First, hope you had a Very nice birthday :) This makes you what? A Cancer? Ah well*balloons and ice cream and cake for everyone!* ;)
Now...
The idea that folks "can't make you feel something, can't make you choose something" is a lot of bull, even though I subscribed to that concept for a very long time. I promise you, that there is someone, somewhere in your life, that knows the exact button to push to make you feel an emotion they want you to feel. We are a race of manipulators, and you can be manipulated, no matter how much you may argue against it.
*This is a premise people fight vehemently against, but you're right. It's manipulation of the strongest type, communication.
See, I believe that as much as we needed the 60's and 70's to free us from some really retarded thinking (hmm.. I think we've taken a few steps backward), I believe that in the release of all that personal freedom, we forgot something. Freedom requires Responsibility. The "oh, I would never spank my child" mentality has opened a whole can of worms where a "talking to" is what a person expects when they screw up. Granted, that spanking thing can get out of hand. There are a lot of frustrated folks out there, that can't control themselves when dealing with less strong folks, and can actually do a lot of damage to a child. There are a lot of frustrated folks out there that can't control themselves when dealing with an adult, either. I tend to think this frustration comes from not realizing that every decision we make is our responsibility.
*Yeah, right. It gets 'out of hand' for the violent few that ruin it for the rest of society. I firmly believe in the right to spank my own child's butt if he/she deserves it. Especially when danger would threaten them a Lot more than a mere spanking!!! Like a three year old standing behind a trash truck and the truck beginning to back up. Almost hit the kid, and what did he get? "Nonono! Must'nt do that, big bad truck will run over you!" And a coddling for yelling at him. *pfft* Somethings definitely wrong with this picture. A good, old fashioned spanking never hurt *me*!
This concept that "nobody can make you do anything" comes directly from the 60's and 70's idea of personal freedom. See, in a truely free society, where we have the ability to make up our own minds in a world that has no external pressures which control those choices we can choose freely, given the information we have. Unfortunately, in today's world, that doesn't work.
* I grew up in the 60's and I think you misunderstand. The idea *was* personal responsibility and the *right* to do what you felt was correct, decent, and the right to express that. Just because a bunch of freakin' flower children and radicals (I fall into that middle somewhere) led everyone to believe that anarchy was the way to go, doesn't make that true for the rest of us. ;)
Lastly, thanks for all the memories! Levis weren't considered designer clothing though, where I was, they were cheap! Only five bucks a pair at the surplus store and brand new. I loved them and still do, but now have to wait to find them in thrift stores. How yuppy can a pair of stupid jeans become? ;p Did you forget to mention a visit to the outhouse??? *gah* I used to Hate those things *chuckle* And baths in the kitchen in a big tub, water heated on the stove......you brought me a lot with this post, thanks again. It's been wonderful to be reminded of some of the simpler things I miss (yes, even that snakey outhouse).
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Now...
The idea that folks "can't make you feel something, can't make you choose something" is a lot of bull, even though I subscribed to that concept for a very long time. I promise you, that there is someone, somewhere in your life, that knows the exact button to push to make you feel an emotion they want you to feel. We are a race of manipulators, and you can be manipulated, no matter how much you may argue against it.
*This is a premise people fight vehemently against, but you're right. It's manipulation of the strongest type, communication.
See, I believe that as much as we needed the 60's and 70's to free us from some really retarded thinking (hmm.. I think we've taken a few steps backward), I believe that in the release of all that personal freedom, we forgot something. Freedom requires Responsibility. The "oh, I would never spank my child" mentality has opened a whole can of worms where a "talking to" is what a person expects when they screw up. Granted, that spanking thing can get out of hand. There are a lot of frustrated folks out there, that can't control themselves when dealing with less strong folks, and can actually do a lot of damage to a child. There are a lot of frustrated folks out there that can't control themselves when dealing with an adult, either. I tend to think this frustration comes from not realizing that every decision we make is our responsibility.
*Yeah, right. It gets 'out of hand' for the violent few that ruin it for the rest of society.
I firmly believe in the right to spank my own child's butt if he/she deserves it. Especially when danger would threaten them a Lot more than a mere spanking!!! Like a three year old standing behind a trash truck and the truck beginning to back up. Almost hit the kid, and what did he get? "Nonono! Must'nt do that, big bad truck will run over you!" And a coddling for yelling at him. *pfft* Somethings definitely wrong with this picture. A good, old fashioned spanking never hurt *me*!
This concept that "nobody can make you do anything" comes directly from the 60's and 70's idea of personal freedom. See, in a truely free society, where we have the ability to make up our own minds in a world that has no external pressures which control those choices we can choose freely, given the information we have. Unfortunately, in today's world, that doesn't work.
* I grew up in the 60's and I think you misunderstand. The idea *was* personal responsibility and the *right* to do what you felt was correct, decent, and the right to express that. Just because a bunch of freakin' flower children and radicals (I fall into that middle somewhere) led everyone to believe that anarchy was the way to go, doesn't make that true for the rest of us. ;)
Lastly, thanks for all the memories! Levis weren't considered designer clothing though, where I was, they were cheap! Only five bucks a pair at the surplus store and brand new. I loved them and still do, but now have to wait to find them in thrift stores. How yuppy can a pair of stupid jeans become? ;p Did you forget to mention a visit to the outhouse??? *gah* I used to Hate those things *chuckle* And baths in the kitchen in a big tub, water heated on the stove......you brought me a lot with this post, thanks again. It's been wonderful to be reminded of some of the simpler things I miss (yes, even that snakey outhouse).