Comments by "Ash Roskell" (@ashroskell) on "Unsolicited advice" channel.

  1. Blood Meridian is the one book I reread each year. There’s always something new in it. The history, the poetry, the philosophy, the metaphysics, the characters, the metaphors, the depth.
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  2. Fascinating video. The problem, however, with the remedies you offer, is that, while they are true, they don’t acknowledge that knowing the solution is not a solution in itself. The characters in Satre’s play will all, at some level, know the folly of their own inner demons. Each of them will have a degree of insight, however much they suppress it, into the fact that they are all seeking an unattainable validation from others in their room. The coward, for example, says he cannot leave while the woman he cares about thinks him a coward and ostensibly stays in order to change her mind. Setting aside that we could read this as an ironical act of bravery, since it is an opportunity to flee Hell itself, there has to be some self knowledge that informs this man that nothing the woman thinks of him will change his past actions? Even if she were to convince him that she believes him to be the bravest man who ever lived, what would he do with that knowledge? The thought crosses his mind at some level. He knows this does not solve his problem. The Buddhists are right about desire being the root of all suffering in humans, whether that is a desire for basic lusts or needs, like food, or more worthy desires, like wanting justice, or to improve conditions for your fellow humans. The conflict between what is and what we want lies at the heart of our discomfort, but we cannot merely will it away. I know that, if I stopped loving my wife, divorced her and moved out, I wouldn’t have to worry about her stresses at work, making her breakfast in the mornings, how other relationships effect her, etc. A whole Atlas level boulder of concerns would be lifted from my shoulders. But, knowing this does not make me stop loving her. Don’t get me wrong, as I agree with your conclusions. I merely suggest that a Step 5 might be introduced? Having attained the knowledge we have, that we can make a Heaven or Hell out in the mirror of other people, we then have to decide on a course of action. It is not enough just to know. Whether we seek therapy, study philosophy, make time for prayer or meditation, we need to establish a process in our lives where we think about our knowledge of what makes us so unhappy, accept our limitations and enable ourselves to change things in our relationships and in ourselves, through a process. Merely being rational is only a step in the right direction. It’s what you, “do,” next that matters.
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