Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site boulder.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!hao!nbires!boulder!jon From: jon@boulder.UUCP (Jonathan Corbet) Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: A compromise on emotional self-determinism Message-ID: <393@boulder.UUCP> Date: Mon, 5-Aug-85 19:37:29 EDT Article-I.D.: boulder.393 Posted: Mon Aug 5 19:37:29 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 14-Aug-85 03:19:57 EDT Reply-To: jon@boulder.UUCP (Jon Corbet) Organization: National Center for Atmospheric Research Lines: 36 [This line has chosen not to be eaten] This discussion on emotions and whether they are voluntary or not seems to center on two extreme, opposite viewpoints. Some say that people are entirely in charge of their feelings, and somebody who feels sad (or happy, for that matter) feels that way through their own choice, and only through said choice. The other side claims that emotions happen to us, are part of the human experience, and that we can't, and shouldn't try to do anything about them. How 'bout a compromise: We have a great deal of control over our emotions. In particular, we seem to be able to determine our long term emotional state, given enough effort and the right attitude. I once got a net-letter describing this "long term" state as the "DC state" of one's emotional makeup (Oh, no, EE's on the net!). However, the shorter-term "oscillations" can be much harder to control. If a situation I really do not want to see comes about, I am simply going to be unhappy about it for a while. Likewise, fortunate events tend to cause elevated emotional states. I guess my feeling is that somebody who is sad for an evening over a rejection, or who cries for a month because the SO of their dreams has just told them to take a leap, is NOT entirely in control of said feelings, and most certainly should not be told that they are responsible for being sad and would be happy if they chose to. It just does not work that way. Where choice comes in is when it comes down to recovering from said unfortunate event/situation. I do believe that one has the capability to prevent a traumatic occurence from ruining one's life. Does this make sense? jon -- Jonathan Corbet National Center for Atmospheric Research, Field Observing Facility {seismo|hplabs}!hao!boulder!jon (Thanks to CU CS department)