I’m dependent on many things, and the ability to chat with people is one of the easiest to ensure among them. If I decide that I’m too dependent on external factors, I think I’ll kick the brie habit before I try to make my friends unnecessary.
I’m not sure whence your concern that I’ll change my values and beliefs to ensure that I have people I can associate with. I’d consider it really valuable evidence that something was wrong with my values and beliefs if nobody would speak to me because of them. That’s not the case—I have plenty of friends and little trouble making more when the opportunity presents itself—so I’m not sure why my beliefs and values might need to shift to ensure my supply.
Perhaps I misunderstood what your “dependency” actually is. If your dependency was that you really need people to approve of you (a classic dependency and the one I apparently wrongly assumed), then it seems like your psyche is going to be vastly molded by those around you.
If your dependency is one of human contact, than the pressure to conform would probably me much less of a thing to worry about.
I would like to address your first paragraph...”making your friends unnecessary” isn’t what I suggested. What I had in mind was making them not so necessary that you have to have contact with them every few hours.
Anyway, it’s all academic now, because if you don’t think it’s a problem, I certainly don’t think it’s a problem.
ETA: I did want to point out that I have changed over time. During my teenage years I was constantly trying to be popular and get others to like me. Now, I’m completely comfortable with being alone and others thinking I’m wrong or weird.
I’m dependent on many things, and the ability to chat with people is one of the easiest to ensure among them. If I decide that I’m too dependent on external factors, I think I’ll kick the brie habit before I try to make my friends unnecessary.
I’m not sure whence your concern that I’ll change my values and beliefs to ensure that I have people I can associate with. I’d consider it really valuable evidence that something was wrong with my values and beliefs if nobody would speak to me because of them. That’s not the case—I have plenty of friends and little trouble making more when the opportunity presents itself—so I’m not sure why my beliefs and values might need to shift to ensure my supply.
Perhaps I misunderstood what your “dependency” actually is. If your dependency was that you really need people to approve of you (a classic dependency and the one I apparently wrongly assumed), then it seems like your psyche is going to be vastly molded by those around you.
If your dependency is one of human contact, than the pressure to conform would probably me much less of a thing to worry about.
I would like to address your first paragraph...”making your friends unnecessary” isn’t what I suggested. What I had in mind was making them not so necessary that you have to have contact with them every few hours.
Anyway, it’s all academic now, because if you don’t think it’s a problem, I certainly don’t think it’s a problem.
ETA: I did want to point out that I have changed over time. During my teenage years I was constantly trying to be popular and get others to like me. Now, I’m completely comfortable with being alone and others thinking I’m wrong or weird.
Well, I like approval. But for the purposes of not being lonely, a heated argument will do!