Self-Rejection, Self-Sacrifice, Self-Denial VS Egoism, Earthly Pleasures, Hedonism

[The Grand Nudger]

A religion of nature has always been an alternative to religions full of gods. Religions of nature tend to take delight in pointing out that all of the divine whatsists asserted by religions of gods are stolen property. No more, no less.

[Ahriman]

I always quit doing something when I realize I can't make money doing it....happened when I tried to learn how to draw, play guitar, play basketball, etc.

[AB Caro]

True, but societal pressures can spoil or even try to take away this lifestyle.

The school aged kids and teens can’t maximize their free hedonism due to academic and family pressures.

In college age, the job pressure also reduces the time that could have been used for free hedonism. And even after graduating from college, job pressure consumes the same amount of time/lost pleasure taking over what used to be the slot occupied by academic pressure. While the ability to detach from family pressure depends on culture.

So no matter what there is no way to increase the quota of a “free and hedonistic life”, and even so, society’s pressures still try to consume non-work hours through guilt, shame, etc, spoiling what could have been pure, unfiltered hedonistic freedom.

I wonder if you live among especially strict people...?

Most people I know would probably say that if you're not a burden to others and you're not hurting anyone (as you say in your signature) there is leeway in one's spare time. 

So for example if you work five days a week at honest work, will people really tell you not to spend your weekends painting pictures, or practicing the piano?

Have you ever been at certain workplaces that ask you to do overtime work outside of work hours on work nights, or during weekends? Whether it’s paid or unpaid, it’s still stealing time that could’ve been used for leisure.

That aside, don’t you have family members or colleagues or whoever who might try to, for example, make you do something you don’t enjoy just for their benefit? Well they’re entitled to do what they want, but instead of doing it themselves they can try to make you join. Like proselytizing religious family members that demand I still join their weekly worship, worse if they sit near me to make sure I can’t distract myself. If they really enjoy the benefits of religion they could’ve went by themselves without dragging anyone else into it, but some individuals are too unlucky to be born into families like this. What a way to steal someone else’s free time!

[AB Caro]

Belacqua, The Grand Nudger and Ahriman, satisfying answers!

[AB Caro]

I see that Sheldon is living under the private utopia I typed in my signature. Most lucky indeed, now go back to your private utopia. Not everyone has one.

[Ahriman]

I see that Sheldon is living under the private utopia I typed in my signature. Most lucky indeed, now go back to your private utopia. Not everyone has one.

Well....there wouldn't be anything "normal" about living in a private utopia, in fact it would be rather perverse. But in a pleasant way.

[AB Caro]

I always quit doing something when I realize I can't make money doing it....happened when I tried to learn how to draw, play guitar, play basketball, etc.

They can make money, it’s just that only the top level pros or at least an advanced level do those things.
For drawing self-promote commissions or print & sell copies of artworks, for guitar perform in a band on top of the practice, for basketball just train to a high level and play frequently, unless your innate abilities make it impossible to do so.

Is your self-pleasure intrinsically tied to how much money you can make? You can’t enjoy just doing hobbies for the sake of doing them even without the money?

[Ahriman]

I always quit doing something when I realize I can't make money doing it....happened when I tried to learn how to draw, play guitar, play basketball, etc.

They can make money, it’s just that only the top level pros or at least an advanced level do those things.
For drawing self-promote commissions or print & sell copies of artworks, for guitar perform in a band on top of the practice, for basketball just train to a high level and play frequently, unless your innate abilities make it impossible to do so.

Is your self-pleasure intrinsically tied to how much money you can make? You can’t enjoy just doing hobbies for the sake of doing them even without the money?

Honestly no, I don't think so. I don't have hobbies anymore, for that reason.

[AB Caro]

They can make money, it’s just that only the top level pros or at least an advanced level do those things.
For drawing self-promote commissions or print & sell copies of artworks, for guitar perform in a band on top of the practice, for basketball just train to a high level and play frequently, unless your innate abilities make it impossible to do so.

Is your self-pleasure intrinsically tied to how much money you can make? You can’t enjoy just doing hobbies for the sake of doing them even without the money?

Honestly no, I don't think so. I don't have hobbies anymore, for that reason.

Are you still unemployed, and if so are you training for an employable skill at the moment?
Also this is the first time I met someone who is…numbed to pleasures. Are you bothered by it, or not? Because if not, then it’s all fine.
The ability to stay neutral is enviable indeed, too bad I’m bothered by negativity (pressures, guilt, shame, etc) spoiling positivity (the hedonism) as opposed to the delusional private utopia in my signature.

[Ahriman]

Honestly no, I don't think so. I don't have hobbies anymore, for that reason.

Are you still unemployed, and if so are you training for an employable skill at the moment?
Also this is the first time I met someone who is…numbed to pleasures. Are you bothered by it, or not? Because if not, then it’s all fine.

Oh, I wish I was bothered by it. Because maybe then I would do something about it.