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What is Strength - 7/26/2009 9:46:27 AM

LillyoftheVally

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A couple of threads are skirting around this issue at the moment, so it got me wondering what is strength?

For me physical strength is pretty simple but strength as a human being a little more complex, I think that being who you are can be very strong but facets of who you are may be weakness' so maybe strength is the ability to see who you are and improve that which needs it, but then how many of us can really see who we are?

Thoughts?

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RE: What is Strength - 7/26/2009 9:51:08 AM

kdsub

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Strength is very simple... the ability to change your environment to meet your desires… there is not right or wrong, good or bad in strength.

Butch

< Message edited by kdsub -- 7/26/2009 9:52:21 AM >

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RE: What is Strength - 7/26/2009 9:51:45 AM

NihilusZero

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quote:

ORIGINAL: LillyoftheVally

but then how many of us can really see who we are?

The danger with "strength" is that, for far too many of its definition, it exists only with an audience.This means that too much of it is not based on its own substance and its own innards but rather how the result makes it look.

Too many concepts I see people use of strength seem to me to be just the ability to exact publicly visible results sufficiently complementary to what you seek.

I'm prone to think of more pervasive strength as the ability to not need an audience.

< Message edited by NihilusZero -- 7/26/2009 9:52:13 AM >

_____________________________

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I know that I'm to blame."
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RE: What is Strength - 7/26/2009 9:53:04 AM

leadership527

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Well I'll go ahead and repost the same answer here. Granted, this is one of those glib phrases that isn't intended to be a dictionary definition, but like many such phrases, it captures the essence of the thing for me better than the dictionary does.

Strength is the ability ot engage in legitimate suffering.

_____________________________

~Jeff

I didn't so much "enslave" Carol as I did "enlove" her. - Me
I want a joyous, loving, respectful relationship where the male is in charge and deserves to be. - DavanKael

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RE: What is Strength - 7/26/2009 9:54:17 AM

kallisto

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Very good question

Strength to me is being able to excel in who you are. Being able to see yourself as others do. Being able to take "constructive criticism" and turn it around to see if that part of you needs improvement. Strength is the ability to look at yourself and be happy even when life may not be as you would like it. Just a few thoughts.

(in reply to LillyoftheVally)

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RE: What is Strength - 7/26/2009 9:56:21 AM

NihilusZero

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quote:

ORIGINAL: leadership527

Strength is the ability ot engage in legitimate suffering.

Very Buddhist of you.

(Welcome back, btw. I hope the move has been as smooth as possible and/or will be so continuing forward).

Interesting. I take it you mean this as more of a personally, inwardly-directed act?

_____________________________

"I know it's all a game
I know they're all insane
I know it's all in vain
I know that I'm to blame."
~Siouxsie & the Banshees

NihilusZero.com

CM Sex God du Jour
CM Hall Monitor

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RE: What is Strength - 7/26/2009 9:58:35 AM

LillyoftheVally

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quote:

ORIGINAL: NihilusZero

I'm prone to think of more pervasive strength as the ability to not need an audience.

I would have to say that is a very impressive strength approval seems to be something that most of us find crucial

_____________________________

'My doctor says that I have a malformed public-duty gland and a natural deficiency in moral fibre, and that I am therefore excused from saving Universes.'

Nah I am not happy to see you either

(in reply to NihilusZero)

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RE: What is Strength - 7/26/2009 10:14:30 AM

midnightover

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quote:

ORIGINAL: LillyoftheVally

A couple of threads are skirting around this issue at the moment, so it got me wondering what is strength?

For me physical strength is pretty simple but strength as a human being a little more complex, I think that being who you are can be very strong but facets of who you are may be weakness' so maybe strength is the ability to see who you are and improve that which needs it, but then how many of us can really see who we are?

Thoughts?

I think you can simplify your search by inquiring about what is common to all forms of stength (physical, mental, emotional, sexual, character). I think you'll find that in all conceptions there is involved an effective dimension--a power to 'have your way'. However, who really thinks that someone who cheats and lies and gets their way is strong? What's tricky is negotiating all the value commitments that we want to attach to our definition--and rightfully so! It's likely only after you attach value-notions to certain ways that people get their way that you might think that some who look strong are actually weak.

< Message edited by midnightover -- 7/26/2009 10:17:54 AM >

(in reply to LillyoftheVally)

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RE: What is Strength - 7/26/2009 10:15:02 AM

DesFIP

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Actually I bear more to the opposite of butch, inner strength is the ability to change your desires to match your environment. To accept what's going on and find some measure of comfort or happiness, contentment, in it whatever it may be.

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RE: What is Strength - 7/26/2009 10:26:07 AM

kdsub

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I think we are still saying the same thing...getting what we want...or as close to it as we can.

Butch

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I don't see any use in having a uniform and arbitrary way of spelling words. We might as well make all clothes alike and cook all dishes alike. Sameness is tiresome; variety is pleasing

(in reply to DesFIP)

Post #: 10

RE: What is Strength - 7/26/2009 10:26:40 AM

silkncarol

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I think inner strength comes from the ability to look at oneself and situation honestly.....decide what you want, where you want to go....persevering against the obstacles, adjusting your attitude to carry you through.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesFIP

Actually I bear more to the opposite of butch, inner strength is the ability to change your desires to match your environment. To accept what's going on and find some measure of comfort or happiness, contentment, in it whatever it may be.

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(in reply to DesFIP)

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RE: What is Strength - 7/26/2009 10:33:50 AM

leadership527

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quote:

ORIGINAL: NihilusZero
Interesting. I take it you mean this as more of a personally, inwardly-directed act?

