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[Akashic_Librarian]

I havn't posted a thread in a while so I thought I might jump back on the band wagon.

I want to just discuss a few things here today, I hope you all bare with me, I know I can be a bit...odd...but hey...thats why you love me right?

....right?!

First off the age old problem of Good and Bad. What is good and what is bad. Now I am personally inclined to start saying one thing, then stop, scratch my head, and realise that my philosophy on good and bad isn't so clear cut.

I mean...its complicated people. Do you do what makes you happy, do you do what makes other people happy, how far do you go before it just becomes utilitarianism, or selfishness, or greed or communism!

What do you do?! Is it right to kill someone if that person is going to kill you? Is going to kill more people? Would I have been in the wrong for killing Hitler?

Also when making a decision, should I consider myself as being the prime benefactor? When making a choice, should I consider other people and should what other people think affect my decisions?

Am I my own person or is every person a slave to other people?

Also is to much of a romanticism to believe in Truth as the ultimate "Thing". Can a lie be just as good as the truth? Do all people HAVE to be treated equal?

and I suppose the biggest question....DOES IT EVEN MATTER. Who is going to judge me, the big guy at the pearly gates? Buddha? A fairy?

OK the next topic.

The power of myth. I guess this kinda links in with the above topic, but here goes. Do you think bearing your soul to the world in unadulterated altruism can really make a difference, or would it be more effective to influence peoples way of thinking about you, if you make yourself seem like a God, then maybe people will be more inclined to do what you say....

just a thought....

and my final...FINAL thought (I promise) is this:

When I say "No" to my parents, or my friends, or my teachers...is it normal that I feel like I am being a complete **** for saying No, I know I shouldn't agree to everything, but it feels like I am severly dissapointing them when I say no, and I think they respect me less for it...

Comments would be nice

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Hey, AL, sorry to be a downer because I don't have much of anything profound to say to add to your discussion. Just wanted to stop by and show that I care. Hope you're doing well!

Oh, don't worry about people getting bent when you say "no." I think that's more about them than you.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Akashic_Librarian

When I say "No" to my parents, or my friends, or my teachers...is it normal that I feel like I am being a complete **** for saying No, I know I shouldn't agree to everything, but it feels like I am severly dissapointing them when I say no, and I think they respect me less for it...

Comments would be nice

No, it's not normal. It's a trained response from the way they raised you. You need to train yourself out of it.

[cdn2wheeler]

Originally Posted by seeker5

No, it's not normal. It's a trained response from the way they raised you. You need to train yourself out of it.

Barking frulliant. Wish I'd said it.

A_L, have you read When I Say No, I Feel Guilty? Find a copy at your local library. There is much wisdom in there.

[Mark Lapierre]

Originally Posted by Akashic_Librarian

What do you do?!

In short, you do what you think is best, continue to refine what "best" is for you, and accept the consequences when your beliefs differ from others', or attempt to avoid them.

Is it right to kill someone in defense of your own life? That depends. Can you live with the consequences? You certainly can't live with the consequences of inaction in that case, and their option to live with the consequences of their action is removed.

I think the question of morality is one which will never have an answer which satisfies everyone. The diversity of our beliefs ensures that somewhere is someone who feels that at least one of your beliefs impinges on theirs. As we grow most of us learn to accept the beliefs of others, or at least their right to hold beliefs different to our own.