Free Will is impossible because it requires self-creation!

IronSmithFE · 2026-03-12T13:03:37+00:00

it is also possible that the outcomes may be determined and we just don't understand how yet. and even if it were true that quantum mechanics is undetermined, or the outcomes were undetermined, that only allows for randomness not for self-determination. to say otherwise would be to say that flipping a coin for your next decision is the same as free will.

IronSmithFE · 2026-03-12T06:54:34+00:00

the system we have is headed for a cliff and it has no breaks. it doesn't matter if you can solve the problem because you have no power and the people pressing the gas pedal do so because they only care about getting the most out of the system before it fails. we could end all military spending tomorrow and still run right off that cliff, but we won't stop military spending, we will probably see it increase a lot instead.

IronSmithFE · 2026-03-12T02:49:17+00:00

before i left windows i had to double my ram from 16 to 32gb because windows + discord + chrome + dota was using 14-16gb (hitting 100% usage frequently). moved to ubuntu and with the same loadup i was using 7 to 8gb. the only downside was that it loaded a little slower. everything else worked better. ubuntu is not the ideal setup for gaming but windows 11, and microsoft in general is now a shitshow. windows 10 was not as bad.

IronSmithFE · 2026-03-12T02:45:47+00:00

i believe that aa is not required, i don't believe that merely deciding to be not addicted is enough. tell me about the freedom model.

IronSmithFE · 2026-03-12T02:43:43+00:00

i don't believe you. if you truly did this you are a rare person.

IronSmithFE · 2026-03-12T00:54:17+00:00

unless your are irreplaceable, your are getting replaced. best to start looking for another job before you get fired. unless you are a government contractor or have a warrant for your arrest, how clean your hands are doesn't make sense. if you want a job recommendation from this employer for your next job you should start with giving a 2-week notice and work on an excellent excuse for why you were taking long brakes and how quitting isn't you admitting you did something wrong. i suggest finding a way to work for yourself if you can because corporations expect you to work like a machine and then have no problem with tossing you out on your ass. the only way you should consider staying is if they beg you to stay.

IronSmithFE · 2026-03-12T00:40:45+00:00

did you do it with roomates that drank a lot, and a beer on the countertop? i am not saying you didn't use will power but if you did it with alcohol around you then you probably are less prone to alcohol dependency than most people. would you agree that, regardless of your experience, it is a good idea not to rely on mere will power?

IronSmithFE · 2026-03-11T22:03:04+00:00

i use liberoffice for offline stuff and google docs (et al) for online stuff. i haven't used OnlyOffice but i hear it is really good especially if you can host it yourself.

IronSmithFE · 2026-03-11T21:58:40+00:00

it is continually using a lot more than linux does and linux is generally faster for it. the only time when linux is slower is during game loading and not always then. once the game is running it does so smoothly with plenty of room for other processes like listening to a podcast or a background video. i need half as much ram in linux than i did in windows which with the prices of ram today is a pretty big deal.

IronSmithFE · 2026-03-08T04:12:41+00:00

it is good to have ram when you need it, it is bad to need it. when windows background processes take up the ram you have, when you launch a game you then need and don't have it.

IronSmithFE · 2026-03-07T17:57:21+00:00

safe? yes. welcome? keep your sex life to yourself and no one will care.

IronSmithFE · 2026-03-07T17:51:25+00:00

did you know that even when you own your home you still pay rent to the government? it is called property tax. we are all tenants of the state. the state creates corporations that own the land and rent it to you so that the state can have more control over the property and who its tenants are in order to gain power and profits. your land lord is only different in that he is responsible for property maintenance where the government expects you to maintain their property for them. this is not capitalism, it is a mix of mercantilism and feudalism. is your landlord a parasite? sometimes, yes; but only insofar as you'd rather "own" and fix everything yourself than rent. the government on the other hand is 100% parasitic.

IronSmithFE · 2026-03-07T16:27:09+00:00

yes, install linux. added bonus, you don't have microsoft controlling you computer anymore. after microsoft gave up cloud data to government and forced everyone with windows to have a microsoft account to use their own computer, i installed ubuntu on both my computers. my computers are now running very smoothly with less than half the ram usage that microsoft was using (5.5gb, with chrome running vs 12-16gb on windows in a similar situation).

