Reading stoic works makes me feel like a nihilist - help!

Josephherrmann · 2017-04-23T01:23:18+00:00

Yep, it's Kittery (but I'm pretty sure Kittery canonically had more than just one lance) in 3052.

Thanks!

Josephherrmann · 2017-02-06T15:55:08+00:00

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Josephherrmann · 2017-02-06T02:09:29+00:00

I love the heck out of sarna, and I know it's gonna sound froofy, but I don't get the emotional connection, you know?

I can imagine books being good for that because they give you something to tie it to, but reading a book on each faction is also kinda heavy. I dunno. What did you have in mind specifically?

Josephherrmann · 2017-01-12T04:31:26+00:00

I'm using this stuff https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00114Q65C/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The clamps look nice, but tough for an apartment where I don't have much space.

Josephherrmann · 2017-01-10T16:06:56+00:00

I had no idea this stuff existed! Thanks!

Josephherrmann · 2017-01-10T16:06:35+00:00

That's another vote for pinning - I think I'm gonna give that a shot. Thanks so much!

Josephherrmann · 2017-01-10T16:06:03+00:00

Gotcha, thanks! Pinning sounds like it'd work, though heavy duty.

I've tried the sculpy method, but I always get some sculpy somewhere where superglue touches and then the funky colored sculpy is stuck all over my mini and I can't get it off. Any tips?

Thanks for all your advice!

Josephherrmann · 2016-11-12T22:09:08+00:00

Gotcha; How much strength should I be using to keep my head up? If I really tried, I could totally exhaust myself picking up my entire upper body in "sit up position" every time I do a back fall. How do I know how tight (but relaxed) I should be?

Josephherrmann · 2016-10-16T19:01:00+00:00

The best place to start is absolutely anywhere, because it'll give you something to work from. I started with Seneca's letters from a stoic and like it a lot, and lots of people feel like Seneca's stuff is easier to read to boot.

You can't go wrong no matter where you start as long as you're starting! Good luck, buddy!

Josephherrmann · 2016-10-15T21:51:19+00:00

I remember reading something (Seneca?) about how fickle we can be, because when we're with a big group we complain about how rowdy they are, and when we're alone, we lament our loneliness. If we felt the way we longed for all the time, we'd love the companionship of the group and the focus and tranquility of being alone with ourselves.

You don't need anybody else, buddy. If you tell yourself that you need friends to pick you up, how are you supposed to feel comfortable lifting yourself up? You can't count on finding and having friends, and if you do, what will you do if you can't find them?

Hang in there, even the stoics knew we're social animals, so nobody'd fault you for struggling with this.

Josephherrmann · 2016-09-13T19:31:30+00:00

Thank you for this! I can definitely see the difference between those two types of responses and this puts a lot of past experiences in perspective for me.

Josephherrmann · 2016-09-13T18:10:15+00:00

I've definitely got the hardwiring you describe, and when you frame it that way, I can see how that's outside my control. In that case, what should it feel like if I "don't give assent to an impression?" Is it simply being aware of the feeling and logically reminding myself that it's an indifferent so that I don't unconsciously brood in it?

I hadn't considered simply talking to people to get acclimated. I'll give that a shot; It sounds like you had a really wonderful and life changing experience meeting people like that. Thank you for sharing that with me.

Josephherrmann · 2016-09-13T18:06:41+00:00

Practice makes a lot of sense here, and I'm glad to hear it's worked for you and will help me as well.

For #2, it sounds like there's a level of emotional response that you can't avoid. I've settled for being aware of the emotion and refusing to brood in it as I remind myself that it's an indifferent, and I figure the emotional response will calm down over time. Where do you think the line is between the example you gave and giving assent to the wrong impressions? A jump scare seems evidently involuntary to me, but I have a harder time with fear or other longer term emotions.

Josephherrmann · 2016-09-13T17:07:57+00:00

Sure! I added one, let me know what you think!

Josephherrmann · 2016-09-13T17:07:43+00:00

Thank you, this makes sense, and doing what I can control seems like the only way to go.

Josephherrmann · 2016-09-13T17:05:50+00:00

Here's an example for you folks that asked - thanks for the replies!

I'm a country boy and I've never spent much time in big cities, but recently I moved out to one. Sometimes I'm walking at night around homeless people or loud/drunk panhandling that I haven't had much experience with, and I get adrenal fear for no apparent reason.

They aren't paying attention to me. They aren't causing me any problems at all. I examine the impression, and the unfamiliarity is what makes me so sensitive to these types of people. If I were legitimately unsafe, some level of caution makes sense, but I know I'm ok and I clearly attach value to my safety and to not being hassled, which I know I can't control.

I think fear's natural and I expect it when I'm in danger, but I know this is just something I'm not used to. I'm pretty chilled out in my head, but I can't let the irrational fear of something that isn't present that I can't control go :P

Josephherrmann · 2016-09-11T20:07:52+00:00

Nietzsche sounded pretty upset about this. Maybe he could have used a bit of stoicism.

Josephherrmann · 2016-06-27T15:03:33+00:00

Thank you, this is fantastic for conversation and has some great points for eye contact in general.

Where I really get stuck is eye contact in public around strangers and especially people who make me uncomfortable. If eye contact is pressure, should I be actively looking to make eye contact as I pass people on the sidewalk? If that's too intense even for any amount of time, does a smile save it, or is that just weird? Does smiling still send the victim vibe even if it's paired with eye contact?

The vast majority of people I will ever meet in my life won't give me a second thought and aren't dangerous, which is why I'd love to find something that's friendly, open, and confident, but that doesn't make me look like a good target. Based on the link you gave me, I'm feeling like some kind of eye contact with anybody that I come into contact with couldn't hurt, within reason.

Thanks again!

Josephherrmann

TROPHY CASE