Do you feel guilty for your carnal desires?

[Caladan]

Yes, I firmly believe thoughts should be crimes. If we think the wrong things, we are just as guilty as if we committed the action we thought about. That's why I am in favor of immediately jailing the 73% of the American population that at one time or another has thought of strangling George W. Bush. Only when we rigorously pursue and prosecute thought crimes will justice be restored to our country. People who have lusted in their heart for another person other than their spouse are adulterers, plain and simple. I believe they should be hunted down with vicious blood hounds and imprisoned in waterless caves! But I could be wrong about that.

War is Peace; Freedom is Slavery; Ignorance is Strength.

 

[Sunstone]

...but I do have daydreams every once in a while....

Strumpet! Hussy! It's the fact people indulge themselves in shameless daydreams about Hollywood celebrities that surely will cause the break up of the family widget and the downfall of civilizations -- probably by next Tuesday at the latest.

 

[Sunstone]

War is Peace; Freedom is Slavery; Ignorance is Strength.

*Tee hee*

 

[Sunstone]

I couldnt help it.I didnt do it on purpose.

Excuses! Excuses! You could have plucked out your eyes, but instead you chose to take delight the sight of the UPS man. Strumpet!!! Hussy!!!

 

[blackout]

At this point in my life I would only "partner" with someone of a Poly "bent".

So this would never be an issue.

I'm not much into the construction of "guilt" issues.

 

[blackout]

I don't feel guilty about having them. I just don't entertain them.

Awwww... but they can be so very... entertaining..... :flirt:

 

[Sunstone]

It seems to me when people believe their thoughts are crimes or sins, they are most likely suffering from a mental or emotional disorder. I recall there might be some disorders for which that sort of belief is a symptom.

 

[Caladan]

It seems to me when people believe their thoughts are crimes or sins, they are most likely suffering from a mental or emotional disorder. I recall there might be some disorders for which that sort of belief is a symptom.

I believe its much more common and widespread than that, people can be indoctrinated, brought up with certain beliefs from a soft vulnerable age which makes it harder to root out these self oppressive thoughts.

 

[Sunstone]

I believe its much more common and widespread than that, people can be indoctrinated, brought up with certain beliefs from a soft vulnerable age which makes it harder to root out these self oppressive thoughts.

Interesting! You are most likely right. Of course that does nothing to change the fact that believing your thoughts and feelings are crimes or sins can be a sign of mental or emotional illness.

I know of at least one person who, when suffering an episode of psychosis, came to believe nearly every thought he had was a sin against god.

 

[Caladan]

Interesting! You are most likely right. Of course that does nothing to change the fact that believing your thoughts and feelings are crimes or sins can be a sign of mental or emotional illness.

Yes, human beings are so naughty and so complex.. I could pinch them.

 

[Sunstone]

Yes, human beings are so naughty and so complex.. I could pinch them.

I perfectly understand where you're coming from, Dan. Quite frequently, the sheer, dazzling complexity of humans makes me want to hold my nose and vigorously jump up and down until the moment has passed.

 

[blackout]

Interesting! You are most likely right. Of course that does nothing to change the fact that believing your thoughts and feelings are crimes or sins can be a sign of mental or emotional illness.

True enough!
Both Sunstone and Caladan.

I have also seen this directly...

Believing your thoughts and feelings are crimes or sins
is bound to become the cause of serious illness.
(mental/physical/practical/relational etc etc)

 

[Sunstone]

But on the other hand your wife could just as likely have had similar thoughts. There is no human mind without a dark corner.

Just a quibble, but I do not see attraction to another human as a "dark corner". We're social animals and we should therefore expect to be attracted to each other for any number of reasons.

I don't disagree. We all have guilt, but that universality doesn't make it "right". It only proves that we universally have the potential to cause each other harm and that we, deep down, are universally guilty.

Guilt serves no purpose. It's like the human appendix -- it probably had some function once long ago in our evolutionary past, but it is now merely something that serves no purpose, yet from time to time becomes inflamed.

 

[Sunstone]

...as long as you don't act on it, nothing to be ashamed of, or worry about.

