My dad was a hippie/rocker/artistic type. He was heavy on the drugs and alcohol my entire life...it's what killed him a few years ago. I have a suitcase full of drawings and poetry that he had done. I also have quite a few notebooks of his...most of it's brilliant, but some of it he was clearly stoned out of his mind and just rambling. I was reading through this one notebook last night (he had given it to me a long time ago) and I came across one page that looked interesting. I can tell he was messed up when he wrote it (I can barely make out his handwriting and he loses his train of thought a bit...also, when he's messed up he likes to use a swear word every other word), but I think he was going somewhere with it...what do you think he was trying to say? Here it is exactly (well, as exact as it'll get considering I can hardly read it):
“Different forms of temptation go into temptation, if you follow me. If you know something is bad and you know if you even look at it you will jump in feet first, why look at it? By the way, we're not talking about will power, that's a different book. But it just doesn't make any sense. It's human nature. But, we're suppose to turn from our nature and do what's right because our nature is wrong. Is that our fault? I don't think so.
It doesn't seem fair. I guess because it's not. I know people aren't (a word that I can't make out) not suppose to do what I like to do. I'm suppose to do what everyone else want's me to? I don't think so.
Why? I believe that's a question no one can answer.
Just my imagination/“
Thanks! Oh, and I didn't really know what category to put this under...but, I figured here is as good as any.
2007-09-28 07:48:23 · 10 answers · asked by Rain Bird 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
"“Different forms of temptation go into temptation"--I think he was saying that it is baby steps that get you into something you should have avoided.
"you know something is bad and you know if you even look at it you will jump in feet first, why look at it?" Both this and the former sentence seems to talk about his addiction and inability to avoid it. He goes on to say Will Power is something else again, which seems he is saying he has the Will Power, but is just drawn to it (The Addiction). It is a distinction without a difference.
"But it just doesn't make any sense. It's human nature. But, we're suppose to turn from our nature and do what's right because our nature is wrong. Is that our fault? I don't think so."
Here again, he blames the nature of our being and not himself for his addiction. He also says why should we turn away when it is our nature. So, then if it is in his nature, it is not his fault that he keeps going back to his addiction.
"It doesn't seem fair. I guess because it's not. I know people aren't (a word that I can't make out) not suppose to do what I like to do. I'm suppose to do what everyone else want's me to? I don't think so.
Why? I believe that's a question no one can answer."
Lastly he says it is not fair, just because. He also know he should not be doing what he is doing because everyone is telling him to change. Lastly, he says, he is not going to change.
Sadly, that is what killed him. Sorry
2007-09-28 08:04:29 · answer #1 · answered by Songbyrd JPA ✡ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps to start with, I should try to explain the curious environment of the flower age and how it affected the young hippie at large. It was a time of free choice, free love (without thought of who got hurt) and free dope. This mixed up the psyche of the generation and got them to float above the law, society needs, and their own personal salvation. This however is not true of all the types in the hip age. They had families, as yourself, and some did obtain success from jobs, but in all the few brilliant ideas that came had much confusion in their messages.
Spartawo..
2007-09-28 08:05:12 · answer #2 · answered by spartaworld.combat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I think he is saying that it is human nature to be drawn to certain things that society considers "wrong." Temptations like drugs or having an affair or just generally doing what you like instead of what you "should" do. He felt he had every right to do his own thing, that it felt right to him, and that it really didn't matter to him what social norms or conventions said about it. The argument is really, "if it feels right, how can it be wrong?"
2007-09-28 07:56:31 · answer #3 · answered by Lee 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, it seems that he is speaking of not having arrived at the point to resist temptation, to me its not learning not to look at things that tempt you, but to be able to look, know the results, and then not jump in feet first, as its difficult to go threw life not looking, and not looking leaves the temptation unresolved, it , there again to me, is a form of will power, to want to do something yet resist it, for your own best interest
as you learn to love yourself, and respect yourself, you tend to develop the resistance you need to negative things
i know this is your father, and i dont want to say negative things, but it sounds like he was seeking /finding answers to the temptation issue outside of hisself, rather then searching within
that doesnt mean that some of his writings in general were not brilliant, some of those who go too far into drugs are very sensitive people who see and feel much , and altered states can often result in great insights, i just dont think this is one
2007-09-28 08:03:03 · answer #4 · answered by dlin333 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here is a quote from the Bible that I believe sums up what you dad was trying to say--I hope it is helpful. Paul, the apostle wrote this letter to the Romans.:
Romans 7:18-20
18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
2007-09-28 08:02:48 · answer #5 · answered by bostontigerbaby 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think he is complaining about the fact that society and culture tends to condemn things which are natural to humans, he sees no reason why he should act a certain way just because society deems it the proper way to act.
it seems like your dad is just making excuses and did not want to give up his addiction.
2007-09-28 07:53:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess I agree with the previous answerers. no disrespect, but is it wise to take a drug and alcohol addict seriously? read it, but consider the conditions under which he wrote it when you do.
2007-09-28 08:09:58 · answer #7 · answered by blank 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
we know better, but we do it anyway..because it's in us to do it...if it wasn't there, we wouldn't screw up so much...i don't like it being like this...wish it were differant..but this is the way it is...and fall into the traps of all the rest..following the flow..it's not who i really am..but, "why me?" it's what i'm gonna do.........
2007-09-28 07:59:59 · answer #8 · answered by Mr. "Diamond" 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its like the old saying that if everybody jumped off a bridge would you go to?
2007-09-28 07:57:23 · answer #9 · answered by narlyknot 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i believe what hes saying is < I go with the flow, you mind your buisness and ill mind mine,.dont force your beliefs down my throat
2007-09-29 03:34:40 · answer #10 · answered by robert l 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