Story Work will set you free

[VivantMort]

"Work will set you free" is eerily almost identical to a German Nazi slogan, "Arbeit macht frei" (translation: "Work sets you free"), known for appearing on the entrance of Auschwitz and other Nazi concentration camps. Hmmm...

 

[Mendex]

"Work will set you free" is eerily almost identical to a German Nazi slogan, "Arbeit macht frei" (translation: "Work sets you free"), known for appearing on the entrance of Auschwitz and other Nazi concentration camps. Hmmm...

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OP make clear that in the first page, what is your point?.

 

[PDAnnie2610]

"Work will set you free" is eerily almost identical to a German Nazi slogan, "Arbeit macht frei" (translation: "Work sets you free"), known for appearing on the entrance of Auschwitz and other Nazi concentration camps. Hmmm...

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Another asian here who uses work to cope.

 

[VivantMort]

OP make clear that in the first page, what is your point?.

Okay so I very attentively re-read the Original Post on the first page seaching for clarity, and there is no mention at all regarding the origin of the dictum quoted in the byline. To answer the question concerning 'point', it was just a self-explanatory interpretational observation, that is all. I do apologise if my post elucidating the historical origins of the quoted byline caused offence....that most certainly was never my intent and I will gladly delete it if is bothersome. Just lemme know and it will be done.

 

[Mendex]

Okay so I very attentively re-read the Original Post on the first page seaching for clarity, and there is no mention at all regarding the origin of the dictum quoted in the byline. To answer the question concerning 'point', it was just a self-explanatory interpretational observation, that is all.

https://gyazo.com/27898f79770272f70008f4af44e7ca4e She post it here the origin of the dictum. (Jan 27 2021).

I do apologise if my post elucidating the historical origins of the quoted byline caused offence....that most certainly was never my intent and I will gladly delete it if is bothersome. Just lemme know and it will be done.

You shouldn't apologize, You are not doing nothing wrong or doing " bothersome". Rather I encourage not taking seriously people who act like you ought to shame for talking about a historical event which is open to the general public instead give up your free speech.

 

[VivantMort]

Another asian here who uses work to cope.

Hi PDAnnie2610, I believe that using work to cope is absolutely a wonderfully good thing and I am sincerely glad (and a bit envious, in a good way) that work helps you and other people to cope. I so very much wish it worked for me as a coping mechanism but it does not; it has quite the opposite effect on me, in fact. Anyway... I hope my post didn't cause any offence....that most certainly was never my intent. Take good care and best well wishes! :)

https://gyazo.com/27898f79770272f70008f4af44e7ca4e She post it here the origin of the dictum. (Jan 27 2021).

You shouldn't apologize, You are not doing nothing wrong or doing " bothersome". Rather I encourage not taking seriously people who act like you ought to shame for talking about a historical event which is open to the general public instead give up your free speech.

Understood. Thanks for your replies and best well wishes! .

 

[Bruces]

work is one of the reasons I want to CTB!!

 

[Makko]

I was tallying my billed hours this month but then I realised there's a whole one more day of the month left. I always end up billing the most on the last day to squeeze that last bit of juice out of the month, and this month I'll have two last days. It's a miracle.

 

[VivantMort]

"Work will set you free" is eerily almost identical to a German Nazi slogan, "Arbeit macht frei" (translation: "Work sets you free"), known for appearing on the entrance of Auschwitz and other Nazi concentration camps. Hmmm...

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On the flip side, Siggie Freud reportedly posited that "love and work" ("liebe und arbeit") are the cornerstones of our humanity and are necessary for meaning and fulfilment in life. Me thinks that for Siggie's supposition to be experiencially true, work would have to be meaningful and/or enjoyable, and love would have to be genuine and reciprocal, i.e., "to love and be loved". Those are lofty and perhaps unrealist ideals. I firmly believe people can have meaning and fulfilment in their life without "love and work". Even though I currently have neither, (cue the self-pity party haha) I do try, with some success, to be empathetically joyful for people who have either or both. Anyway, y'all take good care and best well wishes! :)

 

[PDAnnie2610]

when my work ends for the year, I'll be going... my bus ride. I cannot abide sitting around waiting..

 

[Makko]

Last day of my 1-week vacation. I've briefly checked my inbox and I have 74 unread emails. Tomorow is going to be the mondayest monday.

 

[Makko]

Meeting with mr. triple murderer tomorow. An opponent rep. This guy flipped out at another business meeting years ago and shot 3 people dead. While in prison he got a law degree and now represents similar unhinged types. In this case eastern european mafia. I've investigated him a bit and apparently he's a crappy lawyer but still gets good settlements because of his intimidation tactics. He's going to demand about $ 500 000 as a settlement for a supposed breach of contract. My counter-offer will be "fuck off". Tomorrow he will meet his match as there's no threat of violence that can scare me. I've had guns and knives pointed at me before and it didn't even raise my pulse. My client is terrified though and doesn't dare to attend the meeting.

