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fireworks_god
Sexy.Butt.McDanger
Registered: 03/12/02
Posts: 24,855
Loc: Pandurn
Last seen: 1 year, 2 months
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Re: Cigarette Philosophy [Re: AnarchoTrip]
#7587552 - 11/02/07 12:03 PM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
AnarchoTrip said: I understand your point, but I slightly disagree. It is my opinion that not doing something, that I want to do, is not living life to the fullest.
There are a multitude of things that we would all like to do, but the nature of reality is that there are consequences for every action. Choosing one path, which happens naturally, as the result of the choice we make right now, regardless of how conscious we are of it, inevitably implies that we cannot satisfy all of our wants.
There is also the question of how sustainable our life is as the result of the choices we make. My observation is that cigarettes, which you have plainly expressed does not offer you much of anything substansial, must either hold an extraordinary amount of meaning for you as an individual, or the limbic system of your brain values the reward of the chemicals you are inhaling and has compelled your neocortex to rationalize your prolonged usage of the substance, in the face of the prospect of a suffering experience before a likely, premature death, in order for the perpetual reward.
Who are you kidding?
-------------------- If I should die this very moment I wouldn't fear For I've never known completeness Like being here Wrapped in the warmth of you Loving every breath of you
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AnarchoTrip
Young Blood
Registered: 03/26/07
Posts: 2,649
Last seen: 14 years, 6 months
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Quote:
fireworks_god said: There are a multitude of things that we would all like to do, but the nature of reality is that there are consequences for every action. Choosing one path, which happens naturally, as the result of the choice we make right now, regardless of how conscious we are of it, inevitably implies that we cannot satisfy all of our wants.
Okay, but I can fulfill one of my wants by continuing to smoke. This doesn't interfer with my lack-wanting of a 'long and healthy' life. I can't say that it doesn't interfer with ANY of my wants, but it doesn't interfer with enough to justify not smoking.
Quote:
fireworks_god said: There is also the question of how sustainable our life is as the result of the choices we make. My observation is that cigarettes, which you have plainly expressed does not offer you much of anything substansial, must either hold an extraordinary amount of meaning for you as an individual, or the limbic system of your brain values the reward of the chemicals you are inhaling and has compelled your neocortex to rationalize your prolonged usage of the substance, in the face of the prospect of a suffering experience before a likely, premature death, in order for the perpetual reward.
Who are you kidding?
At this point, I recognize that there is a "chemical addiction." I havn't had a cigarette today, yet, and I'm jittery, anxious, etc. However, I believe that the reason I'm refusing to quit is based more on a 'philosophical' standpoint. Oddly enough, I do associate smoking cigarettes to 'personal statements' (immature, but it's true: refusal to submit to authority (TRUTH, parents, and businesses telling me that smoking is BAD), refusal to submit to a standardized society (don't tell me society's not trying to stigmatize smoking and make everyone smoke free...), and others). Smoking, to me, is much more than just fun and "cool."
However, I've recognized the fact that I really need to evaluate my 'philosophy' for smoking and to decide whether my arguments are substantial for the risk of the potential harm it can bring to me.
-------------------- YIPPIE!
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NiamhNyx
I'm NOT a 'he'
Registered: 09/01/02
Posts: 3,198
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Re: Cigarette Philosophy [Re: AnarchoTrip]
#7588757 - 11/02/07 05:40 PM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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At first I took the position that you should just do whatever you feel like doing, but I see you just trying to justify something you obviously recognize as self destructive. You're trying to prove to us that your choices are rebellious, but you are only proving that you know your 'philosophy' is weak and groundless.
I really recommend the song 'don't smoke' by the microphones. It's on the don't smoke/get off the internet 7" and it's great. Download it if you can. He admits that it's totally preachy, but makes some good points:
Is it because there's a little part of you that wants to be dead? or is it because your life feels empty without some ritual? or is it because the rebellion (something I can't hear...) hasn't ended yet? ... and you are young and rich for now and you have the ritual of waking up each day and it will fill you
there's no exuse to start smoking
where is the rebellion in acting like a fuckup... its obvious that there is work to do strong and deliberately we are the ones we have to do it, no more parents or God taking the responsibility living in the world on your own there is no punishment only knowing what to do, no excuses, time is now, do not wait go improve yourself right now.
