Sunday, May 13, 2012

Quote: oversimplifying

There is a tendency, considered highly rational, to reason from a narrow set of interests, say survival and procreation, which are supposed to govern our lives, and then to treat everything that does not fit this model as anomalous clutter, extraneous to what we are and probably best done without. But all we really know about what we are is what we do. There is a tendency to fit a tight and awkward carapace of definition over humankind, and to try to trim the living creature to fit the dead shell.
***
We inhabit, we are part of, a reality for which explanation is much too poor and small.

--Marilynne Robinson

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46 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 13, 2012 at 12:33 AM

    1st (the order is restored)

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    1. AnonymousMay 13, 2012 at 3:15 AM

      tomorrow you will not be so lucky, and your tears will fall like sweet spring rain.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousMay 13, 2012 at 3:32 AM

      LOL

      Delete
    3. AnonymousMay 13, 2012 at 4:46 AM

      king for a day...

      Delete
    4. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 1:08 AM

      Ahhh... Got to love a glass of the tears of the innocent...

      Delete
  2. AlteregoMay 13, 2012 at 1:47 AM

    Yes, yes, YES. Awesome quote, M.E. I cannot help but wonder whether the first segment of this post constitutes your own observation...

    This causes me to reflect upon a recent, brief exchange in the forum between Alia and PMS. I think I will shun my ADD and embark upon an informal study of logic.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AlteregoMay 13, 2012 at 1:53 AM

    Shut it, TCO, or whoever always posts "first". I am always up later than you. Perhaps it is time you faced a bit of competitive action. ;)

    Or not. Meh, whatever.

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    1. AnonymousMay 13, 2012 at 3:16 AM

      You're kinda hot for a Christian, Alter

      Delete
    2. AnonymousMay 13, 2012 at 5:39 AM

      I cannot tell a lie
      it is I

      Delete
    3. AlteregoMay 13, 2012 at 4:50 PM

      You ain't so bad yourself, for a... Buddhist?

      Delete
    4. AnonymousMay 13, 2012 at 10:27 PM

      I try to be.

      Delete
  4. Generic Name HereMay 13, 2012 at 4:31 AM

    Not to be rude, but may I ask what the point of these quotes is supposed to be?

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    1. AnonymousMay 13, 2012 at 4:33 AM

      Ever heard of "thinking"?

      Delete
    2. AnonymousMay 13, 2012 at 7:24 AM

      lol

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    3. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 1:11 AM

      * face-palm* WHAT HAS THIS WORLD COME TO!!!

      Delete
  5. AnonymousMay 13, 2012 at 7:25 AM

    nice quote

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  6. AnonymousMay 13, 2012 at 10:11 AM

    Similar people are easier to control. Tendencies were created by people from high places, so they could control or atleast predict actions of others. Sociopaths/psychopats are unpredictable, hard to control, that's why important people consider us dangerous, make us movie villains and so on. If they can't control something, they call it a threat. That's how it works. Simple.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Themes for SW RegularsMay 13, 2012 at 3:59 PM

    Wake Up from Themes

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousMay 13, 2012 at 5:33 PM

    If they can't control something, they call it a threat.

    Not a challenge ?

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    1. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 1:13 AM

      Challenge? No... challenge implies that they have a possibility at succeeding ;)

      Delete
    2. josé javierMay 14, 2012 at 4:09 AM

      unpredictable things are to blame for the feeling of insecurity that haunts modern thinking, modern politics, moder religion and modern society. We must tackle with it definitely if we want to survive as a species.

      Delete
    3. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 4:26 AM

      Rock on with your bad self, Jose!

      Delete
    4. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 4:28 AM

      I will tackle myself *puts head in vice*

      Delete
  9. josé javierMay 14, 2012 at 4:28 AM

    It may sound weird, but I don't think democracy will be real until it stops being emotional. Political parties would be in a real mess if they could no longer appeal to the feelings of the electorate. If emotions were not in the middle of the scene in economy, in social issues, crisis would be something unheard of.

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    Replies
    1. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 4:40 AM

      Politicians should use the bully pulpit more.

