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Are You Free?

Jesster

Friendly skeptic
Premium Member
I'm free now. It took me a while.

I'm happy with who I am and other people are no longer able to manipulate or control me. I'm also in control of the overwhelming depression that used to consume me.
 

MNoBody

Well-Known Member
when I play the drum I play better when I free myself from thinking about playing and feel it, it gets fluid and elastic then....
it is similar to the magic eye graphics which requires a shift of perspective to see the image.
The one who knows how to make their work into play will never "work" another day in their life.
which may be about as free as mortal humans can be...
good vid, salty.
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
My children are grown. I am divorced. It seems all I need do is choose what I want.

I've got three kids(14, 6, and 1) and a husband who requires just as much care and attention. Yet... I do feel free. Whether you're bogged down or not is all in your head...
 

Salty Booger

Royal Crown Cola (RC)
I've got three kids(14, 6, and 1) and a husband who requires just as much care and attention. Yet... I do feel free. Whether you're bogged down or not is all in your head...
Family life is great, but it is also a long term commitment. It is a dream in itself. I have reached the point where all my commitments are over. I am reasonably healthy. My personal debt is low. There's nothing holding me down.
 

lewisnotmiller

Grand Hat
Staff member
Premium Member
These chains of your own choosing, is one of the reasons you wear them because you want others to be free too?

It varies. Some are because the cost (loss of freedom) is worth the benefit. Simplest example of that is that I have a family.
In some cases there is very much a belief that my freedom shouldn't impinge on the freedoms of others.
In some cases it's due to my personal 'morality', which can be a tricky thing to define. But I've taken actions at times which are constrained by how I think I 'should' act.
Some is because of attachments, or ego. These are things I am generally good at managing compared to most around me, but I'd also suggest that's a pretty low bar in a modern, affluent society.

There'll be some other variations to this theme too, but hopefully that gives some indication of where my meaning lay.
 

Gargovic Malkav

Well-Known Member
It varies. Some are because the cost (loss of freedom) is worth the benefit. Simplest example of that is that I have a family.
In some cases there is very much a belief that my freedom shouldn't impinge on the freedoms of others.
In some cases it's due to my personal 'morality', which can be a tricky thing to define. But I've taken actions at times which are constrained by how I think I 'should' act.
Some is because of attachments, or ego. These are things I am generally good at managing compared to most around me, but I'd also suggest that's a pretty low bar in a modern, affluent society.

There'll be some other variations to this theme too, but hopefully that gives some indication of where my meaning lay.

That's recognisable. Thanks for the reply.
 

lewisnotmiller

Grand Hat
Staff member
Premium Member
Then you are free to choose your own chains?

Not in all cases, but I'm generally lucky.
I grew up in a country where education was accessible, for example. Where my basic health needs were met.
A stable and well-rounded base 'lifestyle' that I could make my decisions from.

Like anyone, there are all sorts of chains I might not even be aware of, in terms of societal expectation, familial expectations, and the like.
 

Salty Booger

Royal Crown Cola (RC)
Not in all cases, but I'm generally lucky.
Okay.

I grew up in a country where education was accessible, for example. Where my basic health needs were met
I didn't always get what I wanted, but I'm still standing. Am fortunate to have a culture that allows me opportunities.

A stable and well-rounded base 'lifestyle' that I could make my decisions from.
Please elaborate....?

Like anyone, there are all sorts of chains I might not even be aware of, in terms of societal expectation, familial expectations, and the like.
It is your Life. Providing you are not making demands on others, I see no reason why you should be shackled.
 

lewisnotmiller

Grand Hat
Staff member
Premium Member
Please elaborate....?

I'm kinda shorthanding, so sorry if I confused anything. I'm not sure if you're familiar with Maslow's hierarchy? It's old and somewhat discredited (like me, hah!!), but the basic point is that only when my base needs are met am I free to pursue higher level thought and to self-actualise. A person might be completely 'free', but if they need to use that freedom securing food and shelter every day, then in practical terms their freedom is constrained.

It is your Life. Providing you are not making demands on others, I see no reason why you should be shackled.

There's 2 ways of looking at this, I think. There's the hard factors impinging on my freedoms. Limitations to free speech, for example. Or to my physical movement (like currently, in COVID lockdown).
Then there are the indirect limitations to my freedom. I grew up in a society where Christianity was a norm, some other religions were known and atheist/agnosticism was acceptable. If I decided to become a theistic Satanist, there would have been a higher cost to my choice than choosing between Protestantism and Catholicism. For some of my friends, choosing atheism would have come at a cost. Or coming out as gay. Or whatever else.

I mean, was I free to do all these things? Yes...absolutely. But the costs varied, and this does impact on freedom of choice to some degree, I believe.
 
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