Modern day libertines

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

I would definitely consider myself one. Not that I actually behave in ways society would generally find unacceptable, I just find pretty much any social and cultural taboos involving consenting adults to be entirely outdated and ridiculous.

Very interesting. I think many may share your view. In my experience the more one is repressed or controlled by religion or morals etc; the more one craves hedonism.
For example, I have had relationships with very controlled and clean cut women. Outwardly they are respectable, law abiding, pillars of the local community types. Good professions, from respectable, well connected families.
But the more straight they were on the outside, the more wild they were when they let their hair down behind closed doors. Sex, drugs, drink, nothing was taboo or off-limits with them in privacy. The more respectable, the more wild.
Some of the hedonism was surreal, and one could easily lose one's mind after if not strong enough to make the transition back to normality after.
I have always craved sensory pleasures, and I now realise that others that share that often have a connection when we meet.
Libertines tend to gravitate towards other libertines, by accident or design we end up together at times.
I wonder is it a case of nature or nurture though? Our we genetically predisposed to be hedonistic? Or is that a learned process.
Although I have mellowed a little with age at 39, I had 20 years of hedonism.
The desire is always there though.

dinorebel wrote: »

Would love to be a Libertine but my wife wont let me.

Madonna — 'Poor is the man whose pleasure depends on the permission of another.'

kunst nugget wrote: »

I can't say the lifestyles of any of the people you mentioned are what I would admire or aspire to. I had my fun in my twenties with partying but I left it behind, apart from the occasional bit of weed. People I knew that kept the whole lifestyle going are now running into problems with health and addiction and frankly, it's a miserable way to end up. I had a couple of pints last night and I feel ropey. The thoughts of constantly drinking and all day benders, like I did when I was younger, is horrific to me now. Alcoholism or drug addiction is just an absolutely awful existence.

Agreed, I wouldn't fancy being an alcoholic or drug addict either. But libertines can find sensory pleasure in other ways. It could be through any of the sense; not just sexual pleasure etc. Smell, touch, sound, taste; etc.
Pleasure from the leather seats in one's car, the scent of a lover's perfume, the taste of chocolate, favourite music.
Its rather like the pleasure from ones sense being magnified, in a way that others cannot experience to the same degree of sensory pleasure.
This is what makes me consider is it a genetic trait like perfect pitch?

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Why do people keep inventing new titles for themselves?

Sometimes it is a cathartic process. Leaving one's old identity/life behind and starting a new one. We live in a world where one is labelled anyway, whether one likes it or not. So choosing or inventing a title for oneself is often preferable than leaving that to someone else.