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From: features@ihuxf.UUCP (M.A. Zeszutko)
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: BEING RESPONSIBLE
Message-ID: <2648@ihuxf.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 30-Jul-85 17:45:19 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihuxf.2648
Posted: Tue Jul 30 17:45:19 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 1-Aug-85 23:48:58 EDT
References: <2471@ut-sally.UUCP> <1660@hao.UUCP> <891@oddjob.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 25

from Matt Crawford:
> There's no need to argue about whether a person can exercise
> complete control over their emotions.  An experiment would serve.
> (Pardon the scientific bias!)  Solicit a volunteer from among
> the "self-control" camp to be the subject.  Allow the other
> side a few weeks to find out or fabricate all they can about
> the subject.  Then assemble some of the subject's family,
> employers and friends and recite the findings or fabrications.
> Does the subject choose not to feel embarassed, outraged, or
> indignant?  This would be evidence for the "total-self-control"
> point of view.

Am I the only one who sees a difference between "total self-control"
a la "The Big Strong Silent Type" who never shows emotion and the
self-control that allows one to experience appropriate emotions
and express them?  Being "in control" of my emotions means, for
me, getting away from "YOU made me feel that way" to "Your actions
got me upset and I'm unhappy about that."

I've got a long way to go in that regard.  Do something that hurts me
and you'll see defenses so strong the Great Wall of China looks like
a shoestring.
-- 

aMAZon @ AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL; ihnp4!ihuxf!features