      Delete
  10. josé javierMay 14, 2012 at 4:33 AM

    Psychos live in the same world in which we all live, they see what empaths do. They understand and learn manipulation because they see the empaths manipulate each other all the time. Unlike them, psychos don't need self delusion to suck other people's blood, and in the end that makes them scary. Not what they do, but their attitude. Empaths care for the image, not for the content.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 4:57 AM

    Is there something "wrong" with having a controlling personality ? When all you are doing is looking out for your best interests? Why is that a bad thing if you do it with other people's consent? i mean if I don't get my way I pout. I don't want to pout. So I manipulate. I might bend the truth if I have to to get my way. Why should I have to care if they don't know? Give me a reason, please.

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    1. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 5:03 AM

      I like the image of them thinking it is their idea to have control over my pouting. It's unpleasant for them, so they will have to be better for me if they don't want to see a pouting face. But lately I do not pout. I just use logic and don't waver. But my strong arm is light. Why is that bad? Of course I care about image. I am very considerate when I let people think it is their decision to make me happy. They SHOULD make me happy.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 5:11 AM

      It is only "wrong" when you see it doesn't work, girly. And when you want to leave because you don't get your way. And you have to fight with yourself every day to find a reason to stay with someone when you don't get your way. Spoiled much?

      Delete
    3. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 5:11 AM

      Nope. Entitled.

      Delete
    4. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 5:14 AM

      It's the same thing.

      Delete
    5. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 5:19 AM

      I don't think so. You put a negative spin on it. I a only now learning that being treated well is my fucking right. I have to learn to speak up. If I were spoiled I wouldn't have had to think about it. I'd just whine and get what I want. I wouldn't have to think about whether getting my fair share in the world is good or bad.

      Delete
    6. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 5:20 AM

      Sorry, you are right. You are always right, dammit.

      Delete
    7. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 5:23 AM

      Wait I want to retract my statement. But I am anonymous so I can't. I will have to tell you more and clarify, and bore you some more, if you don't mind too much. Do you?

      Delete
    8. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 5:25 AM

      I'm going to fucking vomit.

      Delete
    9. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 5:27 AM

      That's ok with me.

      Delete
    10. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 5:33 AM

      "It isn't only now I learn being treated well is my right....?" That is not true. That is me being delusional to myself and making myself look weak for others. I have always been strong. Always.

      Delete
    11. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 5:35 AM

      Now you go and think about that. You go and think about that and don't come back here till you can figure out why you would have the desire to make yourself "look weak" to others.

      Delete
    12. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 6:20 AM

      I must have had a nice little pay off to make myself look weak. It allowed people to come in and protect me. But I don't need protection, not anymore. I just need peace and quiet.

      Delete
  12. josé javierMay 14, 2012 at 8:51 AM

    Feeling guilty is neither more nor less than simplifying yourself and admitting your weakness in front of the group. You learn to do that, and you cannot learn it if it doesn't bring you any advantage. Beta dogs show submission to the alphas because that makes them escape unscathed or nearly, that makes them survive, if they didn't do it they would be killed or expelled.

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    1. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 9:17 AM

      Did anyone see the baboon who shared the lettuce? The animal was being threatened by another baboon who wanted his head of lettuce. He broke the lettuce in half and gave it half to the other in order to avoid confrontation, ie killed.

      Delete
    2. josé javierMay 14, 2012 at 9:24 AM

      It would be very wrong to imagine that empathy is an aptitude of supernatural origin. It appears in the course of evolution because it can bring benefits to the individual as well as to the group, (that is, again to the individual)

      Delete
  13. josé javierMay 14, 2012 at 8:55 AM

    responsibility and guilt are not necessarily connected. You may well remain totally irresponsible for the whole length of your life, being able to show an extremely deep feeling of guilt at the same time.

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    1. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 9:13 AM

      What of the reverse? May a person feel responsible their whole life without feeling guilt?

      Delete
    2. josé javierMay 14, 2012 at 9:20 AM

      I think you can feel responsible if you have a clear understanding of how things should be and have built up plans and strategies on how to attain those goals. You feel responsible for the success or the failure, first of all to yourself, then to the others.

      Delete
    3. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 9:49 AM

      thank you.

      Delete

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