I AM!
The physical boundaries between us were pretty obvious, but the boundary of the speaker of the phrase “I am!” seemed unique & invisible. Today some seem to extend such boundaries outside their own physical bodies & even to organizations, internets & selfies galore. Some isolate themselves & their whole world to that one speaker of the speaking “I am!”.
This is mostly an expository in nature about how one speaker of “I am!” treats another speaker of “I am!”. I am avoiding that other common word for the moment because it obscures & carries a lot of baggage. Some questions follow.
- What is valid for one speaker of those words to say about the speaking of those words by another?
- Are there some assumptions about my speaker which I can pass as valid for another speaker (… of those words ) ; phrase getting shorter. In particular about the qualia of such speaking or the other speaker’s disposition?
- Are we thus isolated & uncognizant with regard to any other speaker except our own “I am!”?
- Does one “I am” protect itself by construction of a wall to shield itself from the other “I am”’s just in case the veil between might get lifted accidentally?
- Who is listening when I speak “I am” in an empty room or in silence?
One speaker can identify with groups & others in terms of leadership, responsibility, art, etc.. but the peculiarity of the “I am” seems strengthened by the insistence of the “I am not!”.
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- thought 20752
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I believe he spoke his truth and the truth of many Frenchmen … and quite consequentially i might add, the French resistance became strong and robust. I also believe that de Gaulle felt that … it was a direct qualia he shared with his fellow Frenschmen on that day of France’s darkest hour. So yes, we can identify our “I” outside of our skin … or rather we can draw our skin wherever we can feel and believe it to be. Of course people can lie about those feeling … but that doesn’t change how this “I” can work.On June 18, de Gaulle took to the radio airwaves to make an appeal to his fellow French not to accept the armistice being sought by Petain, but to continue fighting under his command. “I am France!” he declared.


I believe he spoke his truth and the truth of many Frenchmen … and quite consequentially i might add, the French resistance became strong and robust. I also believe that de Gaulle felt that … it was a direct qualia he shared with his fellow Frenschmen on that day of France’s darkest hour. So yes, we can identify our “I” outside of our skin … or rather we can draw our skin wherever we can feel and believe it to be. Of course people can lie about those feeling … but that doesn’t change how this “I” can work.On June 18, de Gaulle took to the radio airwaves to make an appeal to his fellow French not to accept the armistice being sought by Petain, but to continue fighting under his command. “I am France!” he declared.

I appreciate that you seem to be saying that what you refer to when you say “I” is on an entirely different plane only groked directly by yourself. About that i agree with your (bullet 2), I can honestly, say nothing.
I am just telling you what “I” refers to when i use that word: it is based upon where I believe and feel my skin to be. I use the word in a way that make my sentences ring true with my experience. I would not refer to something which did not have that feeling. It would feel like a lie. For example i can not say that i created the plumb blossoms that i see in my orchard. That I do not feel. That others may feel they totally made their plum blossums, i can honestly say nothing (your bullet 2).
I expect the USS Elkhorn had a tangle feeling shard by all of its sailors even directly related to its cooperating machinery. That its captain traditionally spoke for that, would ring true to my experience were i to have served upon the ship. Personally I don’t think the word “I” refers to more than just those kinds of esprit de corps. And no, i do not presume to characterize or restrain what those spirits can be.
The feelings i get by interacting (or not interacting) with other people are me too. They are, after all my feelings, i will not disavow them … they are a part of me. I make them totally myself. I notice those feeling are quite unique to each individual that i know. But then there are the strangers, who know me not, and care even less … i make up feelings about them too … but i like to make those feeling be inspired by my sensual observations of them, and not be about myself or my agenda ← i am not always successful in that regard

Sometimes i do feel myself being up or down in some interaction with others … especially when they are putting me down and themselves up

Yeah, Seth you are somewhere else with that – more in the self ( I sometimes use a pejorative of the word selfie for a label) – the constructed story of your life. The thingy with meaning & wants & quests for meaning. The challenge for someone who wants the experience directly is that it doesn’t mean anything once you grok your “I am!” Like the zen folk say:

"Before Enlightenment chop wood carry water, after Enlightenment, chop wood carry water."
What’s the difference? The tasks are the same. The need is the same. What about the frame of mind? Who is chopping? Who is carrying water?
(***)
See Also
- Thought What i mean when i say "I" with 1 viewings related by tag "thought 20752".