Freedomain Radio

After being consistently impressed with Stefan's podcasts, I decided to join this website. I'm not sure I want to dive headlong into commitment with the ideals of anarchy and libertarianism (though they are intensely interesting) because I'm still not entirely convinced that they can be put into practice, but I've always leaned in that direction and definitely want to check it out. I downloaded all the books, so all that's left for me is to read them. So far, Freedomain Radio has been helpful to me on a personal level since I've just begun college and am on the verge of making some very important, life-affecting decisions which could mean the difference between enslaving myself to the Establishment or pulling myself up by the bootstraps. What I'm concerned about now is making the choice most practical. Also, I'm amazed by Stefan's patience, intelligence and empathy, such that I'm convinced he'd be a great kind of person to look up to - you can never have enough positive role models, you know. Well, this has been my impression so far - anyway, hi everyone! :)

Welcome aboard, great to have you with us, and thank you very much for your kind words, I really appreciate them!

 Welcome to the boards!

Your spontineity and rational skepticism is admirable. I'm very glad to welcome you to the boards and would love to debate these ideas or answer any questions you surely have.

Tom

Welcome, Hajnal!

Are the decisions you're making at college related to what field you'll be going into and state involvement or influence in that field? I'd be curious to know, if you don't mind sharing some of the details.

Oh wow, I wasn't notified about these replies. O.o

Thanks ^^ I look forward to it!

I don't know about spontaneity though, hehe. I think this is going to take a few months - as it already has. I have a LOT floating around in my head O_o ...but I need to chew on it for a while. Every concept Stef has discussed takes some time for me to accept, because though I agree with him "in the heat of the moment," I have to take a step back and reconcile these concepts with a clearly incongruous life. Every sentence brings up a memory, and every new experience brings up a sentence. After every "aha!" moment proceeds by an "oho really?" -- and then a shocking defeat on the "oho!" part, and then there's the shock to get over at how quickly I'm taking sides. I mean, it's kind of like looking at a painting for years and years in the dark and believing that it is beautiful...and then somebody flicks the light on, and -- first thing, you're temporarily stunned by the intensity of light -- and yet as your eyes adjust, you realize how much more beautiful the painting is with the light on.

I read two of the books last week. Three to go. :D

Yes, it is sort of related to state involvement... But at the time I wrote that, I was thinking about leaving home and supporting myself because of conflicts with my parents. They were even slipping in the suggestion that I go into the military or something in order to ... I don't know what effect they wanted to see. Just something that would make me better, or less of a hassle for them. Did your parents have a hard time with the idea that you had suddenly become an adult when you turned 18? It was certainly so for mine. But I'm still here after some counseling, so I guess things are fine now that I do my part by helping my mother manage her job -- and because my parents believe they should "enjoy" me at this age, before I truly do move out. I kind of view the government as an extension of one's parents - you have to rely on it for a lot of things. Healthcare, "helping the poor," etc.

My interests are pretty various (art, science and philosophy), and I'm not sure about what I desire for a career yet...so I'm in community college for now, to save money. However, no matter what job I take, there will definitely be some level of involvement with the government -- such as my salary, the possibility of seeking financial assistance, how it affects my creative and intellectual expression, the values of people I may work with, etc. I may choose to settle into a nice, cosy job (often, positions provided by the govt are pretty cosy) or forgoe that, e.g. if I were a fine artist. I must be crazy, but it seems like the higher your salary, the more politics you have to deal with. And yet the lower the salary, the more you have to enslave yourself to support-programs in the goverment. Right? Hmm, I'm tired...

Welcome, Hajnal.