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From: gadfly@ihu1m.UUCP (Gadfly)
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: BEING RESPONSIBLE
Message-ID: <571@ihu1m.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 29-Jul-85 17:55:37 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihu1m.571
Posted: Mon Jul 29 17:55:37 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 1-Aug-85 22:06:10 EDT
References: <2471@ut-sally.UUCP> <761@ihuxa.UUCP>
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--
I'm amazed at the intensity of opinions in this "can/should we control
our emotions" discussion.  It's clear that we *can*--humans can learn to
do almost anything.  But, analogous to the dubious lure of speed-reading
courses that claim to teach you to read a novel in 45 minutes, I have
to wonder why anybody would want to.

Of course we have to control our behaviors--that's the hallmark of a
civilized society--and practicing such self-discipline often leads to
healthy motivational changes, but emotional energy has to go someplace.
What you trade for a conscious emotional filter is your spontaneity.
The emotionally controlled person has forsaken, temporarily at least,
the here-and-now.  No value judgement, actually--sometimes the here-
and-now is too painful to bear.  The consequences can be pretty
profound, though.  Spontaneity, like virginity, is much easier to lose
than to regain.
-- 
                    *** ***
JE MAINTIENDRAI   ***** *****
                 ****** ******  29 Jul 85 [11 Thermidor An CXCIII]
ken perlow       *****   *****
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