50 sats \ 5 replies \ @ek OP 24 Jan \ parent \ on: Zap to Zero D-1 | Thought Compiler mostly_harmless
I know right? :)
I found it randomly while writing this post. I wanted to find the origin of the saying that we are our own worst enemies.
Oh, interesting, didn't know that!
Btw, what I always wanted to ask you since you mentioned (iirc) that you were in the military (was it the army?):
What do you think or even feel about people who say "Thank you for your service."? Especially if those are just random strangers online? Like do you care?
This is somewhat related to this:
I think it's better than blame soldiers (that might even have been drafted) for politics but I still wonder if that's the best one can do to show appreciation.
I could imagine that veterans don't even want to hear this since it's just another reminder about their past. Maybe they just want to be treated like a "normal person"?
Yeah, that's also fascinating to me. And I think I can get this the most. If you're in mortal danger, everything else gets so irrelevant. In the end, we're all just humans and that guy who is a dick all the time might save your life or something like that.
Except the enemy. They must be dehumanized for your own chances of survival, lol. So sad
What do you think or even feel about people who say "Thank you for your service."? Especially if those are just random strangers online? Like do you care?
It’s a very American thing - the best response is ‘thank you for your support’ The US really support their veterans - other countries less so…
As for showing your appreciation. I can’t speak for every veteran but we don’t want appreciation… just a little respect. Buy us a drink or dinner or just give us a little space.
Except the enemy. They must be dehumanized for your own chances of survival, lol. So sad
Not at all. Once you turn them into faceless automatons you have dehumanised yourself.
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Not at all. Once you turn them into faceless automatons you have dehumanised yourself.
Reminds me of one of the quotes I can't get out of my head.
He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.
When I was younger I thought this sounded vaguely badass but basically meaningless. Now, older, I realize exactly what he meant, and that he was exactly right.
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Once you turn them into faceless automatons you have dehumanised yourself.
He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.
I agree with @carlosfandango and you, but I think it misses my point:
As far as my current understanding goes, being able to selectively become a monster and essentially face our own darkness is important if all one cares about is their own survival in moments?
We might lose our humanity forever and it might not have been worth it. But if we're only talking about pure survival at whatever cost: isn't that true then?
I think there is no better place for this discussion than ~mostly_harmless, lol
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being able to selectively become a monster and essentially face our own darkness is important if all one cares about is their own survival in moments
‘Controlled aggression’ is probably the defining but key distinction between warriors and homocidal psychopaths. Perhaps not sociopaths thoughts. I should give this more thought…
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When I was younger I thought this sounded vaguely badass but basically meaningless. Now, older, I realize exactly what he meant, and that he was exactly right.
I think that is absolutely the way Nietszche, like many philosophers, should be read. We take different interpretations as we read at different stages of our lives…
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