I like BDSM and some kinks quite a lot. To me, it is very liberating, even spiritual, plus just plain fun. There are many aspects I enjoy, especially power exchange; in particular, Daddy Dom, though Pimp, Master, and similar roles are high on the list too.
However, I differentiate between fantasy and roleplay. I value concepts such as Safe, Sane, and Consensual, defining Consensual as FRIES: Freely given, Reversible, Informed, Enthusiastic, and Specific.
Even playing serious roleplaying games such consensual-nonconsent are still only that: only games that require lots of communication, negotiation, informed consent, safewords, and a community that provides information and oversight.
See Games People Play by Eric Berne for a primer on transactional analysis
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345410033/
I'm currently reading Screw the Thorns, Send Me the Roses by Philip Miller and Molly Devon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0964596008
They talk a lot about how the negotiation and limits are dictated by bottom, who voluntarily submits in exchange for what is agreed upon. It is the bottom's "consent to be governed," just as much as it is the top's consent to govern. This is an ongoing process.
Now, if someone is an abusive relationship, or if someone violates boundaries by being violent in any way toward me or others I care about, I will not ask the violator's consent to govern! Nope, I will not hesitate to stop them or, failing that, terminate them.
A 2D map projects a representation of a 3D globe only by distorting distance, direction, shape, and area. Some projections minimize one or more distortions at the cost of forfeiting other distortions.
In the same way, complex and abstract theoretical physics and spiritual concepts, as they are related, must be simplified to comprehend at the finite material plane of the living organism consciousness computing level we call brain-mind. Distortions occur in modeling.
Each instance of expanding dimensions is utterly incomprehensible to consciousness in the preceding dimension, unless it is able to think "outside the box" so-to-speak; that is, escape from the confines of what the imagination has offered as a boundary and structure for the consciousness-reality to grow within.
It is my understanding that at least some dimensions above the sixth are actually smaller states, such as the rough surface of silk that is not apparent at our scale, only under a microscope; or superimposed states, such as so-called negative mass that rises above the space-time plane (and even escapes it); or at mega-colossal scales, when you become aware that the universe is in fact a fractal representation of a conscious being asleep in a dream in a "world above"; or higher states yet still above that; the Great Wheel, the Cosmic Ferris Wheel containing many smaller ferris wheels.
Where was I? Oh yes, space-time.
So the third-fourth dimensions are often commonly thought of as like a movie reel, each moment on time as like one frame. Remembering the distortions of projections that must be made, it is like that, except the movie reel is a blanket that stretches out in every direction. Every moment or frame is like a box on graph paper that becomes lined with yet another layer of coordinates when you zoom in, or fade as you zoom out.
The "blanket" of space-time is essentially flat at our scale, is dancing mad at the string scale, and somewhere in between it is like the contours of the planet: hills and mountain peaks, sinkholes and trenches.
There are many possibilities of everywhere occurrence along this blanket of space-time, possibly infinite, or at least within the bounds of probability that can be stretched. The you that is conscious of being you (your spotlight you or ego-self) wanders (usually) in more or less one general direction along this blanket of possibilities like a Plinko puck from The Price Is Right, singing mad at the quantum level, peaks and sinkholes at usually rarely seen or barely experienced levels.
And since the fabric of the multiverse is made of possibilities, possibilities created themselves; if they can and it works, they will. They are dark worlds and exotic worlds where consciousness does not incarnate in the same way we would call life in this light-dominated matter universe. But consciousness is consciousness, different as we are in stages of development, paths of evolution, and cosmic medium strata.
So time travel can does exist, and there is no paradox. You do not cease to exist of you kill your grandfather, you merely--to borrow the simplified map once again--eliminate one frame of the movie reel; or rather, one tiny speck out of an endless ocean.
I had a dream I had 9 trillion dollars to spend. I could spend it on myself or give it away with or without "strings attached".
I decided to give it all away, but first I cut down all of those who had power and abused it; all those who abused and/or exploited those who were vulnerable; and all those who value deception and/or devalue truth. Of course everyone makes mistakes, but I am referring to those who are intentional and serial, as a way of being. (I am also not referring to safe, sane, consensual, well-communicated, and negotiated adult games with safewords, otherwise known as BDSM).