Yep, just another day at work.

 

[mossyfox]

try some meds for funsies and see if there's one that makes you feel more connected to the the world and people. I'm curious

 

[Bullit]

Meeting with mr. triple murderer tomorow. An opponent rep. This guy flipped out at another business meeting years ago and shot 3 people dead. While in prison he got a law degree and now represents similar unhinged types. In this case eastern european mafia. I've investigated him a bit and apparently he's a crappy lawyer but still gets good settlements because of his intimidation tactics. He's going to demand about $ 500 000 as a settlement for a supposed breach of contract. My counter-offer will be "fuck off". Tomorrow he will meet his match as there's no threat of violence that can scare me. I've had guns and knives pointed at me before and it didn't even raise my pulse. My client is terrified though and doesn't dare to attend the meeting.

Yep, just another day at work.

That makes it official! Can I be your boyfriend??

 

[BrokenArrow]

Meeting with mr. triple murderer tomorow. An opponent rep. This guy flipped out at another business meeting years ago and shot 3 people dead. While in prison he got a law degree and now represents similar unhinged types. In this case eastern european mafia. I've investigated him a bit and apparently he's a crappy lawyer but still gets good settlements because of his intimidation tactics. He's going to demand about $ 500 000 as a settlement for a supposed breach of contract. My counter-offer will be "fuck off". Tomorrow he will meet his match as there's no threat of violence that can scare me. I've had guns and knives pointed at me before and it didn't even raise my pulse. My client is terrified though and doesn't dare to attend the meeting.

Yep, just another day at work.

Wow, this could be the initial plotline of a movie, or novel.

Can you let us know how it plays out?

 

[Makko]

That makes it official! Can I be your boyfriend??

Can't slam this clam

 

[Mendex]

Spoiler: Postmodern Angst

Is this a possible state of your mental health after spending a long ... long time working?

 

[Deleted member 8579]

Spoiler: Postmodern Angst

Is this a possible state of your mental health after spending a long ... long time working?

(I like the clip you linked very much.)

 

[Makko]

So, today's meeting. The murder guy showed up as planned but the "clients" didn't. At the last moment they put someone else in their place, when I looked this guy up he turned out to be known for fraud. So it was me vs a mass murderer and a con artist.

They opened the meeting by raising their claim from $ 500 000 to $ 1,8 million. My stance was that they get $ 0.

Once Mr Murder noticed that I'm not afraid of him he somehow became nice and we sort of clicked. He's cutely incompetent and harmless without the intimidation factor. Mr Fraud wasn't as nice. During the whole meeting he wasn't really listening to anything I said and kept talking down to me while stripping me with his eyes. He became visibly irritated towards the end when he saw that I won't bend over and give him money.

We didn't agree on anything and they said they'll send over more "documentation" for my consideration. From what I saw during the meeting I doubt they have anything real to back their claim. I'm sure they will fabricate evidence and this will escalate into a criminal drama.

Added Mr Murder on LinkedIn. Fun lad.

Spoiler: Postmodern Angst

Is this a possible state of your mental health after spending a long ... long time working?

You get it.

 

[ven]

I'm not the only one here like this, am I? Come on.

Nope, I'm an asexual, borderline misathrope with workaholic tendencies to mask suicidal ideation, who is also a self-selecting orphan and wannabe hermit.

Prior to knowing what asexuality was, I would enter into relationships feigning interest in people because it was what you're suppose to do to fit in with social norms. Find love, create a family. I forced myself into relationships by framing them as learning experiments to study behavior.

I'm great at pretending and blending into situations, but it's not real or genuine. I don't feel like I'm human. I'm in a human body, but I do not bond with people. I've attempted to become a genuine person only to realize that what lies underneath the polished, orchestrated mannerisms is in no way shape or form socially acceptable.

 

[Bullit]

Can't slam this clam

Damn...ma'am!

 

[mossyfox]

Nope, I'm an asexual, borderline misathrope with workaholic tendencies to mask suicidal ideation, who is also a self-selecting orphan and wannabe hermit.

Prior to knowing what asexuality was, I would enter into relationships feigning interest in people because it was what you're suppose to do to fit in with social norms. Find love, create a family. I forced myself into relationships by framing them as learning experiments to study behavior.

