Listening to Spirits

[WANDERER]

That by which something is accomplished or some end achieved. One that acts or has the power or authority to act. Delegated authority.
One empowered to act for or represent another...to be a representative.

A disempowered or empowered agent? I think empowered...through God.

Does a disempowered agent have authority or agency...no.

That's how I understand things...just my opinion. But considering that my avatar is a pink cupcake...well...what more is there to say. I also got saddled with a name that means hope. I'm not sure if that sends your spiritual Barbie alarm into red alert or not LOL.

[WANDERER]

Clarifies: the power to act and represent God and have authority from Him is something that I meant on a personal level involving your own life, God and how you interact with family, friends etc... that kind of agency.

I'm not LDS...but I gather that the words *the power and authority to represent God* might be interpreted as priesthood or whatever. That's another level of authority altogether.

[Traveler]

I thought I would add a thought. Many think that they are not influenced by what is around them, this in light of the fact that advertisers pay millions for a minute or two to advertise during the “Super Bowl”. And of course the intelligent unclean spirits that are billions of years old with experience would not be so cleaver.

I was once having a discussion on the internet about the influence TV has on individuals and society when a particular person took me to task arguing that TV had no influence on them – they could make up their own mind. They then said that they had been watching a show where Dick Cavot said that violence on TV was not as effective as some would think. He gave the example of, “With all the humor on TV you would think that humor would be rampant in the streets.”

I thanked the person for their contribution but I had just one question. If TV did not effect their opinion of things why was it that they had to use something they learned from TV to express their opinion? If you ask a child what they want for their birthday or Christmas it will (with almost no exception) be something they saw on TV.

The Traveler

[WANDERER]

Oh I get what you're saying now. I didn't because it's a non-issue. I don't have cable, I don't have a dvd player, I seldom watch tv (House if I have the time), I use the internet for learning and work mainly...I have boring hobbies like knitting. I have an ipod...but I'm not that into music and it was a bit of a waste of money really..I mostly like to listen to Bach, Enya and some girl who sings the blues in French...ummmm...Madeleine Peyroux..probably last recharged it about 5 months ago *doh*..I bought it so that I wouldn't be bored walking...and haven't done much of either*. My reading for entertainment could be described as young adult category. I don't drink. My vices are coffee (cheap instant) and tea (twinnings)...and smoking (I'm trying to quit...it's a habit from being young and silly..). My social activities are pretty much in the same G category. When I last housesat for my sister who has a mega entertainment unit ..it's like going to the movies for real...I waded through her collection of Battlestar Galactica : she has the complete set LOL. Her hubby has the complete set of Astroboy *blah..no idea what the obsession with that is...but to each their own*. My sister thinks I'm really odd for not owning a dvd player....she hasn't asked when the last time I went to see a movie was so I haven't had to weird her out even more LOL. I sometimes play puzzle games on the computer: mah jong and the like.

I did have cable when I was out in a remote area..not much to do ...: lifestyle, history and some of the very nice family friendly Hallmark movies *I'm a sucker for movies with nice messages*. I also ended up playing lawn bowls *that's living in the country for you*. If I want news I'll get it from the internet and select what is worth reading: technology, business/economy and health.

It's not because there are any rules to it...I just don't have any interest. Perhaps it's the other way around. Perhaps the influence towards seeking certain things comes from the person themselves. Perhaps convos about what people should and shouldn't watch, do or listen to are because people are very focussed on restricting themselves to certain things...since it's not an effort for me...I don't end up having those conversations a whole lot unless other people instigate them. Zero interest really..which is why I don't get the idea that things influence you...don't people influence themselves? Anyway, that's where they're at...a conversation isn't really going to change their headspace or habits unless they want to change them and changing one habit doesn't change who they are and why they are lead to have certain hobbies or interests. They'll just replace it with something else that is equivalent.

