Self Sovereignty

Between working in a retail electronics repair shop, to being a store cashier, to being an online technical support person, I have the joys of witnessing the train of thought from people when faced with any kind of challenge.

Almost anything I do is based upon fact, in order to limit the outcomes of my actions to be as predictable as possible.

Self sovereignty is the name I've given to that ideology I've seemed to developed from the experiences during my post-formative years. Though based on a web search, it seems that this phrase already does refer to a real, documented concept.

The concept refers to the realisation and embrace of only allowing the self to control and advocate one's life and actions, swiftly and harshly rejecting anything that interferes with this goal. More succinctly, to safeguard and uphold your own principles, without shifting them based on the opinions or shoddy sense of authority imposed by others - including employers and government. Looking back, my diagnoses of oppositional defiance disorder especially calls to this, as "self-sovereignty" may imply a lack of respect to authority.

As mentioned on my User page, it's generally going to be hard to change my mind about anything unless you are able to provide a clear, unbiased, logical reason that conflicts with my own personal conclusion. It's also near impossible for me to feel a sense of regret for almost any of my actions if they were performed with the best information I had available, because at this point you're not attacking me; you're attacking what information I was exposed to. Factors like this usually translate into a refusal to comply with the instructions of others and seek my own path, for better or worse.

During childhood, people won't have many experiences to logically base their actions off of. This is why parents, teachers, and adult authorities are in charge of guiding children through their formative years. Unfortunately, a common error in this guidance is the exclusion of "guidance" entirely; instead becoming commandments. When actions are taken for the express purpose of satisfying an external authority, what you learn from these experiences is limited to simply obeying that authority -- which isn't learning anything.

Where many people tend to mold and assimilate into what's expected of them even if it goes against their values or principles, I tend to value my principles more than anything, as those principles are derived wholly from truth and reason. They always take priority. Socially, logically, and casually.

Elsewhere, your sense of identity derives from the policies you stand for; the people you agree with; the hobbies you have; the actions you take. Allowing yourself to lose control of your self inherently means you are being controlled by someone else. Being controlled by someone else can spiral into an unsatisfactory life, being a "gear in the system", a forgettable robot with no other purpose but to take orders. Quality of life is influenced by your employer's, or more broadly, society's, determination of your value. Being controlled like a guinea pig running towards shadows of a dollar sign is an insulting position to be told to be thankful in. Anywhere I am employed, I am working under my own terms. You're not paying me to be your slave. That was outlawed decades ago.

The fact that your random off the street dude seems to think they are any kind of authority regarding topics or politics they only have a vague understanding in is another reason I just hate humanity. There's no reason everything has to be hierarchal. Your everyday conversation doesn't have to be a contest. You're a bag of meat powered by synapses triggered by chemicals produced after various actions and environments.

You're not important.