ilumairen

We like to believe our views are enlightened. They're easier to hold when we paint them in such a way. You wrote "too many times" regarding the death of loved ones.. Have you experienced this? In this you place the blame on those around the drug addict. The addict may feel justified in stealing to allay their desires, but the individuals whose trust is broken are supposed to what? Feel nothing but love and support for the individual who is trapped in such a place that mutual respect is nearly impossible, and anything they worked for that may be of enough value to supply the next fix could disappear at any time.. And let's not forget the lies.. The "stigma" is generally a direct result of actions and choices.. The stigma is also just an action.. And this is, in your experience, centered on shared drug use? Even people who can sit through the anguish are addicts. It is the anguish that is the indicator.

Sharing a link to the thread you opened to all in your ppd: And if you ever wish to hang out in the quiet corner you're most certainly welcome. (As for the pitchforks and torches - please do try to avoid running me through or burning me alive.. most appreciated. )

I understand choosing to take a hiatus, or walking away all together. I don't understand the decimating of threads, or what it is that inspires someone to soo drastically eliminate their own past participation.. In any case, warm wishes and safe journeys @lifeforce

The work influenced our own criminal justice system in the U.S., and was written in the 1700s. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the subject matter. This being said, having read it doesn't make me an authority on the subject, and my views on this issue hold no more weight than anyone else's. Many of my views are nuanced, and loosely held, a few are more strongly held. I don't believe that rehabilitation is a possibility for all offenders. And I don't believe the death penalty is effective as a deterrent. I believe we should be honest about these two issues - even as people may have breathed easier knowing Ted Bundy or John Wayne Gacy were no longer breathing the same air.

Yes, I've seen this too. And that isn't my intent here.

Not really. It may only serve to dissuade discussion, and that is not my intent.

I'm curious if the individuals posting here believe punishment is meant as a deterrent to crime, as "justice", and/or some variant of factors. I'm curious how population density is understood to effect both crime and the punishment thereof. And I'm also curious on individual ideas regarding rehabilitation, and how individuals came to their ideas.

On Crimes and Punishments (Hackett Classics) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0915145979/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_xc-VCb2HJPPSZ Required reading for a course I took on the history of crime and punishment. Was interesting enough that two decades later I recalled the book and author.

This is soo very simple and soo profound at the same time. Thanks.

The pointy hats are reserved for the wizards and witches. Would a flowing cowl meet with your approval?

I've been pondering this, coupled with the post Armando made. And my curiosity is now questioning whether anything "came out", or if it was created through your intent and pressured focus. Whose intent was revealed?

Please clarify your differentiation here. From different levels within themselves? Or are you suggesting that those talking to us are also no more than our own voices speaking to us?

I miss her presence here. And hope she eventually returns in all her feline feistiness.

So I was right and wrong at the same time. It certainly is..

Coffee is good.

I would suggest some are just touching different parts of the elephant.

Perhaps he's referring to the 'wiring' of the manifest and subtle bodies? (At least that's the way I understood it.)

Some individuals who arrive at this forum aren't currently doing any practices to be right or wrong about, and do create posts and entire threads in which they request others lay out paths to powers for them. For me, this is what came to mind in regard to the OP of this thread. I tripped myself up, and only stepped on your toes in that I didn't see what you presented as an attack - until you directly typed that it was indeed meant in such a manner.

At this point in time, I only wish to say thank you for taking the time to address my queries. There is potential for this to become a rather interesting thread imo. But right now there's alot of defensiveness. Hopefully we can get past that.

I stand corrected. Apologies to Zork and Earl Grey.

I didn't see what zork saw as a subtle attack. It was just discussion. And didn't think the attack I didn't see was due to him being a know it all.

What you quoted did.. And I was responding to both what you quoted and what you stated.

The outside answers may not correlate with experience, and then the age old conundrum arises. Do you trust yourself or another, and if you don't trust yourself how can you trust the choosing of who to trust? Messy stuff..

I didn't see a subtle attack, and didn't assume he was a know it all either. There's a lot of guard and parry here. Or is it parry and guard? Hard to tell...