Oops! The URL above should have been: http://internet.ggu.edu/~aazevedo/beingwired

don't understand enough to response propery

Americ asked; Is it possible to become a "cyberwizard" living a fully meaningful life? I think there is a broader underlying question here. "Is it possible for anyone to live a solitary life/vocation. 'Fully meaningful' is often ascertained by wacko philosophers like ourselves that are so broad in their view of life that it is difficult for them to justify a narrower point of view. I say," Let the cyberwizards determine what is and isn't meaningful in their own respective life styles." Diversity is the spice of life.

I do believe that these new mediums of communication between us are opening up new channels of humanness for us. Look at us! Here, together. Are we not connecting our souls in a new way?

I think everyone's souls have always been fully connected. This is the fun game of our egos perceiving that connection, as we let go of old ideas and embrace new ones. And of course, when we won't let go... ouch oowie blank blank!!!

I believe that each person's soul is merely what they make of it, whether that be a spiritual entity, or only your personality as you see it...

I find it difficult to logically percieve that a person actually has a "fate" or perhaps a destiny, but every event in a person's life merely depends on the choices that that person decides to make.

So, outside influences mean nothing because at some point we chose an action that put us in the place where that particular outside pressure affects us? If this is the case, doesn't each of our actions predetermine the next situation?

Yes.

Life is like a box a chocolates, you'll never know what ya get next... ---Forest Gump

I sometimes say, "Life is like the game of backgrammon." You throw the dice. Sometimes the numbers look good, but you can't use them. Sometimes the numbers look bad, but you just make the best of it. You can't control what comes up with each throw of the dice, but you can make the best of the situation to move you toward your goal. Ah....but in backgrammon the goal is clear -- not always so with life.

Cassie said; I believe that each person's soul is merely what they make of it, whether that be a spiritual entity, or only your personality as you see it... That's the nice thing about our realities, each and everyone of us gets to have it anyway they want it. Thank you Cassie

"I have wrestled with reality for 35 years...and I'm happy to say I've finally won out over it." (Elwood P. Dowd)

"I have wrestled with reality for 35 years...and I'm happy to say I've finally won out over it." I'm all ears! Did you commit suicide, or switch to a reality that doesn't look like one.

This is going to be good.

it is good to feel some human among the wired

"Reality" is pondered to death, and sometimes the pontifications seem just a bit manipulative, like maybe a BS attempt to impose a certain "reality" on others; and sometimes seem a little obvious... (not sure, but maybe that's what Elwood was trying to say)...

reality is only right here, right now. Not over there, yesterday or what could concievably happen... and, as I'm sure you know, no one can ever be in your place at your time -- everyone has there own reality.

and then there was Ross Perot...

LOL!!!

I disagree, stacey, without the past there is nothing to measure the present against, but it would sure be easier if the past went away when it was over. (Or maybe I haven't found the right drugs yet...)

ain't no right drug for that...(except for maybe the one Roxy Music proscribed)

kinda had that figured out...

you gotta believe in it, wer...

Believe in what, and why? Isn't bellief, like hope, just a foundation for despair?

yeah, could be... believe in dualism, though (don't you?)... other side of despair is joy (and l'amour)... can't have (and certainly cannot value) one without the other... cold comfort, yeah... but if you don't believe in a thing, I don't know that you can achieve it...

Yes on the dualism, although that makes most people forget the middle... And believing in it has never been a guarantee... And I've never been confused with being an achiever (let alone an over-achiever) ; )

nope, there aren't any guarantees... the middle is cool, with some people... and dealing with extremes can be scary as hell... just seems a waste not to be open to possibility... regarding love...achieving is sufficiency (over- not possible, I think)... and just because you haven't achieved it in the manner you believe you should doesn't mean you won't... most people feel like that, probably, one way or another...

but why try? why can't some people accept where they are? why want more? especially when the more considers you the less...

