I also notice that people who can't have children tend to bond more deeply with pets. Then there are those who love animals but find it unthinkable to keep a pet confined indoors. I even see people abandoning children, abandoning pets... I observe all sorts of things, but in my value system, a love for a child simply cannot be compared to a love for animals.
Well, he isn't stuck in a cage; he runs wild around the house, and we actually take him out to the meadow for walks. Honestly, I think his life is pretty much what he imagined when he was desperately trying to escape his box at Petco. That's when I noticed him and bought him without any prior planning. He was special and different, clearly driven by a desire for freedom. Though, how much can we really talk about freedom within the constraints of material existence? In a way, he’s freer than I am because he doesn't have to worry about his own survival. Of course, he pays for that sometimes by being stubborn when we pick him up, which he hates. Dammit, we need some level of satisfaction too; we don't want to be mere victims.😍
When I compare that to my friend who keeps her cats locked inside just so nothing happens to them (and she's not the only one)... damn, her love is selfish. It's not about their needs.
This is moving into philosophy territory, and we've drifted quite far off-topic.
That would apply more to setting boundaries to protect your own freedom, but breathing down someone's neck is a total nightmare. Basically, certain types of people teach us that sacrificing our own liberty just to soothe a sick person's excessive psychological needs leads to absolute chaos.
That wasn't my point. I'm not looking to protect my own freedom; rather, I intend to set limits within my own freedom so that I don't hurt my partner. Surveillance, imposition, stalking, and things like that are completely absurd to me. Someone who wants to be with you will be, if they want to. If they don't, there is no way to force them. This is where I emphasize the importance of pride—you shouldn't trample over yourself for someone who treats you like a doormat. For someone who is worth it and respects you, primarily as a person, you'd walk through glass for them.
And everyone sets boundaries on their freedom for the sake of the other party, provided they respect and love the person they are with. You don't even necessarily have to love the person you're with, but mutual respect is essential for a "normal" relationship. Where those boundaries lie is something people can figure out for themselves from one relationship to the next, as there are no universal rules. It doesn't mean you and I have the same criteria regarding this matter—it's highly likely we don't.😁
| It’s a fantastic read—witty, brutal, and only about 60 pages long. You can easily find a digital copy online. A dear friend from the Philosophy board actually recommended it to me. |
I just downloaded it, but at first glance, it looks like one of those self-help books. Is that the vibe? I have a massive allergy to that kind of literature.