Home | Community | Message Board
You are not signed in.
Sign In New Account
Forum Index Search Posts Trusted Vendors Highlights Galleries FAQ User List Chat Store Random Growery


This site includes paid links. Please support our sponsors.

General Interest > Philosophy, Sociology & Psychology
Threaded Mode Threaded  Previous topic Previous  View all topics Index  Next topic Next 

Welcome to the Shroomery Message Board! You are experiencing a small sample of what the site has to offer. Please login or register to post messages and view our exclusive members-only content. You'll gain access to additional forums, file attachments, board customizations, encrypted private messages, and much more!

Jump to first unread post Pages: 1
Self-Indulgence
    #5908706 -

Can one make a distinction between self-interest and self-indulgence (selfishness), or would such a distinction be totally arbitrary?

I think of it as a continuum. At one extreme is asceticism: totally denying yourself of everything. A form of self-torture, really. At the other extreme is total selfish self-indulgence: caring only about yourself and acting only to please yourself in all situations.

The middle of this continuum is where I think one should try to remain. I call this middle point self-interest. You don't torture yourself with austerities, and you don't indulge yourself with all sorts of unnecessary and superfluous power, money, and objects.

Going to either extreme causes quite a bit of suffering. Ascetics suffer because they deny themselves what is natural for life. Selfish people suffer when they don't get what they want, or lose what they do have. They become attached to gain and averse to loss.

I think the Middle Way is the best way to live. What do you think?


--------------------
"Now that the principalities and the powers stockpile weapons of mass destruction, contaminate the earth with their feverish industry, release floods of images to trigger insatiable desires, treat animals and humans as commodities and functions of a market, the devil must be grinning from ear to ear."

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Self-Indulgence [Re: Fractalated]
    #5908723 -

but even at the middle point you still have degress of both.


--------------------
channel your inner Larry David

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Self-Indulgence [Re: Fractalated]
    #5908769 -

I think the difference between self interest and self indulgence is at least in part one of perception and who is doing the perceiving. Also, it's all about the presentation and how it comes across to the audience.

The problem with self indulgence is that unless you bring other people to the party you will tend to end up alone.

Ascetics suffer to a degree at least because they tend to end up alone.

Solitary confinement was/is considered to be one of the most serious forms of punishment.

The middle ground is where most people meet, being afraid of being alone so willing to compromise their own self interest in the name of society.


--------------------
Anxiety is what you make it.

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Self-Indulgence [Re: demiu5]
    #5909287 -

I think if someone was able to live fully in the middle point, and was willing to live a simple and enjoyable life, they would be able to get just what they need, without any excess in either direction.


--------------------
"Now that the principalities and the powers stockpile weapons of mass destruction, contaminate the earth with their feverish industry, release floods of images to trigger insatiable desires, treat animals and humans as commodities and functions of a market, the devil must be grinning from ear to ear."

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Self-Indulgence [Re: LunarEclipse]
    #5909294 -

So even acting non-selfishly by cooperating and helping others is a form of self-indulgence so that the person is happy and not alone?


--------------------
"Now that the principalities and the powers stockpile weapons of mass destruction, contaminate the earth with their feverish industry, release floods of images to trigger insatiable desires, treat animals and humans as commodities and functions of a market, the devil must be grinning from ear to ear."

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Self-Indulgence [Re: Fractalated]
    #5909311 -

Self interest is good. Indulging is never.

Once you understand that you can proceed.



At least that's how I understand it. Self interest must be enlightened though. You need to know what is really in your best interest. Indulging is just wasting energy. There is never gain. It's petty and serving of the cultural self image. It's the opposite of freedom.


--------------------
"Don't believe everything you think". -Anom.

" All that lives was born to die"-Anom.

With much wisdom comes much sorrow,
The more knowledge, the more grief.
Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Self-Indulgence [Re: Icelander]
    #5909326 -

Nice to see you back man :smile:


--------------------
"Now that the principalities and the powers stockpile weapons of mass destruction, contaminate the earth with their feverish industry, release floods of images to trigger insatiable desires, treat animals and humans as commodities and functions of a market, the devil must be grinning from ear to ear."

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Self-Indulgence [Re: Fractalated]
    #5909515 -

thank you. :heart: :mushroom2:


--------------------
"Don't believe everything you think". -Anom.

" All that lives was born to die"-Anom.

With much wisdom comes much sorrow,
The more knowledge, the more grief.
Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Self-Indulgence [Re: Fractalated]
    #5910129 -

Quote:
Poster: Fractalated
Subject: Re: Self-Indulgence

So even acting non-selfishly by cooperating and helping others is a form of self-indulgence so that the person is happy and not alone?



To get you gotta give and to give you gotta get. Absolutely, many of the people who need people types are the "eager to please" who have a huge whole in their lives without that giving. You know the type, the emotionally needy who bend over backwards to do anything for you yet in the end it's like freaking fatal attraction. Time for me to leave, where others might cling too afraid to be alone.

Everybody does everything to satisfy some need in them or at least in accordance with their current comfort zone or else they wouldn't be doing it. Period.


--------------------
Anxiety is what you make it.

