Random Thoughts IV: the Abyss Gazes Back

[GoodSarmatian]

You know this kind of person who tells you: "You shouldn't do X, because it wastes so much time that you could spend doing things that get you ahead in life."?

Well, they're an idiot by their own definition, because they've just spent time annoying you instead of doing things that could get them ahead in life.

That's usually me talking to myself.

 

[Ryika]

That's usually me talking to myself.

Me too. Well, somewhat. In the past I always used to have a phase where I from one day on the other felt like I have to focused really heavily on improving my skill in something, and hating myself for not having been productive before, followed by the inevitable burnout during which I stopped doing that thing completely for a while and instead played video games or whatever else I was into, and then the feeling of wanting to focus only on getting better at that thing would start creeping up again to restart the cycle.

These days, whenever I get a feeling that I need to be more productive, I just do that for a while, be more productive until the feeling goes away and I can be lazy again.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Well, I am/we are doing that, too, didn't mean to make it sound like I spend all my time on the pc (even though, today I actually did, sort of).

But the time I spend on the internet feels really destructive, and it feels goods to be destructive here, which, in a way, I think it shouldn't feel, because what am I really doing? Am I achieving anything? No. Am I improving myself in any way? No. Is it a great recreational activity? I think not.

I really don't like how some people watch TV shows in German television that show the weird lives of socially disadvantaged people, and I really despise the pleasure that some people seem to get from that, but in a way I'm using the internet in a similar way.

No one forces you to start flame wars here. I'm sure there are lots of non-controversial (or at least non-political) topics you could discuss here.

 

[Broken_Erika]

No one forces you to start flame wars here. I'm sure there are lots of non-controversial (or at least non-political) topics you could discuss here.

But it's Fun!

Spoiler :

 

[Timsup2nothin]

You know this kind of person who tells you: "You shouldn't do X, because it wastes so much time that you could spend doing things that get you ahead in life."?

Well, they're an idiot by their own definition, because they've just spent time annoying you instead of doing things that could get them ahead in life.

The next time somebody tells me not to play video games, I'll tell them that, and then they'll realize that their life philosophy is a lie.

No, they most likely won't. People spend huge amounts of money on therapists, life coaches, self help books, etc etc etc, to get guidance in the matter of improving their life philosophy...which they then ignore despite having paid for it. Expecting them to assign sufficient value to free coaching from a random source to have it be miraculously effective is silly. If I have any real interest in my coaching being effective I withhold it until someone either begs for it or pays me an amount which will be painful to them, because that's the only way they will assign it enough value for it to have any possibility to matter.

 

[Ryika]

I think that might be because most therapists, life coaches and self help books are not (written by people) as intelligent as I am, and as a result not as able to boil down the problems with their world view in a few simple words that lay down the irrefutable truth about their life philosophies which cause the person to have an epiphany that they can't evade because it has already engulfed them in flames of truth before they even realize it's coming.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I think that might be because most therapists, life coaches and self help books are not (written by people) as intelligent as I am, and as a result not as able to boil down the problems with their world view in a few simple words that lay down the irrefutable truth about their life philosophies which cause the person to have an epiphany that they can't evade because it has already engulfed them in flames of truth before they even realize it's coming.

Not sure if this is meant to be deep or whatever but it's kind of shallow to assume that a world view can be distilled down into a few simple words that spark epiphany. It's great when that does happen (and it does!) but this tends to be a mere coincidence wherein you already have a complex framework into which a simple, missing piece can easily be integrated and create a more holistic understanding.

That complex framework is built slowly over time, not quickly through trite soundbites. The soundbites can compliment the framework, not create it from whole clothe.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

I think that might be because most therapists, life coaches and self help books are not (written by people) as intelligent as I am, and as a result not as able to boil down the problems with their world view in a few simple words that lay down the irrefutable truth about their life philosophies which cause the person to have an epiphany that they can't evade because it has already engulfed them in flames of truth before they even realize it's coming.

Think again. Preferably inside the context "there is really no neon sign floating over my head making my intellectual superiority inescapably obvious, so my words are not likely to be weighted properly for what I consider to be the actual quality of their source."

 

[Ryika]

...I was just joking, because you responded so seriously to my light-hearted comment. Obviously I'm aware that I'm just going to snap my fingers to make them see the error of their ways.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

...I was just joking, because you responded so seriously to my light-hearted comment. Obviously I'm aware that I'm just going to snap my fingers to make them see the error of their ways.

Do you realize that your light hearted comment is completely in keeping with the persona you project here?

