Here's something I wrote for myself when reflecting upon my life and what I've learned from my regrets. It's essentially just introspective practice for strengthening my beliefs, but I thought it might make good discussion material. It's really basic stuff, but a lot of people don't really have that basis unfortunately, so it's worth a post.
People who larp about violence in imaginary situations over the internet are often one of two extremes. One side is overly jumpy and hateful, and will often fantasize about itching their trigger finger until an opportunity comes for them to go too far. The other side will larp from a place of fear and arrogance until they really are in one of those situations, at which point they'll understand the reality of the shit they've been talking and hesitate. Fear is of course a root from which hate and adrenaline is naturally formed, so it's no surprise that these extremes overlap. It's all emotional stupidity, and it unfortunately fuels a lot of political and philosophical beliefs. So is the nature of emotional hijacking of reason.
Such beliefs, of course, are a part of the cycle that brings these 'situations' into reality to begin with. Many people reject the idea of turning the other cheek, or "an eye for an eye makes the whole world go blind" because they believe that if good people reject violence absolutely, then evil will dominate the material world, and I'd say they have a point. Principles are only valuable when they translate properly into reality. We cannot believe in fantasies. And so it is my belief that we must have gravity - not necessarily, but perhaps including violence - to respond to the force of threats. A simple term for this is obviously self-defense, but even so, it doesn't clearly define what exactly I'm talking about. There is a place for violence, and it's not always only at the point of a knife diving towards you. Sometimes, we must act beyond our immediate means to take care of a problem if we know for certain that a risk is too obvious to be worth the waiting.
But these conclusions cannot be made with the mindset of people who do not know what the genuine nature of violence is, whether it be through a lack of empathy or plain ignorance. We must be cold and measured to commit such acts, and we must observe the sacred depth of the wounds we might create within others and within ourselves. There is a cost and a risk, and it must be understood or we will end up with people who have either lost themselves or a part of themselves. There is a certain responsibility that must be accepted, and in order to fully grasp that responsibility, we must overcome violent urges, fear, and hate. We must mature.
If you hurt someone, you must do it from a place of love for what you are protecting. If you kill someone, you must do it from a response of cold gravity. If you want peace, you must be firm in your convictions and recognize that the only good thing about violence is in a purpose that leads to peace.
Only balance is acceptable when it comes to handling extreme measures.
People who larp about violence in imaginary situations over the internet are often one of two extremes. One side is overly jumpy and hateful, and will often fantasize about itching their trigger finger until an opportunity comes for them to go too far. The other side will larp from a place of fear and arrogance until they really are in one of those situations, at which point they'll understand the reality of the shit they've been talking and hesitate. Fear is of course a root from which hate and adrenaline is naturally formed, so it's no surprise that these extremes overlap. It's all emotional stupidity, and it unfortunately fuels a lot of political and philosophical beliefs. So is the nature of emotional hijacking of reason.
Such beliefs, of course, are a part of the cycle that brings these 'situations' into reality to begin with. Many people reject the idea of turning the other cheek, or "an eye for an eye makes the whole world go blind" because they believe that if good people reject violence absolutely, then evil will dominate the material world, and I'd say they have a point. Principles are only valuable when they translate properly into reality. We cannot believe in fantasies. And so it is my belief that we must have gravity - not necessarily, but perhaps including violence - to respond to the force of threats. A simple term for this is obviously self-defense, but even so, it doesn't clearly define what exactly I'm talking about. There is a place for violence, and it's not always only at the point of a knife diving towards you. Sometimes, we must act beyond our immediate means to take care of a problem if we know for certain that a risk is too obvious to be worth the waiting.
But these conclusions cannot be made with the mindset of people who do not know what the genuine nature of violence is, whether it be through a lack of empathy or plain ignorance. We must be cold and measured to commit such acts, and we must observe the sacred depth of the wounds we might create within others and within ourselves. There is a cost and a risk, and it must be understood or we will end up with people who have either lost themselves or a part of themselves. There is a certain responsibility that must be accepted, and in order to fully grasp that responsibility, we must overcome violent urges, fear, and hate. We must mature.
If you hurt someone, you must do it from a place of love for what you are protecting. If you kill someone, you must do it from a response of cold gravity. If you want peace, you must be firm in your convictions and recognize that the only good thing about violence is in a purpose that leads to peace.
Only balance is acceptable when it comes to handling extreme measures.
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