I have therefore I am?
Monday, July 22, 2002 by Fishbone | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
I was just having a conversation the other day about when can a person be satisfied with what he/she has got.People tend to define themselves by what they have.And not only material things are included in this possessive tendancy,but persons and feelings as well:The more I have the more I count as a person.But,in truth,isnt this the greatest delusion of modern societies?
Even our language betrays our tendancy to possess,since the verb to have dominates in every day life:I have a wife,but am I a husband?I have a son,but am I a father?I have a dog,a profession,a house,a car,a bank account etc,but do I ever stop to have a look?Am I more happy the more I have?Or do I lose myself in my possessions only to find myself in short moments of self-consciousness or never again...
Perhaps there is no answear,perhaps this is not the right question.I just would like to read some thoughts on this matter...Thats all.
Even our language betrays our tendancy to possess,since the verb to have dominates in every day life:I have a wife,but am I a husband?I have a son,but am I a father?I have a dog,a profession,a house,a car,a bank account etc,but do I ever stop to have a look?Am I more happy the more I have?Or do I lose myself in my possessions only to find myself in short moments of self-consciousness or never again...
Perhaps there is no answear,perhaps this is not the right question.I just would like to read some thoughts on this matter...Thats all.
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adni18
Reply #2 Monday, July 22, 2002 5:14 PM
Reply #2 Monday, July 22, 2002 5:14 PM
What wonderful food for thought you give us Fishbone! Thank you 
This is the real problem of our modern society.
The 3 words "I am this" is the highest philosophical research.
Who is "I", who is "am" and what is the relation of both with "this".
This is the real problem of our modern society.
The 3 words "I am this" is the highest philosophical research.
Who is "I", who is "am" and what is the relation of both with "this".
Jafo
Reply #3 Monday, July 22, 2002 6:17 PM
Reply #3 Monday, July 22, 2002 6:17 PM
Reminds me of those three quotes.....
"To be is to do"
"To do is to be"
and
"Do be do be do"...
"To be is to do"
"To do is to be"
and
"Do be do be do"...
Doreen
Reply #4 Monday, July 22, 2002 6:47 PM
Reply #4 Monday, July 22, 2002 6:47 PM
I have SkinBrowser so therefore I have no life!
Chef Garry go for more downloads
by Chef Garry - 7/22/2002 5:05:24 PM
hehe
I forgot a saying I once heard that I liked alot but it goes something to the effect "Make the place you are the place to be"
Chef Garry go for more downloads
by Chef Garry - 7/22/2002 5:05:24 PM
hehe
I forgot a saying I once heard that I liked alot but it goes something to the effect "Make the place you are the place to be"
UBoB
Reply #5 Monday, July 22, 2002 6:55 PM
Reply #5 Monday, July 22, 2002 6:55 PM
You can't always get what you want,
You can't always get what you want,
You can't always get what you want,
But if you try sometime,
You just might find,
You can get what you need.
- Rolling Stones.
You can't always get what you want,
You can't always get what you want,
But if you try sometime,
You just might find,
You can get what you need.
- Rolling Stones.
UBoB
Reply #6 Monday, July 22, 2002 7:00 PM
Reply #6 Monday, July 22, 2002 7:00 PM
Or, as another great man put it.....
"When we cannot find contentment in ourselves it it useless to seek it elsewhere.
-Francois De La Rochefoucauld
-Maxims
"When we cannot find contentment in ourselves it it useless to seek it elsewhere.
-Francois De La Rochefoucauld
-Maxims
elvee
Reply #8 Monday, July 22, 2002 7:14 PM
Reply #8 Monday, July 22, 2002 7:14 PM
Ponder this....
If there was no such thing as an Internet of any kind... where do you think your life would be right now?
If there was no such thing as an Internet of any kind... where do you think your life would be right now?
elvee
Reply #12 Monday, July 22, 2002 7:54 PM
Reply #12 Monday, July 22, 2002 7:54 PM
elvee was talking about the Meathead on the show, not calling motion a Meathead
Bangkokboy
Reply #13 Monday, July 22, 2002 8:09 PM
Reply #13 Monday, July 22, 2002 8:09 PM
Fishbone, I suspect that you already know the answers! I spent decades acquiring and grasping, and finally became happy when I realized that nothing which I have ( or don't have ) can satisfy me. Seems strange but once I devalued money and status, I started getting more of both. Somebody bean me I'm pontificating again!
Sorry about that!
Sorry about that!
adni18
Reply #16 Tuesday, July 23, 2002 2:29 AM
Reply #16 Tuesday, July 23, 2002 2:29 AM
"When we cannot find contentment in ourselves it it useless to seek it elsewhere".
Good stuff motion
Good stuff motion
adni18
Reply #17 Tuesday, July 23, 2002 2:31 AM
Reply #17 Tuesday, July 23, 2002 2:31 AM
"To be is to do"
"To do is to be"
and
"Do be do be do"...
That's great, Jafo
"To do is to be"
and
"Do be do be do"...
That's great, Jafo
paxx
Reply #19 Tuesday, July 23, 2002 10:58 AM
Reply #19 Tuesday, July 23, 2002 10:58 AM
It's an interesting question.
I heard that there is (was?) an African people in who's language the verb "to have" doesn't exist. Possession doesn't exist. Or didn't. Don't know if that said African people didn't today adopt the modern western ways of life.
Having said that, I can say that until I got married and have children, I didn't care about possessions much. In my single years, I moved qiute often from one city to the other, with all my belongings fitting in a backpack. Where ever I'd move, I'd get a new job, a buy the furninture I needed in used furniture store and garage sales. I'd then simply give it away the next time I'd move.
Today, it's different. I'm responsible for my family's well being and I work hard to ensure that they never need anything.
I heard that there is (was?) an African people in who's language the verb "to have" doesn't exist. Possession doesn't exist. Or didn't. Don't know if that said African people didn't today adopt the modern western ways of life.
Having said that, I can say that until I got married and have children, I didn't care about possessions much. In my single years, I moved qiute often from one city to the other, with all my belongings fitting in a backpack. Where ever I'd move, I'd get a new job, a buy the furninture I needed in used furniture store and garage sales. I'd then simply give it away the next time I'd move.
Today, it's different. I'm responsible for my family's well being and I work hard to ensure that they never need anything.
dan.wright
Reply #20 Tuesday, July 23, 2002 11:11 AM
Reply #20 Tuesday, July 23, 2002 11:11 AM
For me it's all a matter of perspective. I have a wife and two beautiful daughters, therefore (for me at least) I have everything I'll ever need. A job, a car, a tv, it can all go away, but as long as my family is here, life is good.
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Reply #1 Monday, July 22, 2002 5:05 PM
Chef Garry go for more downloads