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Post by Aj_June on May 24, 2020 19:16:54 GMT
It is one of the human emotions that is often depicted in movies and stories. Fritz Lang's movie Destiny (1921) portrays fear very well. Fear is of course also utilised by many political and religious organisations. Even many parents use it to discipline their kids. I do not believe it is an entirely bad thing but I do believe that fear can have long lasting impact on our lives. Do you fear something to the point that it gives you trouble? At any point of time in your life did fear play an important part in shaping your life? For me I fear a lot of things. I fear sleep, I fear death and I fear the lack of control I have over nature and universe. Way back in childhood, I used to sleep on the roof of my house in summers (as there was frequent power cut in my hometown). I would gaze at stars till I slept. But even as a child I would think of the how big our universe is and how pointless it was to be born when I would die soon. The pointlessness of my existence is a topic that never left me. May be sometimes I think less of it and sometimes more but it's something that never departs from my thoughts. Fear slowed me down over the years from doing things that I should have way back. Please share about your own fears r any story of how you conquered your fear. |
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buckyv2
Sophomore
@buckyv2
Posts: 443
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Post by buckyv2 on May 24, 2020 20:15:51 GMT
Heights.
I usually tell people I'm afraid of heights, but that's not entirely accurate.
I could jump off a four story building, but it's not the jump in and of itself that I worry about - it's landing; I fear I might live afterwards, severely disabled.
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buckyv2
Sophomore
@buckyv2
Posts: 443
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Post by buckyv2 on May 24, 2020 20:24:40 GMT
Your post reminded me of the book A Culture of Fear by Barry Glassner. Excellent book.
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Post by Dirty Santa PaulsLaugh on May 24, 2020 21:18:18 GMT
June, I think you may be a sub-continent Charlie Brown.  |
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Fear
May 24, 2020 23:09:24 GMT
Post by thefleetsin on May 24, 2020 23:09:24 GMT
It is one of the human emotions that is often depicted in movies and stories. Fritz Lang's movie Destiny (1921) portrays fear very well. Fear is of course also utilised by many political and religious organisations. Even many parents use it to discipline their kids. I do not believe it is an entirely bad thing but I do believe that fear can have long lasting impact on our lives. Do you fear something to the point that it gives you trouble? At any point of time in your life did fear play an important part in shaping your life? For me I fear a lot of things. I fear sleep, I fear death and I fear the lack of control I have over nature and universe. Way back in childhood, I used to sleep on the roof of my house in summers (as there was frequent power cut in my hometown). I would gaze at stars till I slept. But even as a child I would think of the how big our universe is and how pointless it was to be born when I would die soon. The pointlessness of my existence is a topic that never left me. May be sometimes I think less of it and sometimes more but it's something that never departs from my thoughts. Fear slowed me down over the years from doing things that I should have way back. Please share about your own fears r any story of how you conquered your fear. Who planted this seed of pointlessness inside you?
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Fear
May 25, 2020 0:10:09 GMT
Post by goz on May 25, 2020 0:10:09 GMT
It is one of the human emotions that is often depicted in movies and stories. Fritz Lang's movie Destiny (1921) portrays fear very well. Fear is of course also utilised by many political and religious organisations. Even many parents use it to discipline their kids. I do not believe it is an entirely bad thing but I do believe that fear can have long lasting impact on our lives. Do you fear something to the point that it gives you trouble? At any point of time in your life did fear play an important part in shaping your life? For me I fear a lot of things. I fear sleep, I fear death and I fear the lack of control I have over nature and universe. Way back in childhood, I used to sleep on the roof of my house in summers (as there was frequent power cut in my hometown). I would gaze at stars till I slept. But even as a child I would think of the how big our universe is and how pointless it was to be born when I would die soon. The pointlessness of my existence is a topic that never left me. May be sometimes I think less of it and sometimes more but it's something that never departs from my thoughts. Fear slowed me down over the years from doing things that I should have way back. Please share about your own fears r any story of how you conquered your fear. 'Fear' is natural. Fear is normal. Fear induces necessary caution and inspires the 'fight or 'flight' re-action in humans which is an environmental and evolutionary issue. In a longish life I have had my fair share of fear. I have developed a 'pragmatic approach' to if not conquer it, at least to manage is and even turn it into a healthy element in my life. This has maintained my agnostic atheism, bolstered by views on science technology and also philosophy where I adapt some of the Buddhist precepts of personal responsibility and trust in self and others to maintaining a happy life. I have ended up a humanist, feminist leftist socialist environmentalist. In practical terms I try to stay 'safe' and weight up risk taking in a sort of mental cost/risk analysis. I guess my mantra is often...when thing are looking scary, uncertain and frightening is... *** What is the worst case scenario? What is likely to be the worst thing that can happen and how likely is it? The answer is always death or disability, however I use my pragmatism to sort this out in my mind. Also, if I die I won't know so there is that! Being an atheists the whole afterlife thing doesn't bother me, so I try to make the best of this life in as many ways as possible for myself, those I love and my community ( even the world which is why I am here nagging people about stupid decisions and dangerous ideas)