Exactly! Although, of course, there are outward ramifications to that same ability. At least for me, the measure of strength is internal and against my own sense of what it means to be "good" and "strong". Of course I also care about what other people think of me... but not anywhere near as much as I care about what I think of me.

(oh, and the move is going fine, my absence was just some sickness, busy-ness, and both of my computers taking a nasty nose dive *sighs*. It has occurred to me though that there is no such thing as a simple or easy international move.)

_____________________________

~Jeff

I didn't so much "enslave" Carol as I did "enlove" her. - Me
I want a joyous, loving, respectful relationship where the male is in charge and deserves to be. - DavanKael

(in reply to NihilusZero)

Post #: 12

RE: What is Strength - 7/26/2009 10:35:45 AM

leadership527

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quote:

ORIGINAL: kdsub
I think we are still saying the same thing...getting what we want...or as close to it as we can.

Heh, actually I think I'd define it as the ability to pass on what we want in favor of what is right.

_____________________________

~Jeff

I didn't so much "enslave" Carol as I did "enlove" her. - Me
I want a joyous, loving, respectful relationship where the male is in charge and deserves to be. - DavanKael

(in reply to kdsub)

Post #: 13

RE: What is Strength - 7/26/2009 10:38:52 AM

LaTigresse

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Joined: 1/15/2006
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quote:

ORIGINAL: LillyoftheVally

A couple of threads are skirting around this issue at the moment, so it got me wondering what is strength?

For me physical strength is pretty simple but strength as a human being a little more complex, I think that being who you are can be very strong but facets of who you are may be weakness' so maybe strength is the ability to see who you are and improve that which needs it, but then how many of us can really see who we are?

Thoughts?

The answers are going to entirely depend upon the person doing the answering. What some see as a strength, others may see as a weakness and visa versa.

_____________________________

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Just because you are well educated, articulate, and can use big, fancy words, properly........does not mean you are right!

(in reply to LillyoftheVally)

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RE: What is Strength - 7/26/2009 11:10:30 AM

Whiplashsmile4

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Strength of what?

< Message edited by Whiplashsmile4 -- 7/26/2009 11:11:13 AM >

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RE: What is Strength - 7/26/2009 11:21:58 AM

LillyoftheVally

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Whiplashsmile4

Strength of what?

I thought that was part of the question

_____________________________

'My doctor says that I have a malformed public-duty gland and a natural deficiency in moral fibre, and that I am therefore excused from saving Universes.'

Nah I am not happy to see you either

(in reply to Whiplashsmile4)

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RE: What is Strength - 7/26/2009 11:25:00 AM

Drakontos

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quote:

ORIGINAL: LillyoftheVally

A couple of threads are skirting around this issue at the moment, so it got me wondering what is strength?

For me physical strength is pretty simple but strength as a human being a little more complex, I think that being who you are can be very strong but facets of who you are may be weakness' so maybe strength is the ability to see who you are and improve that which needs it, but then how many of us can really see who we are?

Thoughts?

Physical strength is easy determine. Issues arise when one tries to define 'character traits' that equal a 'strong person'. Character traits are subjective to the individual; what zaphira might see as a strength, you might not see as one. Because character traits are so subjective, it is almost impossible to state, with any certaintly, what 'is considered strength' and what 'is not'.

For zaphira, strength is based not only on a person's physical ability, but also on their values/morals; their social/political influences; their courage/bravery/fortitude/intrepidity in the face of 'danger' or opposing forces; and their ability to overcome any obstacle.

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RE: What is Strength - 7/26/2009 11:41:57 AM

Whiplashsmile4

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quote:

ORIGINAL: LillyoftheVally

quote:

ORIGINAL: Whiplashsmile4

Strength of what?

I thought that was part of the question

I think NililusZero hit upon the aspects of it's definition. The preception of strength that other people have of it, the so called audience. Not to mention which meaning according to the dictionary, and to what is quality or characteristic of a person is being measured for strength and weakness.

Even physical strength is not as cut and dry as people might think. For instance somebody who can bench press hundreds of pounds of weight, might totally suck at long distance running. Somebody thet is good at long distance running might not being able to swim worth a shit. Yet, all three things require physical strength and are athletic sports.

Which one is physically stronger? The weight lifter, the long distance runner or the swimmer? It all becomes rather subjective and a matter of preception. Many people would think the weight lifter would be. However, this is the audience preception based upon stereo-typing.

Not only does physical strength matter, so does the strength of ones skills and experiences count as well. There is a lot more strength that is going on then meets the eyes. Including mental strength. The strength of human will power. The strength of discpline as well.

Often it's not any one single strength but a combination of strengths combined, but everybody has a weakness of some form. Even a strength itself can become a weakness.

For instance a weight lifter would be strong at lifting weights, however that strength would quickly become a weakness when it comes to Gymnastics.

Physical strength is not as simple as it would first appear. Our own preception of strength can become a weakness itself. Many strong people have under estimated somebody that they precieved to be weaker. History has proved this time and time again.

(in reply to LillyoftheVally)

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RE: What is Strength - 7/26/2009 12:10:21 PM

Apocalypso

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1. Doing what you believe you should do even if it's scary, unpleasant or inconvienent.

2. Accepting that you will sometimes fuck up point 1. and dealing with it when it happens.

(A definition thread and I haven't got pedantic about etymology. Go me!

)

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RE: What is Strength - 7/26/2009 12:49:15 PM

ThatDamnedPanda

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The ability to not only endure, but grow under pressure.

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In the forest of the night
What immortal hand or eye
Made you all black and white and roly-poly like that?

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