Self & Society

Nobody gets what they want all the time, but how often is the reason we aren't getting what we want due to our own behaviors and limitations vs. external factors we cannot control? While there are undoubtedly barriers we can't overcome, there are also times when our lack of progress or success is, as one might say, a "skill issue." Although it's typically meant as a joke, it's popular for people in some circles to direct focus to personal responsibility by declaring something is a skill issue.

Short temper? Emotional regulation skill issue.
Not many friends? Social skill issue.
Broke? Financial skill issue.
Trapped in the Matrix? Mindset skill issue.

It can be attractive to frame things in this way if you have a strong belief in agency and the power of the individual to overcome obstacles through effort, or conversely, could be considered derisive if you believe that a person's life is shaped by many circumstances they have no control over. What is truly possible and what is not?

Questions:

• What is skill?
• Is there a difference between skill and knowledge?
• Is it possible to have a meta- skill issue? What does it mean to be skilled at developing skill?
• Does somebody become greater - or lesser - through the way they relate to their skill issues?
• Some philosophical and religious traditions regard desire as a force which can be controlled and redirected or vanquished; how might we be skillful with desire, and could having desire in itself be considered a "skill issue"?
• How do you know if something is your own skill issue? How do you judge other people?
• Do you use the same standards? Why?
• Is it better to personally over-index or under-index on one's own control of one's situation? What about as a society?

There are many ways we construct our identities, and one aspect that may give our identity shape is our personal demons. Whether they take the form of vices, character flaws, temptations, traumas, or something else, we all struggle with something and may identify with our opposition to these so-called demons, our fight to overcome them, or our acceptance of them.

• What are your demons, and how do they shape your perception of how the world works?
• Are there population-wide demons that contribute to broad cultural identities, and if so, what are they?
• How much are our demons shaped by our experiences vs. how much do our demons shape our experiences?
• Can our demons become angels? Philosopher Slavoj Žižek says “Enjoy your symptom” - is it possible to enjoy one’s demons or even be grateful for them?
• Is it possible to cultivate demons? Consider the workoholic who can’t help but work ever-harder, or the hiker who decides to climb Everest or die trying. If it is possible, is it ever a good idea?
• What does it mean to have a wise relation to one’s demons?
• If you could, would a press a button that frees you from all your demons?
• Are you your demons?

We've set up a recurring weekly meeting so everyone knows well in advance whether we'll be gathering, and before each meeting we'll post the topic of the week.

We've set up a recurring weekly meeting so everyone knows well in advance whether we'll be gathering, and before each meeting we'll post the topic of the week.