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Post by Eva Yojimbo on May 25, 2020 1:04:19 GMT
As goz said, fear is evolution's way of keeping us cautious and, thus, keeping us alive. The thing about fear is that, if you embrace it, it can easily end up turning into thrilling excitement, which is why people enjoy roller coasters and horror films. It can make us feel alive. So that's one reason some might choose to embrace fear, to feel that adrenaline rush. Of course, there are also certain fears that don't bring any excitement and just hold it back; fear of failure, of not being good enough, of being lost/alone and not knowing what you're doing. I don't know if there's a way to overcome such things except to simply do whatever it is you're afraid of, and unless you have terrible experiences the repetition will probably lessen the fear over time, or maybe just transform it into a manageable anxiety.
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Fear
May 25, 2020 7:44:55 GMT
Post by Aj_June on May 25, 2020 7:44:55 GMT
Your post reminded me of the book A Culture of Fear by Barry Glassner. Excellent book. Research has suggested that more 80% people hold on to irrational fears of something. At least 10% of the population has some sort of phobia. So you were born in Canada and while working in marine lived a few years of life in Germany and some other country? Apart from fear of heights (which is a phobia) can you recall anything that generated fear in you (even if subconsciously)?
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Fear
May 25, 2020 7:50:35 GMT
Post by Aj_June on May 25, 2020 7:50:35 GMT
It is one of the human emotions that is often depicted in movies and stories. Fritz Lang's movie Destiny (1921) portrays fear very well. Fear is of course also utilised by many political and religious organisations. Even many parents use it to discipline their kids. I do not believe it is an entirely bad thing but I do believe that fear can have long lasting impact on our lives. Do you fear something to the point that it gives you trouble? At any point of time in your life did fear play an important part in shaping your life? For me I fear a lot of things. I fear sleep, I fear death and I fear the lack of control I have over nature and universe. Way back in childhood, I used to sleep on the roof of my house in summers (as there was frequent power cut in my hometown). I would gaze at stars till I slept. But even as a child I would think of the how big our universe is and how pointless it was to be born when I would die soon. The pointlessness of my existence is a topic that never left me. May be sometimes I think less of it and sometimes more but it's something that never departs from my thoughts. Fear slowed me down over the years from doing things that I should have way back. Please share about your own fears r any story of how you conquered your fear. Who planted this seed of pointlessness inside you? Life in general has no specific purpose or meaning, man. Although I agree that we subjectively give meaning or purpose to our lives. I personally see all forms of life as inconsequential from the perspective of bigger picture. Yes, I do have some purpose when I look at things from smaller perspective. But it's just a coincidence we are born. There is no afterlife in my opinion and hence a life of a very small amount of time that we spend here on this planet is more of less pointless for me. Of course, there are people who look at things differently and they are most welcome to look at things differently.
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Post by Aj_June on May 25, 2020 7:59:04 GMT
As goz said, fear is evolution's way of keeping us cautious and, thus, keeping us alive. The thing about fear is that, if you embrace it, it can easily end up turning into thrilling excitement, which is why people enjoy roller coasters and horror films. It can make us feel alive. So that's one reason some might choose to embrace fear, to feel that adrenaline rush. Of course, there are also certain fears that don't bring any excitement and just hold it back; fear of failure, of not being good enough, of being lost/alone and not knowing what you're doing. I don't know if there's a way to overcome such things except to simply do whatever it is you're afraid of, and unless you have terrible experiences the repetition will probably lessen the fear over time, or maybe just transform it into a manageable anxiety. You are right about some fears that turn into thrilling excitement. I think around 2014 I was trying sports betting and I would get very involved in betting on sports and then watching the games that I bet on. I was not winning or losing anything. It was mostly just getting my money back situation. But what was keeping me involved was the excitement which was nothing but fear of losing everything. Eventually, I gave up because I understood it was slowly harming me.
