tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post272043070433175396..comments2019-03-16T22:13:26.796-07:00Comments on Witter...: This Time it's Personal ~ part 14Steve Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04939837731535127700noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-56988255907772298712014-09-04T01:04:29.378-07:002014-09-04T01:04:29.378-07:00I'm sure the 'father figure' thing is ...I'm sure the 'father figure' thing is more my projection. <br />As I'm sure you'd expect, I disagree about rhetoric versus theories and facts but that difference is always there in our exchanges. But absolutely - another perspective is exactly what is needed. Many thanks for that.Steve Lawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04939837731535127700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-47335253317097832932014-09-03T05:42:27.781-07:002014-09-03T05:42:27.781-07:00Well, I haven't been a good father figure to m...Well, I haven't been a good father figure to my biological sons, but then I never had a role model. Didn't meet my father till I was fifty, when he turned out to be just a bloke who when young had looked like me a little, and to whom I was his long-lost bastard. His alleged curiosity to look me up one day was overtaken by mine to look him up. I was sorry for this Australian fellow who'Vincenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18297306807695767580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-86434064367887674952014-09-02T02:40:10.382-07:002014-09-02T02:40:10.382-07:00I thought that might be it. I just wanted you to b...I thought that might be it. I just wanted you to be more explicit, which you have. Thanks.<br /><br />"It is true that you have not denied that you need help, but humility dictates that one admits to a kind of blindness in knowing what kind of help one needs."<br />I agree this is a difficult one for me. Part of the problem, as I think is the case for many people, is being brought up bySteve Lawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04939837731535127700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-29602572449401004872014-09-02T01:45:00.412-07:002014-09-02T01:45:00.412-07:00Apologies for the arrogance of my last, in assumin...Apologies for the arrogance of my last, in assuming that what I said was clear.<br /><br />My reference to "a higher power" was lifted directly from the 12-point plan for recovering alcoholics, as prescribed by AA. The whole point of which, so far as I can see is not to invoke any God, or any religion, but to foster an attitude of humility, which admits that this is what I got myself Vincenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18297306807695767580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-46138901291439955252014-09-01T21:44:11.979-07:002014-09-01T21:44:11.979-07:00Do I really have to repeat what I just said?Do I really have to repeat what I just said?Vincenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18297306807695767580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-87865534910789848852014-09-01T12:39:42.220-07:002014-09-01T12:39:42.220-07:00What preconceptions did you have in mind?
What preconceptions did you have in mind?<br />Steve Lawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04939837731535127700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-10059285943667900472014-09-01T12:35:13.252-07:002014-09-01T12:35:13.252-07:00I never said I couldn't do with some help.I never said I couldn't do with some help.Steve Lawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04939837731535127700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-92135240804318291652014-09-01T12:30:22.888-07:002014-09-01T12:30:22.888-07:00Cutting to the chase, you appear to recognize no H...Cutting to the chase, you appear to recognize no Higher Power than Steve Law?<br /><br />You say also that "I know that research is all about trying not to impose one's preconceptions on the process. Knowing how to identify one's own (tacit) assumptions is a useful part of that."<br /><br />What I've been trying to hint for some time, without you taking me on, is that you Vincenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18297306807695767580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-56497551145960314292014-09-01T10:23:23.834-07:002014-09-01T10:23:23.834-07:00Maybe the Higgs particle?Maybe the Higgs particle?Steve Lawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04939837731535127700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-87492621454020782302014-09-01T10:22:52.531-07:002014-09-01T10:22:52.531-07:00Well that's good then.
