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mikehiggins

(5,614 posts)

120. another vote for almost false

Sat Jan 9, 2016, 12:58 PM

Jan 2016

We, as a species, do not ordinarily do the kinds of things that could make us "Master of our own destiny". Dealing with other people compromises this romanticized, semi-Randian view. Imagine if Howard Roark (sorry Randites if I misspelled that) had thought more of the needs of the people those housing units were built for than for his own "vision" of how an apartment tower should reflect his almost sociopathic personality.

I, as a man, had a view of my destiny and how I would master it. Then I fell in love with a wonderful woman so things changed. Then we were given two wonderful kids. More change. Then and then and then...

So no, I can't buy into that line, as attractive as it may seem in the Terminator movies. A hermit in a cave in some high, inaccessible peak might be "master, etc., etc." but then how would he keep up with Game of Thrones?

Anyway, it isn't the destination. It is the journey...

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True or false..."You are the Master of your own destiny" nt [View all] clarice Jan 2016 OP

Mostly false. Tobin S. Jan 2016 #1

Just speaking for the contrarian view.... clarice Jan 2016 #2

I said mostly false. :) Tobin S. Jan 2016 #3

I would be interested in your further thoughts on the matter...... clarice Jan 2016 #7

That's if you're born in the right place, have the right upbringing, drm604 Jan 2016 #74

Couldn't have said it better myself. nt raccoon Jan 2016 #154

I've recently ejbr Jan 2016 #112

Very interesting... clarice Jan 2016 #143

Hard work, intelligence, dedication and a singleness of purpose drove George W. Bush rurallib Jan 2016 #11

My goodness.....The topic has nothing to do with politics. Why go there? nt clarice Jan 2016 #12

I haven't even been Master of My Domain since puberty. rug Jan 2016 #4

I have to think of Chaos Theory and things like the Extended Mind jakeXT Jan 2016 #5

Yes, my point exactly....and this realm of thought is not a new one... clarice Jan 2016 #6

ugh AtheistCrusader Jan 2016 #40

Please elaborate. nt clarice Jan 2016 #42

what for? AtheistCrusader Jan 2016 #43

I am interested in a more detailed synopsis of your opinion. nt clarice Jan 2016 #45

Mixing observations of the behavior of subatomic particles and AtheistCrusader Jan 2016 #46

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to step on one of your sacred cows. nt clarice Jan 2016 #47

There is no cow. AtheistCrusader Jan 2016 #50

Sure there is... gregcrawford Jan 2016 #65

A very moooooving observation, nt clarice Jan 2016 #70

Chaos Theory: The simple version... uriel1972 Jan 2016 #60

Garden variety postmodernist technobabble Orrex Jan 2016 #127

At least google is messing up our brain jakeXT Jan 2016 #129

I am the Master of my fate, I am the Captain of my soul...*click*...I am the Master... First Speaker Jan 2016 #8

I'm sorry, I don't know what you are alluding to. Please clarify. nt clarice Jan 2016 #9

Sorry...a poem by Henley, from the 1890s... First Speaker Jan 2016 #22

well done. nt clarice Jan 2016 #25

First Speaker SCantiGOP Jan 2016 #89

I would say it depends on who is there. BlueJazz Jan 2016 #10

Sorry BJ...you lost me on that one. who is where?. nt clarice Jan 2016 #13

I am the master of how I respond TexasBushwhacker Jan 2016 #14

But isn't it possible to shuffle the deal? Or demand to deal yourself? nt clarice Jan 2016 #15

There are certainly many things you can influence TexasBushwhacker Jan 2016 #16

Very true (and I am so sorry to hear about your Mom) clarice Jan 2016 #18

I think being willing to take risks has a lot to do with choices people make passiveporcupine Jan 2016 #66

Yes absolutely.... clarice Jan 2016 #67

I'm glad you were able to move away from your situation and heal yourself passiveporcupine Jan 2016 #73

Dealing with complex PTSD issues does complicate adulthood nightscanner59 Jan 2016 #92

