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Rebekah Barnett's avatar

My favourite saying is 'We see things not as they are, but as we are.' This is usually attributed to Anais Nin but apparently others may have said it first. Whatever, the point is that as you say, once you realise this, you understand a few key things:

a) You're fallible

b) You're a product of your conditioning unless you consciously choose not to be (and even then, you still are somewhat)

c) Strongly held positions can change radically with reframing

d) Reframing can be quick and violent, but it can also occur over many years, like water dripping on stone

e) If you're not aware of all of the above, you will be highly susceptible to mental capture by people who are aware of the above

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AJF's avatar

Respectfully, I believe the saying is, "We see things not as They are, but as we are"

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Rebekah Barnett's avatar

Oops I mis-typed. Thanks, will edit.

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Sanity Jane's avatar

All 5 points: 👌🏾

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Sep 4, 2023
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Rebekah Barnett's avatar

Haha well your lived experience of South Dakota trumps mine (presuming you've been or live there) that's for sure. But my lived experience of the Anais Nin quote isn't invalidated by your lived experience of South Dakota, and most of life for most people is not conducted in an Amazon jungle at 120F. Of course, you're arguing for a positivist/objective view of lived experience and I'm arguing for a constructionist/subjective view. The latter would contend that many people will experience the same weather in different ways, and I think this is undeniably true.

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Sep 4, 2023
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Rebekah Barnett's avatar

You're missing my point, but I understand yours.

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Sep 4, 2023
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Rebekah Barnett's avatar

Yes I get it, you’re missing my point. It’s ok!

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One Existence's avatar

"... but if you go to a fourth world place like the Amazon jungle, you will lose all of those thoughts going through your head right now." ....

.... AGREED, as a result with the opposite then necessarily true one can EASILY pinpoint towards the reason why "the west" (including BRICS) is mentally IIIIILLLLL ... on so many fronts that it beggars belief ... even though on full display!

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russian_bot's avatar

Timmy: Based on your provision of perspiration details whatever that movie was it must stink at least in some aspects.

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