no one's disciple [cc]

[@Bendilin]

Audience: "You are very wise. I want to be just like you after watching this video!" TheraminTrees: "NO."

[@tembybee]

😂

[@reformCopyright]

Also "Stop clicking Like buttons!"

[@anime.soundtracks]

this is probably the only channel in youtube without the "please like & subscribe" routine in its videos

[@bonogiamboni4830]

TheraminTrees: "Will you please listen? I am not the Messiah!" Audience: "He is the Messiah!"

[@TheHookahSmokingCaterpillar]

Brian: "You're all individuals." Crowd: "Yes, we are all individuals." Crowd member: "I'm not!"

[@fify1988]

When I graduated highschool, a cousin who I'd barely met a few times invited me to visit her and her husband for a few weeks as a vacation, they lived a few states away and even offered to pay the tickets. I had a home life full of verbal abuse and physical threats, and the only reason why I stayed was to get my diploma. After that I planned to "run away" by going to college. (Worked great btw- please support college affordability) Anyways, I took her up on the offer. Most healing two weeks of my life. My cousin and her husband are both very sensitive and kind people, who also know how to laugh. When she sang off key, he didn't snap at her, he sang along. When I accidentally locked myself out of their apartment, I sat there crying and panicking for three hours before my cousins lunch break and she could come unlock it for me. I fully anticipated being yelled at and berated for being so stupid locking the key I had inside, making her drive all the way back home just to let me in during her lunch break. Instead I got a hug and we made lunch together inside before she rushed back to work. It was lovely. Made me realize how I want to treat others. I want to have that impulse to be loving.

[@micosstar]

oh man, i am in sorrow hearing your story, but am so glad that you have priceless company that you can consider your new family!

[@RT-qd8yl]

I'm glad you see the value of being a kind and decent person. So many people don't anymore. You deserve really good things in your life.

[@AngryKnees]

Thank you for expressing this experience. Something tells me I'm going to be thinking about this for a while.

[@libera7161]

I know how you feel. I try to be like that too. ❤

[@Faeriefungus]

No offense, but my opinion, that’s a really terribly orchestrated example because of of course anybody who barely know somebody’s gonna be extremely nice and over the top but when you deal with somebody who makes the same mistakes over and over again, isn’t that you’re right to be upset, very one-sided, not a fair opinion of the story to use in this kind of situation

[@SixxJo44]

TheraminTrees: "I dispense wisdom" Me: What is your wisdom? TheraminTrees: "Do not become a disciple to anyone or anything. Use your own mind" Me: That's good wisdom.

[@thehuman2cs715]

*a good wisdom

[@insertyourfeelingshere8106]

@@thehuman2cs715 “That is a good wisdom” definitely makes sense

[@-JaggedGrace-]

@@insertyourfeelingshere8106 I believe it's a meme reference

[@beanbag8449]

Dog of wisdom! A person of culture I see

[@pedrosso0]

So I am a disciple to my own mind?

[@assassin3g]

It's ironic that you were my reluctant hero for a while. When I clicked on some video of yours, I felt like my life will change with these enlightening words I will hear. I feel that no more. Trough your own work my confidence grew and I realised I have to find my own truths for myself. Now I view your content not for the absolute truth of an enlightened hero, but for the brilliant honest humanitarian ideas it is full of. Thank you for your videos. :)

[@TheraminTrees]

Thank you for restoring my humanity to me - and good luck on your path. Peace.

[@micaso1]

Dude same, this one I couldn't relate so much so I got "disappointed", and after reading your comment I got it... Staring me in the face for 40 minutes and still I couldn't see it. Funny how one could take this "disappointment" as proof he is a hero

[@FactStorm]

EXACTLY, humanitarian/humanity/humanism are key here..away with the magical heroes.

[@richardlewin9282]

Well said 👍

[@IExpectedBSJustNotThisMuchBS]

Hopefully, this means that you also find yourself out right disagreeing with TheraminTrees as well.

[@CheddarBayBaby]

Speaking from America, what we have is a problem of incredulity and skepticism actually. Someone could listen in agreement with this entire video and cast it on their political opponents, not as something they do themselves

[@57thorns]

That, unfortunately, is true everywhere. It is when you genuinely try to apply it to yourself, or the cause you believe in, real progress is made. Are there any politicians that are not false magical heroes? I doubt it. But some might do more good than bad, and that has to be enough.

[@ThatCrazyKid0007]

That's the whole point, it's a self-imposed emotional prison. You can't escape it if you don't want to. It's like being perfectly aware of being addicted to cigarettes and how they will most likely give you cancer, yet you continue smoking because it feels easier than quitting. It's an emotional judgement, not a rational one, which is why it's so flawed and stubborn. Of course you will be quick to judge other smokers or defend them, because it's easy to apply rational scrutiny to something you are not emotionally invested to.

[@lakshaykochhar6799]

Seriously, what's with those people? Whenever I talked to them, I'm almost started to feel like I'm losing neurons or something. (I'm not joking by the way, I'm serious)

[@ElevatorEleven]

I agree. It can be really easy to fall into the trap of just assuming the other side is mad and evil. It's important to remind ourselves that the opposition probably aren't Nazis. That being said, lately it also seems that having too strong an automatic 'they probably aren't actually Nazi's' response has made it difficult for people to talk about the actual literal Nazis running around. Like some of them even wear swastikas and say "Hail Hitler" or "Hail Trump" in this case, like there are serious for real fascists over there, literally trying to subvert election results. I get that we're all supposed to shake hands and be civil and not paint the other side as monsters, but we also need to acknowledge when some of them really are monsters. Not for nothing, but both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections featured widespread accusations of illegal activity, and only one of the two political parties responded to losing by storming the capitol building with guns.

[@pheonyxior_5082]

Speaking from France, I get the same feeling, debates are shitshow. That being said, I stopped watching them, and I only watch global information from second-hand source ( Sir Swag's this month's news without the bullshit ). I still think those are great videos, but the fact is that I stopped searching for first hand information or conflicting information, prefering to watch videos made by people my ideas align to, like Sir Swag, Shaun, or Theramin Trees. It's very ironic, but it showed me how important it is to keep your argument informative and neutral, to encourage the audience to think for themself.

[@waspoppin4784]

The floating infant comes to tell me about god again

[@raptorpeep2622]

it is a great day

[@AndreLuis-gw5ox]

Ethereal unborn turned me nogod

[@Nerobyrne]

The Aerial Infant blesses us once again

[@ameilioracryptos5298]

Or rather how to resist the irrational saviour complex of human beings

[@craigstephenson7676]

I like to think that he is the Phinneas and Ferb inexplicable giant floating baby head pre-decapitation

[@thehigherevolutionary]

I love the graphics, they really bring these topics to life. Worth all the effort.

[@FactStorm]

Exactly, his narration, delivery are exceptional as is - but we can all use visuals. Illustration+language are a powerful duet for all of us!

[@lauratheexplorer6390]

The graphics are awesome. I love the floating baby ❤️

[@vegetable1495]

The surreal style somehow makes it more... universal

[@sandakureva]

I particularly like the surreal quality the artwork has. It goes along nicely with the fact that the topics being discussed are rather abstract and difficult to understand

[@giannideschaepdryver1665]

Would anyone know which software was used for them?

[@NachtysDreams]

Everyone truly is just human with faults, and even the most intelligent individuals cannot be perfect. To think anything otherwise is to delude yourself into a fantasy.

[@NeuroPulse]

A dangerous fantasy. The root of collectivist ideologies.

[@iamthesenate8973]

Couldn’t have said it better, to be honest.

[@christianrokicki]

@@NeuroPulse ...or hyper-individualist or elitist ideologies containing the fantasy of the perfectly self-contained independent person that can operate in a social system with little or no regard for its broader functioning or other systems that support its possibilities. Gross errors and mass casualty can arise at either polarity when complexity is discounted... and may arise regardless.

[@cerberaodollam]

Yep. Everyone sucks

[@christianrokicki]

@Quasi Mojo This is an extreme and rather isolated example. Do you think he just magically appeared there without a social system? Would he know how to relate to earth systems and domesticate animals in such way a without first being introduced to methods by a social system... at the very least a dyad? In any event it would be a mistake to extrapolate an ideology from one case. What it does is support your fantasy of escape. Without modern technology and media and the social 'spaces' provided by our current context you would know about this man how? None of what you say really applies to my point, anyway. My argument would be with claims to certain kinds of isolation made by individuals within social systems and institutions.