[Traveler]

Originally Posted by WANDERER

Oh I get what you're saying now. I didn't because it's a non-issue. I don't have cable, I don't have a dvd player, I seldom watch tv (House if I have the time), I use the internet for learning and work mainly...I have boring hobbies like knitting. I have an ipod...but I'm not that into music and it was a bit of a waste of money really..I mostly like to listen to Bach, Enya and some girl who sings the blues in French...ummmm...Madeleine Peyroux..probably last recharged it about 5 months ago *doh*..I bought it so that I wouldn't be bored walking...and haven't done much of either*. My reading for entertainment could be described as young adult category. I don't drink. My vices are coffee (cheap instant) and tea (twinnings)...and smoking (I'm trying to quit...it's a habit from being young and silly..). My social activities are pretty much in the same G category. When I last housesat for my sister who has a mega entertainment unit ..it's like going to the movies for real...I waded through her collection of Battlestar Galactica : she has the complete set LOL. Her hubby has the complete set of Astroboy *blah..no idea what the obsession with that is...but to each their own*. My sister thinks I'm really odd for not owning a dvd player....she hasn't asked when the last time I went to see a movie was so I haven't had to weird her out even more LOL. I sometimes play puzzle games on the computer: mah jong and the like.

I did have cable when I was out in a remote area..not much to do ...: lifestyle, history and some of the very nice family friendly Hallmark movies *I'm a sucker for movies with nice messages*. I also ended up playing lawn bowls *that's living in the country for you*. If I want news I'll get it from the internet and select what is worth reading: technology, business/economy and health.

It's not because there are any rules to it...I just don't have any interest. Perhaps it's the other way around. Perhaps the influence towards seeking certain things comes from the person themselves. Perhaps convos about what people should and shouldn't watch, do or listen to are because people are very focussed on restricting themselves to certain things...since it's not an effort for me...I don't end up having those conversations a whole lot unless other people instigate them. Zero interest really..which is why I don't get the idea that things influence you...don't people influence themselves? Anyway, that's where they're at...a conversation isn't really going to change their headspace or habits unless they want to change them and changing one habit doesn't change who they are and why they are lead to have certain hobbies or interests. They'll just replace it with something else that is equivalent.

Interesting post - I thank you.

Now I have a question. Many people feel that they are being influenced by something external as they go about things. For example JJ Rawlings (not sure on spelling) commented that her Harry Potter was something that "came to her".

I had a Psych class many years ago in college where we ran experiments to see how people could be influenced. I was quite shocked at the ease of it. So may I ask you? Do you think the society you live in influences you? - do you think your friends and family influence you? And the question my Buddhist (priest) friend once asked me – are you aware of how you are influenced – what thoughts are really yours and what thought come from somewhere else?

The Traveler

[WANDERER]

I think it's interesting how critical we have to be..particularly with information overload. Whose information is correct/what is an expert/is that expert biased or being misrepresented. What subtle messages are being implied. Are you getting a broad view of things or a narrow one. Do you really have the time or inclination. Too many hats to wear: political, science, health, moral etc. Too much marketing going on. Edward De Bono looks at critical thinking skills and different ways of evaluating things and stepping out of different perspectives, which is sometimes useful..lateral thinking challenges us to think harder about our ideas.

But whatever our age, we bring that many years of bias towards things through our own experiences and understandings. The bias bit is harder to break than 'new messages' sometimes. Change is rapid and people's thinking has definitely become more fluid. Processing skills are higher and people do have a greater awareness.

How do you tell which are your own thoughts...I guess the time for reflection and analysis and integration is not something people have a lot of time for. So you see inconsistencies. I guess by checking the inconsistencies and whether your ideas are supported by action. If they are your thoughts they'll carry through in everything you do or decide or they'll just be pat phrases and cliches that you turn out in a popular culture kind of way without much thought. Either they'll stay or be discarded. Prioritised or filtered out. Choice I guess.

I think most people are too caught up in the daily things that they have to do. Questions like: how do you know your thoughts are your own make people smile. It's in the category of what is the sound of one hand clapping. Identity crisis isn't a fixture of most people's lives...everything around them tells them who they are by the way they react to things and apply them. People tend to be more practical than analytical.

How do you know your thoughts are your own...well if you ever get into an in depth discussion you can see how you think you believe the same things...but very very differently...even when discussing things that are common and trivial. And it makes a difference whether the person has a great deal in common with you or very little..either very diverse or oppositional to your beliefs. Communication and interaction?

Nature/nurture: philosophy/religion/science/teaching pedagogy: it's one of those questions people have different perspectives on when it comes to a question like that.

What was your friend's perspective?