I don't think these people in the HN thread are trying to convert you and make you accept Watts, I think they want to understand what isn't resonating and how.
I myself found Watts helpful a few years ago, but I got a little tired of what I perceived as his egotism and how he sort of defends selfishness. I imagine some of the issues in his personal life vaguely alluded to in this thread overlap with that. Still an interesting character.
I think it's probably dangerous to go "all in" with a guy like Watts. Seems like it would put you vulnerable to a personality cult. He has things to say and he's flawed.
The only personality cult that threats you listening to him is finding out your own self. Cultivating own self may be called selfish by somebody without self or somebody selfless. But it's just one of choices.
The same way you have no obligation to do anything in this world or be anybody.
Nobody is born as saviour of world, not even own saviour.
In times where world imposes on you more and more this basic idea of personal freedom & choice suddenly starts being controversial.
the world 100 years ago was dirtier, poorer but much less suffocating for a free soul.
Before total ideologies, statism, centralisation of everything including free minds & basic cultural realities.
The most dangerous thing nowadays is going all in with what the main flow is flushing everyone into ;-)
He also "defends" the darker side.
He considered people plainly imperfect or openly corrupt more trustworthy than these with best intentions.
Because they getting a clear deal don't break the trade while some Saint goodies tend to hide ungly face.
Enough to observe fates of businesses built on "friendships"... splitting up more often than modern marriages and in uglier way..
This includes the ugly truths behind hypocritically democratic, narrow-minded binary systems, like a hammer seeing everywhere a nail.
At leasts these points made perfect sense for me observing reality.
Maybe it's just incompatible with your actual ideology. Maybe time to go deep into validity of it?
Who said selflessness or altruism is not dangerous? If somebody imposes it on others that becomes really ugly really fast?
Like why somebody modifies my choice in shop by some ideological carbon footprint? that's my personal choice what I want. Especially when you are aware it's a complete unscientific bs.
Asking for an elaboration is not a disagreement (or an agreement) with your position — or any position.
If that was worth incrementing the counter, I wonder about the first three. There's a large, large delta between "can you elaborate" and "advertising."
asveikau|3 years ago
I myself found Watts helpful a few years ago, but I got a little tired of what I perceived as his egotism and how he sort of defends selfishness. I imagine some of the issues in his personal life vaguely alluded to in this thread overlap with that. Still an interesting character.
I think it's probably dangerous to go "all in" with a guy like Watts. Seems like it would put you vulnerable to a personality cult. He has things to say and he's flawed.
Ebree|3 years ago
The most dangerous thing nowadays is going all in with what the main flow is flushing everyone into ;-)
He also "defends" the darker side.
He considered people plainly imperfect or openly corrupt more trustworthy than these with best intentions.
Because they getting a clear deal don't break the trade while some Saint goodies tend to hide ungly face.
Enough to observe fates of businesses built on "friendships"... splitting up more often than modern marriages and in uglier way..
This includes the ugly truths behind hypocritically democratic, narrow-minded binary systems, like a hammer seeing everywhere a nail.
At leasts these points made perfect sense for me observing reality.
Maybe it's just incompatible with your actual ideology. Maybe time to go deep into validity of it? Who said selflessness or altruism is not dangerous? If somebody imposes it on others that becomes really ugly really fast? Like why somebody modifies my choice in shop by some ideological carbon footprint? that's my personal choice what I want. Especially when you are aware it's a complete unscientific bs.
q7xvh97o2pDhNrh|3 years ago
If that was worth incrementing the counter, I wonder about the first three. There's a large, large delta between "can you elaborate" and "advertising."