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Self-Indulgence [Re: Icelander]
    #5910165 -

Quote:
Poster: Icelander
Subject: Re: Self-Indulgence

Self interest is good. Indulging is never.

Once you understand that you can proceed.



At least that's how I understand it. Self interest must be enlightened though. You need to know what is really in your best interest. Indulging is just wasting energy. There is never gain. It's petty and serving of the cultural self image. It's the opposite of freedom.



indulgence

noun

A kindly act: favor, good turn, grace, kindness, service. Archaic benefit. See help/harm/harmless.
Forbearing or lenient treatment: charitableness, charity, forbearance, lenience, leniency, lenity, tolerance, toleration.

So kindly acts and charity are just wasting energy?

I actually found this definition which doesn't seem consistent with other definitions and then there is that whole Catholic indulgence thing. Words can mean many different things.


--------------------
Anxiety is what you make it.

Edited by LunarEclipse (07/28/06 09:37 PM)

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Self-Indulgence [Re: LunarEclipse]
    #5910183 -

in·dul·gence

n.

The act or an instance of indulging; gratification

In other words, self-gratification. Catering to your whims and desires, no matter how natural or unnatural, even at the expense of others.


--------------------
"Now that the principalities and the powers stockpile weapons of mass destruction, contaminate the earth with their feverish industry, release floods of images to trigger insatiable desires, treat animals and humans as commodities and functions of a market, the devil must be grinning from ear to ear."

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Self-Indulgence [Re: Fractalated]
    #5910240 -

The rise and fall of civilizations, The driving force sublime between our legs.

Take the road less traveled, walk with control, walk with care, how much better the will road become, though, the road was always that way, we merely could not see, we could not move forward, past the stones of disgrace, those based on mileading fundementals and accursed morality.

Why is it that when Im hungry I have more energy?


--------------------
---------o----o----o-------o------------------------o--o-o-
----------------------------------------------------------------
Requim for a Dream - Paul Oakenfold
---------------------------------------------------------------
"The mis/abuse of any form of power, is the worst form of ignorance"
-------------------------------------------------------------
WIZOLZ - Lover with a Killer's Smile

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Self-Indulgence [Re: Fractalated]
    #5911948 -

in·dul·gence (ĭn-dŭl'jəns)
n.

The act or an instance of indulging; gratification: indulgence of every whim.
The state of being indulgent.

The act of indulging in something: indulgence in irresponsible behavior.
Something indulged in: Sports cars are an expensive indulgence.
Liberal or lenient treatment; tolerance: treated their grandchildren with fond indulgence.
Self-indulgence: a life of wealth and indulgence.

Something granted as a favor or privilege.
Permission to extend the time of payment or performance.
Patient attention: I beg your indulgence for just a few minutes.
Roman Catholic Church. The remission of temporal punishment still due for a sin that has been sacramentally absolved.
tr.v. Roman Catholic Church., -genced, -genc·ing, -genc·es.
To attach

I really don't see where you get "natural or unnatural" or "even at the expense of others" out of those definitions.

To me, it sounds more like someone is spoiling themselves or others such as indulging one's grandkids or asking for a favor "may I beg your indulgence"

Anyway, those that most have a problem with "indulgence" are probably either a) jealous of or not in favor of someone else's ability to indulge or choice of indulgence or b) the parents who have to take the spoiled kids home from grampies who overindulged them or c) the one being begged for indulgence who's not quite ready to offer their indulgence.


--------------------
Anxiety is what you make it.

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Jump to top Pages: 1

General Interest > Philosophy, Sociology & Psychology
Threaded Mode Threaded  Previous topic Previous  View all topics Index  Next topic Next 

Similar ThreadsPosterViewsRepliesLast post
* philosophy the result of idol, bored & self-indulgent minds?
( 1 2 3 all )		 Zen Peddler 6,545 49 01/08/19 12:58 AM
by MarkostheGnostic
* An interesting ritual...?.....
( 1 2 3 all )		 Anonymous 4,731 52 09/10/02 04:15 PM
by buttonion
* How do Self Indulgent Pity Parties serve people? gettinjiggywithit 972 12 10/31/04 03:11 PM
by F0SS1L
* interested/interesting SneezingPenis 822 11 05/18/05 07:39 PM
by CeeThruMeer
* Interesting View On After-Life... Adamist 526 11 05/22/05 02:37 AM
by Jellric
* The cross post was an indulgence ... Ulysees 563 3 01/18/03 10:04 AM
by Anonymous
* Indulge MJF 910 19 12/30/18 12:09 AM
by RJ Tubs 202
* falling to sleep
( 1 2 all )		 OldWoodSpecter 2,565 34 03/31/05 06:35 AM
by gnrm23

Extra information
You cannot start new topics / You cannot reply to topics
HTML is disabled / BBCode is enabled
Moderator: Middleman, DividedQuantum
1,765 topic views. 0 members, 302 guests and 18 web crawlers are browsing this forum.
[ Show Images Only | Sort by Score | Print Topic ]
Search this thread:

Copyright 1997-2026 Mind Media. Some rights reserved.

Generated in 0.026 seconds spending 0.006 seconds on 16 queries.