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Choosing From a Menu You Didn't Write: The Algorithm and Free Will.

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You're scrolling through Instagram, and after sharing a few cat memes to your friends, your feed becomes a relentless stream of cats dancing on shitty music videos. Or maybe YouTube, after one video on how to fix a leaky faucet, decides you are now a full-time plumber. The algorithm’s suggestions are so eerily specific, so perfectly targeted, that they prompt the modern, slightly paranoid question: Is it controlling me? The debate about social media algorithms usually gets stuck between two unsatisfying extremes. On one side, there's the view of Hard Determinism that we are all just puppets, and the algorithm is pulling our strings. Our past clicks create a data trail that dictates what we see next, which in turn dictates our future clicks in an endless, unbreakable loop. Choice is an illusion. On the other side is Libertarian Free Will that this is all nonsense. I am a sovereign individual. I can close the app anytime. The algorithm merely makes suggestions , I am the one who ...

Osho: A Master Manipulator.

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  I had been reading Osho for quite some time, delving into his teachings on spirituality, enlightenment, and personal growth. Along the way, I stumbled upon a captivating aspect of his persona that has both fascinated and unsettled me: his alleged mastery of the art of manipulation. I wanted to share my thoughts on Osho and how he influences his followers. Osho had this incredible charisma that just drew people to him. His presence was commanding, his voice hypnotic, and his gaze piercing. People were completely captivated, hanging onto his every word. He had this aura of authority and enlightenment that made him the ultimate source of wisdom and guidance for his followers. One of the things that struck me about Osho was his exceptional command of language. He had a special talent for using language that was truly captivating. His speeches were like beautiful works of art, blending together complex philosophical ideas, spiritual concepts, and thought-provoking ideals. It felt like...

From Devotion to Redemption: Unraveling ‘Don’t Kill Him’ by Maa Anand Sheela

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  Book Review: “Don’t Kill Him” by Maa Anand Sheela As an enthusiastic reader, I constantly seek out books that expand my horizons and offer a fresh perspective on the human experience. When I came across Maa Anand Sheela’s memoir, “Don’t Kill Him,” I was unaware of the remarkable journey that awaited me. Osho was a complex and controversial figure. He was both loved and hated, and his teachings continue to be debated today. However, there is no doubt that he was a charismatic and influential leader who left a lasting mark on the world. Upon immersing myself in the pages of this memoir, I was immediately captivated by Sheela’s masterful storytelling. Her narrative voice exudes authenticity and genuineness, making it feel as if she is seated across from me, recalling her tumultuous journey. Sheela fearlessly dives into the heart of the controversial Rajneesh movement, leaving no detail unexplored as she shares her personal encounters. The most striking aspect of Sheela’s memoir is h...

Inside the Walls of a Government School

  Why aren’t you studying in a government school if your parents are government teachers? This question was asked by the school principal during my headboy interview, leaving me momentarily without a response. However, I believe I now have a concise answer to address this question accurately According to the latest report of UDISE+, the number of rural schools in India is 12.34 lac which is a whopping 82.9 percent of the total schools. Let me give you a glimpse of what a typical government school looks like. Picture a school with 45–50 children and only two classrooms. While electricity and water are becoming more common, computers and a library remain distant dreams. The government has assigned two teachers, but there is no principal, no clerk, and only one cook. With such limited resources, how does a school like this actually function? Early mornings in these schools are fairly chaotic. There are children coming to school at various points of time. It is when you enter a class r...