because your asking, wer... you obviously feel that desire, or you'd just accept less... man, I'm sorry... I take it you're referring to a particular female-type person? (not women in general)

yes, and yes (the ones I've known) hope someone here never logs in...

most women aren't like that...you've just gotta believe that... and time is the only thing that can relieve that kind of pain... and until you find the thing you need (and deserve), you just take solace from faith (illogical as it sounds, but love is the most illogical thing going), and from beauty, wherever you can find it (and it's everywhere, even in what you're feeling now)... (Yeats) "I know what wages beauty gives how hard a life her servant lives, yet I praise the winters gone. There's not a fool can call me friend- and I may dine at journey's end with Landor, and with Donne..." really believe in the verity of this...

Aren't like what? No one says their points weren't valid, and if my feelings are "real" then accepting their point of view is the correct thing to do. This is where the selfishness topic sprang from. When do you push you're points, your feelings with the other person? Why is one person always unable to compromise? And if the feelings aren't "real" why keep wasting the energy because I sure as hell don't know how to tell the difference...

goodnight, nick, my little girl is sleepy now.

it depends on what your goals are... manipulating women is actually pretty easy (know I'll get hammered for that, but it's true)... it's a lot easier, cleaner to operate than be operated on... but you also can't gain much valuable from living like that... laying out genuine feeling for someone is frightening, and makes them vulnerable to be trod upon, but it also opens you up to the possibility of something greater... And it's not selfish to expect to be loved in return in the manner in which you love...it's just human... certainly shouldn't take the attitude that "they didn't love me, and they were right." sort of licks you before you even start... shouldn't be afraid to "push your points", or make your feelings known, either...if you don't, who will? If they don't respond the way you would like, you have to be secure in your knowledge of who you are, and move on... and when it happens, as it should, you'll know the difference...

I wasn't saying they didn't love me, I said some of their points were valid. And why should there always be one who manipulates? That's back to my point on compromise. Shouldn't that be possible?

there shouldn't- isn't- always someone who manipulates, at least not in the sense i believe you mean... if there is, the relationship is probably doomed, i'm sure you'll agree... compromise shouldn't just be possible, it should be integral, if you're gonna have a chance... as far as their points "being valid"- if you gave it your best intentioned, best shot, what do you have to feel bad about? sounds as if it may reside within the realm of "their problem", not your's...

There are some problems you cannot fix. WER, not to interrupt nick and your intimate (for lack of a better word) conversation, but you cannot change nor understand anyone else. You can attempt a view from their perspective or attempt to share yours. Ultimately you can only really affect yourself, others have to want to be affected (positively and negatively). I wish you weren't in turmoil.

Turmoil would be nice, I could use a slower internal pace...

Then stop dosing yourself!

If it were only that simple... It takes a long time to rewire my head, unfortunately.

Try override!

Show me how, teach...

Ah... now we might have a problem. I am Queen of Denial when it comes to an impass. I tend to ignore the hardcore feelings and "get on with my life." Not always the best way but after a bit o distance, I can come full circle and "deal."

"...and the beat goes.... on... ...pounding... rythum to the... brain........" and we go on, for the "beauty" of human life is that even in the suffering there is some kind of overcoming

yeah, I believe that is so... (and have to admit, sonny and cher are appropriate models re: suffering)

suffering? cher is all plastic, can't feel anything anymore........

sheesh... referring to the suffering she has bestowed upon us, the record buying public... (not to mention her contribution to the proliferation of sundry social diseases)

gross!

*yawn* later, sweetie ;)

sorry 'bout that... (lost in cyber-space again)

An annoucement: I am currently building a special area on the web called "BeingWired, BeingHuman". It has a front door and a conference system call WELL Engaged, which is the same the The WELL currently uses. You are all invited to go visit there and remark on the topics being developed. It needs folks to see the area. So please go visit and create accounts for yourself at: http://www.goldwarp.com/beingwired Thanks.

Registered as wer, will go back later and look around.