I am so sorry to hear about your life journey passiveporcupine Jan 2016 #93

I suppose it us good to think you are. n/t TexasBushwhacker Jan 2016 #17

I think so too.nt clarice Jan 2016 #19

Yes. As has been said, the world can take everything from you but your attitude. kairos12 Jan 2016 #20

Well stated. nt clarice Jan 2016 #32

Interesting thread hibbing Jan 2016 #21

To your points.... clarice Jan 2016 #34

Do you believe in fate? hibbing Jan 2016 #58

this book NJCher Jan 2016 #23

I will look it up. Thanks Cher. nt clarice Jan 2016 #33

sorry for the cryptic reference NJCher Jan 2016 #39

#1 on my reading list...is it an older book? Or fairly recent...question. clarice Jan 2016 #41

To a large extent, I believe this is true mythology Jan 2016 #24

Myth...first...best of luck with the knee...good Karma coming your way.... clarice Jan 2016 #37

All the best with your knee! LeftishBrit Jan 2016 #148

Totally false... uriel1972 Jan 2016 #26

Determined by who? or what? nt clarice Jan 2016 #27

By no-one and nothing... uriel1972 Jan 2016 #28

Do you believe in pre-determination? nt clarice Jan 2016 #35

Not in the sense of a plan... uriel1972 Jan 2016 #54

Other than the screaming, I disagree...nt jonno99 Jan 2016 #29

You are free to do so... or are you?... nt uriel1972 Jan 2016 #30

Ok, if you're going to pin me down for an answer... jonno99 Jan 2016 #31

It was inevitable that you would write that sentence OriginalGeek Jan 2016 #36

Or not.lol clarice Jan 2016 #38

interesting read on physicist Roger Penroses's theory of "orchestrated objective reduction" clarice Jan 2016 #44

Penrose - wow SoLeftIAmRight Jan 2016 #110

Yes....one of the most visionary thinkers in our time...Interestingly though.... clarice Jan 2016 #113

several of the "thinkers" here have said... SoLeftIAmRight Jan 2016 #114

What I find interesting is..... clarice Jan 2016 #115

VEHEMENTLY disagree SoLeftIAmRight Jan 2016 #116

Nice to find a kindred spirit....have a great weekend. nt clarice Jan 2016 #117

Many thanks SoLeftIAmRight Jan 2016 #118

False. There is no "you" only "we." McCamy Taylor Jan 2016 #48

Artifex Vitae, Artifex Sui (Architect of life, Architect of Destiny) Xipe Totec Jan 2016 #49

That is absolutely beautiful Hestia Jan 2016 #99

I think this is mostly true, but with a big caveat. lark Jan 2016 #51

Yes.... a good point. nt clarice Jan 2016 #55

If we were... liberal N proud Jan 2016 #52

Yes but are you the Master of your own Domain? LynneSin Jan 2016 #53

Yes, I believe so. nt clarice Jan 2016 #56

For the last day or so NobodyHere Jan 2016 #76

If, and only if chance does not exist. LanternWaste Jan 2016 #57

False abakan Jan 2016 #59

So then you must believe in pre-destination? nt clarice Jan 2016 #64

waiting. nt clarice Jan 2016 #69

No, not really. abakan Jan 2016 #78

I agree. nt clarice Jan 2016 #84

Master? Flying Squirrel Jan 2016 #61

Imo easttexaslefty Jan 2016 #62

So then you must believe in pre-destination ? nt clarice Jan 2016 #63

I didn't know there was a time limit easttexaslefty Jan 2016 #71

I once thought we did. easttexaslefty Jan 2016 #72

waiting. nt clarice Jan 2016 #68

True for the most part, but unexpected stuff happens. Throd Jan 2016 #75

SNAP!!!!!!!! mackerel Jan 2016 #77

Mostly, false. Triana Jan 2016 #79

Generally true. (n/t) xenoturkey Jan 2016 #80

False HeiressofBickworth Jan 2016 #81

You nailed it, Heiress. bullsnarfle Jan 2016 #83

Our path in life is an endless series of choices randr Jan 2016 #82

Beautifully put. nt clarice Jan 2016 #85

Well said, and I have experienced that "near miss" type of situation ms liberty Jan 2016 #88

