A solopsists nightmare

I am back. I do not have much funny to say today. I did get a phone call from a friend the other night. He only seems to call when he "needs" me to confirm his "theories" of life and how the mind and body work. It is like I am a guru. I am the enlightened one. The only problem is that he is more solopsistic than I am.

Solopsism is the philosophy that only "I" exist and that all on earth were placed on the planet form "my" manipulation. The essence of the philosophy is that you do not exist but for me. It is true in the most simple of senses but when somebody punches you in the nose, it becomes a little harder to question their existence. In fact, it becomes a holodeck accident gone wrong (a sop to those into Star Trek TNG).

I am a bit of a solopsist. It is my fall back position in any theological or existential debates. I am wise enough to see a world without me. My friend has never had that ability. He is big into the world inside his own head but the objective world of reality has never been to his liking. The laws of physics have had a way of working against him.

He called recently to say he had a revelation. He is becoming Buddhist in thought, but it always leads him to solopsism. He is trying to convince me that it is a problem with Buddhism. Never once in the conversation did he even consider that the problem was in him, no Buddhism. It was another lesson in a lack of perspective.

I have known him for a long time. He has become somewhat of recluse and lost contact with long time friends. The problem is that he has not really "grown" up. He still thinks like he is 17 but he is 40. That is part of the problem, the world around him changed, especially friends, life and experiences, but he has not and still sees himself as his 17 year old self and those around him in that manner. It is kind of sad.

Anyway, the conversation brokedown in the same mud of his thinking. He is looking for reassurance and all I can provide is more uncertainty. I will question but not answer. I should have been a psychiatrist. I have only questions and see the possiblilties. I have no clue which one is the best but that is not my problem.

Ciao!