I went a couple of times years ago when it was just starting to turn into what you describe. Had a great time, but it quickly priced me out. Now, it sounds like an influencer-laden hellscape. The addition of premium plug and play sites was the nail in the coffin. That said, a lot of the old time Burners are fucking amazing, creative, resourceful, and helpful people.
I appreciate that. You as well!
My religious search ended gradually as I became atheist over time. The scientific method seemed to be the most reliable way to find out what is true. I began my search in earnest probably in my late teens and really ramped it up in my early 20s and I was atheist by age 36 or 37.
I haven’t entirely left yet, but I’m using Lemmy more and more. Been on reddit for 15 years.
I’m American, but switched it to the male UK voice. Far less irritating and a lot less “by the way…” crap.
Once I hit my early 20s I had a goal for myself: to find out what the truth is, whatever it may be, even if it shatters my most cherished beliefs. I went through so many different belief systems. I explored every kind of mindset I could regarding everything I could. I would get very involved with some belief system or ideology for a time and absorb what I could from it and then move on to something else.
Over time, I saw a ton of patterns emerge and I saw that ideologies of any kind place a limited filter on how one views reality. I decided that what makes the most sense to me is to simply seek to do the most good while doing the least harm. Whether or not one believes in a god is irrelevant as life does as it will anyway. Adhering to a political party is just team sports. Social norms are basically attempts to not be uncomfortable and only pretend to be about safety and order (neither of which exist regardless of what social norms exist).
Monty Python’s Life of Brian. When I was younger and starting to question things, it just kind of struck me how religions are mainly people interpreting things through their own filter and then fighting others who don’t filter reality in the same way. It made me decide to try to do away with filters altogether, as much as is possible. Hence, I am non-partisan, non-religious, and simply try to see things from as many angles and taking as many factors into account as I can.
This too shall pass. Enjoy what you can, but don’t get attached to it. You can even become deeply involved in something or with someone, but always be emotionally and mentally prepared for the day when it or they are no more. Expect it.
Nah, it’ll just be another, “Gawd werks in mysterious wayz!”
I cut off contact with my narcissist father and stepmother about 8 or 9 years ago. I had previously cut off contact for a year or two at a time, but would feel guilty and reconnect and nothing changed. This time it’s permanent.
Since then, my mental and emotional health has vastly improved. I have accomplished more in these years than in all the previous ones. I now have a great writing gig and life isn’t perfect, but it’s better now than ever before. If I ever did speak to them, the only thing I’d say is, “I couldn’t have done it with you.”