Neuroscientific research has suggested that even most of the decisions we think we make ... markpkessinger Jan 2016 #95

We can train our subconscious; ultimately then aren't we in one actually making decisions? Hestia Jan 2016 #100

What we do have is Choice OxQQme Jan 2016 #86

Yes, that is being a master, IMO, nt clarice Jan 2016 #94

I'd first have to be the master of my options. nt valerief Jan 2016 #87

I'd settle for being the master of my household SCantiGOP Jan 2016 #90

I chose what sails to hoist. I control the booms. I steer the rudder. Gore1FL Jan 2016 #91

Excellent analogy Hestia Jan 2016 #101

Who the hell knows anymore?? Blue_Tires Jan 2016 #96

I am not on enough drugs to have this conversation. Goblinmonger Jan 2016 #97

Shit happens. PassingFair Jan 2016 #98

This. ^^^ easttexaslefty Jan 2016 #102

"Master"? False Recursion Jan 2016 #103

I have a 4-acre sphere of influence. elias49 Jan 2016 #104

False sakabatou Jan 2016 #105

Binary thinking is very fallacious. Just drop it and get with reality. nt Bernardo de La Paz Jan 2016 #106

Which reality ? Sorry, I'm too busy making my own. nt clarice Jan 2016 #107

1. That was a Republican slogan. 2. Your reality is not binary. 3: Bernardo de La Paz Jan 2016 #108

why would you ever bring politics into a discussion of this nature? clarice Jan 2016 #109

You have an influence, but you are mostly a product of your circumstances. Ed Suspicious Jan 2016 #111

Our destiny is to be dust... Helen Borg Jan 2016 #119

"All we are is dust in the wind dude". Bill clarice Jan 2016 #133

another vote for almost false mikehiggins Jan 2016 #120

False. Chef Eric Jan 2016 #121

I agree with the other poster, mostly false silvershadow Jan 2016 #122

Conservatives really BELIEVE this.... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2016 #123

I see your analogy... but I wasn't going anywhere near that extreme.... clarice Jan 2016 #134

They can help you deal with what life has handed you.... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2016 #146

I don't believe. Holly Landry Jan 2016 #124

Is God a Taoist? Xipe Totec Jan 2016 #130

Very interesting. nt clarice Jan 2016 #140

True that..but I think that maybe..... clarice Jan 2016 #135

Nature, Nurture, and Luck, imho jomin41 Jan 2016 #125

I really expected this to be a thread about masturbation Orrex Jan 2016 #126

Then perhaps you consider yourself tossed by the winds of fate? nt clarice Jan 2016 #136

Well, I don't buy into fate Orrex Jan 2016 #144

lol.....peace. nt clarice Jan 2016 #145

the need and want of health insurance is the master of my destiny. nt Javaman Jan 2016 #128

Good luck with that..checked out the ACA site last month....outrageous rates. Good luck and be well. clarice Jan 2016 #137

i have health insurance... Javaman Jan 2016 #149

I understand completely, it sux. nt clarice Jan 2016 #150

If there is any such thing as destiny... gcomeau Jan 2016 #131

Ahhhh a semantics conundrum.............. clarice Jan 2016 #138

In that case... still false. gcomeau Jan 2016 #141

Yes agreed.."influence" Am I being graded on this? lol. Luv ya. nt clarice Jan 2016 #142

True - to SOME degree Rider3 Jan 2016 #132

Perhaps...but the list is long with people of "privilege" coming to a rotten end... clarice Jan 2016 #139

Definitely false... LeftishBrit Jan 2016 #147

Hello, your post is very meaningful and valuable of discussion. happy wendy Jan 2016 #151

I definitely value your opinion. Thanks Wendy. nt clarice Jan 2016 #152

Thank you! happy wendy Jan 2016 #153

Mostly true, although sometimes my destiny has a mind of its own Trailrider1951 Jan 2016 #155

Such a sad thread. CanSocDem Jan 2016 #156

I agree, but I also think that.... clarice Jan 2016 #158

I'm a newcomer. happy wendy Jan 2016 #157

Welcome Wendy... clarice Jan 2016 #159