[@cesartalves]

"To the starving individual, a crumb is a feast. To an abused individual, a scrap of attention can feel like a tidal wave of love." Man, you got me shedding a tear right here. Another fantastic video.

[@caityreads8070]

"If the gift horse we're being offered is a Trojan one, we'll be glad we looked it in the mouth." This is such a good line.

[@undeniablySomeGuy]

This guy has so much wisdom and dry wit. He's so high quality even for educaton youtube standards

[@ambulocetusnatans]

@@undeniablySomeGuy He's definitely my favorite. Sometimes I wish he would post more, but considering the excellent quality of the videos, it's understandable why he doesn't.

[@gabbyn978]

I would rather look into that horse's belly, to make sure it contains nothing else but grass...

[@skeletonwar4445]

@@Z4kYb0I Stop.

[@ethan80grams69]

What if it isn’t a trojan one

[@matthewtucker2103]

I felt like you were talking directly to me when you were talking about toxic forgiveness. I have forgiven people immediately for literally punching me in the face, and slamming a fully loaded backpack full of books to my head. I did all that, because that is how I wanted God to forgive me for my sins. I am glad I have left. Never going to look back....

[@theangryholmesian4556]

Forgiveness can be important and useful. It can also be toxic.

[@anime.soundtracks]

it has proven to be lethal in martyr cases, either they pursuing it (as missionary to primitive tribes : kzbin.info/www/bejne/kITXc3SojbKSipY ) or not (killed by jihadis : kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYSUg6qFfaiDm7s )

[@CristianMartinez-hg6xu]

Remember, even pacifists have only four cheeks to turn.

[@MyMessyMind]

@@CristianMartinez-hg6xu nice one 😂

[@GapWim]

@@CristianMartinez-hg6xu | Lol! I’m stealing that one 😂

[@jameskulevich8907]

The problem with putting someone on a pedestal, making them a hero, is you’ll eventually see their clay feet. You’ll find they are just regular people with faults; that’s not their fault you did that either.

[@oanaalexia]

500 Days of Summer flashbacks.

[@blackpolishedchrome4774]

Nice story. But that's not how it works.

[@ameilioracryptos5298]

Yeah, can't believe I went one big round, used to be Christian, then Atheist, then I thought Paganism was better, and yet it was a load of horseh!t and pathetic cash grab, that claims to make you feel better but then it doesn't work. Long story short I'm Atheist again

[@blackpolishedchrome4774]

@Eris Socratou Because of the shiny golden shoes and your own delusion.

[@DrownedInExile]

"You were the Chosen! You were to save us from the Sith, not join them!"

[@tuxino]

For the section about the racketeer, I have a small additional point to add: The religious racket of "That's a nice soul you have. It would be real sad if it were to burn..." is indeed very similar to the more typical criminal racket, but with one major difference: the normal racketeers can at least point to actual cases of other businesses that burned down after not paying "insurance".

[@BassGoThump]

They can point to real wares to be destroyed. What is a soul beyond an idea.

[@wiskadjak]

Sometimes I refer to religion as a spiritual protection racket. Pay us money and Jeezuz won't throw you onto the cosmic BBQ at the end of time.

[@jumbodump]

You talk alot of reason for having such a flammable soul.

[@thecoton6152]

True but for most people it would come down to taking the Pascal's Bet: either God is real and I'll be going Heavens and be fine, or God isn't real and I lost nothing believing. In the total absence of information the rationale is to take the bet, not question the validity and truthfulness of it. That's why this racket is still, if not more, effective.

[@kellydalstok8900]

@@thecoton6152 Pascal’s wager does come at a cost if you were wrong: you’ve wasted a lot of time and often also money. Besides, if god is all knowing, like it’s supposed to be, it already knows you were pretending. It’s a lose-lose situation.

[@snowy1342]

Just as much as we conflate people with ideas, forgiveness as a concept is conflated with healing. Too many people have this idea that forgiveness=healing. Having this idea makes people focus on forgiving despite it not being effective for them, rather than focusing on healing from their own wounds. It doesn’t help when there are jackass therapists out there that tells people they can’t heal coz they don’t forgive. This is my own personal opinion when comes to forgiveness as a concept, and it sometimes saddens me to hear about how people are coerced (often socially) into forgiving somebody who hurt them badly. You don’t owe forgiveness to anybody. It’s your choice to do it.

[@TheraminTrees]

Well said.

[@rtyzxc]

I personally find the whole concept of forgiveness (as an emotional process) weird. If somebody did bad to you, it can be tried to compensate with other actions, but, ultimately it can't be undone and the emotional effect of the events will stay. Obviously, it's useful to try to get over it some way and accept reality, but I don't think forgiveness is necessary. To me forgiveness feels like some kind of coping mechanism to "dispel" bad things out of existence, to look away from them, but in reality, the past nor memories of it and its effects cannot be erased. If someone says "Let's forget about it, past is in the past", I say "no, I won't forget it, but I'll try to live with it". I prefer coming in terms with the existence of bad things. On the other hand, forgiveness and apology as a gesture, as a part of communication, can be great thing. The wrongdoer genuinely expressing their process of regretting their actions and being in the wrong can make the victim feel better, lift the victim's guilt caused by just-world fallacy, and can be used to communicate a desire to re-establish trust and repair the relationship.

[@JamesJNothingIsTooSensitive]

@@rtyzxc Forgiveness, like any other tool, is useful but can be misused. It's great because no one is perfect, and as a social species, we need to learn to forgive people so that we can live together in communities for any length of time. That said, it can be weaponized against us, as if we MUST forgive actions in order to force this coexistence, when some things are, and should be, unforgivable. Just because we are a social species, doesn't mean that we cannot eject some people from our social circles and move on without them. It shouldn't be done for just any tiny little thing, but we all need to establish firm lines on what we will accept and what we won't - where the line between forgiveness, and expulsion from our life is.

[@SaraHinata]

My healing journey started when I realized forgiveness was not my responsibility because it wasn't going to change my pain. I was demanded to forgive, bible verses were thrown at me and yet... I said no. I have never felt so proud of myself. While they think I'm full of resentment and anger, I am at peace like never before 🕊️. Just like you said. I don't owe forgiveness to anybody. That's just a way to make YOU (the victim) do all the work. Words don't equal actions.

[@dreamydailine]

As a forgiving person I struggle with trying to understand people not forgiving others to heal and I think I have a better understanding of life now???? I'm no history/memory gal but I'm a math kinda person so I'm starting to see that these are simply kinda like variables in math??? Like variables of an equation, the value of one can affect another, but in the end it always has its own value that has multiple ways of solving/get to the same result/value if that makes sense? Like it's just a single variable. You're not even sure if the formula you'll be using includes the variable "Forgiveness". And even if you are using "Forgiveness" there are other values as well that influence the overall equation you're using... Not only that, we have to consider there are multiple formulas for a single thing. No matter how complex or simple the formula is you can look it over and see if you'll use it or not. Heck, people make their own accurate formulas for it and some consider them "inaccurate" (or against their morals in this case), simply don't know, just doesn't use them etc. I guess I'm kind of viewing the variables, the equation and the results as individual components. Not only that but also you have to view the formula and variables together only without the result, the results and the variables without the formula, and the formula and result without the variables. How I'd view this is kind of like how I'll mention it here: A person stole a wallet to feed an entire orphanage (ik, bad example, but better than a political thing i myself don't understand). What will you consider more to label them good/bad? The fact they stole a wallet? The fact they were feeding the orphanage? Both? Do they even each other out, or are they simply separate deeds? Are you focusing on the results, variables? What formula were you using for this thought process? And the thoughts go on. I guess that's kind of how I view it anyways. Doesn't mean that you don't have "Forgiveness" doesn't mean there's no other way to get "healing". There are other formulas you can use to get the same value i guess.

[@vanderkarl3927]

Early on in the video, I was automatically peeved by the quote from Zimbardo because of how his famous Stanford Prison Experiment was so unscientific and immoral. Then, later in the video I received my own smack of irony from the disentanglement of quotes and authors! These pitfalls are so easy to miss.

