Powerlessness is a lie

[WalterTrull]

Having a choice is power.

Hmmm... I think you are making a case for God that I hadn't given enough consideration.

 

[Tmac]

I agree, from what I have seen in life sometimes the fear of death is exactly what can get you killed.

It also prevents one from truly living.

 

[Tmac]

Hmmm... I think you are making a case for God that I hadn't given enough consideration.

You are the one making a case for God, I'm just talking about the power of choice. Do you realize that you either have or haven't yet chosen to believe in God, maybe that accounts for all your questioning?

 

[WalterTrull]

You are the one making a case for God, I'm just talking about the power of choice. Do you realize that you either have or haven't yet chosen to believe in God, maybe that accounts for all your questioning?

Don't understand "have or haven't". God is. I don't have to believe; however, I do. When you come upon the control room of a machine of unlimited power, but do not quite understand how it works, it's prudent to ask questions before trying to open the door. There may be a few very unpleasant safeguards.
Rats! I am guilty of thread drift. Sorry.

 

[blü 2]

I'm talking about choice.

Seems to me you're actually talking about attitude.

If you've ever been through a bout of (clinical) depression, you may know what it's like to live in a little world where effective action isn't even a notion, let alone a choice.

 

[Tmac]

Don't understand "have or haven't". God is. I don't have to believe; however, I do. When you come upon the control room of a machine of unlimited power, but do not quite understand how it works, it's prudent to ask questions before trying to open the door. There may be a few very unpleasant safeguards.
Rats! I am guilty of thread drift. Sorry.

Well you said that with authority. How long do you think caution begins to look like a lack of trust. And you also skirted around the issue without saying that you choose to believe in God.

 

[Tmac]

Seems to me you're actually talking about attitude.

If you've ever been through a bout of (clinical) depression, you may know what it's like to live in a little world where effective action isn't even a notion, let alone a choice.

I can only wonder what choices were made to find one self in the position to be diagnosed as clinical depressed.

 

[blü 2]

I can only wonder what choices were made to find one self in the position to be diagnosed as clinical depressed.

It's not a voluntary condition, something one wishes on oneself as an excuse (though it gets offered as an excuse in court cases, as you may have noticed, and no doubt in other situations; but the same is true of the common cold). It can occur spontaneously, or as a symptom of some other disorder. It can be a reaction to overload, like the collapse of a structure. It can occur in conjunction with metabolic change, eg like post partum depression. And it can, depending on its kind (and the luck of the sufferer's biological makeup), be alleviated by appropriate pharmaceuticals.

 

[Quintessence]

If you can navigate around limits, are they truly limits or more road signs.

Yeah, they'd still be limits. Don't see how they would suddenly not be. I've noticed that folks in my culture tend to be really uncomfortable with (or straight up deny) limits being a thing. It is what it is, I suppose.

 

[gnomon]

In less harsh terms its an excuse, we always have a choice. We are always making choices. Even if one is in a situation where opposition in any form results in death, we either choose to endure the situation or accept death. If we choose to endure then we make up words like powerlessness.
In most situation, we accept the term because the situation in question is not felt to be that relevant.
Life is, because we choose endure it as, we found it.

Says an idiot who doesn't have to deal with family members who have dementia.

Offer up another piece of garbage sentiment.

Or in harsh terms......offer up something when you actually know something.

In the meantime I'll recall talking to a case study fellow patient of mine in Ridgeview who was there free of charge because she suffered from DID.

edit: Or did you actually think you were making an incredible statement?

 

[Kapalika]

If someone gags and binds me to a point that no human could break free, hell yes I'd be powerless. How can anyone claim there isn't such a thing as powerlessness?

What possible power over that situation could I have? Any reaction I could have is purely mental at that point but it wouldn't matter or have any power, as it wouldn't do anything to change the fact that I'm still gagged and bound.

Yeah, they'd still be limits. Don't see how they would suddenly not be. I've noticed that folks in my culture tend to be really uncomfortable with (or straight up deny) limits being a thing. It is what it is, I suppose.

And what it is is stupid.

I can only wonder what choices were made to find one self in the position to be diagnosed as clinical depressed.

Today I Learned that genetics is a matter of choice. God are you really this ignorant? Actually, 40% of people with depression have a strong genetic component if not cause.

I'm diagnosed with something with an even stronger genetic component that you can ONLY get because of genetics and NOTHING ELSE: manic depression (bipolar). I'm in my mid 20's but was first diagnosed when I was only 15 but please go and tell me how I made all these horrible life choices that lead to it.

 

[Tmac]

Says an idiot who doesn't have to deal with family members who have dementia.

Offer up another piece of garbage sentiment.

Or in harsh terms......offer up something when you actually know something.

In the meantime I'll recall talking to a case study fellow patient of mine in Ridgeview who was there free of charge because she suffered from DID.

edit: Or did you actually think you were making an incredible statement?