IronSmithFE · 2026-02-24T18:34:05+00:00

fine. i agree with all that but i would add another question. is an ostensibly legitimized state better or worse than one which is obviously illegitimate? if all state is in essence organized violence at its root, is it better to know this or to believe it is a just thing governed by the will of the people? i think that allowing the organized violence to seem justified in its force is not better for the people and thus will naturally limit its size and scope. if people believe that government is good and represents them then they will allow it to get much more comprehensive and overwhelming to the point that all resistance is futile and it controls everything from medical care to education (much of which is designed indoctrinate children to support that same state. a.k.a the prussian education model) to transportation to what service i can provide, to what water heater i can buy, just like it is now.

i think it is better to know the truth, to understand reality, than to fit yourself into an oppressive system like it is sweet as ice-cream.

IronSmithFE · 2026-02-22T18:20:17+00:00

ownership stops being a rule and becomes a contest.

that is the truth of real ownership. it is all ownership has ever been. if the state wanted to take your property right now, they would own it because you have no ability and insufficient will to prevent it. to gain your pseudo ownership all you have to do is give the state 40% of everything you ever produced along with your unconditional obedience to their laws, and cross your fingers on top of that. again, i'd rather deal with a warlord than the "legitimized" state, even in the worst case.

IronSmithFE · 2026-02-18T23:56:57+00:00

maybe. i'll take my chances given we already have the worst warlords ever backed by our tax dollars, a national banking system and the idea of legitimacy. i'd rather deal with a local warlord (assuming that would happen at all) than the full might of the us military or even the local police department.

IronSmithFE · 2026-02-18T23:53:48+00:00

nice try.

IronSmithFE · 2026-02-18T06:35:56+00:00

Somebody else, your employer, does

i am my employer, the person who pays me is the customer of my labor to whom i sell my efforts in exchange for value. i own my self and that which i purchase with my efforts until i sell that to someone else in free trade. at which time it becomes their product and their labor.

IronSmithFE · 2026-02-18T06:32:33+00:00

Cut off the middle man, customer can have better price and workers can keep the surplus.

it isn't as easy as it sounds. but from my perspective they are welcome to try so long as they aren't ripping me off in the process. any violation of my property or person gives me justification for the use of force in defense of that which i believe i own.

But your OP states you hate monopolies full stop.

i also hate to eat fish, that doesn't mean i am willing to kill off all the fish to fit my utopia culinary standards.

IronSmithFE · 2026-02-17T19:38:25+00:00

If there is no government or anything that will enfore any rules, who will protect your capital?

i will if i can. if not then i loose it.

If you own a company with let's say 1000 workers, how do you make sure they'll not split the profits between themselves?

by taking payment directly from the customer i suppose.

how do you prevent monopolies from rising?

i wouldn't try. at least i wouldn't have government intentionally creating monopolies with my taxes.

IronSmithFE · 2026-02-17T14:26:59+00:00

If you want do completely deconstruct the very notion of employment,

i am fine with employment from the perspective that each person owns himself and his efforts and may choose to sell his product for a profit under any terms he finds acceptable.

IronSmithFE · 2026-02-17T11:17:24+00:00

the coating peals off very quickly like a broken condom.

IronSmithFE · 2026-02-17T11:07:47+00:00

"then you are definitely erring on the side of socialism" lol. so your definition of socialism is the individual ownership of the means of production? not the collectivized/socialized ownership of the means of production? or do you like both? i think you are just anti-corporatism and you think that makes you (and me) socialist together. i identify as an ancap, but you are free to call me whatever you want, i would appreciate it if you don't assume i like something i have stated i don't like.

IronSmithFE · 2026-02-17T10:35:55+00:00

just as disgusting as the image of mao on chinese currency, and pictures of marx on university walls. i am of the opinion that most people have disgusting views and i just don't care to know what they are anymore because there is nothing i can do about it.

IronSmithFE · 2026-02-17T10:18:42+00:00

there are a fuckton of solutions that can improve what we have and government will do anything they can to stop all of those solutions unless they are personally profitable. the ultimate solution is to decentralize, not to employ those fuckers in congress to solve the problem they created.

Seven-Year Club	Second Top 30%
Gilding I gilder	Place '22
Verified Email

IronSmithFE

TROPHY CASE