I look forward to seeing you there. It will develop slowly. Just posted a new subject today. Going to attempt my first interview of someone there. Perhaps, I will get Terry to be interviewed there.

Americ, it won't let me log in. I will try on a different computer, and report back here. See ya...

Oh...you mean you can't log into the links provided for you at www.goldwarp.com/beingwired ? Remember that the userid is case sensative in that system. Give yourself a new userid if you have too.

I am going to change the subject. I got a thought about this topic. Being wired being human makes me think about instead being weird being human. Life is big. We humans are weird by nature. We are different and unique which makes us weird.Hmmmmmmmmmm..........Huuhhhhhh....

emphatically agree (though some of us are weirder than others)...

Did someone call?

That is funny and quite true. But who is to judge who is weirder than the next?

mr. blackwell?

LOL!!!!!!!

well I KNOW I'm weird and find it a plus to be unique! (psst, who's mr. blackwell?) surely not the guy I work with......

You know, that idiot nobody ever heard of who publishes a "worst-dressed" list every year in Hollywood. Like he'd win any fashion awards!

LOL--what is it with those people anyway, they're making boocoo bucks and can't dress themselves to save their lives!!

Yeshe, again we are caught by the question, "in who's eyes?" Who determines weird? Or truth? Or human? Is it possible we will only be brought back to the idea that everything is only relative to our personal reality? i hope so.

what else can it derive from? it is all we possess (for good or ill)... "...out of a misty dream our path emerges for awhile, then closes, within a dream..."

uh, that was ernest dowson, by the way...

I believe the people who judge and look down upon a person are only fighting their own demons within. A person who is at peace with their soul does not judge a person on their apperance but rather sees the unique existence of that human being.

well said.....people who put others down are trying to bring themselves up, only they don't realize how low it makes them.

Correct!!!!

QUITE. I must say I like being human, and all the vulnerability that goes with it. I have been really hurt a few times in my life, not THAT often, but a few times. And though I did not think of it then as I do now that I've got the distance of years and space between myself and the experiences, I can almost appreciate it. I'm the sort of person who spoils very easily, and I am naturally quite self-destructive. (I used to jump from the roof of my parents' house every morning, 'cos I didn't like school, and wanted to break a leg to miss out for a day or two. But NEVER, not once did it work!) Anyway, if only nice things were to happen to me all the time, I KNOW I'd forget to remain grateful for them. The virtue of adversity is fortitude, and that of prosperity is temperance - which makes that of adversity the more heroic in the moral sense. Is it nog better to behold a lightsome picture painted upon a solemn ground than to behold a solemn picture painted on a lightsome ground?

I think neither is 'better' than the other, all a matter of point of view/mood/ desire and of course, the freedom of choice.

I suppose. Yes, probably.

I have a site called "BeingWired,BeingHuman" at http://www.goldwarp.com/beingwired the main icon takes you to a conference space with some discussion going on. I also put in a link to The Spring at the front door of the home page. That way, I can remind myself to come back here!

I realize that the answer is probably Harold and Ralph, but I heard a lecture on Hans Gadamer last week and I cannot find the old Nazi written up in "for Beginners" "For Idiots" or "For Complete Dummies." But I got the impression that he is saying that most of what we are is a little story we tell ourselves about what Ralph and Harold did to us as a child, and a good deal of what happens to us is also the name game. Thus bring back Plato and texts because they are good for jabbing purposes, sort of irri ants that poke at us and keep us from getting pompous. The game plays the players. Oh, eruditeAustinite, please clap your hands and make Tink live! I really like reading all these books and getting pompous. It shuts people in Waco up immediately when they ask what I want with my beer and I say "hermeneutics." Truth and Method, anybody?

Oops! Need rewiring even before Y2K it seems. I meant to post this on What is Truth Topic 5. Shucks, well let's just say I intended it simulcratic or something. Sorry.

I read it and then read it with the post before it and had no idea what you wanted, but am standing by for anything I can help with - including further confusion on your part and mine *smile*