Do you feel guilty?

[Little Rickie]

I get the impression that North America is on the biggest guilt trip in the history of mankind.

The food we eat, the gas we burn, the forest products we consume, the drugs we take, the energy we consume, the computers we throw away, the relentless consumerism, the booze we drink, the people that are poor....just to name those potential guilt trips.

Personally, I've had it with the guilt trip and am stepping off the guilt train.

We have attained the highest standard of living, the best health and longevity, the safest life and the highest level of consciousness, ever. I believe that humans have never enjoyed such a potential for wonderful living as we have created for ourselves. Instead of sitting around feeling guilty I have decided to live my life to the utmost of health, happiness and adventure. I also plan on squeezing the last drop out of modern day knowledge and technology in order to enjoy my remaining decades on Earth even more.

What about you?

Excelent question. My complements.

I was raised by a Roman Catholic Italian mom...no guilt here.

In truth, I'm a responsible person living and working as ethically and as resposibily as I can. I have no reason to feel guilty.

I do make mistakes which I regret, I'm only human, I try to make good my errors the best I can, learn from them and go on with life. I'm an imperfect person in an imperfect world. So what. There are much much worse.

I have no reason to feel guilty, life is too short.

It's taken me a while to learn this...thanks mom.

[Neil]

I am beginning to feel guilty for starting this thread....please help me!

[WinterWarlock]

I am beginning to feel guilty for starting this thread....please help me!

You can't do that - it would violate your first post about not feeling guilty.

[law_adk]

Its responsibility not guilt. It all comes down to this:

http://www.ibiblio.org/lunarbin/worldpop

and this: (take the quiz)

http://www.myfootprint.org/

[Little Rickie]

I am beginning to feel guilty for starting this thread....please help me!

I'll take you to dinner for your BD, buy you many drinks, we can eat beef, fatty foods, rich desserts and I'll tip the poor waiters well.

If that doesn't make you feel good tough **** it will me.

[chairrock]

I am beginning to feel guilty for starting this thread....please help me!

Just don't get caught! Easy!

[sky]

Well.....here's a question that I have.

Does the basis of your actions stem from feeling guilty about something (because of what somebody else told you) or does the basis of your actions stem from you being motivated by what you believe is right (morally, logically etc)...

Neil, don't feel guilty. You posted 'cause you thought it was the right thing to do.

[Jason]

Neil, you are speaking my language.

Guilt is manifestly a counterproductive human response and, in my opinion, represents some of the worst tendencies of societal evolution. Christianity fought guilt for most of its long history, and Europe advanced the most when overwhelming guilt was rationalized within the Catholic and Protestant churches and nations. All the periods of advancement and enlightenment corresponded to renewed sense of optimism and vigor.

That is not to say that Christianity must harbor guilt, but that Christianity, society, and individuals operate best when they look more to possibility and progress than to guilt. The same theory applies today, despite the fact that the West is not as completely defined by its Christian roots as it once was.

You are absolutely correct in labeling our western society as being consumed by guilt, especially within the last few years. My personal belief is that this guilt has built itself upon the foundation of the absent religious motives that used to govern society but were increasingly abandoned after the 1960s. Instead of a sense of moral sin, we now have a sense of environmental sin. Instead of a soul, we now have the carbon footprint. The themes are all inherently the same but the terms have changed. We focus on a utopia--a clean and perfect Earth with sustainable human communities-- and beat ourselves up over every strip mall and every gallon of gas.

I believe that consumerism can be irrational and destructive, but I also believe that within the realm of human ingenuity lies the solution to many of the problems of our chosen lifestyles. To find these solutions we must look ahead to innovation and laud personal achievement. We must create new ways to provide for our comforts while still maintaining the dignity of our enviornment and our communities.

No one can pretend to know how we get to that point, but guilt is not the answer. Guilt will never be the answer. It creates a madness in society, a virtual lynch mob where the indivdual is villified and human progress is restrained and pushed into categorical mediocrity.

Past wrongs cannot be undone, but must be used as experiences upon which to learn and improve society. Guilt does not lead to true learning because guilt can never be rationally assuaged.

Screw guilt. Embrace responsibility, embrace enlightenment, but leave the worrying and hand wringing at home. I want to be a moral person, but I want to keep on rocking. I think we can always do both.

[MattC]

Interesting topic. Hobbitling pretty much summed up my opinion, and some of Jason's comments as well. If I choose food or products that are organic, fair trade or whatever, or if I just choose to consume less, and I do both fairly routinely, it has zero to do with guilt. I want to have a happy, full life just as much as the next person, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my happiness does not come from consuming anything and everything I want at any time.

I'm not a big fan of guilt, or shame, or pride for that matter-for me personally, they're all pretty useless. I view pride and shame as sort of two sides of the same coin, since they're both about focusing on one's self, or ego or whatever. Trying to view oneself within the context of something larger, trying to appreciate the connectivity of all living things, and
living thoughtfully and deliberately is more of a concern for me. Not saying I succeed at this all the time, but it's what I'm after.

My sympathies to my fellow Catholics. Still in recovery myself.

Matt

[Holdstrong]

The best way to step off the guilt train is to stop doing things that make you feel guilty, not numb your conscience and keep on doing them.

Its a false choice. you don't have to give up health, happiness, and adventure to live without waste, consumerism, and indifference (or contributing to) to other peoples suffering.

Bravo Hobbitling.

[joer]

[QUOTE=Neil;91367]I get the impression that North America is on the biggest guilt trip in the history of mankind.


Maybe it is because too many Americans forget about the most important thing in life to remember- "the golden rule".

If you use this as your guide, then life is actually quite simple and you should not feel much guilt in your life.

[ken999]

uuummmmm....


I just brewed me first batch of beer last weekend and I don't feel guilty....should I?


Live....be happy...and don't wreck it for your kids/grandkids....

Very simple.

[Mavs00]

I decided......... Hawk's one argumentative pain in the ass. There, I said it.

I don't even feel guilty for saying it

[backwoodsman]

uuummmmm....


I just brewed me first batch of beer last weekend and I don't feel guilty....should I?


Live....be happy...and don't wreck it for your kids/grandkids....

Very simple.

Well said

[law_adk]

uuummmmm....


I just brewed me first batch of beer last weekend and I don't feel guilty....should I?


Live....be happy...and don't wreck it for your kids/grandkids....

Very simple.

That loses its simplicity when doing what makes you happy is what wrecks it for your kids/grandkids.