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To: DittoJed2
-- I see reality happening all about me, and think it best defined by what happens when I forget to take it into account.. My actions have consequenses which can hurt. Reality can hurt.
Whereas imagination cannot hurt unless acted upon.
- Thus, we can imagine anything, but acting upon those delusions will bring back reality.

Most who deny reality then blame the pain on 'God' or, on their fellow man.
- Strange folks

Imagination can hurt too. Ask any paranoid schizophrenic or person with OCD. Some things occur in the mind that are either a result of malfunctioning senses, being lied to and deceived, or any other number of non-imaginary things.

You are, in effect, imagining that you know what is going on in that individuals mind. Unless/until that person acts, [or you do] no harm is done, in reality, to others. -- Get it?

Also, a reality that is defined by what hurts or doesn't hurt doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Again, I'm not being confrontational here, just trying to understand what you are saying.

When I'm in pain, it's reality to me, -- a real action hurt me.
-- Unless, of course I imagine I'm hurt. But my imagining that pain is also an action on my part, even if it is not a mental disease. And that action hurts only me while kept private.

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- Most who deny reality then blame the pain on 'God' or, on their fellow man. - Strange folks.

Seems rather subjective. If it hurts me, I must have been denying reality.

Yep, it's a strange sort of subjectivism. Blame must be assigned to others so that the reality of ones actions can be denied. Catch 22.

You kinda edge towards Buddhism there where the way to avoid pain is to deny want. If you don't want, you won't hurt, but is that real?

Straw budda.. Find a real argument.

10 posted on 09/17/2003 4:15:47 PM PDT by tpaine ( I'm trying to be Mr Nice Guy, but politics keep getting in me way. ArnieRino for Governator!)
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To: tpaine
It amazes me ...

how many ' conservatives ' (( catholic - christians too )) on the FR embrace leftism --- atheism - aclu - social engineering !
11 posted on 09/17/2003 5:58:23 PM PDT by f.Christian (evolution vs intelligent design ... science3000 ... designeduniverse.com --- * architecture * !)
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To: tpaine
I'll admit that Buddha doesn't exactly fit your definition of reality, but his thoughts concentrated on avoiding pain. It seems to me that you are defining reality as that which causes pain when you forget about it. But how can you forget about something that the only way you can know its real is when it causes pain? I mean, what if something doesn't cause you pain. Is it real? Are objects real? Are people real? You may not act upon them, but do they represent reality? Reality as defined by that which causes pain seems to be an awfully dark view of life.
13 posted on 09/17/2003 10:14:23 PM PDT by DittoJed2 (It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.- Patrick Henry)
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