The most factually correct way of viewing life, as I've come to see it, is as a particularly awful automated horror-ride. What makes it so bad is that it's not a standard horror-ride, in which you get spooked, but it's fun, because you can't get hurt and you know you don't have freedom to affect the outcome of anything anyway. In a standard horror-ride, it's all predestined and hokey and fun until it's done. Life is very much like that, except we don't know it. We don't know that we have no freedom, and we behave very much like we can get hurt, and there's a whole lot of freakin' ambiguity. That's why it stinks. The more I learn and think, the more I see a likely genetic determinism in political leanings. There's been recent science research that's found a gene which affects a dopamine receptor, which in turn affects whether one is likely to more liberal or conservative. I'm pretty sure there's research that backs up the idea that liberals are sad compared to conservatives. There's one piece in particular that explains that it has to do with how the different groups justify inequality. Liberals, by comparison, have a more external locus of control than conservatives. They feel weak, insecure, and upset, because they have no power. And they're correct. Conservatives, however, don't know that they have no power, and so they're a hell of a lot happier. They explain their wealth with 'hard work', 'resourcefulness' and other 'virtues'. Poor people have character flaws. If only you worked harder and put in more effort you'd have more money, and a better life. Ahhh, good old effort. What the hell is 'effort' anyway? I'll tell you what it is. Dopamine and norepinephrine. I live in a weird kind of place. I live in an extreme version of each world simultaneously. Most liberals will point to the 'man' for holding everyone down, and how there are few freedoms. I would agree but go further and say there is zero freedom, fundamentally. It's just the mechanics of the universe that we live in, and it wouldn't be the same kind of universe if 'freedom' existed. But simultaneously, I live in the world that conservatives live in. I very instinctively believe in taking responsibility, being self-sufficient, and being proactive in getting what I want, instead of complaining. That's what liberals do. I see this behavior all the time. There's one guy I know who is very liberal and has a master's degree in horticulture, and he was complaining to me about how he never made a lot of money, despite the fact that he only did what other people told him. Was a lot of money your intention? Does horticulture pay a lot? Are you supposed to get a degree, and then money automatically starts pouring in? Ever consider that the secret to success isn't doing everything that people tell you to do? How in the hell?... oh god. Every so often liberals come to me and complain because I made smart decisions and they made dumb ones. God damn nincompoops. Anyway, it sure is a funny and horrifying world we live in, isn't it?
Reminds me of a song I heard... You come to the end And the light there is dimmer And chances are slimmer Of findin' your way You find that you stay out Of trouble and danger 'Cause everything's stranger Than it used to be You're a scary old place out there world But I couldn't be happy without you And I swear all my thoughts are about you The most beautiful world in the world Well the light can be bright there And everything's right there The end of the night there might be a big band Or a heavenly chior--Or it might be the fire But no matter what happens I bet it's OK You're a scary old place out there world But I couldn't be happy without you And I swear all my thoughts are about you The most beautiful world in the world Your mountains when you're mad Your rivers when your sad And those deep blue seas I love you for your snow Your deserts down below I love the way you wear your trees The most beautiful world in the world And though there are times when I doubt you I just couldn't stay here without you So when you get older And over your shoulder You look back to see if it's real Tell her she's beautiful Roll the world over And give her a kiss and a feel So long, folks! Goodbye, Harry. See you next album, Richard. GOODBYE! Written by: Harry Nilsson
Those who aren't free are only wearing the shackles of fear within their own minds not releasing themselves to the thoughts and adventures within ones own thinking.
WTF has the OP got to do with philosophy? It appears to be some sort of self-congratulatory diatribe...
Huh? Philosophy is the title of this sub-forum. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Another self-referential comment? What's that got to do with anything? Are you an idiot? And still you haven't explained what the point of the OP is...
I think it is a pessimistic, 'we are doomed', stream of consciouness malaise of nothingness chat attempts. Makeshift. This is a philosophy forum. Not a place to vent your day's/life's woes? Your vent is just a glancing view of your philosophy, maybe better suited for psychology or biology if written out in a more meaningful way. What is it you are after from your OP? Are you asking for opinions about lack of freedom in a structured universe/world? I think you need to pare down your subject a little?
The thread doesn't appear to have anything to do with Philosophy. I think the OP is trying to link genetically influenced personality traits to political leanings. Unfortunately, it's kind of vague so it's rather hard to discuss (not to mention it's in the wrong sub-forum). If the thread creator did some research into the biological science of political leanings then there might be something much more substantial and interesting to discuss.
