Preface

A lot of great original content has been shared lately, which has inspired this post, which I will leave pinned for an undetermined amount of time.

"The primary act—the process of reason—must be performed by each man alone. We can divide a meal among many men. We cannot digest it in a collective stomach."

Writing Challenge

I know we like to share and read about the goings on of the preeminent and self-actualized, the so-called freedom fighters (you know who they are, I do not need to say).

But are you fighting for yourself?

some things to consider:

are you just waiting around for ngu?
what does f*-you money mean to you?
has it helped you to make material improvements on your life?
are you in the stacking phase, hanging onto bitcoin for 'generational wealth?'

really-- no judgements whatever you come up with.

Do not include personal, identifying information if you don't want. The nice thing about a memoir, is you can sprinkle in enough fiction to make it plausibly deniable. Write in the 3-rd person. You don't even have to tag the post or tell us it is a memoir. Just write about freedom.

Post it in any territory you like. Tag me if you please, as I am interested in reading about this.

I use turbo-zaps, and some of you will recognize my 'zap-signature,' if you come around here often. I will triple-zap posts that get my attention and impress me. I down-zap ai slop, so don't even try.

Lastly, I will be working on my own version. Will share when ready.

110 sats for the first person who can give attribution to the above quote.

11 sats \ 2 replies \ @cryotosensei 5h

Would you be interested to read about the most liberating period of my life?

I don’t think parenthood qualifies as freedom muahaha

24 sats \ 1 reply \ @billytheked OP 2h

As someone who aspires to being a parent, I appreciate reading about your adventures in this direction.

11 sats \ 0 replies \ @cryotosensei 45m

Ohhh talk about reframing haha. Let me have a serious thought and write something for you.

In what ways is parenting a gateway to freedom?

167 sats \ 3 replies \ @nullcount 28 Oct

"The primary act—the process of reason—must be performed by each man alone. We can divide a meal among many men. We cannot digest it in a collective stomach."

Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged (1957)

In that scene, Dagny (protagonist) discovers that Akston, a once renowned philosopher, has withdrawn from the world and is now running a small diner in the mountains. When she questions him about it, he explains his philosophy of reason and independence — including the line you quoted

110 sats \ 2 replies \ @nullcount 28 Oct

For me, this is the opposite of freedom. Reclusive behavior is a symptom of anti-social thinking. The myth of the Lone Wolf is attractive and overly romanticized. Very few great things were produced by one human alone.

Freedom for me is the ability to freely communicate/trade/organize with others in voluntary structures that produce more than the sum of their parts. In the book Atlas Shrugged, the "world" has become bureaucratic and authoritarian causing society to decay and collapse because brilliant people are no longer allowed to organize how they please.

Having "F*ck You Money" gives one an increased ability to act in spite of authoritarians and build one's way towards a more voluntary organization of brilliant people. After all, offering a large salary for another's time and experience is an effective way to make them voluntarily work for you.

In this way, sovereign people can build their own Galt’s Gulch - a safe place for smart people to build the future while avoiding the tyrants.

I think the character of Akston was a warning by Rand. Don't let the tyrants win by withdrawing from society into a prison of your own mind. Instead, find/build a community of like-minded people that can support your unique talents so you don't have to run a diner in the mountains.

11 sats \ 0 replies \ @zapsammy 21h

Reclusive behavior is a symptom of anti-social thinking

i vehemently disagree with this perspective; this perspective is rooted in fear of abandonment by the rest of society; now, if ur society is all straight from the sewers of hell... u may feel much better in the mountains by the river; seriously, if one polls a 100 people, many wud wish for such an escape;

Darthcoin, for example, is retreating into his humble abode for the same reason that a city dweller wishes to escape the zombie apocalypse; nonetheless, that man is constantly online, educating and expressing wishes of how things shud be emproved since they have deteriorated;

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @billytheked OP 23h

I think you are right.

I chose the quote because I've always appreciated how it shows the "collectivist myth."

On the one hand, the lone wolf may not be helping himself/others; on the other, they are doing the individual work (maybe to a fault) that collectivist attitudes can eclipse.

I think there is a healthy middle ground. Meaning, between the two extremes of 'lone-wolf in the mountains' and NGU/generational-wealth maxi who 'participates' in freedom money by hodling, there are the stories of individuals using the tech helping themselves (and others) to be free.

Just some of my thoughts, though they may be wrong.

22 sats \ 2 replies \ @siggy47 28 Oct

Fantastic prompt. I'm not sure I have anything relevant to discuss, but I really hope this generates the replies it warrants. I can't wait to read them.

36 sats \ 1 reply \ @billytheked OP 28 Oct

Thanks for writing that.

I feel you have shared here quite enough, and if I may, I'd hazard to guess that you've done quite some hard work to liberate your mind from (fiat) systems of oppression.

This "untelevised" part of the revolution is just as interesting to me.

11 sats \ 0 replies \ @siggy47 23h

RIP GSH

Preface

Writing Challenge

Share a short memoir-style post about how you or someone you know has experienced freedom/'F*-you money.'