Time flies like an arrow, Fruit flies like a banana

Oct 16, 2007 16:04

Wow, According to LJ, it's been 20 weeks since I last posted ( Read more... )

Leave a comment

dasphios October 17 2007, 21:30:50 UTC
Okay.
-Life is not fair.
Would you want it to be? To borrow from Babylon 5, would you want to live in a world where every bad thing that happened to you happened to you because you deserved it? Would you really want a world where nothing but hard work and honest effort brought good results? No. You wouldn't. But I would, which brings us to-
-Life is not fair.
Yes, and with that attitude, it never will be. Inevitability is the last resort of a weak mind. It hasn't the strength to go on, so it simply decides that its goal is unattainable. Pure sour grapes.
-No on is exempt from death.
Again, would you want to be? If death were optional, only the brave and the wise would do it, and the world will be filled with the foolish and cowardly.
Besides, you don't know that everyone eventually dies. You're just saying that because everyone has ( ... )

Reply

virtual256 October 18 2007, 07:34:12 UTC
I agree with you an all counts except for the last point.

I feel that it is possible to change ones own character with enough drive and conviction. Most people don't reach the point where they decide that they need to change their character.

I have friends who have changed their characters successfully, and other friends who believe it to be impossible. They're both correct, for themselves.

Reply

dasphios November 7 2007, 20:09:24 UTC
Perhaps I should amend that. It's certainly possible to change actions; what one does is something you have almost total control over. But what you do and what you are are two different things.

Reply

virtual256 November 7 2007, 21:34:16 UTC
It's been said that life is 10% what comes to you and 90% what you do with it. This fits with your theory that one can change actions.

What forms "What you are"? Nature? Fate? Where you grew up? Parenting style?

If what you are was formed over the course of your life, it can logically be changed by intent and will. If it wasn't formed that way, how was it formed?

Reply

dasphios November 7 2007, 21:51:17 UTC
That's still relying on the assumption that what you are is defined by what you do. Actions only demonstrate one's character when one has complete control over all circumstances affecting them, which would require deity-level power. In the case of humans, the only true measure of character is intention; not what you do but why you do it. What forms what you are is what you decide to be.

Reply

virtual256 November 8 2007, 02:56:43 UTC
Re-reading your points, It seems we're saying the same thing:
Only by changing how and why we act can we change who we are.

I intend to communicate clearly. I intend to see other peoples viewpoints and reach a common ground. I appear to be able to communicate my ideas, after a fashion. I appear to be able to spark intelligent discourse.

We are each defined by what we do and why we do it. Other people don't know why we do the things we do, just that we do certain actions. I can change why I do an action while still doing the same action from an outside observer.

If I change why I live my life, and my actions reflect this, then I have changed my charactor.

Reply

raingirllori November 13 2007, 15:57:04 UTC
Or is that movement to change part of your character inherently already?

If I am a bossy person, but know it, and make it a priority to stop being bossy... years later I've been successfully non-bossy, but which is more true to my character?

The fact that I am bossy inside but control it, or that I am a person given to self-improvement? Is the latter a part of my character, my inner grit, and the former just an aspect of my personality?

Reply


Leave a comment

Up