[@TheraminTrees]

Zimbardo really got caught up in the worst way in that disgraceful experiment didn't he - showing that the lessons weren't just about the participants but the experimenter himself.

[@DefinitelyNotAMachineCultist]

Always a treat when that one KZbinr you like that rarely uploads... uploads 😀

[@kartofff]

He's my hero ! :-D

[@thequietpart_]

Very topical comments, thanks for the applicable lesson!

[@eyeonrecovery8319]

These videos probably take a long time to make!

[@ahassan4151]

@@eyeonrecovery8319 they have to cos the way he goes in depth for so long with no seconds wasted on incoherent rambling to make the video longer

[@11jelloman11]

well worth the wait tho!

[@senpaiofalltrades4967]

I had a friend who told me he could fix my autism cause he suffered from autism. I quickly began idealizing him as a hero in my life that would fix my social isolation. He later turned out to be a manipulative sociopath and a psychopath. I wish now I had practiced some individuality and critical thought and some healthy skepticism.

[@helmaschine1885]

Healthy boundaries is difficult for neurotypicals too. Being autistic makes it even harder because of the social difficulties involved.

[@mbraxt11]

Psychopath and sociopathy are similar except psychotic people are born, sociopaths are created through trauma.

[@reidleblanc3140]

autism's nothing to suffer for. fitting in is a terrible thing. our brains has unfathomable advantages neurotypicals couldn't dream of. use them.

[@toyotawitha20mm35]

I got the bad side of it because im literally stupid, my iq is a whopping 93... i dont have any future job prospects other than the military, so i have to hide my autism. Not all of us have gifts over NTs, we just got unlucky. ​@reidleblanc3140

[@nataliaborys1554]

The worst thing is that this dependance on a false hero is hard to break out of. Hell, I have a person in my life who I got attached to after being dumped by skmeone else and I am quite sure they're bad for me, yet I can't ever fully let go, because just displeasing them feels like a disaster in my head.

[@nataliaborys1554]

@Naukumaija Mau-mau I'm planning to do so... someday... Like, I *know* I need to get out, but that doesn't cut it when I point out to my abuser that what they're doing is sometimes really fucked up and I don't know if I can handle it much longer and they respond by saying I'm cruel and threatening to commit suicide. It's also why I'm scared of displeasing them (and in conclusion, displeasing people overall) - they will tell me I'm a bad person (for the smallest transgression) and they helped me and look how I treat them in return.

[@yungtraplord1077]

@@nataliaborys1554 no one who has genuinely helped you out of the kindness of their heart will ever hold it above your head. I'm sure you know this I just want to echo it for you.

[@p_serdiuk]

@@nataliaborys1554 Hey. As someone who had a diagnosed narcissist as a partner for a while (who also made suicide threats), my recommendation would be to sever all ties with an abusive person, no matter how strongly you believe that it should be possible to fix the relationship and make them behave, and try to imagine the emotional experience of someone's rejection in your head or in the therapist's room (Repressed past experiences magnify similar present experiences; the presence of an emotion that after the fact seems like an overreaction strongly hints at repressed negative past memories IMO, that should be dug out and experienced to the fullest degree of their awfulness). Everyone has something positive about them and everyone can sometimes look as a reasonable person. But someone else's deep emotional disturbance is not your problem, and bad emotions affect us more strongly than good emotions, especially when depressed to some degree. It isn't worth staying in a bad relationship for any reason whatsoever. Every excuse to continue is emotionally motivated in some way, and as such, is irrational and detrimental.

[@melissalownik1936]

@@nataliaborys1554 look up the KZbin video "human magnet syndrome, codependency" ... It offers a step by step guide of lasting recovery. Also attachment style based therapy is REALLY helpful.

[@telecorpse1957]

@@nataliaborys1554 I got out of abusive relationship where my abuser among other horrible things faked 2 suicide attempts to make me suffer. Stop planning and do what you can to sever any contact with that person and get help. Don't try to fix them. Don't play therapist if you aren't one. They will use your commitment to mess with your feelings, waste your time, energy and will to live. If you just keep planning, you will probably do something only when you break down because of something terrible happening. After you leave them, don't be fooled if they appear to have fixed themselves. It's just a game of ping-pong played with your head.

[@honoryourself2098]

To the abused individual, a scrap of attention can feel like a tidal wave of love... so true.

[@joseayala2940]

Sad but true

[@CvnDqnrU]

Sometimes they see another abuser acting like a good person.

[@EmyajNosdrahcirEniacSovereign]

Just one sentence could eco the rest of your life in Appreciation of it.

[@DrownedInExile]

"I spent all my savings to come here. To learn and worship at your feet!" "There's nothing you can learn from my feet. And I am not responsible for your choices!" - G'Kar, Babylon 5

[@mjul7003]

The blurring of nudity and sex... I've been trying to explain to people for so long that we don't need to consider nudity to be inherently sexual. The human body has been demonized for far too long.

[@thedevilofmetal5335]

When I was a child, I suffered from having nightmares nearly every night. It got to the point where I didn’t want to sleep and I still hate sleep to this day. I first prayed to the Christian god, then after weeks of silence I prayed to any god or being out there just for a simple sign that someone is out there and that I wasn’t suffering and scared alone. Silence. The silence hurt worse than anything. I finally began to leave my already questionable faith when I came to the realization that if there was a god, he simply sat in silence as millions suffered fates that they had no control of. If there was a god, this life wasn’t a test, it was a punishment.

[@lianav707]

ah yes, the silence in a time when I was at my lowest. I didn't know it then, but that was the beginning of truly letting go of religion and accepting reality.

[@morganophelia5963]

But when God DOES do anything TO STOP EVIL .... He's evil right?! God is truly damned if He does and damned if He doesn't with you people isn't He?!......

[@thedevilofmetal5335]

@@morganophelia5963 I don’t think I get what you’re saying because here’s the thing, if god existed and he is even remotely powerful, let alone all powerful, why doesn’t he simply appear or speak or do absolutely anything. If such a being exists, he knows what would convince me yet chooses not to do anything that would. We don’t damn him on his actions because there is no action. The takeaway from my original post was not that god didn’t help me, but rather that he couldn’t even be bothered to say no. Even if there was a purpose or some reason I went through what I did, all it would take for me to believe would have simply been a reply. It’s not that we would be mad if he helps or doesn’t. We’re mad that if he exists he simply remains silent. There’s no use in praying to someone who remains silent. He doesn’t concern me

[@gamingdragon1356]

@@thedevilofmetal5335 Well God cannot live your life . You live your life . God is ever present inside you as your conscience . He is your guide but he cant take any action for you .

[@thedevilofmetal5335]

@@gamingdragon1356 Oh, I’m living my life. I’m living my life of pain and agony that your god put me into. If your god exists, he made a world of widespread suffering across all peoples and animals. I don’t need god to live my life for me. I simply wanted to know if he was there at my lowest point when I needed him the most. And silence. If he exists he sat in silence while myself and countless others suffered. If your god exists he is no friend of mine

[@shadedepeche2556]

Hello, I am Christian. I want to say that you have impressive insight on life. It actually made me rethink my beliefs. While this doesn’t make me want to leave Christianity, it encourages me to get a new approach on what information I am being given. I would like to thank you for all this.

[@markrhinehart7272]

You've taken the first steps in a larger world. Ik some atheists seem/sound like assholes but most of us are good people who don't hate the individual, just the fallicies and atrocities vieled in their belief. I come from a christian home and I consider myself to be a very invested atheist. I love my parents and all my friends who are still believers of many faiths. Good luck on your search

[@langedarm1775]

so, do tell. any changes so far?