In the other song on the 7" "we are the ones who are alive right now, so lets start living." Good advice.
There's nothing rebellious about smoking or drinking excessively. The mass media feeds us this image, but this sort of self destruction only keeps those with rebellious spirits in submission. You wanna be a rebel? Than be one. Start projects that challenge things. Open a squat, turn an abandoned lot in a poor neighbourhood into a community garden, occupy the office of a shitty politician, sabotage a land-destroying industry for christ sakes. Whatever. Something! A real project!
Destroying your body is not rebellious. It is the kind of behaviour that destroys rebels and turns them into pathetic, useless, broken burnouts. Being strong and healthy is the foundation necessary for really being an effective rebel. You won't accomplish fuck all if you tear yourself apart instead. I see friends doing this to themselves and it pains me. There's no excuse, it's just weakness. I see a lot of passionate anarchists falling apart because of thier drinking but they just can't seem to figure out how to take responsibility for thier lives - even though this is exactly what thier whole ideal is all about. They are so damaged and distraught by the horror of the state the world is in (and who can blame them) that they can't seem to pull themselves together long enough to be an effective wrench in the machinery. Of course it's a lot less scary to destroy oneself than to destroy the prevailing social order. This is why it's a total cop out.
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MarkostheGnostic
Elder
Registered: 12/09/99
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Loc: South Florida
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Re: Cigarette Philosophy [Re: AnarchoTrip]
#7589005 - 11/02/07 06:46 PM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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I have never even taken a puff on a cigarette. My mother smoked when she was preganant with me. I am a substance abuse counselor/educator for adolescents for 21 years. Guess what drug I respond with when they ask me what "the worst" drug is?
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Visionary Tools
Registered: 06/23/07
Posts: 7,953
Last seen: 1 year, 10 months
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Re: Cigarette Philosophy [Re: Icelander]
#7590229 - 11/03/07 05:41 AM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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I stopped smoking tobacco ages ago, but the government in my country makes me want to skin up a brown one just because I'm fucked off with the ever present big brother nanny state.
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fireworks_god
Sexy.Butt.McDanger
Registered: 03/12/02
Posts: 24,855
Loc: Pandurn
Last seen: 1 year, 2 months
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Re: Cigarette Philosophy [Re: AnarchoTrip]
#7590284 - 11/03/07 06:36 AM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
AnarchoTrip said: Okay, but I can fulfill one of my wants by continuing to smoke. This doesn't interfer with my lack-wanting of a 'long and healthy' life. I can't say that it doesn't interfer with ANY of my wants, but it doesn't interfer with enough to justify not smoking.
As long as you have an honest sense of your own priorities.
Quote:
fireworks_god said: Oddly enough, I do associate smoking cigarettes to 'personal statements' (immature, but it's true: refusal to submit to authority (TRUTH, parents, and businesses telling me that smoking is BAD)...
Why would you live your life in relation to them? Condemning yourself to suffering and premature death to spite others seems rather senseless to me.
Quote:
, refusal to submit to a standardized society (don't tell me society's not trying to stigmatize smoking and make everyone smoke free...)
Society isn't a singular term, so I don't agree with you. Clearly there are organizations and individuals who strongly oppose smoking. Smoking simply to fight a moral war with them doesn't seem like a fight that is worth it, in my opinion.
Quote:
However, I've recognized the fact that I really need to evaluate my 'philosophy' for smoking and to decide whether my arguments are substantial for the risk of the potential harm it can bring to me.
Well, that's why you made this thread.
Realize, of course, that you don't have all the time in the world.
-------------------- If I should die this very moment I wouldn't fear For I've never known completeness Like being here Wrapped in the warmth of you Loving every breath of you
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TrippinNinjaBuddha
ShroominSamurai
Registered: 04/11/04
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Re: Cigarette Philosophy [Re: AnarchoTrip]
#7597981 - 11/05/07 10:44 AM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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mm.
if you're going to smoke, smoke American Spirit red box.
Organic :P and no additives. That's all I can recommened if you continue to continue smoking.
-------------------- Jumped in a river, what did I see? Black eyed angels swimming with me Moon full of stars and astral cars, all the figures I used to see All my lovers were there with me All my past and all my futures We went to heaven in a little rowboat There was nothing to fear and nothing to doubt
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