Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site peora.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!harvard!talcott!panda!genrad!decvax!tektronix!uw-beaver!cornell!vax135!petsd!peora!jer From: jer@peora.UUCP (J. Eric Roskos) Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: Re: BEING RESPONSIBLE Message-ID: <1441@peora.UUCP> Date: Tue, 6-Aug-85 09:18:41 EDT Article-I.D.: peora.1441 Posted: Tue Aug 6 09:18:41 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 12-Aug-85 02:47:43 EDT References: <2471@ut-sally.UUCP> Organization: Perkin-Elmer SDC, Orlando, Fl. Lines: 29 "Pooh" is basically right, I think. The notion "you are responsible for your own feelings, not me" is another manifestation of the "me"-oriented attitude that has recently become popular. I think this philosophy derives from people who have been, for a long time, concerned about the welfare of others, and have in time become worn down by it. Receiving no rewards, in the long run, for their efforts (like writing in Usenet), they come eventually to realize "why, I don't have to do this, at all! And I am much happier if I don't." The problem comes when you then go out and make a "gospel" out of this, and start teaching it to others. Soon, people who have never had the problem of becoming exhausted by too much concern for others take up the philosophy as well; and soon, you have a group of people who are basically self-centered, glorifying their self-centeredness by making it a popular fad (ironically, thus making it a social experience. I am reminded in that sense of the women I observe when I eat lunch at Wendy's, who spend their "social" time together endlessly telling denigrating stories about their friends who are not there.). It is certainly true that you have considerable control over your emotions. At the same time, your emotions are a barometer of your environment, as well; and this environment includes the presence or absence of others, even of supportive ones. It is best not to make philosophies from pathological cases. -- Shyy-Anzr: J. Eric Roskos UUCP: ..!{decvax,ucbvax,ihnp4}!vax135!petsd!peora!jer US Mail: MS 795; Perkin-Elmer SDC; 2486 Sand Lake Road, Orlando, FL 32809-7642