weirdway

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weird (adj.)

c. 1400,

• "having power to control fate", from wierd (n.), from Old English wyrd "fate, chance, fortune; destiny; the Fates," literally "that which comes,"

• from Proto-Germanic wurthiz (cognates: Old Saxon wurd, Old High German wurt "fate," Old Norse urðr "fate, one of the three Norns"),

• from PIE wert- "to turn, to wind," (cognates: German werden, Old English weorðan "to become"),

• from root wer- (3) "to turn, bend" (see versus).

• For sense development from "turning" to "becoming," compare phrase turn into "become."

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Othering and randomness (www.reddit.com)

submitted 1 year ago by syncretik to c/weirdway

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I'd like to hear your perspectives on randomness. This question has implications for the understanding of othering.

Is true randomness possible?

If not, this would be a limitation of mind.

If so, it also feels like a limitation of mind (inability to predict/know the outcome of an event).

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[–] syncretik 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Randomness is a trait of this reality which you have committed to.

One perspective is that your current experience of being a human comes with beliefs of limitation, a desire to relieve yourself of responsibilities, and enjoyment through the unexpected. You don't want to control how every blade of grass moves, or which path a person who lives in another city decides to take tomorrow. This is not the kind of responsibility or reality you intend for yourself. Your human experience thrives on unexpected events that add novelty and value to the experience.

To use a metaphor, if you designed your own computer game you'd want to include some degree of randomness otherwise the gameplay would be expected and boring. You might even want the world to generate randomly to add to the experience of adventure and discovery. You might also want your avatar to be capable of developing new abilities, perhaps as they increase their awareness over time.

If so, it also feels like a limitation of mind (inability to predict/know the outcome of an event).

Approaching it with the above perspective makes this your original/othered intent.

Originally commented by u/syncretik on 2021-10-24 16:55:39 (hhty92c)

[–] syncretik 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you designed your own computer game you'd want to include some degree of randomness otherwise the gameplay would be expected and boring. You might even want the world to generate randomly to add to the experience of adventure and discovery.

Right, this is an example of othering. My question could perhaps be rephrased as this: how far can othering be taken?

Originally commented by u/VLSIHeaven on 2021-10-26 08:44:20 (hi1dox2)

[–] syncretik 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

[deleted]

Originally commented by u/[deleted] on 2021-10-26 08:55:33 (hi1f96y)

[–] syncretik 1 points 1 year ago

It's also noteworthy to point out that this duality you stated is also a concept that you have othered. Ultimately the mind (in the context it's used on this sub) is not bound by any limitations or rules.

/u/VLSIHeaven I hope this answers your question. If not please let me know.

Originally commented by u/syncretik on 2021-10-26 17:58:49 (hi34e6h)