[@naturessacrifice8265]

@@markrhinehart7272 The issue with people who use god is that he's nothing more than a fast pass out of "my take was shit" land. God is an excuse for these people to protest other people being treated fairly. Nothing wrong with believing there's a god, or going to church. But sticking your head up your own ass so far you can't hear anymore in the name of god is bad. I understand just how bad this belief can get, I live five minutes away from New Life church, who's head pastor went on a gay sex and drug use rampage while also preaching about how evil gay people are. God can be good, and he probably does exist. Single handedly the greatest joke ever written was the bible, at least for those who read it and listen to idiots. Leviticus is home to the only argument against homosexuality, and so many people claim it's "gods word" and "Completely true", while not reading the next page over. I believe there is a god, but he's at best indifferent to us, and at worst has gone out for milk. 2000 years left on a planet with us, and the bible is probably no longer as holy as it once was. Mistranslations, the church usually being as nice as an abusive father, corruption, the bible is probably no longer really a book about the word of god.

[@novastar6112]

@@markrhinehart7272 best way to think of it is that assholes exist both in the theist and atheist communities

[@d4-v1d22]

@Nova Star Yeah, pretty much everything has a few assholes

[@a-goblin]

ok listen, these essays are fantastic but i want to talk about the video quality and how the effects are perfectly timed and crisp, and the usage of a wide variety of models is stellar. even though the models have essentially featureless faces, the fact that they're not identical is such a great touch. i just think that's neat.

[@--OFFLINE]

this man is doing true humanitarian work by condensing these insights and making these videos. I'm very grateful for that.

[@kikivoorburg]

Quoting Philip Zimbardo and then later making a point about how an author’s credibility/controversy doesn’t affect the credibility of their ideas. Nicely done!

[@Nerobyrne]

but what if I'm quoting Hitler on how to subvert democracy?

[@ub3rfr3nzy94]

@@Nerobyrne Well, Hitler's ideas on how to subvert democracy worked didn't they?

[@Nerobyrne]

@@ub3rfr3nzy94 yeah that's my point, I'd give that book more credance than if someone else wrote it ^.^

[@Hanagigi]

@@Nerobyrne You would give it more credit because of the effects of such actions. If it were written by someone else describing hitler's effective tactics of subverting democracy the value would be the same, i.e. not in the author but in the ideas, execution and effectiveness of the same.

[@Nerobyrne]

@@Hanagigi ah, you make a good point.

[@useroffline9999]

while letting go of my religious trauma, past of emotional abuse, and childhood surrounded by narcissists, ive made two decisions. 1.) my first priority in treating my OCD will be to stop compulsively apologizing. that trait was something i was already prone to, but hammered in by a toxic fundamentalist upbringing. 2.) i will NEVER forgive my abusers. ever. i don’t need that to heal.

[@KarmaWilFndU]

🤔 Why does that sound so familiar...hmph ..

[@azsli2]

Exactly my father tried to murder me and people said I should try to talk to him and rebuild the family. I needed to forgive him for my own health. I choose not too. I want nothing to do with him and I don't need him to be happy.

[@SexyPants]

Not everyone is able to grow and learn from past negative experiences. Narcisistic people will convince you over and over that you are the one that needs to change even if you're doing everything you can to make it work out. Even if you forgive them forever they won't grow and nothing will change. Learning when not to forgive others is an important and difficult life lesson.

[@azsli2]

@Ability Damage its not really anger. More like apathy. I dont hate him i just dont care about him like at all.

[@redpandah3309]

Same, i will never forgive my abusers as well. So i will not relapse

[@UzairH]

paradox: TheraminTrees: you are our hero. Joking aside, love your work Theramin. I wish everyone could see and understand these concepts rather than (alas) indulging in mindless social media and usless celebrity worship.

[@atomic66]

Ah, but celebrity worship is useful , to those who want to sell us products

[@midplanewanderer9507]

This is platinum-grade content. Unlike gold, which just sits there and sparkles, this material can actually help catalyze one's consciousness into a more-refined, healthy state.

[@kinker31]

Gold *does* have it's uses in electronics, being a corrosion free carrier of electricity and all, or so I heard

[@tup4443]

​@kinker31 it's also a better conductor than copper, but way more expensive

[@sethlindgren1067]

Your timing of posting this video just a few hours before the circus that is American politics exploded is extraordinary.

[@octopusmime]

I can't help but blame religion for what we're seeing in America. Its the orign of narcissist worship. Trump is the chicken coming home to roost in that regard. The big narcissist in the sky.

[@joseayala2940]

I was thinking the same, also was happening in America is Combination of the "hero" Reflection & Artificial Disciple in a massive scale.

[@badlydrawnturtle8484]

@@octopusmime I would blame human nature, which both religion and other forms of worship exploit. Religion didn't make the human brain susceptible to these things; the human brain, being susceptible to these things, made religion.

[@grovetender4713]

@@badlydrawnturtle8484 Agreed.

[@blacktecno]

I love the irony of seeing religious ads on this channel.

[@nukiradio]

It just sucks more people to the opposite side of their fence lol

[@auri7442]

Everytime

[@elpretender1357]

Adblock is peace

[@kdfksfkldsklfkldsff]

@@reganmau idk seems like the algorithm sees the word "religion" and groups everything with that term together, so both advocacy and criticism. Idk just guessing tho lol

[@etherealstars5766]

@@kdfksfkldsklfkldsff Yep. I've watched religious videos and been recommended atheist refutations. That's how I got here!

[@ravenvalentine4919]

watching your videos truly makes me feel sane in an insane world and in an theology ( Libya and Islam ) infested country , you have no idea how much i appreciate your work

[@TheraminTrees]

Thank you Raven. Peace and strength.

[@ravenvalentine4919]

@@TheraminTrees oh look , my hero LOL ♥

[@tatianahawaii13]

Hugs

[@egomaniac7230]

Same! It just makes it hard not to make a hero out of the guy!

[@ravenvalentine4919]

@@egomaniac7230 i said it sarcastically with the topic of the video but how can you not call him a hero for real

[@TheNickhis]

Growing up mormon meant being instilled with strong hero worship cultural habits, and having to unlearn those makes me realize how big a problem it is in so many other social circles, in every situation involving a victim, their abuser, and the abuser's sycophants.

[@MrRakusi]

Despite talking about very difficult and complex topics, I like how you don't try to push your own agenda, whatever it might be. Instead, most videos you publish on your channel are urging people to think for themselves, and apply skepticism to their own beliefs. Great stuff my man

[@TheraminTrees]

Thank you. It's nice to have one's genuine motivation perceived and articulated.

[@42percenthealth]

It only recently struck me how hypocritical the Christian god is for demanding that we forgive each other unconditionally, when his forgiveness of us is full of conditions. In fact, our unconditional forgiveness is one of his conditions.

[@ThatCrazyKid0007]

It's a classic case of good intentions but bad decisions. On the surface level, it seems like a good idea, if people forgave each other more instead of holding grudges and vitriol in their hearts, the world would be a better place. However, it does not work in reality because forgiveness can also enable further abusive behaviour and in reality all you're doing is allowing one party to abuse the other and justify their actions for them which further perpetuates the cycle instead of ending it. It also naively assumes that forgiveness heals all trauma, but in reality sometimes the damage is simply permanent and we are under no obligation to forgive such transgression against us unless we wish to do so. And you can't will what you want, humans don't work like that. So whoever wrote the scriptures probably had good intentions, but did not stop to think how misused the principle can be and generally how flawed is it that ruins the entire point of it.

[@EdwardHowton]

I call it Theistspeak. Theistspeak is a language that looks functionally identical to English (or any other real language, but most commonly), but where the definition of every word is completely reversed. The best example is exactly the one you bring up. In Theistspeak, the phrase "God loves you unconditionally" translates to "God has nothing but contempt and outright hatred for you and everyone else but will allow you to continue existing if you meet an impossible number of conditions, many of which are mutually exclusive". "Love your neighbor" means constantly harass them to conform to your personally preferred way of living, and be violently hateful towards anyone who refuses to conform to your personal authority. "Judge not lest ye be judged" translates to "Judge others, constantly, but reject all judgement from others because hypocrisy is fine if you're doing it". That last one in particular reminds me of Orwell's book, 1984. In the book, language is simplified so that people are unable to even _think_ in any unauthorized fashion, because they would lack the words and concepts necessary. It reminds me of that precisely because it's a way to trap theists in their mindsets. In particular, on the topic of abortion. You can bet money that the ones who are most outspoken about the evil of abortion are part of the group who rely on it the most. It's _okay_ for _them_ to have abortions, because they are poor helpless victims of circumstance, and no-one can expect _them_ to be perfect, and frankly they're inconvenienced by unwanted pregnancies, so they allow themselves to get the procedure even while they insult the people performing the procedures for being evil, but when people argue in favor of the practice or get it in their own lives for the exact same reasons, they're evil and wrong and It. Must. Be. Stopped. Because the _possibility_ of the theist being a hypocrite cannot even enter their mind. The Theistspeak language has degraded their ability to think to the point where hypocrisy is good and benevolence is evil, because God is a murderous bastard and that's better than being helpful and kind because being murderous and evil IS being helpful and kind. You corrupt the language, you corrupt the thinking. You corrupt the thinking, you trap the victim. That's why you constantly hear "Evolution says you came from a rock!" and the like; they're altering the language to make it impossible for cult members to consider escaping. No matter how often I explained to one cultist that there are no "genetic limits" on mutations, he insisted that evolution had genetic limits, because brainwashing. "Evolutionism", calling atheists satan-worshipers who 'just hate god', it's all the same strategy. Theistspeak.