So you're going to be angry with me because you either picked the wrong row to hoe or were dealt a poor hand. If it was me I'd say I picked a tough row to hoe, otherwise I'd be like you, I've fallen and can't get up. Please, I'm all out of feeling sorry and believe you guys spend too much time feeling sorry for yourselves.

 

[Tmac]

If someone gags and binds me to a point that no human could break free, hell yes I'd be powerless. How can anyone claim there isn't such a thing as powerlessness?

What possible power over that situation could I have? Any reaction I could have is purely mental at that point but it wouldn't matter or have any power, as it wouldn't do anything to change the fact that I'm still gagged and bound.



And what it is is stupid.



Today I Learned that genetics is a matter of choice. God are you really this ignorant? Actually, 40% of people with depression have a strong genetic component if not cause.

I'm diagnosed with something with an even stronger genetic component that you can ONLY get because of genetics and NOTHING ELSE: manic depression (bipolar). I'm in my mid 20's but was first diagnosed when I was only 15 but please go and tell me how I made all these horrible life choices that lead to it.

That's the problem, you guys want someone to tell you everything, its a bad habit, maybe if you could remember when you started giving other's authority over you, you can break out of this rut.

 

[Tmac]

It's not a voluntary condition, something one wishes on oneself as an excuse (though it gets offered as an excuse in court cases, as you may have noticed, and no doubt in other situations; but the same is true of the common cold). It can occur spontaneously, or as a symptom of some other disorder. It can be a reaction to overload, like the collapse of a structure. It can occur in conjunction with metabolic change, eg like post partum depression. And it can, depending on its kind (and the luck of the sufferer's biological makeup), be alleviated by appropriate pharmaceuticals.

Look, I don't know if you are presenting these thoughts in defense of someone else or you are describing your own situation but you've presented them in a manner that I must respect.

Do you believe that the mind and the brain are the same thing?

 

[blü 2]

Do you believe that the mind and the brain are the same thing?

Yes, I've never been able to make sense of dualism. I mean, for a start, what need would a working mind have for a brain (let alone a body)? Or what need would a working brain (and body) have for a mind?

 

[Erebus]

I fundamentally disagree that the presence of a choice is equivalent to having power. To me, power is having the ability to make choices in accordance with your own desires. In that respect at least, I will agree that people often have more power than they truly acknowledge. However, this doesn't mean that a state of powerlessness cannot exist. If my choices are entirely limited to that which runs counter to my desires, would it be unreasonable to say that I'm powerless?

For example, if my choices are suffering or death and I don't want to suffer or to die, what power is there in that choice? Furthermore, wouldn't it be possible for a situation to exist in which I have no choice at all? If I was to live in a vegetative state and the decision on whether to continue life support fell to another, what choice would I have?

 

[Tmac]

Yes, I've never been able to make sense of dualism. I mean, for a start, what need would a working mind have for a brain (let alone a body)? Or what need would a working brain (and body) have for a mind?

I never thought of them as a duality, the brain is the control center of the body, the mind houses consciousness. I see life as concentric circles with consciousness at its center (for the sake of dialogue).
What need would a working brain (and body) have for a mind, I don't think it could grasp infinity without it.

 

[Tmac]

I fundamentally disagree that the presence of a choice is equivalent to having power. To me, power is having the ability to make choices in accordance with your own desires. In that respect at least, I will agree that people often have more power than they truly acknowledge. However, this doesn't mean that a state of powerlessness cannot exist. If my choices are entirely limited to that which runs counter to my desires, would it be unreasonable to say that I'm powerless?

For example, if my choices are suffering or death and I don't want to suffer or to die, what power is there in that choice? Furthermore, wouldn't it be possible for a situation to exist in which I have no choice at all? If I was to live in a vegetative state and the decision on whether to continue life support fell to another, what choice would I have?

People make hard choices every day, if you want to believe in powerlessness then go ahead but you might want to ask yourself why?

 

[Erebus]

People make hard choices every day, if you want to believe in powerlessness then go ahead but you might want to ask yourself why?

I thought I'd just explained why?

This doesn't tackle anything I said.

 

[Tmac]

If someone gags and binds me to a point that no human could break free, hell yes I'd be powerless. How can anyone claim there isn't such a thing as powerlessness?

What possible power over that situation could I have? Any reaction I could have is purely mental at that point but it wouldn't matter or have any power, as it wouldn't do anything to change the fact that I'm still gagged and bound.



And what it is is stupid.



Today I Learned that genetics is a matter of choice. God are you really this ignorant? Actually, 40% of people with depression have a strong genetic component if not cause.

I'm diagnosed with something with an even stronger genetic component that you can ONLY get because of genetics and NOTHING ELSE: manic depression (bipolar). I'm in my mid 20's but was first diagnosed when I was only 15 but please go and tell me how I made all these horrible life choices that lead to it.

I could tell you nor would I want to but I could help you look for yourself.