After I cut the unworthy down, I gave everything they had away, and my fortune away as well:
20% Africans and African-Americas slave descendants
10% United Indian Subcontinent (including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) for sustainable development and the reunification of pre-partition India
10% Korea (DPRK and ROK) for their peaceful reunification
5% Palestinians for their independence and dissolution of the Israeli state
25% Everyone equally nominally (again to those listed above who already received), so that the poor benefit more by ratio of what they previously had
It would be a completely anonymous gift. There would be no "strings" or contingencies for the gift, but if the beneficiaries were curious, my book* would be available for free to read. It is not required reading. Future publications would undoubtedly improve with revisions. Critics would likely have valid critiques, and other authors would likely have even better ideas in their books.
* (An edited compilation of writings from my blogs, Facebook and Fetlife posts, and Twitter tweets; notes to myself and others via text, email, and other means; my Youtube playlists; my personal book library and Amazon wishlists; discussions I have had; and even references to people and material I wish to amplify.)
These are some of my role models and influences. I admire at least some aspect of their lives or find them fascinating. If I had a million lives, I would study theirs. No one is perfect, but they exemplify qualities I hope to emulate.
This list is not exhaustive, as many have been omitted (particularly fictional authors). There are also undoubtedly many more I would have included but have not due to ignorance. They are not necessarily listed by priority, and will undoubtedly be updated.
If you still do not believe that Donal Trump and his circle intentionally dismantled American democratic institutions, incited hatred, launched a failed soft coup attempt against our own nation, and are planning another, then you are guilty of willful ignorance.
These few ideas, in tandem, would be an optimal approach for worldwide human enlightenment. It would be the least investment cost for the greatest benefit for the most people and widest diversity of positive outcome. There is much more, but this is a good foundation.
Once upon a time a group of power-hungry wolves were hell-bent on taking over the farm. They weren't sure they were able to get close enough to the sheep before the horses, cows, goats, and other animals intervened and overpowered them. So the wolves devised a plan.
They divided their group in half. Half would be disguised in sheepskin and wool, and try to blend in. The other half would launch hit-and-run attacks undisguised against the sheep out to pasture. They wouldn't be able to discern which sheep were legitimate and which were their brothers in disguise, but that was ok to them. These wolves had dead hearts because of the pain of living in their packs. Their dead hearts caused them to inflict more pain upon one another, a vicious cycle.
The undisguised wolves then hoped the sheep would grow more and more used to their presence and attacks, allowing them to slowly grow closer and more bold. Then, at the appropriate time, the undisguised wolves and the wolves in sheep's clothing would all attack the sheep at the same time.
(Pardon the stream-of-consciousness style of writing that follows.)
This is one of the many tactics that, for lack of other terms or labels, The Evil Ones, use to deceive sleeping humans. Some victimize themselves, eliciting a response from the bystanders. One of two outcomes will occur. Either the provocateurs will be able to encroach and escalate until they overpower their true prey, or they attackers will be subdued, in which case the original victims--a sort of sleeper cell, if you will (because the prey would never dare suspect or accuse the complicit victims, lest they they be falsely accuse of victim blaming and victim shaming)--now turns on the sympathetic and trusting prey, while they are vulnerable and unprepared.
An example illustrated:
Stronger A attacks weaker B
C intervenes to protect B
A beats C and then beats B too, or
C beats A, then A rebrands as B in an attempt to avoid penalty and pervade C's trust
(C must be aware of this slippery rebranding and co-opting; see recuperation)
Another example:
A infiltrates B (AB) and becomes a provocateur of C
A also infiltrates C (AC) and counter-provokes AB
D intervenes for peace
A withdraws from the losing side and re-invests in the winning side
The winning side then attacks D
(D must be aware and side with both B and C, but not A, AB, or AC)
This is played out in a number of ethnic and cultural demographics. I won't name any because it does not matter which. In fact, this is central to the tactic: The Evil Ones keep moving. They pick a strong (or rising) demographic and a weak (or easily targeted) demographic for their partner.
This is similar to, but different from, how the Church needs a down-and-out population that is dependent upon and support the Church. So it is against the Church's interest to ever actually uplift the population, else they no longer need the Church. Therefore, like a pathological codependent relationship, the Church finds and creates "learned helplessness" (also, incidentally, a CIA brainwashing torture technique) to establish and maintain this relationship. Further, this learned helplessness is the only reason why people slave away at jobs they hate for bosses they hate for not enough money in a world their bosses are destroying.
powerful people can terrorize populations to control them through fear (rather than earning respect)
greedy people can destroy societies, then economically exploit the populations as they rebuild the societies they destroyed (eg: Halliburton, KBR, Parsons, etc)
greedy people can gain access to and control of other people's resources (multinational corporations such as East India Company, United Fruit Company, Big Oil, etc; see largest)
Well, there's local populations and noble neighbors defending against all of the above when called upon. So there is something. That includes American Minutemen, Great Plains warriors, American Indian Movement (AIM), Black Panthers, Young Lords, Viet Cong, Palestine Liberation Organization, Sandinista National Liberation Front, Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, Kurdistan Worker's Party, and numerous other resistance fighters throughout the world. That does not include the United States Department of War Defense (war crimes and abuses), Central Intelligence Agency (abuses and controversies), Israel (war crimes and abuses), Mossad (operations and assassinations), or NATO.
