Originally Posted by Al
Now I gather you can probably see all of this and I have little interest in such an "argument", however my one point is that with what I have provided and what you may already know, such a conversation starts to become rather pointless. That is not to say however that it may not be had to share new insight to another or to reconsider the knowledge one already holds.

Yes, this is a very rehashed argument. It did help me understand my own point of view from yet another angle or rather on a deeper level. I find I repeat and repeat the same lesson many times, oft to my consternation. But in the end I realize it is because some level of myself is still in question and wants to see it all again.

With my friend yesterday, she posed questions and allowed me to talk my way through my beliefs. It felt so intentional and a gift from her wise soul to mine, to allow me to use her as a sounding board and offer up question after question until it became very clear to me and easy to answer each time she asked.

Reinforcement, definitely. But also, I am surrounded by the negative polarity, the structure, the rules and people who are very indoctrinated. Most of the topics begin with, "Isn't the world a terrible place and aren't teenagers running rampant with no rules...did you see in the news how a woman was attacked...they should all be taught a lesson and see how they like it..."

Originally Posted by Al
Originally Posted by Alisa
I realized that natural consequences exist to help people learn how to behave. But more importantly, if you try to force anything, put up any kind of boundaries, eventually a reaction will occur to oppose the force.
Well, have you met a person who would if asked, gladly be imprisoned (assuming the conditions were painful to them)? Not too common in my experience...

True. Yet the concept persists. And some people end up imprisoned seemingly willingly despite painful conditions. People even self-flagellate.

Originally Posted by Al
Remember that we currently live in a world dominated by such regiment, order and control.
They know not what they do.

Exactly. They even believe it is good. I certainly did.