Friendship

Law 2

Never put too Much Trust in Friends, Learn how to use Enemies

Be wary of friends-they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy. They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove. In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them.

I was reading the 48 laws of power and I think that this law is a very insightful one were it shows us what friendship means. By this I am talking about what happens when we have had friends in our lives. I'm sure there are many of us who have had friends and got betrayed by others to do the wrong thing then we ended up falling and doing the wrong thing. When they back stabbed up and used us.

But isn't strange that when we thought that the people who were our enemies ended up being our true friends isn't that the strangest thing you could ever experience. There is an example of the story of Michael the 3rd when assumed the throne of Byzantine Empire. He appointed someone who was his friend Basilius to be his head of the stables. To cut the story short Basilius kills Michael the 3rd and he had given the best life to Basilius. Shocking when you think about it.

By Jared

History Of Power

I feel that maybe power has not always been a good thing. One of the reasons why many people fight is that they have it in their minds what are they losing. I am taking International law and doing a group project on genocide. I think the reason why many people have fought is that they feel that they do not want to lose something valuable. The question of whats at stack and why do they want it. We hate been controlled more than anything but I think we love controlling people around us whether its direct or indirect.

Its part of life. Looking at genocide we have hated each other so much that we have killed each other over land and disputes. we need to think about what the future will bring to us. How may wars are we going to fight before we see that war is not the root to solving the problem. we need to make sure that one day we will compromise and make the right decisions(choice). But will that ever happen?

By Jared

Choice

Since Choice is such a big word there is one book I saw on the net and its called "The Paradox of Choice" By Barry Schwartz. I think that would be one book I would love to read when we get to what Power is and what choices can we make.
By Jared

My thoughts

I have been "thinking" about a lot lately. I have seen talked and made effort to try to make people see that even when they "think" they have nothing they have everything. I "think" personally that this year that its going to be a good year. Its 2009 and you are now saying to yourself that you do not want to carry on reading what I have to say.You are like there have been record number of job cuts. But "think" about what this year will bring in your lives and what it has brought many people before you. It will make you appreciative of what you have. Even if you "think" to yourself you have more than you dream off. There are billions f people who want to experience what you have and be in the western world.

Many of them believe that they can come here and still live the best possible life. What we "think" is that our lives suck but I don't "think" so we all have the best life here. 1st world is very different from third world. People dream and save their entire life wanting to just be in 1st world countries. First world countries have something which many people have to go through and that's hardship. We feel that we all have to go through hardship and yes we all do. But look at the mirror and from there look around what you have in your place. You have food, clothing shelter. How many people want that.

Some parents save up so that their kids come to countries like Canada. If you compare and see what others have and what you have you live like kings. "Think" about it and please do because its important you see that you have the best possible life imaginable. if you "think" that you live in hell now "think" what people who survive on a dollar a day live in. "Appreciation" is what I want you to feel and during Christmas this year remember that word it will make you "think".
By Jared

What do we desire?

Seduction Good or bad?

Looking at all the presentations I feel that I enjoyed them. I think that looking at it there are many things we desire. Looking at it I feel desire looks at what we want in life rather than what we need (Personal opinion) But does Power only happen when we need or want something?

Freedom

We all want freedom but when we compare with others I feel that we are all free to express ourselves. There are many devices to express ourselves. Those devices include Youtube and Facebook for example. But maybe looking at Freedom is a cultural thing. I think the fact that you can walk and say what you want even about the government is Freedom. I feel that dressing and having different types of clothes is freedom. Freed of choice many people want to expreince what others have but when we look at it Freedom is all around us. Freedom is when you can go and vote. Freedom is what we have and thats what counts. Looking at Life we are all going to dwell on what we have and what we have been given and that was making choices and seeing we have chances of getting what ever we want. "Think about It"
By Jared

Looking at life

I think what we have done in our lives is interesting for all of us. Looking at it we all have to see that we have used power to some extent to someone or some people. But if we all want it is good then. Because many people want but we can not all get it. Its so confusing now because I'm thinking to myself that maybe power is not a good thing if people kill each other for it. But thinking about it influence is a wonderful thing when used well, think of it we are influenced in many decisions we have made in life. We have relationships with our parents and loved ones. We have been influenced a lot but sometimes we feel that they were controlling us. Aren't we proud to always make the right choices, don't we feel good when we do good. Makes you think. Then there is seduction Robert Greene makes a point the reason why women used seduction well is that women did not have much and this is the only way they could express themselves. People do not realized that women in every culture have suffered that men so to say seduction is a bad thing is a complicated thing all together.
By Jared

Onhavingpower.com

Looking at Les website onhavingpower.com.When I looked at the seven questions it made me think a lot. The first one was where do I start? when did Power start, and did humans start it or was it before humans were there. This first question looks at Absolute truth. Control is an illusion. It has another interesting and that it says The only thing we control is how we respond to the circumstance. So does Choice always have to be factor for someone to control you. Does that mean it can only be response driven? Yes because when we are being controlled we are reacting towards that which is controlling us. This section was looking at Feeling. The second question is what is the source of power? The source of power is in the need within the subject. I think that when you have power others like you will want it. If there is not need then power can not exist. The needs of ones self are experienced as requirements , desires and attachments. Needs are complex , compounding and competing. The third one What is the power dynamic? Power is about the control, influence or seduction of that choice. The actor has a need the subject can impact. I think this part looks at relationships. The actor sees the subject as a part of the circumstance they must respond to. To create Power the actor identifies the needs of the subject. The actor applies a mechanism of Power to help or hinder the satisfaction of the subjects need. The subject experiences feelings of Power- Control, Influence or seduction. The subject experiences feelings of motivation. FEAR ANGER OR EXCITEMENT and we have seen these three for the past two weeks to which we had a situation which occurred before class for us to use as reference. You can see what power is like and maybe it will open up your eyes and see that we have all been powerful in our lives but people have also had power over us. Just like the needs that create it, Power Dynamics are complex , compounding and competing. The subject responds with a choice. The fourth one What is my need? Identify your operating needs. All of them. Look to your feeling. Control, influence and seduction Fear, Anger and excitement. look to the mechanisms they are using. Is it directed at you or someone else? Does it help or hinder? Is it actual or potential? The fifth one Why are they using Power? This is because they have a need. All Power Dynamics are Bipolar. They are driven by two sets of needs. So, what is their need? State their need. State the whole Dynamic. State it out loud. The sixth What are my choices?. I can comply resist or withdraw. I have overcome. I have choices I can make a choice. I now have power. The last one Where do we go from here? Two questions which are hard to answer, my point of view is Can we both get what we want? Can we work together in open honesty? All in all I think that Les has a good case and can Power be good or bad. I love influence because it is the most incredible out of all of them. Many people Have died for it Lincoln, Kennedy, Ghandi and Lennon all because of influence. So then if I was to ask is Power a good thing????
By Jared