I'm great at pretending and blending into situations, but it's not real or genuine. I don't feel like I'm human. I'm in a human body, but I do not bond with people. I've attempted to become a genuine person only to realize that what lies underneath the polished, orchestrated mannerisms is in no way shape or form socially acceptable.

what is a self selecting orphan? I've never heard of it. have you ever tried mind altering drugs? I've always wondered what effect it could have on people who don't feel the same social drives.

humans are social animals and the social aspect is integral, so not having that feeling would leave you stuck in a place feeling...unhuman. But we have humans of all varieties and types in the world, not everyone can be inside the bell of the curve. You definitely aren't the only person like this.

Do you still want to be socially accepted, but for your genuine self?

 

[ven]

what is a self selecting orphan? I've never heard of it. have you ever tried mind altering drugs? I've always wondered what effect it could have on people who don't feel the same social drives.

humans are social animals and the social aspect is integral, so not having that feeling would leave you stuck in a place feeling...unhuman. But we have humans of all varieties and types in the world, not everyone can be inside the bell of the curve. You definitely aren't the only person like this.

Do you still want to be socially accepted, but for your genuine self?

My father died of alcoholism and I didn't talk to him for the decade leading up to his death after the divorce. I felt nothing after learning about it from my sister. My mother calls me on occasion, but I'm otherwise indifferent. I've never talked to my sister outside of when my mother hands the phone to her. I'm several flights away from them, so in-person contact doesn't occur. I do not intentionally go out of my way to feel like this, it's just me.

I've experimented with an array of prescribed and illicit drugs. Are you specifically referring to the hallucinogenic class of drugs? If so, yes. Are you inferring about a concept like oneness?

My dream growing up was to become a hermit living in the mountains blanketed with snow isolated from humanity, but I'm aware of the physical difficulties and legal issues I'd face attempting this lifestyle. Please note, this is differentiated from urban homelessness while relying on handouts and living in tent cities; I would never engage with this. I think that my inability to live as a hermit drives my suicidal ideation and creates other problems areas in life. I possess no genuine sense of purpose or motivation, yet I am forced to live in society as opposed to living in a solo hermitage--it's infuriating. Focusing on a task intensely, like work, cancels out suicidality. Multitasking isn't a real human trait, so you cannot think about killing yourself if you're working intensely.

I honestly doubt there is a sect of humanity that would find my genuine self acceptable. I can pacify that side of me, however it's not real. I don't know why I don't bond with people in-person; but, I'm here on this board with people I share a commonality with, so there is that. People interest me, yet I don't built a genuine connection with them like they do with me. I've read numerous books trying to figure out why I am the way I am and human behavior in general. I remember wondering why people bullied me in school, so I went to the library at 10 and asked the librarian who a famous psychologist was, then checked out the first book by Freud I picked off the shelf, Totem and Taboo. An interesting choice, although it loosely fit the subject of immediate concern. I've accepted this is who I am.

 

[mossyfox]

I'm not sure, but probably oneness is what I'm getting at. or stimulating regions of your brain that could make you feel bonded. Physical touch and hugs are supposed to stimulate bonding chemicals. I assume based on the relationships you mentioned that physical touch does not have this effect on you? Do you think your brain isn't producing the chemicals all science says the human brain should be producing in such and such a situation?

The question is, do you want your genuine self to be accepted, not whether or not you think there is ever a possibility of that happening somewhere or when on this earth.

How close are you to your genuine self right now, talking on this forum?

 

[ven]

I'm not sure, but probably oneness is what I'm getting at. or stimulating regions of your brain that could make you feel bonded. Physical touch and hugs are supposed to stimulate bonding chemicals. I assume based on the relationships you mentioned that physical touch does not have this effect on you? Do you think your brain isn't producing the chemicals all science says the human brain should be producing in such and such a situation?

The question is, do you want your genuine self to be accepted, not whether or not you think there is ever a possibility of that happening somewhere or when on this earth.

How close are you to your genuine self right now, talking on this forum?

I wish I could find a genuine purpose or motivation, but it's just not there in relation to society.

It's possible that I do possess a neurochemical imbalance and have not found the correct cocktail to correct it. I'm not motivated to fix, what I don't perceive as a problem at this point. Alcohol and certain illicit substances did make me feel "normal," but they're temporary and the negative residual effects outweigh the very temporary benefits. I've attended therapy and tried various prescription drugs with no long-term positive outcomes. Once you talk to enough psychiatrists and their own therapeutic biases demonstrate themselves and are usually based on what they learned during their psychiatric residencies, so you can predict their methodology based on the date they attended school with fairly precise accuracy if you keep up to date by reading the therapeutic efficacy review publications on PubMed. I know about cognitive biases, negative thinking patterns, exposure therapy, CBT (Aaron and Judith Beck's books), etc... and I understand and implemented them enough to navigate society. Fake it till you make it.

The moment I stop pretending, I return to my natural state. Is is fair that I should be drugged and pretend to be someone I am not to fit into society? As Makko characterized herself, I feel like an alien.