Even if you acted on it, would it necessarily be as bad as people claim it would be? Is there anything in this world as bad as some people claim it to be?

 

[texan1]

Strumpet! Hussy! It's the fact people indulge themselves in shameless daydreams about Hollywood celebrities that surely will cause the break up of the family widget and the downfall of civilizations -- probably by next Tuesday at the latest.

Oh no.....I used to daydream all the time about being on a stranded island with that actor who played the doctor on "Lost". I just couldn't help it!!!! But what have I done!! What's to become of civilization!!! And Viggo Mortenson from Lord of the Rings!! I know there are others!! Somebody save me! And somebody save my husband - he's in love with Robin Meade in the morning from Headline News!!! I just know it!!

 

[frg001]

Just a quibble, but I do not see attraction to another human as a "dark corner". We're social animals and we should therefore expect to be attracted to each other for any number of reasons.

Totally agree

Guilt serves no purpose. It's like the human appendix -- it probably had some function once long ago in our evolutionary past, but it is now merely something that serves no purpose, yet from time to time becomes inflamed.

Totally disagree
I see guilt as part of the moral process of the human brain, a natural defence against doing wrong. As you grow up you do things that you probably shouldn't, and subsequently feel guilty. I am not talking about natural things such as carnal desire, but things that hurt others, or are wrong. I know I have learned to be the way I am today from the guilt at doing things I shouldn't. For instance as a teenager I was rabidly homophobic (going along with the flow really), whereas now I am the total opposite, and I still have pangs of guilt for some of the things I said or did. The guilt makes you realize you have done wrong, and hopefully helps prevent you doing it again.

 

[Sunstone]

I see guilt as part of the moral process of the human brain, a natural defence against doing wrong. As you grow up you do things that you probably shouldn't, and subsequently feel guilty. I am not talking about natural things such as carnal desire, but things that hurt others, or are wrong. I know I have learned to be the way I am today from the guilt at doing things I shouldn't. For instance as a teenager I was rabidly homophobic (going along with the flow really), whereas now I am the total opposite, and I still have pangs of guilt for some of the things I said or did. The guilt makes you realize you have done wrong, and hopefully helps prevent you doing it again.

Everyone can point to times when guilt aligned with what was good and fair. Like a broken watch, it's right twice a day. But that doesn't mean guilt is a reliable guide to what is good and fair.

 

[frg001]

Everyone can point to times when guilt aligned with what was good and fair. Like a broken watch, it's right twice a day. But that doesn't mean guilt is a reliable guide to what is good and fair.

Absolutely, but I stand by my statement. Personally I rarely feel guilty for things I have no reason to, I think that's more prevalant among religious followers.

Personally many of my moral viewpoints on issues such as I mentioned come from a feeling of guilt for thoughts and actions I have experienced and done.
Stealing, bullying, bigotry, cheating, selfishness are all things that are often brought into line by guilt.

 

[Sunstone]

Absolutely, but I stand by my statement. Personally I rarely feel guilty for things I have no reason to, I think that's more prevalant among religious followers.

Personally many of my moral viewpoints on issues such as I mentioned come from a feeling of guilt for thoughts and actions I have experienced and done.
Stealing, bullying, bigotry, cheating, selfishness are all things that are often brought into line by guilt.

I think what happens with most of us is we remember the times our feelings of guilt have been spot on, but forget the times they've been ridiculous. Moreover, most of us don't look very closely at senseless guilt -- we simply dismiss it before it's grown and has a memorable impact on us. But I am convinced that were you or most anyone else to take a close and dispassionate look at the all the times you experience guilt over the course of a couple weeks, you would find that far and away most twinges of guilt are useless as moral guides. Perhaps you should try keeping a journal for a few weeks -- as I have done -- in which you record each instance of guilt you feel. I'm pretty sure when you re-read your journal at the end of two or three weeks, you will see most experiences of guilt are not good guides to morality.

 

[Father Heathen]

Guilt serves no purpose. It's like the human appendix -- it probably had some function once long ago in our evolutionary past, but it is now merely something that serves no purpose, yet from time to time becomes inflamed.

What if you get drunk, hop in your car, and then run over a crowd of children at a crosswalk?