[@Sonlirain]

I'd say the Bible (And most religious scripture really) are more of a "How to be a society." brochure. Except that brochure is out of date and doesn't take thousands of years of technological progress into account. But some of the rules still apply even today, and most of them are designed to keep people together for the better or worse.

[@EdwardHowton]

@@Sonlirain That's a fair enough assessment, but it's more a manual on how to run a society almost into the ditch while a small interest group maintains power over its victims. That is the kind of society it brainwashes its victims into perpetuating, do you're mostly correct there. It's important not to misattribute credit, however. Saying 'some of the bible's rules still apply' quietly implies the bible is the origin. In reality, the rules found their way into the bible which then proclaimed ownership over them. It's sort of like saying a serial killer's advice to make sure your computer is plugged in properly still applies today. Well, yes, in one sense, you should make sure, but you don't have to thank the serial killer for a single goddamn thing, let alone give him _credit_ for the advice, since he stole it from someone else. I mean, the way you ended that statement. 'or worse'. Yes, the bible specifically makes everything worse. Like saying the serial killer's computer advice is good, so all let's go on a killing spree in his honor. The very few and rare nearly accidentally good bits of advice on how to run a society in the bible are basic common sense practicalities. "Maybe we shouldn't gratuitously murder everybody" didn't require all the bits about slavery, child mutilation, and death sentences for infidelity. Or to put it another way, we don't have _Catwoman (2004)_ to thank for movie theaters, hot buttered popcorn, and overpriced soft drinks.

[@DreamyAileen]

​@@EdwardHowton You seem to think the Bible is some kind of ultimate evil (or the closest thing to one in an atheistic worldview) but the Bible's laws and ideas were broadly speaking pretty fair for the time. Far from acceptable by today's standards, obviously, but a small step towards a healthy society nonetheless. Christianity today isn't good for a healthy society, like any other religion. But 2000 years ago it was practically revolutionary. The Bible raised ideas of individualism and free will in a time where your identity was determined almost entirely by your ethnic group and/or family history. It laid the groundwork of Individualism for the Age of Enlightenment to build upon some 1700 years later. That _matters_ in the history of societal progress -- in the same way that Aristotle's teachings matter in the history of scientific progress, even though we know today that most of them were inaccurate. Look, I'm an anti-theist. I have no love for religion. But history shouldn't be ignored and forgotten. It would be a disservice to the billions that lived and died in the 10,000-year-long crawl from nomadic tribes to the societally- and technologically-advanced world we live in today.

[@AI-tc8fv]

These videos always seem to be a port in a storm for me.

[@ThatsWhatSheSaid-420]

I read "Thinking Fast and Slow" in my fourth year of college when I was taking an elective book club course. It was the first time I'd ever read a work which elaborated on the inborn tendencies of humans to commit predictable logical fallacies and errors in reasoning, and to give statistical data to back up those claims. It's easier to take a step back and reconsider your assumptions once you've gotten rid of the assumption that to be logical is to be completely devoid of the influence of bias, but is instead an ideal to be achieved through practice, trial and error, and the help of external resources, as an instrument or sport is practiced until one is skilled - but never perfect - at it.

[@jolulipa]

Today in my country (who follows catholic tradition) is the holyday Epiphany or three kings day. Is when kids receive toys, emulating the gifts brought to Jesus by the 3 kings. Your video is my "3 kings day" gift. Thank you.

[@raphaelhemery152]

Out of curiosity, if you don't mind me asking, which country is it? I'm aware Spain does something like this, are you from there or somewhere else?

[@jolulipa]

@@raphaelhemery152 Dominican Republic

[@raphaelhemery152]

@@jolulipa I see, thank you. Happy three kings day, one day late.

[@Phoenix0F8]

Even when I was in the faith, I came to view Hell as one of if not the single most destructive idea ever conjured in human history. I cannot for the life of me think of a single concept more toxic or terrifying, one that has so much reach and can poison every waking moment if not dealt with head on. When I was very young I became repeatedly convinced that I had committed the unpardonable sin, and that innocent time which could have been blissful was marred by abject horror and despair. And I don't get any do-overs. And even to this day I still lie awake some nights and wonder if I will be set on fire and left to rot forever after I die- with no hope and no chance of escape. A lot of people make fun of atheists as excessively bitter, without once stopping to think of the people and experiences which caused that bitterness. As the saying goes, "The most sacrilegious children come from the most devout parents."

[@Nerobyrne]

"If God thought this was an abomination, he'd put a stop to it." Well, that's a dangerous way of thinking, because it basically means God is fine with everything.

[@dannygomez6196]

I mean he was absolutely fine with flooding the entire world becuase he saw it as too impure and full of sin, who's to say he wouldn't have done the same in the modern day, whats stopping him from making another disaster to destroy all that he sees as sinful and an abomination?

[@BalaenicepsRex3]

@@dannygomez6196 The general answer is God is not as brutal anymore thanks to Jesus' sacrifice. But I agree with you. I'm 100% sure that what happens today is way worse than anything in previous ages.

[@miragepeter8412]

Nerobyrne Than you're not paying attention to how made God REALLY is... The whole world is being handed over to world leaders who are operating for the devil, because 95% of human's don't follow God's Law's. The vaccines is one of the Mark of the beast. America's freedom is no more.. People are handing it over to world leaders of fear that ONLY comes from the devil. But you will see extremely soon.

[@miragepeter8412]

Meant to say MAD

[@57thorns]

@@miragepeter8412 Made (up) however is pretty good too. And you really got the ravings of those at the peak if willful ignorance, basking in the light if magical heroes (etc) spot on!

[@joshfish2]

always good to hear your videos man. Always found, even as an Atheist, you have the most introspective and solid arguments compared to other fellow Atheists I've seen and heard from. Nice voice too, I can see why you'd be a good psychologist

[@ameilioracryptos5298]

Yeah compared to most atheists who are like bash god and edge lords

[@TurbinationE]

@@ameilioracryptos5298 "most atheists" or just the loudest ones? Or is this potentially flawed information that was given to push a specific narrative?

[@InfinitiSin]

Them: Follow me I’ll save you. Me: Nah I’m good. Them: Ok, understandable have a nice day. And then I woke up from the dream because such understanding never occurs.

[@blackpolishedchrome4774]

Follow me I’ll save you.

[@theokrisna]

as long as your dream isn't deep fried

[@jivaji2028]

@@blackpolishedchrome4774 Nah, im good..

[@blackpolishedchrome4774]

@@jivaji2028 That is full-on blasphemy. Kneel before me and repent or face the consequences. Should I make an appointment for that? Is next ⚡️Thursday ⚡️OK to you? Don't forget to bring your own whip.

[@jivaji2028]

@@blackpolishedchrome4774 I new there wont be any understanding

[@Leopold_33w]

The intro music is my favorite Chopin piece.

[@TheraminTrees]

His prelude in E minor featured here and his nocturne 20 in C sharp minor have long been inseparable favourites.