I want to be a hermit outside of human society, but I cannot reasonably make this reality come to fruition.

I'm closer to who I am here than in real life.

Edit:

I failed to address all your questions in the original text.

I feel pressure from hugs, the physical embrace and not an emotional bonding. Based on knowledge, I know how I should feel during a hug, so I project that feeling to person hugging me relative to what type of interpersonal relationship I have with them. Earlier in my youth, I noticed people reacted negatively if I did not reciprocate with contextually appropriate social cues; so, I learned what I'm suppose to feel and faked it to avoid the situations.

 

[mossyfox]

Interesting. Thank you for sharing. I was curious if your brain might be producing very low levels of chemicals or if the responsible regions are nearly inactive.

If you are able to adapt into society and function there isn't a need for you to be medicated. At that point medication would be your choice if you wanted to feel how other people felt. Humans are always evolving and what's to say exactly what is good or bad about your brain's development.

What makes it feel frustrating is the comparison to other humans because we have to deal with them and live among them. So any change in our species is difficult, even if it happened to be for the better. (Not saying that it is in your case).

What are your feelings towards other animals and living things?

If the planet was only made of communities of other humans like you, what do you think this world would look like or how you would be? Do you think you would have a purpose? What do you think a group of people just like yourself would form a society around, what purpose?

 

[Makko]

I was curious if your brain might be producing very low levels of chemicals or if the responsible regions are nearly inactive.

Is that why you propose drugs as a solution for existential disillusionment?

 

[Pure]

Is that why you propose drugs as a solution for existential disillusionment?

It sounds like you need an ego death tbh someone told me that on here and I looked it up and it really sounds like what I need over actually killing myself.

You use very strong hallucinagens to cause it. Makes you feel like your at deaths door the same way people who've had near death experiences and you're forced to interact with your emotions and deep rooted issues. Wouldn't hurt to try if you're physically healthy and don't have latent bipolar or schizophrenia.

I'm not sure, but probably oneness is what I'm getting at. or stimulating regions of your brain that could make you feel bonded. Physical touch and hugs are supposed to stimulate bonding chemicals.

People who have tried hallucinagens state that they experience overwhelming empathy and connectedness with the world, not just other humans.

I can't speak fully on it as I haven't had my own experience yet but I'm optimistic. I think fundamentally suicidality and deep depression is rooted in ego (unless you want to suicide due to physical illness). Not to be confused with egotistical but being wrapped up in your head and ego is what can lead to the intense suicidal ideation. At least that's what I'm suspecting of myself.

 

[mossyfox]

Is that why you propose drugs as a solution for existential disillusionment?

I did not propose any solutions. I said clearly that I was curious about the drugs affect on his unique mind as compared to their effect on neurotypical minds.

 

[ven]

What are your feelings towards other animals and living things?

Humans are animals, and in most cases, nonhuman animals are more behaviorally consistent and predictable than humans. I don't have a predilection for or against nonhuman. I believe in a degree of animal sentience, so I disdain human exploitation of animals. The human biomass is over-represented and the consequences are obvious, particularly when you consider the main driver of rapid animal extinction is human encroachment and exploitation. In the past, animal exploitation was a necessity for human survival, but now it's not.

I'm not speculating on the other questions.

It sounds like you need an ego death tbh someone told me that on here and I looked it up and it really sounds like what I need over actually killing myself.

I can't speak fully on it as I haven't had my own experience yet but I'm optimistic. I think fundamentally suicidality and deep depression is rooted in ego (unless you want to suicide due to physical illness). Not to be confused with egotistical but being wrapped up in your head and ego is what can lead to the intense suicidal ideation. At least that's what I'm suspecting of myself.

The ego term was popularized by Frued and Jung, Alan Watts, and Jung toward the end of his life, popularized the metaphysical possibilities stemming from Eastern philosophies and attempting to explain them in a Western lens. Then a dearth of gurus/monks started flooding into Western markets.

If you're curious about the topic, I'd suggest reading the The Upanishads, The Bagavad Gita, and The Dhammapada. Similar concepts exist in Western religions if you dig deep enough, Meister Eckhart or John of the Cross. Philosophy even touches on it, Spinoza's Ethics comes to immediate mind, and probably Schopenhauer. The aforementioned books are user friendly, and if interest persists beyond them, there is no shortage of material.

I'm assuming your interpretation of ego death is similar to nirvana or samadhi. Either case, ego death is a temporary state and the human condition seeks to undo it. If experienced via hallucinogens, there is more confusion than understanding and acceptance, so there is less value IMO. Not even gurus/monks who devote their entire lives pursuing a release from samsara manage a permanent ego death. People are always sucked back into the illusion of separateness. However, even if you do maintain it through focused meditation practice, is it worth it?