pedanterrific comments on You’ll be who you care about

[pedanterrific]

Technical implication: My worst enemy is an instance of my self.

This explains so much.

Actual implication: Relationships that don’t include a massive power differential [...] are entirely masturbatory.

The other way around, surely? If your ‘future self’ is defined as something you have power over, how could a relationship of equals be masturbatory?

[wedrifid]

The other way around, surely? If your ‘future self’ is defined as something you have power over, how could a relationship of equals be masturbatory?

Equal or greater implies influence therefore they are yourself. If you have much much less power than them then perhaps you have no influence and so they may not be yourself.