Dice Man Philosophy

[deviadah]

Don't know if this goes here but I'll take my chances... since it is a contemporary philosophy!

Well for all of you who have read The Dice Man (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dice_Man) by Luke Rhinehart (www.lukerhinehart.net) you'll know what I am talking about (for those that haven't, read the book and then re-read this post).

I read the book years ago and ever since then I have been longing to live by the dice for a set period of time. Since I have been in a relationship I haven't done it because, well frankly I don't know what the dice will do. Besides I am one of those that, if I do live by the dice, I will go all the way. No barriers.

Anyone tried it? Want to?

[Radiant Star]

I just read the write up on that somewhere and it sounds exciting. I am not in a position to make drastic changes to my life at all but it could be used in such a way as to get me exploring different areas of the country, maybe by closing my eyes and putting a pin in six random places in the UK, then rolling the dice and seeing which place comes up for each month!

In fact, I can see its potential for several areas of my life.

Cool :cool:

[Frater Yechidah]

I read the book a few years back and loved it.

The problem is that most of us would put things we would do on the dice. Others will put things they want to do but reject on the basis of it being socially unacceptable.

But what would you go through with and what would you never ever do?

For example, we have rape and murder as two extreme possibilities (I know rape was included in the Dice Man, but can't remember about the murder possibility).

There's a sequel to the book, but I haven't read it. Supposedly it's about his son, who is growing up in a world where there are "Dice Centres" everywhere, etc. I'll have to buy that one soon, but I'll need to reread the first again.

LLLSHJ,
Y.

P.S. As an interesting postscript, dice were used for divination for many years. The numbers on opposing sides add up to 7, for example, as an intriguing "tidbit" on their usage.

[deviadah]

I think that either you do it 100% or you don't. The whole point is to let it all go! Regardless of the moral problem it may impose with anti-moral actions (such as rape). What is moral anyway?

The divination aspect is indeed interesting...

[Frater Yechidah]

But what I'm wondering though is if you were to try to do it 100%, would you still avoid putting options down that you are not okay with? I mean, would you go through with anything? While I like the idea of "letting go", I'm fairly certain that there are some things I, personally, wouldn't be able to include in my list of "options".

LLLSHJ,
Y.

[deviadah]

Of course I would obey the dice 100% even if it meant do something I oppose. Otherwise I would rule the dice and not the dice me... saying that it is extremly difficult because I will be the one creating the options. But like in the book, where there is a similar scene, if I were to say:

Ok I will, if it is a...
1. rent a movie
2. masturbate
3. shoplift
4. go to bed
5. call a friend and tell this person an intimate secret
6. stab a child

Then I would be fearful of getting, most of all, a 6... and if I roll the dice and get a 6 I will either obey it or stop the game because if I don't obey then the game is over.

Of course I could change the 6 to something less immoral but then again, what is moral, and also is that not controlling the dice?

It would be scary to live by the dice 100%, yet the notion tickles my brain.

I do have another option, since I am a creative person, I have thought about adopting the dice strictly to my work; meaning I roll the dice to see what creative work I will perform - and then roll it again to see how I will perform it.

It is not so dangerous killing a charachter in a story compared to a good friend in real life! :cool:

[Ci Celli Ddu]

Obviously it would be more fruitful and at the same time taxing to change the extremes from being psychotic activities to being activities that actually require strength of will and work, such as performing a drawn out ritual, fasting, walking up a mountain in darkness etc etc.

[deviadah]

Obviously it would be more fruitful and at the same time taxing to change the extremes from being psychotic activities to being activities that actually require strength of will...
Good point...

I think the psychotic aspect only comes in because it is forbidden, and the forbidden attracts. And as in the book the protagonist does things not only of a psychotic nature but also out of will... such as having sex with a man even though he is straight (my theory that we are all bi-sexual is a different matter).

Reading The Psychopath's Bible (http://www.drhyatt.net/) at the moment i.e. my temporary psychotic thirst :p