X-Message-Number: 17399 From: "George Smith" <> References: <> Subject: Mike Perry is right about waiting. Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 10:32:21 -0700 Mike Perry suggests that in time these value questions we've been discussing and other questions as well will probably be resolved. I bow to his wisdom. Mike Perry also invokes the "fun" argument leaving me powerless to oppose him. If his view of humanity as having intrinsic "positive value" is fun for him, then that is a fact. All I know is that I have tried both views in regard to self esteem. I have lived both with it and without it in various contexts. I have found living without it to be superior by far in every way. I have found that in any area of human emotional distress that dropping self esteem improved the situation according to that person. I tried both approaches - promoting self esteem and going beyond it - and have found that the latter produces faster and more reliable results for human happiness overall. I have tried viewing humanity as a whole as having positive value, as well as negative value, and finally of neutral value. I have found that not pre assigning value to the group we call humanity works better for me every time. But I am always open to new evidence. If Mike Perry or anyone else demonstrates a better way, I'm all for it. Having enough time may just reveal better ways. I'm all for it. George Smith CI member Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=17399