When faced against a greater oppressive force, weaker oppressed forces resort to asymmetric tactics. See Rebel Alliance against the Galactic Empire. The decentralized and organic nature of insurgents make them quick, nimble, and enduring; empires are technologically superior but bureaucratically lumbering and stupid colonizers. It is like the iconic gladiator match-up, one with trident and net versus the other with sword and shield. Illegal occupiers almost always label freedom fighters as the terrorists, a cruel twist of irony.
I don't want to waste time and effort explaining the need for new urbanism (transit oriented development, mixed use and mixed income, pedestrian and bicycle friendly, etc), carfree cities, high speed rail, decentralized power grid, small scale farming, permaculture, urban green spaces, cohousing, intentional communities, ecovillages, attachment parenting, democratic learning and unschooling, purposeful jobs, circular economy, alternative relationship models, etc.
These seem self-evident, or at least obvious to anyone willing to invest a minimum amount of honest critical thought, and anyone not willing to do so is guilty of willful ignorance. These solutions are not perfect, nor are they universally applicable or standard in form. Rather, they form a bedrock of revolutionizing our built environment that is both environmentally sustainable and more enjoyable.
Change is uncomfortable. Change for change's sake is foolish. But investing in change that yields long-term dividends in human (and Earth biosphere) health and prosperity in exchange for a civilization that is rather dystopian is... well, kind of a no-brainer.
Study up:
Sustainable Design (Agriculture, Architecture, and Urbanism)
Once upon a time some unethical scientists committed some cruel experiments upon some hapless trees. They were done without informed consent, of course.
The first group of scientists wanted to prove that the roots and trunk did not matter. So they brought the saplings indoors, inside giant warehouses. The roots were put in an artificial medium and fed a liquid solution of chemical nutrients. The saplings, lined up in neat rows, were under sterile industrial lights of the measured spectrum.
The second group of scientists wanted to prove that the branches and roots did not matter. They trimmed and pruned, and pruned and trimmed. And when they were finished, they trimmed and pruned some more. Though tree roots are as expansive as healthy branches, encompassing an entire ecosystem of underground microbiota, the scientists turned the ground cover into a monoculture of a thirsty grass that did little to benefit the health and diversity of the ecosystem. The trees grew isolated from the thicket of other trees, bushes, and plants they have adapted to for best growth over millennia of evolution.
The third group of scientists wanted to prove that the branches and trunk did not matter. They did not trim and prune, but rather ignored the above ground tree. They over-watered the tree, applied chemical nutrients rather than organic compost, and applied chemical pesticides and herbicides rather than working with nature through companion planting.
In the same way, the mystic, the physician, and the psycho-analyst divide the mind-body into parts and focus on only that part, often in an inappropriate, invasive, and unhealthy manner. We are whole, indivisible beings, and must grow freely, and can only thrive in the environments we have evolved to. New, artificial niches that we are forced into will not produce optimal results. Indeed, the more we try, the more we fail.
I started listening to audiobooks, sometimes multiple times since they often play in the background.
I previously listened to Opening Up by Tristan Taormino two or three times, then followed up by reading the book. Yeah, it's that good.
Right now I'm going through:
In Search of Enemies by John Stockwell
The Devil's Chessboard by David Talbot
Wikileaks by David Leigh
Permanent Record by Edward Snowden
American Fascists by Chris Hedges
The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein*
Manufacturing Consent by Noam Chomsky*
Weapons of Mass Instruction by John Taylor Gatto
A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn
The Attachment Parenting Book by William Spears, M.D.
Biomimicry by Janine M. Benyus
Patterns of Connection by Fritjof Capra
Upheaval by Jared Diamond
Bright Green Lies by Derrick Jensen
Drawdown by Paul Hawken
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
* Previously also watched their respective documentaries several times.
These are available through Hoopla and Libby. Up next I will pursue Krishnamurti, Sam Harris, and James Howard Kunstler, among many others, and additional titles from the authors above.
If I subscribe to Amazon Audible in the future, I already have a wishlist ready for me!
