Fear

[Hashi Lebwohl]

"Some people"? "SOME people"?? "SOME people"?!?!?
Do you know anyone who knows how to handle every/any challenging situation?

Me. Of course, I am me so the limitations that apply to normal people won't be a factor.

Pfffft.... I can't see why you'd get SO focused on content that you aren't tuned into your social context---

Social context? What, pray tell, is that?

No, let's not make it about me. Please continue.

[Avatar]

Only the limitations which apply to you.

--A

[Hashi Lebwohl]

Now you're giving away all my secrets.

[Linna Heartbooger]

Yeahh, way to listen to the man's stated request, Av! Oh right, I guess that was to me...

No, let's not make it about me. Please continue.

Very well, as long as it's okay that THIS THREAD here is about you for a bit.

The issue with your data-gathering in social contexts is perhaps more about me.
I wanted to point out that I wasn't the one who had quoted that book!
For all you know I could be playing devil's advocate, here.

Anyways... to continue, here's an interesting quote..

"You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice..."

Isn't siding with "the many" - when "the many" are wrong, or choosing to inflict harm - ...isn't that one common way that people often compromise themselves?
I think that when people oppose "the many" when it is right to, (when it is hard or frightening), they exercise virtue.

In fact, those who have little "mental and emotional maturity, the capacity to deal with adversity in whatever form" ...those people may come up against bigger barriers of fear more frequently.
And they may actually be exercising more virtue when they press against those barriers.

[Hashi Lebwohl]

I wanted to point out that I wasn't the one who had quoted that book!
For all you know I could be playing devil's advocate, here.

In that case I apologize for my mistake. I make those every now and then to remind everyone that I am not perfect.

I see the points you are making--doing what is right, regardless of whether it supports "the many" or "the few", as well as doing what it right in spite of being afraid of doing the right thing, are signs of virtue. We should encourage such behavior in people as often as possible.

[StevieG]

I have just returned from an IT related award dinner unscathed! I am proud of myself!

It was basically in a room full of IT professionals/nerds in the Information Technology field, and presentations of the State winners of IT innovations etc, and the company I've been contracting to won an award on the system I maintained, which is great!

But the dinner was at the last minute and I couldn't get a seat at the same table as my work colleagues, so I sat at a table full of complete strangers. So, I chanted my mantra before entering the room ("sometimes you've just gotta say 'What the f*ck' "), imagined them all in their underwear, and it was all fine!

I feel like I'm getting over this fear sh*t!

More battles to fight, no doubt, but this is getting better. Thanks for reading.

[Ananda]

Nice one, StevieG.

[Shaun das Schaf]

Yes and congratulations on your award StevieG!
Did you also get won for 'Best Imagined G-string on an unknown IT professional?"

ETA: I was going to correct 'won' to 'one', but heck, it kinda works that way

[StevieG]

Only in my mind

[Ananda]

It was wearing his lucky g string that got him through the event!