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Fear
May 25, 2020 11:29:45 GMT
Post by Morgana on May 25, 2020 11:29:45 GMT
For a period of my life I had no control over it in anything, so now I have extreme fear of lack of control, even in little things.
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Fear
May 25, 2020 11:39:19 GMT
Post by Aj_June on May 25, 2020 11:39:19 GMT
For a period of my life I had no control over it in anything, so now I have extreme fear of lack of control, even in little things. If I remember correctly you had some memory related issues a few years back. You used to forget things. I have not noticed that problem for the last 2 years so I hope and wish that problem is not much bothersome now
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Fear
May 25, 2020 12:10:19 GMT
Post by Morgana on May 25, 2020 12:10:19 GMT
For a period of my life I had no control over it in anything, so now I have extreme fear of lack of control, even in little things. If I remember correctly you had some memory related issues a few years back. You used to forget things. I have not noticed that problem for the last 2 years so I hope and wish that problem is not much bothersome now Thank you, AJ. Unfortunately my memory problems are permanent. There are still portions of my life that I have only fleeting memories of.
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Fear
May 25, 2020 14:27:16 GMT
Post by thefleetsin on May 25, 2020 14:27:16 GMT
Life in general has no specific purpose or meaning, man. Although I agree that we subjectively give meaning or purpose to our lives. I personally see all forms of life as inconsequential from the perspective of bigger picture. Yes, I do have some purpose when I look at things from smaller perspective. But it's just a coincidence we are born. There is no afterlife in my opinion and hence a life of a very small amount of time that we spend here on this planet is more of less pointless for me. Of course, there are people who look at things differently and they are most welcome to look at things differently. you of all people. pointless? i think not. why i have listened to you for (what seems like an eternity sometimes) rattling on about this or that subject matter. very earnest in your interpretations and dictum's. willing to go the extra mile in discourse and the like. would you not know, after all this time of yours on this planet of ours, that love is the lord of all? that in experiencing it one builds bridges to what can be never before seen places buried there in the heart? no specific purpose? please. you're not that good a liar to use that line here.
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Post by Aj_June on May 26, 2020 20:35:45 GMT
If I remember correctly you had some memory related issues a few years back. You used to forget things. I have not noticed that problem for the last 2 years so I hope and wish that problem is not much bothersome now Thank you, AJ. Unfortunately my memory problems are permanent. There are still portions of my life that I have only fleeting memories of. I am sorry to know that you can't remember some parts of your life. But I will like to let you know that I have never had any problems in communicating with you.
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Fear
May 28, 2020 14:13:21 GMT
Post by Aj_June on May 28, 2020 14:13:21 GMT
Life in general has no specific purpose or meaning, man. Although I agree that we subjectively give meaning or purpose to our lives. I personally see all forms of life as inconsequential from the perspective of bigger picture. Yes, I do have some purpose when I look at things from smaller perspective. But it's just a coincidence we are born. There is no afterlife in my opinion and hence a life of a very small amount of time that we spend here on this planet is more of less pointless for me. Of course, there are people who look at things differently and they are most welcome to look at things differently. you of all people. pointless? i think not. why i have listened to you for (what seems like an eternity sometimes) rattling on about this or that subject matter. very earnest in your interpretations and dictum's. willing to go the extra mile in discourse and the like. would you not know, after all this time of yours on this planet of ours, that love is the lord of all? that in experiencing it one builds bridges to what can be never before seen places buried there in the heart? no specific purpose? please. you're not that good a liar to use that line here. I was very close to my grandmother. I was raised at grandmother's house as my parents were studying when I was a child. I didn't feel any pain at my grandmother's death. I seriously doubt if I am capable of loving. I do have sympathy for people. But that I don't believe in love. As I said, there is no objective meaning of this life. We do assign meaning to our existence. Good for you if you personally believe love is above everything.
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Fear
May 28, 2020 16:24:49 GMT
via mobile
Post by CoolJGS☺ on May 28, 2020 16:24:49 GMT
I separate fear from fright.
My two biggest fears are lightning and falling.
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Deleted
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Fear
May 28, 2020 17:38:19 GMT
Post by Deleted on May 28, 2020 17:38:19 GMT
Lightning touching the ground around me...
It seems like it would hurt...
Other painful deaths...
Missing out on times where the lord might have been able to use me and I wasn't paying attention...
Nothing else.
I do not fear death itself one bit...
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