The Holy Grail - maybe...Well that's good then.<br /><br />The Holy Grail - maybe. Maybe something less mythical. I've done a bit of reading and a fair bit of living and a lot of thinking and I've always had the feeling that it's there - if only I could look in just the right way, from just the right angle... <br />It's about language as much as anything, and memory, and unwarranted assumptions too. Steve Lawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04939837731535127700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-57840370128143559112014-09-01T09:21:42.575-07:002014-09-01T09:21:42.575-07:00Well if it helps I read your last paragraph with a...Well if it helps I read your last paragraph with a cheeky grin.<br /><br />You're entitled to do anything you like including counter-attack, without it being dismissed as "aggressive".<br /><br />You're a hard nut to crack, Steve. I don't come here just to poke a stick at you, nor to argue, nor attack nor defend. I think there is a quest going on, for the Holy Grail, if you Vincenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18297306807695767580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-15680645276140721612014-09-01T09:01:50.586-07:002014-09-01T09:01:50.586-07:00I've been thinking about this this afternoon a...I've been thinking about this this afternoon and I think you may have illuminated another bad assumption you are making. <br />"You are determined to find an answer through reason and do something about it by the same means, even if it means staying unhappy." <br />You seem to be assuming that I am determined to find an answer through reason alone, as if I were some navel-gazing Steve Lawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04939837731535127700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-35537495134683587582014-09-01T02:39:16.232-07:002014-09-01T02:39:16.232-07:00It was supposed to be a joke. Oh well...It was supposed to be a joke. Oh well...Steve Lawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04939837731535127700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-56332521838851551072014-09-01T02:23:47.802-07:002014-09-01T02:23:47.802-07:00Absolutely not! I mean that I've said what I h...Absolutely not! I mean that I've said what I had to say and stand by it absolutely. You have interpreted it your way. <br /><br />Touché is a term in fencing, but we are not duelling and indeed we have not agreed any choice of weapon. <br /><br />However, to answer thrust with counter-thrust, if you desire it so ...<br /><br />You say "You want it [the workings of the mind] to remain a Vincenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18297306807695767580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-62987963989702144902014-09-01T02:18:19.427-07:002014-09-01T02:18:19.427-07:00Absolutely not! I mean that I've said what I h...Absolutely not! I mean that I've said what I had to say and stand by it absolutely. You have interpreted it your way. <br /><br />Touché is a term in fencing, but we are not duelling and indeed we have not agreed any choice of weapon. <br /><br />However, to answer thrust with counter-thrust, if you desire it so ...<br /><br />You say "You want it [the workings of the mind] to remain a Vincenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18297306807695767580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-41886644009288453862014-09-01T02:01:29.913-07:002014-09-01T02:01:29.913-07:00Hey man - thanks so much for this. I've been a...Hey man - thanks so much for this. I've been assuming that nobody else was reading it (nobody but Vincent, who usually comments) but it's good to get another view. I have quite a bit more to add (feel free to back out at any time) including some developments and even some (partial) answers I've come up with. What I've been doing is setting the scene (or at least trying to - in a Steve Lawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04939837731535127700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-19724928985915184112014-09-01T01:59:17.015-07:002014-09-01T01:59:17.015-07:00continued...
What you said about always being conf...continued...<br />What you said about always being conflicted between what you want and what you "should" is a common part of the human comedy too. A lot like R. He has the same problem. The 2 little cartoon characters on opposing shoulders. He has a hard time just letting go & enjoying anything because sooner or later, like you, he feels guilty he wasn't doing something &Steve Lawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04939837731535127700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-60629843135796149292014-09-01T01:58:53.544-07:002014-09-01T01:58:53.544-07:00From a friend who wishes to remain anonymous. I...From a friend who wishes to remain anonymous. I've had to edit it - sorry<br /><br />Hey, Steve<br /><br />I have been following your "this time it's personal". I've hesitated to say anything only because I don't have any good answers to offer. You delve into things a lot more deeply than I do. You've undoubtedly thought through already anything I might add.<br />Steve Lawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04939837731535127700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-42405758870596663032014-09-01T01:51:00.911-07:002014-09-01T01:51:00.911-07:00I think the word you're looking for is 'to...I think the word you're looking for is 'touché' ;-DSteve Lawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04939837731535127700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-71223772800802470272014-08-30T14:28:36.363-07:002014-08-30T14:28:36.363-07:00Over to you, then, dear Steve.Over to you, then, dear Steve.Vincenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18297306807695767580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-4797073111229110262014-08-30T13:30:07.416-07:002014-08-30T13:30:07.416-07:00I still don't really understand how you can be...I still don't really understand how you can be so sure I'm wasting my time here. Oh well...<br /><br />A theory - deep down you don't want it to work because you don't like the idea of the workings of the mind being accessible by reason. You want it to remain a mystery, even if that means staying unhappy. It's a kind of literary romanticism - a picturesque fatalism, and it hasSteve Lawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04939837731535127700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364957201792783158.post-52733536092065415302014-08-30T12:02:18.855-07:002014-08-30T12:02:18.855-07:00Steve, I've read these two posts several times...Steve, I've read these two posts several times, after copying them to my Kindle, as for several days I was unable to comment, being away from home. Even if I had access to an internet device I hadn’t brought my passwords along. So it was a good opportunity to reflect, and not rush into any reply.<br /><br />Finally I came to the conclusion that you are locked into an impasse with no Vincenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18297306807695767580noreply@blogger.com