• @LovableSidekick
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    14 hours ago

    OTOH reason has kept a roof over my head when my passion would have had me do Arduino projects or write D&D campaigns instead of working. Maybe Hume’s gf had a job.

      • @LovableSidekick
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        313 hours ago

        No, the word “dispassionate” perfectly describes when I’m forced to work on necessities instead of things I love.

        • classic
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          213 hours ago

          This statement needs to get on a T-shirt

          Or motivational poster

    • Dragon Rider (drag)
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      -313 hours ago

      Why should you have a roof over your head? If emotions are irrelevant, what’s the difference between that and being homeless?

      • @chonglibloodsport
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        310 hours ago

        Survival. The emotions are ultimately just crude tools the brain and body have for promoting the survival of the person.

        Their crudeness is probably best illustrated with phobias.

        • Dragon Rider (drag)
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          -19 hours ago

          If emotions are irrelevant, why survive? Why not lie down and die? You say it’s not your fear of death or your love of life. Is it some form of worship of the purpose evolution has given you? That sounds emotional to drag.

          • @chonglibloodsport
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            48 hours ago

            I didn’t say they were irrelevant, I said they’re tools of survival. They’re obviously useful. People without any emotions at all just sit there with what looks like a catatonic state.

            But being a slave to your emotions is nothing to aspire to. Far better to pick the emotional states you want to have. For me it’s enjoying deep focus on a task, having a lively conversation, sharing a great meal, laughing at a great joke, or cheering on a great play in sports.

            Being a slave to your emotions is like being a ship tossed about on stormy seas. Emotional regulation is a skill that must be learned like any other. We’re supposed to teach it to young children, though increasingly I find myself meeting adults who don’t even have the basics down. People screaming at each other like angry birds!

            The tougher one of course is learning how to overcome depression. That may need different strategies for different people. Mindfulness works for me but maybe not for everyone.

            • Dragon Rider (drag)
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              -18 hours ago

              No, you’re describing a situation where the passions are in charge, and reason is helping the passions feel good.

              • @chonglibloodsport
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                38 hours ago

                We disagree on what these words mean. There’s no further progress to be had here while that impasse remains.