[@brodericksiz625]

Theramin Trees, you are by far my favourite KZbin channel. The quality of your videos is astounding and it always gives me plenty of self reflection material, as well as food for thought in general. I won't say that I eagerly await for each and every one of your scarce but massively dense releases, because quite frankly I don't, I do have many many other things to think about, but when one of your videos does pop up I always think "man, I can't wait to be able to take some time to watch that" (and rarely I see it as soon as you upload it, because I turn off all notifications from all social medias, and I already did long before watching this video). You have been instrumental in the construction of some of the main tools I use for critical thinking today and I cannot express how grateful I am that I can enjoy all of this for free. I have no idea of who you are as a person, but I do think that the content of your work easily stands on its own merits. Thank you for all the effort you put into it.

[@TheraminTrees]

Thanks Broderick. Makes such a difference, doesn't it, when we're the masters of our own schedules. Peace.

[@Reignor99]

Your videos not only help victims, but also help abusers learn to identify their pathological ways. Thanks.

[@rossanaluna4458]

I have finished watching the video and now I'll proceed to watch it again.

[@OneIroNauT_1]

I was so happy to see Theramin in my Notifications this morning.

[@bogdantrifoi1860]

New Theramintrees videos make my neurons go BRRRRRTTT

[@raptorpeep2622]

hell yeahh

[@aapex1]

Hello dopamine!!!!

[@krimsonkarma8412]

Serotonin and Dopamine go brrrrrr

[@tatianahawaii13]

❤️

[@LucreDenouncer]

Your visualization and description of the Dunning-Kruger effect is excellent, but I wish you had called it out by name so this video comes to mind when its viewers hear someone mention the term "Dunning-Kruger effect". But this is a small, insignificant nitpick. I'm thoroughly impressed by this work of yours. I especially enjoyed your bit about the separation of ideas and people. It helped me get over my other nitpick about your quote of Steven Pinker in "the value of offence".

[@57thorns]

The interesting thing to me is that this explains willful ignorance. It is not just that Dunner-Kruger, but a combination of hero worship and Dunner-Kruger. Especially when the "hero" is unaware of how little they actually know. It is one heck of a hard thing to combat in yourself however, and when you do know enough to see the difference between someone who is a genuine expert, and someone who spreads misinformation basen on either bad understanding or a sinister agenda?

[@Bridge2110]

The Dunning-Kruger effect doesn't really replicate: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0160289620300271 "On the basis of a sample of 929 general community participants who completed a self-assessment of intelligence and the Advanced Raven's Progressive Matrices, we failed to identify statistically significant heteroscedasticity, contrary to the Dunning-Kruger hypothesis. Additionally, the association between objectively measured intelligence and self-assessed intelligence was found to be essentially entirely linear, again, contrary to the Dunning-Kruger hypothesis"

[@57thorns]

@@Bridge2110 Interesting. So that might be just one more of those cautionary tales that need to be told. Or it just applies to certain people.

[@catriona_drummond]

I guess it depends how you measure it. A person who read a little about astronomy and looks at the sky hardly will feel confident when they look at the sky and realise they only really know a few of the bright dots. On a very technical, or skill based measure of intelligence there will probably not be any Dunning Kruger effect. People realize quickly what they don't know or can do. To find any effect like Dunning Kruger you have to go to the humanities, the social sciences, or psychology, or economics, where there are no clear laws and no absolute knowledge. Here is where you find people who think they have figured out the stock market, or personal relationships or how societies inevitably must react to immigration based oon some historic examples they know. But in these areas quantitative developments are only reliable until they suddenly have a qualitative disruption (Watzlawick) and every rule has exception and these have exceptions from the exceptions. It's these muddled areas where ven statistics get often bogged down where you find Dunning Kruger candidates who are very sure they have figured it all out while people with a little more awareness of the complexity of the situation often find it even difficult to make decisions.

[@57thorns]

@@catriona_drummond I think you have a point there. It is very easy to have strong opinions on facemasks, closing schools and curfews, especially in other countries than your own, but the reality is that not everywhere is the same and it is impossible, even after the fact, to say anything certain.

[@Crayon_Blade]

I live in America, with the segment about the rouge politician sadly ringing too true. Thank you for producing work that is shown to be closer to the truth than most people who tout a label of wisdom.

[@octopusmime]

Absolutely.

[@jb76489]

“If you don’t vote for me, you’re not black”

[@homeoftheinepttulpagamer]

Weirdly.. In such a polarised debate, both sides take from it that such arguments support their own cause. _If only the other side understood that?_ We are a funny people.

[@nobody8328]

Just when I thought today couldn't get any better here in the great state of Georgia, there's a new TheraminTrees! 💖

[@henotic_paracosm]

I hardly comment on videos but I'm going to say something slightly anecdotal. I remembered a homework assignment back in primary school where we have to write about our favourite heroes. I struggled because I got no idea who to write about. Some of my classmates put their parents, others chose celebrities and some chose fictional characters. I didn't know how to express my thoughts because I was always get mocked by my parents and younger sisters for speaking up while they get to do so without consequences. Add God in the equation, and it gets dangerous. I can't say that I don't believe in the man in the sky or they'll disown me like they did to my older brother. It's really hard for me bacause I'm autistic and someone could easily take advantage of me. It taught me to not trust and idolise anyone ever!! I would not explain much further here, it's too personal but I hope you understand. I really like your content, @TheraminTrees. It really made me think about my life. But I'm currently struggling to do things for myself.

[@gravewalkerjones935]

Theramin drops. I run with ludicrous speed to see it. One of my favorite and helpful, honest channels. Keep it up man.

[@galacticbob1]

"Light speed?" "No, light speed's too slow. We'll have to jump straight to..." *Closes helmet* "LUDICROUS SPEED!!" 🚀

[@terig8974]

On the other hand, it's okay to have some healthy role models with the understanding that they're just mortals like you and me. We can learn from the actions, experiences and words of others so long as we keep it all in proportion to reality.

[@markfennell1167]

exactly. We need more heroes and role models. The way he puts down hard-working dedicated heroes insults my soul to the core

[@joshuataylor4028]

Before this video I was a TheraminTrees disciple. Now I am still a TheraminTrees disciple _and_ wary of anyone who tells me he isn't god.

[@hoseashpm7810]

Nice xD

[@zeykriid]

this channel and the messages it puts out are so fucking important- I wish there was a way to make everyone ever watch these and critically think about the messages in them

[@dreamydailine]

i like your profile picture. That's all i wanna mention.

[@zeykriid]

@@dreamydailine thanks! I drew it c:

[@dreamydailine]

@@zeykriid :OOOO art's pog will support 100%

[@zeykriid]

@@dreamydailine aaa thanks! you can look me up on insta if you’re curious!

[@ethan80grams69]

Isn’t this channel against forcing beliefs/ideologies on people?

[@poultriarchy]

he delivers. time to become undone.

[@jdjoshsan]

The allusions and sage advice is remarkable. I had moments of realization in this video where other means of discussing these issues would not have gotten through. This channel provides you with the tools to think about what is happening without implicit judgement or doing the work for you. It is so well done that I am unsure if one allusion I took from it was even intended or the teaching has worked so well that I was able to apply the advice instead of merely reading between lines. That these videos are free and not paywalled, alongside the criticisms of revolving door systems that run counter to this model, is really appreciated.

[@SalahEddineH]

13:48 it takes a certain dedication to use (or make) *3 different cross icons,* instead of copy-pasting the same one, to avoid visible repetition on the same slide. I always enjoy your videos. Can't get enough of them, actually. Your attention to details is always highly appreciated. Cheers, my friend. You are awesome.

[@sledderal1016]

I feel the need to express my deep appreciation for the knowledge vs. confidence illustration (not to ignore all the other apt illustrations). Simply well done. Edit: Add in the power/accountability illustration as well...i should probably just wait for the end of the video to consolidate my compliments.

[@pyrokittykat744]

Never have I clicked faster! Thank you!!!!!!

[@Cernumospete]

This vid actually explains pretty good why some people flee reality and play games. Trying to escape their own powerlessness.

[@itchykami]

I tend to see philosophers as a bit of a mystical hero when I first discover them. Takes a while for their shine to fade to where I see their humanness. I could easily see myself being taken for a ride, but hope that being aware of this, and seeing it so often will protect me.

[@speedy01247]

wonder how you feel about theramintrees?

