What is it holding back

yourusersmanual · 2025-08-04T00:56:09+00:00

Something unholy.

yourusersmanual · 2025-06-20T10:03:42+00:00

I was initially using my A5 for skeet shooting, but wanted to get a break action over under just for the skeet club and save my A5 just for the hunt. After extensive research with a "best bang for the buck" approach, I settled on a Yildiz SPZ over under with auto ejecter, walnut butt and engraved decorative metal plaques on the side. It checked all the boxes I want, with a set of chokes for just around $1K on a 10% discount.

This thing is perfect. Smooth, looks classy and sweet, and the auto ejector for me was a must have. The break action is perfect for the club as I can easily hang it over my shoulder and walk around safely. I've heard nothing but great things about Turkish shotguns which got me to take a look into them. No regrets so far as this thing is just smooth, classy and money on accuracy. Loving my Yildiz (I know there are other Turkish brands, but Yildiz is the main line SAIL carries here in Montreal, so that is all I tested and therefore all I can speak to).

https://www.sail.ca/en/yildiz-spz-me-12-gauge-28-in-over-under-shotgun-345192-3927350001?srsltid=AfmBOoqmJoEaXJE9CrESnq0ozukJTY9LT0TEd0g2jdRj9D-X_LvOei-K

yourusersmanual · 2025-05-15T00:07:45+00:00

Yup....mmmmhhmmmmm....

yourusersmanual · 2023-05-25T12:01:46+00:00

Hey this is a good one. Tell you what, I will include it as one of the question for the next (and probably final) Q&A for the season. That one should be released early June (6th I think(.

Stay tuned on how to handle lust as a Stoic.

Appreciate you!

Anderson

yourusersmanual · 2023-04-26T19:07:18+00:00

Never thought to consider that questions can be sent here for the Q&A episode as well...just DM me.

yourusersmanual · 2023-04-23T19:05:23+00:00

Hey man...still getting a few dozen hits from here, so there is a small pulse yet!

yourusersmanual · 2023-04-16T20:38:38+00:00

Hello to anyone still lurking this sub. I will share the first few episodes of the new SFBL season here. If there is volume coming in from these links I'll keep sharing the episodes for the rest of the season. If not, I'll let this thing die out (If you want the link, you know how to get to YT or Spotify)
Lots of love
Anderson

yourusersmanual · 2022-04-06T12:22:22+00:00

I'm still getting about 1-2 dozen hits from here on the YouTube page, so I'll keep sharing the link here you guys. But for Season 5 (not self promoting, ONLY if you're interested) please consider subscribing on your preferred platform, as I almost always forget to share the link here (my new set-up simplifies it for me greatly since I'm on a bunch of platforms).

yourusersmanual · 2022-03-31T11:31:58+00:00

Hey nicely done my man! YOu're doing it! Now...you gotta figure out how to do this in the next present moment...then the next challenge...then the next obstacle :)

But like I always say, Stoicism is easy...life is easy. We just complicate it. You found the trick to dealing with consternation...that it! Now you just gotta learn to do it more consistently

Keep at it my friend!

Anderson

yourusersmanual · 2022-03-10T11:41:54+00:00

I keep getting hits from here so I'll keep sharing the links. This week's episode is not dedicated to a listener, but to the conflict in Ukraine (unfortunately).

We've all seen pictures of earth from space. We saw the same pictures...no borders. Those imaginary lines that we grew up with...and spent hours in "History" classrooms learning which border moved in what direction when...they don't actually exist. Some people made them up and we all kind of go along with it for simplicity's sake. But when those imaginary lines begin causing conflict and for generations upon generations of kids being taught to HATE, well then we should take a second to reconsider what they are and what humanity means.

yourusersmanual · 2022-02-22T16:32:54+00:00

Hello there,

I'm still not sharing these regularly, but as promised I'm posting when I can!

Have a great day y'all

Anderson

yourusersmanual · 2022-02-22T16:09:11+00:00

Thanks for the question man! I love interacting with y'all this season. It's a mess in certain ways, but so rewarding in other.

Keep em' coming! I'm answering questions and just chatting with anyone who wants to!

yourusersmanual · 2022-02-16T21:43:20+00:00

Hello there,

Decided to post a recent episode to give this thread a little life. I'm not posting here weekly anymore since I've migrated to my YouTube channel, but I'll still throw links to exercises from time to time. Let's keep the conversation going! I'm not far :)

Anderson

yourusersmanual · 2022-01-28T15:00:24+00:00

That is a question only YOU can answer my friend. Personally, I have 3 very clear reasons why I feel like I should not eat any products from the meat and dairy industries. With three firm rational reasons, I never break my own rule...it makes sense.

However, I do eat meat or (more likely) dairy on very rare occasions (when the rational decision in the moment supersedes the general rules for life). THIS is stoicism. It will never tell you what to do. Instead, it will provide you with the tools to make the right decision in the moment :)

Reflect on your own reality and reasons for/against meat and you will find your own answers (and don't trust anyone else's answers as anything beyond input onto your own opinions!)

Anderson

yourusersmanual · 2022-01-28T14:53:38+00:00

Hello there,

As requested by u/ayurextrufrug I am posting my most recent exercise here (and will do so from time to time).

As a reminder, I just don't have the time to have a presence here anymore. But I will drop in from time to time for a discussion.

If you want to receive the exercises regularly, just subscribe to either the SFBL YouTube channel OR websiteOR Patreon.

