> Sounds like you approach this debate as an exercise in argumentation, not as a discussion of Watts' life or his publications. This thread is about whether we

> Sounds like you approach this debate as an exercise in argumentation, not as a discussion of Watts' life or his publications. This thread is about whether we should take advice from an abusive alcoholic or not. > When I asked OP to name someone, I did mean someone well-known. That makes sense in the context of a discussion of a famous philosopher. Maybe a childhood friend gave you a good advice 40 years ago - we won't be able to discuss the character of that person here. So, unless you have connections, you're going to preclude people that actually know you? > What kind of a person one must be for you to value their life advice? It's a good question. I guess someone worthy of being emulated, and relatively consistent in their actions. Not abusive, at the very least. (I'm not claiming he was abusive.) I think the best advice I have ever got was when I was talking to a shrink. He just asked me questions and let me talk, and then it was obvious what I should do because he had helped me make it clear to myself what it was that I wanted. So maybe I'd add that if someone is patient enough to listen, it would probably do you good to listen to them.