[@selfishbirch]

Oh, wow, i needed that. Ive just talked to my nephew about our elder relative, who is a hero to her, despite never protecting her or doing anything active to help. I used to praise him as well, because he wasnt always mean to me, unlike some others adults in my childhood, he only hurt me from times to times. And I see her repeating my mistake protecting him from toxic enviroment, despite being a child who actually needs this protection, but never getting it

[@josiahgittman1268]

This video inspired me not to put up with my dad’s manipulative abusive bull shit, so I just wanted to say thank you. Im in a much better place mentally now thanks to you.

[@Juiceboxdan72]

I really appreciate how you aren't afraid to discuss religion, and that you do so with such clarity. Does religion "do good?" Sure. But the harm it causes outweighs the good, at least on a population scale. Dangerous stuff.

[@bigbadlara5304]

Thanks for this video. In a sense I'm the magical hero to my sister. This video made me aware of that. I went through severe mental issues in the recent past and recently I feel confident saying I 'conquered' them. No easy task, it took a decade. I'm also now studying to become a Clinical psychologist. Still am years out from practicing. My younger sister and I are very close and she has been struggling with similar mental health issues as me(similar labels but probably not causes). She has been asking me for advice and I've been gladly giving it to her. However now I have become the only source of advice she trusts. But I simply can't cure her which she expects me to be able too.

[@nasthe4lchemist]

Ah the eldest sister wound 🥴 Im also still recovering from certain experiences and trying to progress my healing journey and my little sister followed suit, recognising the similarities in herself and seeking similar relief but i dont always cope the best so i try to pass on what i believe is positive but am firm in a subjective approach, I remind her different things work for everyone and she can try what i offer or if she thinks of a better solution to do that. Its stressful when youre a trailblazer because we rarely get to make our mistakes in private but something tells me we’re doing great 😁

[@bogdantrifoi1860]

with each video the characters look better and better, glad to see that improvement, makes me feel like I'm assisting in a journey :)

[@goncalocarneiro3043]

I can relate to the idea of a "hero" greatly. Specially the last few parts of the video. The "self-perpetuating cycle of greater dependance", the "fear of powerlessness, comfortmity and greater dependance". I don't believe I was raised like this maliciously, I think at worst my mother was too protective and I got too used to just going along as what was asked of me was the opposite of hard, "allow me to do things for you and help you". But I struggle, I feel the conformity, and I do genuinely wish there was a "magical solution" to my problems, my lack of willpower. I know not excactly what to do to exit the cycle, and frankly, I'm afraid that evemn if I knew I'd not be able to exit it. It is such a monumentous task to put any effort into anything. Even as I watch this constructive video, warning me of dangers I am procrastinating.

[@ThatCrazyKid0007]

Take small steps mate. Easier to tackle a small but achievable goal, then build those goals one on top of the other to achieve a bigger goal than to go for the bigger goal directly. Awareness is a good starting point, now you can examine which parts of your life, no matter how small, can you actually realistically change today or tomorrow. Sitting idle emotionally paralysed is not something you should permanently enable.

[@goncalocarneiro3043]

@@ThatCrazyKid0007 It does sound somewhat simple, doesn't it? But I assure you, in practice... It's quite a hardy task.

[@ThatCrazyKid0007]

@@goncalocarneiro3043 I am aware mate, but like the video says it's a prison you must choose on your own to escape from. Do you even want to escape it, or is it comfortable enough that you'd give up the idea of losing it's shackles for the rest of your life simply to avoid the emotional struggle in the act of escaping it? If yes, you want to leave, then difficult decisions and tasks are required to achieve it. That's why I said start smaller, to reduce the emotional taxation and difficulty in digging your way out slowly but surely to give you a starting point and increase your chances of success. What else other than nothing can you really do?

[@goncalocarneiro3043]

@@ThatCrazyKid0007 Those questions are all very hard to answer because everything feels so grey. I dream of a version of me that can think about something and go accomplish it, or at least try it with the utmost effort, and I feel like the "me" I am now is utterly inferior, so technically I do want to escape. But... It is true, I would be lying if I said that I am not comfortable enough to just give up. That said, I know for a fact that I won't be comfortable forever, I am not independant financially, I am striving towards independance at a snail's pace... I feel like there'll be a point in which every day will be utter torture, when the responsibilities pile up in an amount multiple times higher than my trickle of a capacity to work/study/do things and I stop having anything to distract myself with, causing the morale I kept just barely between green and yellow until then to collapse and never go back up. I cannot help but "rationalize", or "excuse" my inactivity with the paradox that I'd have to not be lazy to stop being lazy. As for what I can do... Well... I can read books..? I can do some menial chores with bellow average results, I can study for five minutes, I could in theory try to get a driver's license. Is that what you meant?

[@tupoiu]

@@goncalocarneiro3043 The way to escape laziness is accountability. I say this as I am also procrastinating, from 2 urgent tasks. Do you have friends who have specific goals that they want to achieve? An online course they want to take? A job they want to get? Try to form a link between your tasks and theirs and check how well they are doing (because you care about them) and they will hopefully do the same.

[@stardustchimp375]

Meanwhile in heaven... Welcome all, Thanks for not thinking on Earth. We needed the ones that wouldn't think for the next step. Now. You will no longer have free will. Now smile and be happy forever!

[@Frankienoname0]

Your videos have literally changed my life, and the lives of many others with whom I’m always eager to share the content that you create. I’m blown away by the effectiveness and efficiency in your ability to articulate and illustrate these strategies, theories, perspectives, and ideas. Your videos have been a key element in the adaptation to my drastically different current reality than the extremely violent, corrupt, crime and drug infested one that I managed to escape. Your work brings clarity to my thoughts when reflecting on my past, while providing much needed traction while I navigate towards my otherwise slippery goals. I can’t thank you enough for the content created by both you and your brother! P.S I wish I could find a therapist in the states with a small fraction of your abilities. By any chance, are you able to accommodate sessions for patients in the US? Or can you recommend one that you trust? Keep up the great work!

[@TheraminTrees]

Hey Frankie. Thank you. Great to hear you've steered your own positive course. I'm retired from individual therapy work now - and no one comes to mind who's operating online. But one of the future videos on the channel will look at finding therapists. A peaceful new year.

[@Frankienoname0]

@@TheraminTrees thank you!

[@lancemilliken9078]

It’s always an enlightening treat when you post. Your videos should be required viewing

[@Azzolde]

Man, it's always a good day when Theramintrees uploads! Glad to see you back!

[@Name-ot3xw]

Reminded of that scene in the life of Brian where we all chant back to you "yes, we are individuals", then wait for you to tell us what to do.

[@FishyBoi1337]

Incredible. The only channel that keeps my attention for the entirety of the video, and the videos are always much longer than other channels'.

[@lsmmoore1]

Speaking of "heroes", I remember reading about a certain Ethiopian hyena legend in a book (sadly out of print) that I think is applicable to this topic. The legend more or less goes like this: A hyena saw three boys. The first boy approached the hyena and the hyena asked "Whose protection are you under" and the boy answered "I am under my own protection" and the hyena backed off (or fought the boy, I can't remember which, but that boy doesn't die). The second boy also approached, and the hyena again asked "Whose protection are you under", and that boy answered "I am under God's protection" (and this legend assumes that the god is real) and so the hyena said "I can't attack you because God would be mad at me". And here's the especially salient bit: The third boy approached the hyena, the hyena again asked "Whose protection are you under". Trembling and quivering with fear, the boy answered "I am under your protection". The hyena said "Good. Come inside my stomach and I will protect you fully". And he ate the boy. Mind you, some versions of God are no better than the hyena, but you get the idea.

[@larryfitterman]

I'd just like to thank you for creating these videos. I stumbled upon you in a time where I felt so lost and angry at myself for questioning the existence of a God I've been praying to since I was born. I had questions that couldn't be answered but I was scared to draw the conclusion that perhaps I was gonna become a non-believer. You helped me get out of this toxic mindset and helped me see that religion, in my opinion, does more harm than good. I still think that my life would be easier if I hadn't opened my eyes, but thank you for helping me see the truth. Much love. ❤️

[@ab-zg8pt]

This is my favorite channel, hands down

[@FelixEvers06]

One thing I always appreciate is you adding subtitles to every single one of your videos (and putting [cc] in the title to signal that). I'm (undiagnosed but most likely) neurodivergent, and listening to speech is always hard for me. So I always really appreciate it when creators add subtitles, because they allow me to watch the video without having to rewind constantly to catch the words I missed.