 

[hobbsyoyo]

You were just saying you think the way you wear the provocateur mantle here is unhealthy and I think you were right on that. That I could not recognize your statement there as a joke is telling as to what my perception of you is. I expect you to be self-aggrandizing and to passive-aggressively mock intellectuals for sport.

Epically 'd by @Timsup2nothin

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Epically 'd by @Timsup2nothin

I win.

 

[Ryika]

Do you realize that your light hearted comment is completely in keeping with the persona you project here?

I used to think we know each other better than that, but it appears more and more like I'm just the random affair that you call for a quick dose of fun every now and then. Not sure how I feel about that.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

I used to think we know each other better than that.

Oh, I think we do. I consider a fair number of differences between what I think is the more "real you" and the persona you project. I interact with both...sometimes simultaneously. In this case I think the real you would be well served to know a bit more about how the persona you project is perceived...especially since you have been considering the costs of your on-line interactions.

The only thing that can be really corrosive to you is the persona that you choose to project.

 

[Ryika]

I expect you to be self-aggrandizing and to passive-aggressively mock intellectuals for sport.

Not intellectuals, just people who think they know more than they actually do. As a person with a vast body of knowledge to fall back on, that's sort of my duty.

Oh, I think we do. I consider a fair number of differences between what I think is the more "real you" and the persona you project. I interact with both...sometimes simultaneously.

I think the "real me" is just a person who equally enjoys taking part in conflict and saying silly things, which is why whenever I say silly things, people assume I'm trying to create conflict, but I actually don't.

There are some people who I've come to expect to react to whatever I say by assuming that I'm out for trouble, but not you.

 

[Kaitzilla]

Time to open up a CFC life coaching thread.

After spending days debating "who are you?" and "what do you want?", we can hand out thousands of pieces of free advice!

The only two that ever stuck with me are "people don't value intelligence, only its fruits".

The other was " to progress in life at all, it is important to have goals!"
It is literally impossible to measure progress if you don't know what you were pursuing in the 1st place.

When you pursue something you want with focus, your intelligence has something to scheme about and results to analyze later.

Many of the activities that others performed whom you are imitating suddenly make sense.

You are happy when you get a tiny bit closer, because the goal lets you know you are a tiny bit closer.

Many things fall into place in your life in the pursuit of a goal because they are judged necessary to succeed.

The cat with a 5 second attention span only thinks it rules the world, but the mouse in the cage with the brain gets all the respect because he has one goal and tries for it every night.

Ok, done with the vague/useless advice.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

I think the "real me" is just a person who equally enjoys taking part in conflict and saying silly things, which is why whenever I say silly things, people assume I'm trying to create conflict, but I actually don't.

There are some people who I've come to expect to react to whatever I say by assuming that I'm out for trouble, but not you.

Perhaps you overscored the seriousness of my responses. I do try, usually, to respond to both of your dualities at the same time, but I have been keeping this in mind of late.

But the time I spend on the internet feels really destructive, and it feels goods to be destructive here, which, in a way, I think it shouldn't feel, because what am I really doing? Am I achieving anything? No. Am I improving myself in any way? No. Is it a great recreational activity? I think not.

Perhaps reining both of your persona dualities a bit closer to the real you would be worth trying out.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

The cat with a 5 second attention span only thinks it rules the world, but the mouse in the cage with the brain gets all the respect because he has one goal and tries for it every night.

It has to be noted that the smartest mouse in the cage says "there's cats out there and food in here" and has no goals at all.

 

[Zkribbler]

I stole this:

The first step is recognizing that you have a problem.
The second step is blaming it on someone else.
Step three: revenge.

 

[Ryika]

Perhaps reining both of your persona dualities a bit closer to the real you would be worth trying out.

I think we're well beyond the point where that makes any difference. I actually did, a few months ago now, have a phase where I tried just posting constructive stuff and staying away from political discussions (in fact, that I still do, haven't posted anything on American Politics for ages), but the moment I disagree with people on something, I get called a troll and a person who's just out for for trouble (Sensensa in particular seems to love accusing me of trolling whenever he can).

I created this situation of course, for the most part at least, but that doesn't change that there isn't really a constructive way forward. Why would I "be myself" when "I" am hit by the same accusations that I'm hit with when I play a persona that I do not have to take emotional investment in? (So emo!) Of course the more constructive way to handle the situation would be to walk away, but I'm not known for being constructive, am I? So I enjoy my Civfanatics persona instead!

Fear not though, my love, I am being myself in other parts of the internet where these problems do not exist!