Monday, January 21, 2013













Maija said...

Seems like a much more constructive way to look at things.

Lisa said...

Some of the most superpower-ful people I've met have the most deep seated insecurities; they too readily believe that they're nothing special, that they're not superior. Combine that with all the people and society that doesn't want to let them be so, and hey presto- a fully "equal" world.

The European Historical Combat Guild said...

Lots of people do want to be "special", until it happens. Also society celebrates the special people on the way up and then likes to find ways to tear them down, because they are special...

Mike Panian said...

Within normal limits or not, the validity of a behavior, like i think you were saying, is more about the awareness or the ability of the person to connect to the world, mindfulness, which is awareness of your own real objectives and about the ability to adapt to circumstances, that is, specifically selecting behaviors that will actually do what the real objective is in the context of the reality of the moment?

Hyper vigilance is neither normal or not. Its an ability. Like jumping. If I jump up and down while I am trying to convince someone to hire me I might be called acting outside of normal limits.

I think its only if a person acts without awareness of the environment, without mindfulness and without responding in a way that is adaptive to what one's senses are telling him that they start to have problems.

So a person acting hyper-vigilant in a situation of danger makes sense and is respected but a person who is hyper-vigilant around 6 year old kids might actually have something to look at.

Regarding the normal spectrum...I think most people actually wrestle with similar but perhaps not as overt and critical issues of awareness, mindfulness, and selection of the appropriate response. Some people have extreme disconnects. You can do better at deciding whats up just looking at the functionality rather than thinking about categories imo.


Jim said...


I think this is a very big thing, and that it'll go further than you realize.

I see two broad reactions to standouts: Praise, and condemnation. If you stand out in a way that society likes (artistic talent, beauty, athletic ability) -- you're praised and honored. Your superpower is good. But if you stand out in a way that makes the society you're in uncomfortable (alertness, ugliness, capacity to do nasty jobs) -- it's a problem. You can't like being a garbageman... there's something wrong with you. You can't find the adrenaline boost of running code to a hot call exciting and thrilling... You're supposed to be scared. Do what you had to do in a war time situation -- you're a monster. (And if you don't accept that, society'll send you to a doc that'll convince you.)x

Josh K. said...


You can tear the other down, or build yourself up.

Josh K. said...


There is a concept called the 'Overton Window' & it has to do with perception, but it only really works on those who don't have a strong sense of what you believe. It more of an active willful changing of (societal) norms.

At one point in time slavery was an excepted norm, if everyone/majority decided it was OK again, I would have to decide whether or not to conform, be just an outsider or be an outsider while work for change.

My philosophy boils down to believe or do what ever you want as long as you are not picking my pockets or breaking my legs or those that I care about.

Other peoples morality only matters to me if it effects me, not before or on a maybe.

My 2 cents,