Anyway, as I was saying before I was interrupted, for this person to suggest that any type of sex short of the methods above is less than adequate is arrogant and not so different than the ideological "truth" of fundamentalists.
Anyway, as I was saying before I was interrupted, for this person to suggest that any type of sex short of the methods above is less than adequate is arrogant and not so different than the ideological "truth" of fundamentalists.
By "adequate" I mean, as I said, a shared experience of reality on a completely different, and far superior level to the necessary and contingent commonly experienced time and space known as "the real world". I know of many ways, in sex and love, to experience intense physical, emotional and mental pleasure. I know of no other way to experience time and space dissolving, to blend utterly with another person, and to feel so much pleasure you literally feel like you are dying. Literally - not, I repeat, a metaphor for intense pleasure - literally dying into another dimension, another experience of self. If this all sounds familiar to you, I would expect friendly recognition - with some of your own observations perhaps. If it sounds foreign, I would expect either sincere enquiry or childish sarcasm.Anyway, as I was saying before I was interrupted, for this person to suggest that any type of sex short of the methods above is less than adequate is arrogant and not so different than the ideological "truth" of fundamentalists.
I lead a fairly pure life. Alcohol, television, chatter and other drugs tend to disturb my equilibrium.
I said "chatter" not "talking". Yes, chatter is a type of drug, it is used to excite and forget in the same way as alcohol. Yes, I can be described as strange - but having seen what passes for "normal" this is not a problem. Sorry to hear of your alcohol (drug) problem; although, no doubt like any other alcoholic you'll think of someone who's got it worse and reassure yourself that it's not so bad. In fact reality without any drug - including sex (not love-making), chatter (not talk), stimulation (not art), sentimentality (not affection) and hate (not indignation) - is paradise.
Stimulation, sentimentality and hate are selfish. Art, affection and indignation are selfless.
I don't buy into the whole "because I want something it makes me selfish" theory. Here is another example, the want for world hunger to end (altruistic desire). Because the desire is on such a large scale (and because of this, one was unable to do anything about it), does the "desire" of just wanting world hunger to end still make one selfish?
Last edited by Kiechi; 26-10-06 at 10:14 AM.
Yes, just know that any want of any kind, I can take to the extreme and turn it into selfishness. Only because I feel the starter of this thread is doing similarly. However, it's not the first time that I've thought about these things.
The way I see it, the end justifies the means in many cases. My want to do service, my act of doing service which is often considered selfless, I partially see as selfish because it's something I simply want to do. I gain satisfaction from it. Virtually any choice I make is in my mind however minute, a selfish act because I obviously chose that choice because I felt it best fit me and my wants/needs. Even if that results in me helping others.
When an individual avoids helping another because of fear of having harm caused to themselves, one might suggest they are selfish. They decide not to assist because to some extent, it's the choice most comforting to them.
When an individual puts themself in harms way to help another, one might suggest they are selfless. Which they are, but only because with the moral decision presented to them, the act of doing nothing would potentially cause them feelings of guilt and regret, so they chose to act.
See what I'm saying?
Don't get me wrong, I don't think like this on a normal basis. It's a very cynical point of view, and cyncism is something I should avoid if I want to do my job effectively.
Last edited by Junket; 26-10-06 at 10:28 AM.
I edited my post shortly after I posted it, which changes the nature of my question.
In this case I will have to say no, it's not selfish, nor would I say it's selfless either as you are not acting upon those thoughts or feelings in anyway, so outside of your head, they do not exist.
Now if you campaign or advocate the ideology or a means to end world hunger, I would say yes, it's selfish because you are acting to fulfill yourself.
I think being selfish has been needlessly villianized. Everyone has to be selfish to some extent or they will die.
Naturally, there are limits, though.
Relax... I'll need some information first. Just the basic facts - can you show me where it hurts?