4 ms·

Your other comment said that you try to make sure you don't attribute any of your success to your own hard work and study. Um, what does that even mean? You thi

Your other comment said that you try to make sure you don't attribute any of your success to your own hard work and study. Um, what does that even mean? You think the actions and mindset of the individual have absolutely zero effect on the outcome? As an experiment, why don't you try completely eliminating that variable and just stop trying, to see if it has no effect on where you go. Not only that, but how do you account for two people who are born in roughly symmetrical situations who go on to have completely different outcomes? While I like the part of your philosophy that acknowledges grace and appreciation for what you've been given, I think it's a bit absurd to remove yourSELF from the equation of where you're going, unless you have some massive guilt-complex that follows you around biting you in your own ass and this somehow alleviates it.

confluence 14y ago
> Um, what does that even mean? I couldn't do that hard work and study without immense privilege afforded to me by my environment. That's the point. > You think the actions and mindset of the individual have absolutely zero effect on the outcome Your environment is the major determinant on your possible actions and mindset.
- theraccoundude 14y ago
  Okay, so you appreciate that your environment has played a role in where you are and where your going. That's valuable to acknowledge and - as an egoic and often delusional species -sometimes we lose track of that. But all your comments seem to reflect that you think the agent plays zero role in it's own outcome. Or, if you have refined it to a more plausible second point, what evidence can you provide me that the environment plays more of a role than the agent. If you want to start talking philosophy and determinism, then I'm happy to, but I really urge you to start making some really bad decisions to see how much effect your actions make. Seriously, stop wearing a seat belt, start yelling at every person you meet and being hostile to them, stop wearing clothes in public, stop working or taking any risks whatsoever, stop applying yourself to anything you love, go drink a handle of whiskey every night, completely stop exercising, play WOW for 18 hours a day, don't study philosophy, be close minded, tell yourself you hate yourself everyday. Just stop evaluating the effects of any decisions you make whatsoever. Seriously, lose all ownership, after all, the environment is the major determinant of what happens to you, so it literally doesn't matter if you decide to do these things. What've you got to lose?
  - confluence 14y ago
    > stop wearing a seat belt, start yelling at every person you meet and being hostile to them, stop wearing clothes in public, stop working or taking any risks whatsoever, stop applying yourself to anything you love, go drink a handle of whiskey every night, completely stop exercising, play WOW for 18 hours a day, don't study philosophy, be close minded, tell yourself you hate yourself everyday My environment has disincentivized me from such behaviour - either by law or upbringing. Hence I don't partake in it. I'm sure if my environment was different - I would act differently. If I was brought up by a drug addict, there is a high likelihood I would also become one. If I was brought up poor - I'd likely stay poor (due to structural factors). The point is the environment predetermined my values and actions.

confluence 14y ago

> Um, what does that even mean? I couldn't do that hard work and study without immense privilege afforded to me by my environment. That's the point. > You think the actions and mindset of the individual have absolutely zero effect on the outcome Your environment is the major determinant on your possible actions and mindset.

theraccoundude 14y ago
Okay, so you appreciate that your environment has played a role in where you are and where your going. That's valuable to acknowledge and - as an egoic and often delusional species -sometimes we lose track of that. But all your comments seem to reflect that you think the agent plays zero role in it's own outcome. Or, if you have refined it to a more plausible second point, what evidence can you provide me that the environment plays more of a role than the agent. If you want to start talking philosophy and determinism, then I'm happy to, but I really urge you to start making some really bad decisions to see how much effect your actions make. Seriously, stop wearing a seat belt, start yelling at every person you meet and being hostile to them, stop wearing clothes in public, stop working or taking any risks whatsoever, stop applying yourself to anything you love, go drink a handle of whiskey every night, completely stop exercising, play WOW for 18 hours a day, don't study philosophy, be close minded, tell yourself you hate yourself everyday. Just stop evaluating the effects of any decisions you make whatsoever. Seriously, lose all ownership, after all, the environment is the major determinant of what happens to you, so it literally doesn't matter if you decide to do these things. What've you got to lose?
- confluence 14y ago
  > stop wearing a seat belt, start yelling at every person you meet and being hostile to them, stop wearing clothes in public, stop working or taking any risks whatsoever, stop applying yourself to anything you love, go drink a handle of whiskey every night, completely stop exercising, play WOW for 18 hours a day, don't study philosophy, be close minded, tell yourself you hate yourself everyday My environment has disincentivized me from such behaviour - either by law or upbringing. Hence I don't partake in it. I'm sure if my environment was different - I would act differently. If I was brought up by a drug addict, there is a high likelihood I would also become one. If I was brought up poor - I'd likely stay poor (due to structural factors). The point is the environment predetermined my values and actions.