[@proud2bpagan]

@TheraminTrees the 'straw' that broke for me was hearing our pastor preach in a Sunday sermon that "So you can't take off for an hour on Sunday to come to church: Well,God'll take care of that little problem for you". it sounds no different than a protection racket run by organized crime. Like theyre saying "So you can't take off for an hour? Well..hey, you gotta do what you can...man, this is a nice soul..be a real shame if something were to happen to it"

[@witchdaggery]

The king has returned

[@omnipresentsnowflake4698]

TheraminTrees is a hero, I think we should all orbit around them

[@db1416]

he's not a king he is a ram in trees.

[@DrownedInExile]

Aragorn?

[@skeletonwar4445]

@@kodama279 Wow, if only someone made a joke about that...

[@g0rd081217]

I've never had a true hero in my life, all I saw were people just trying to get by through indulgence and/or work. I tried to have a hero either through mentors or beleifs. I was sodemly disappointed and unsatisfied by such ideals. Then I realized Idolizing individuals will produce nothing of value and rather take value from myself. I figured to Idolize the actions of individuals rather than the individuals themselves. Through that train of thought I behaved around those actions. Making actual change instead of praying for it.

[@thedebatehitman]

Welcome back!

[@GandharvChoudhry]

This was Gold. This was equivalent to a Best Selling Book!. Hands Down one of the most Important Videos Ever Made in KZbin History. You are Changing Lives Man, Love from India❤️

[@KK-zt1ed]

Thank you for this channel. How I wish to have such a great psychologist. Your thoughts about the cruel and unjust God resonate in me. I was Jehovah's Witness. I left because I wanted my identity back. I could not take the pressure any longer. But I still believed in God after I left. Thanks you I realized how twisted I was. I am happy there is no God. Coincidentally it was Jesus who said : you will know the truth, and the truth set you free. I accept I will die one day and I cease to exist. It is a comforting idea compared to the eternal life under the rule of Jehovah. I'm happy I will not be forced to bury the corpses of billions of people after the Armageddon and to smile and sing songs to Jehovah - the greatest cleanser in universe. It would be hell. Thank you. Kristina

[@Brandon-a-writer]

Your reading of Mill is especially poignant in our times. These are thoughtful, well argued and provocative videos. As a student of history and religion, I find your channel to be the best, most reasoned push back against irrationality and the submission of the individual. Happy new year, sir. PS. Where is the good fellow Hasan Radwan? :D

[@TheraminTrees]

Thank you. And a happy one to you. Yes, Mr Radwan's a real gem isn't he.

[@Brandon-a-writer]

@@TheraminTrees One can tell by his strict humanism, his tireless curiosity and, overall, I think, warmth as a human being that he is a good man, and he is well read, well-spoken, and, like yourself, a welcome contribution to the continued interchange of philosophy and living well. I admire his intelligence, his humanity, and most of all, his seeming sincere belief in the value of human life. It has near inspired me to learn illustrator and put out video essays and the like on similar interests, though mostly historical and literary. When that happens, hopefully you'll be around to see the seeds of the inspiration you've brought to we individuals, who submit to the reason, though temper it with compassion or our fellows, always. Thank you or taking the time to reply to a stranger, these videos are always a treat my good sir. Hope the new year is kind to you and your family. 'The Satanic Verses Before Orthodoxy' would be a great video project, as Shahab Ahmed traces the first transmissions of the report and looks at what the sources say about it in the first 200 years of the ummah, a time before the muhaddithun/hadith scholars established the isnad as an epistemological truth claim, muslims from all over the world seemed to universally accept and teach the incident, and there is no hint of it being rejected in the first 200 years after hijra.... Interesting that what the earliest ummah thought completely in keeping with their image of the prophet, as fallible, prone to confusion and the demands of humanity, would later be at such odds with a group looking to establish legal, praxial, and social norms for the building of a legal, functioning state. Oh sorry, good day sir!

[@devilsadvocacypress3151]

So good to have you back.

[@sarahb1862]

I really needed to hear this right now. The feeling of helplessness is so strong and I know that makes me susceptible to a hero figure. This brings to mind Stacey Abrams who some people are already idolizing because of her admittedly impressive and inspirational work in voters rights and motivating us all... But idolizing her strips her of her humanity and puts her actions out of reach and sets her as exempt from criticism. We should be MOTIVATED by her and see how we can make a difference but it takes a sh*t-ton of effort to get there so we need to pitch in. I know this is an over share but I feel so lost right now and so beat down. These past few years have been a bombardment of the same rhetoric that was used to justify the abuse I endured growing up and those abusers are just getting louder and louder and more and more bold and I am now realizing with help from ideas like yours and others that it's okay to separate from those people. It's okay to not take their calls any more, it's okay to just step away. Words cannot express how grateful I am to you and others who remind us of that. Thank you.

[@andreanguyenle404]

"Even cookery books often digress from recipes into some *half-baked* personal philosophy from the author" I see what you did there.

[@quedtion_marks_kirby_modding]

As someone who has study history, I find a lot of what you said in this video really interested. Specialy the hero stuff, it reminded me of how Hitler talked about himselfs on his speeches and how propaganda try to portrait him as.

[@smpanther]

Theramintrees posts a video. Me: gotta reschedule my day

[@walterkennedy9474]

I watching it during an ap chem class

[@HassanRadwan133]

Your videos are such gems. Thank you ❤️

[@TheraminTrees]

Thank you Hassan. I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well. Wishing you a peaceful 2021. ❤️

[@HassanRadwan133]

@@TheraminTrees You too my friend 🙂

[@davidvanderhout8568]

Very appropriate timing on this video considering what is happening in Washington DC today (Jan.6 2021). I believe the current American president is a magical hero for many.

[@D3NL1LL3P]

I had a teacher who always said "you don't get an education, you take an education". Sounds better in danish but the meaning of being proactive still gets through

[@pers0n3]

i absolutely LOVE the music that you put in every video. also, the quote "chance divine intervention is indistinguishable from actual chance" has been stuck in my head ever since i watched this video. everytime there was a prayer we had to attend, this quote would always pop up in my mind.

[@freddy4603]

I fear I'm not questioning you enough and that you may become my magical hero... but who can compete with you?

[@LucTaylor]

I don't know if you're ironically saying this or saying this "ironically", but listening to SME's in their respective fields can be a good thing, when done without deification :)

[@zegmakker5869]

how about trying out one of the many authors theramin cites?

[@skeletonwar4445]

@@zegmakker5869 Hey did you uh... watch the video?

[@davideloiza1779]

@@LucTaylor what does SME's stand for?

[@LucTaylor]

@@davideloiza1779 Subject Matter Experts

[@NotooInteresting]

It's always a good day when you upload

[@katherineg9396]

How ironic that this was released today! Many of my fellow Americans need to sit down and listen to this video today. It's always a pleasure when you release a new video, i always get to learn and think. Thank you very much.

[@sweepea38]

I like how when you bring up the quotes and people voicing their concerns and criticizing your choices you don't worry about how you're perceived. Instead you focus on the ideas and how they can and should be separated by the people who simply spoke them into the world. Most would seek to protect their image, but that's not your concern. Better yet it's an example of how those criticisms help us develop a sense of self and is a part of the process of thinking for one's self. I love your content, I do wonder what paths you had to take to get to where you did but either way, you ended up in a great place to help others. Thank you for your expressions.

[@Robert-yc9ql]

Nicely done. I find it ironic that I would see this today, when a certain magical hero caused the death of a woman convinced she was doing her patriotic duty. It is also ironic that it was offered to me for viewing as part of an algorithm. I left Facebook long ago, do not use Twitter or TicTok, and use KZbin mainly for my own edification. I like to think that I am not a slave to a mathematical formula that feeds an addiction. If learning is my addiction, then I stand guilty. And thank you, ThereminTrees, for yet another wonderful exercise of the mind.

[@-JaggedGrace-]

if you look up specific videos instead of just clicking on whatever youtube recommends, you're probably using it in a healthy enough way. I think...