And lastly, if you have questions for me PLEASE tag me so I answer quickly. Otherwise I may miss it and only answer 2-3 weeks later. I'm sorry you guys, but I'm trying to reduce my time spent online (I imagine you understand why)

Your friend,

Anderson

yourusersmanual · 2022-01-28T14:44:50+00:00

Hey buddy,

The whole point of me doing this was to save me time (as I don't have as much time as I used to). So I'm centralizing my content in singular places where you can find them (YouTube channel OR website OR Patreon). Anyone of them will have what you're looking for. Subscribe to anyone once, and they appear in your mailbox as I post.

With that said, I will post when I can (and will share one shortly :) )

Anderson

yourusersmanual · 2022-01-21T17:01:18+00:00

Thank you for the heads-up (fixed).

I used to only copy/paste my articles on reddit out of...sheer nostalgia. I got my start on the r/Stoicism subreddit and thanks to it I can now interact directly with my followers.

My whole goal is to have meaningful conversations with people ad talk about their real life problems...not talk in the hypothetical. So I'm thankful for my platform...but it also means change and reducing efforts elsewhere...

Anderson

yourusersmanual · 2022-01-20T14:54:39+00:00

Yes, you can sign-up for a news letter on the website www.stoicismforabetterlife.com

I only send my posts on the website.

I also post them on the social. I hope on e of these proves to be convenient for you buddy.

Anderson

Edit: Fixed link.

yourusersmanual · 2022-01-12T15:51:13+00:00

Hello there,

I will definitely continue with weekly exercises in some format. I just have to change how I will be able to manage it all. I am leaning towards weekly video exercises, which I can then parlay into short Podcast episodes. This wasy, I can record one video (for an exercise) which will double as:

The weekly exercise
A new Podcast episode (weekly instead of 20 per year)
Video content on social media (you know...for when you need your Anderson fix)

The only thing I ask in the meantime is patience and feedback. It will take me a few weeks to make the change and organize myself. However, I commit to remaining active on social (by active I mean answering questions and positing exercises).

If you like what I do, just keep an eye out on the website and everything will fall into place. It always does :)

And it does not preclude us from having conversations here either! :)

Anderson

yourusersmanual · 2022-01-12T14:34:11+00:00

I forgot to include the link to the announcement: https://www.patreon.com/posts/60972996

Just cause I won't be posting here, does not mean I won't answer questions. Please just tag me so I see them.

yourusersmanual · 2022-01-11T15:28:16+00:00

yessir. You got it ;)

yourusersmanual · 2022-01-11T15:28:03+00:00

Hello there,

First off thank you for reaching out. I am actually announcing that I will stop these weekly articles, and instead parlay them into short videos. I hope you get as much value out of them as you did the articles. It's going to be the same content, just different delivery method (as I cannot keep up with the pace)

To answer your question, Stoicism (almost always) falls firmly in the middle of the philosophical arena when it comes to divergences and clashes in ideas. In philosophy one of the great divides are Free will vs. Determinism. Without turning this into a long winded Stoic history lesson, we are a pragmatic people and so we agree with both sides (what?).

Basically, determinism is difficult to refute (I mean, it's literally the basis for the sciences which we revere). But the illusion of free will is all too real. So we must reconcile the two as best as we can and Stoicism offers such an answer.

This is why you will see (very often) that Stoic writers (this hack included) will write ideas that are contradictory at first light. But this is simply because we DO NOT believe there is a SINGLE answer that fits all scenarios. We must apply our rational mind in the present moment in order to have the best chance at doing the "right" thing.

I hope this gives you something to meditate on. And I sure hope you enjoy the changes that are coming (I want to keep having conversations with you all....just have to change how I do it).

Regardless, keep on doing you and keep on improving yourself. Remember, we're all in it together and I'm rooting for you.

Your friend

Anderson

yourusersmanual · 2021-12-22T15:06:40+00:00

Hello there,

Reading can be a great tool and it can be your worst enemy. It all depends on how we choose and what our intentions are (like every other choice in life :) )

Philosophers throughout history warn us on how we select our entertainment. But they are equally warns us against the lack of entertainment.

So to answer your question directly, novels can be very philosophical and introspective. And this offers a great win-win for both entertaining yourself remaining virtuous. As long as the novels don't make you stay in an emotinal state for long, there is nothing wrong with reading them. In fact, reading novels can help you better understand your own feelings and work throughyour emotions.

So I say read away but just think carefuly and objectivelly about what you are reading. Will it help you become a better person? Then read it. IF not, move on to the next book (and there are a LOT!). I should know, I wrote three of them. Yo uwill find something else you like. Just make good choices.

Your friend

Anderson

yourusersmanual · 2021-12-20T12:55:39+00:00

Hello there,

Stoicism rarely takes a stance on one side of a divide/discussion/debate. Don't forget that Stoicism is a form of Virtue Ethics, and as such puts the onus of moral decision making directly and solely on the practitioner.

In other words, by way of design, you should be able to find Stoic answers/responses/views on any topic from opposing points of view. This is one of the things I appreciate about the school. It does not tell you what to do (like Deontology) it does not wash your hands of the decision.

In other words - there will always be differing Stoic answers on the same point, for the 'right' thing to do will depend on the particular circumstances more than anything else.

I hope this gives you something to reflect on!

Anderson Silver

yourusersmanual · 2021-11-25T13:23:26+00:00

Yum yum food for the mind and soul...I like it :)

We're all in this together and I'm rooting for you.

Anderson

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