The majority of people don't think for themselves...

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11 Jan 2009, 7:21 pm

You nailed it right bween the eyes and it is exactly why our economy is crashing. People foolishly bought into the idea that buying crap and lots of it with money they didn't have was the key to happiness. Sooner or later you have to pay the piper and we are paying dearly for that stupidity.

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garyww
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11 Jan 2009, 7:24 pm

From my perspective one of the absolutely best things about on the spectrum is that you generally aren't attracted to all those well wore paths that other prople follow and that you can see right through advertising, trends, fads, cycles and the rest of those types of trimmings that people like to hang on life.
If you can't be an original individual then why live to begin with.

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ruveyn
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11 Jan 2009, 7:25 pm

Xanderbeanz wrote:

it horrifies me...a society of conformists, who must always put things into little neat boxes, man, woman, black, white, jew, terrorist, gay, weird...a group blindly following arbitrary traditions and roles, without questioning them one little bit...a herd of sheep, stupidly buying whatever new fad is being marketed in the mass media...a tone deaf group of humans, purchasing whatever faff is played to them a million times on radio stations funded by record companys, and watching in delight as an art-deprived reality-tv karaoke contest takes centre stage...a plastic, culturally devoid pit of consumerism...a celebrity obsessed bitching-contest that puts people on glowing icy pedestals, only to chip away at them with their bitter chisels...a society where the intelligent and resourceful are mocked as geeks and terminally uncool, only to be r*ped for their scientific discoveries and benefits years later, whilst the untalented yet socially adept charmers work their way up to the top of the stinking, filthy pile of bodies...

so...here i stand, the misanthope, am i being too harsh on western culture? possibly, the only thing i can be sure of is that i'm glad that my mirror neurons are not fully developed, lest i become a 2-dimensional character within a poorly written best-seller.

alex x

Think about this. In order to have a society there has to be a common language, some commonly held values and standards and some commonly observed customs. Societies exist for mutual protection of its members and to provide a matrix or medium for exchanging goods, services, ideas and just enjoying the company of others.

Man is a social animal (not a hive animal or a herd animal). it is our nature to be social and often sociable. Many societies have sufficient freedom whereby non-standard types can seek out each other's company.

If you do not want to be like the others, then don't be

ruveyn

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11 Jan 2009, 8:34 pm

Xanderbeanz wrote:

holy crap guys, i thought that someone would disagree with me somewhat and point out that i was being harsh and overstimulated...but so far from the replies it seems my assertions are right...and that the human race IS actually doomed....whoops!

Well I'll disagree with you! :lol:

Not that you're wrong about any of it, but you didn't consider any of the good things about humanity/society. People are kind, generous, and good occasionally. It's true that the glass is half-empty, just don't forget that it's also half-full.

However bad and stupid modern society is, we're much better off than Germany was in 1943, for example.

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11 Jan 2009, 8:45 pm

I think the immortal words of Shakespeare can apply here (and I know you'll appreciate them, because William S is totally highbrow right now [even though his jokes are almost uniformly base poo and sex jokes]):

Shakespeare wrote:

There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.

Yes, culture is a piece of plastic excrement, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, to extend the foecal analogy, animal waste is vital for the maintenance of a healthy ecosystem.

But it is depressing. Especially the anti-intellectualism.

Also, I think you shouldn't bemoan people's tendencies for putting themselves and others in boxes if you are happy to put yourself in the Asperger's box. Sure, it's an unusual box, but it's a box nonetheless.

NocturnalQuilter
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11 Jan 2009, 8:53 pm

Xanderbeanz wrote:

The majority of people don't think for themselves...

I know I don't. It makes life sooooooo much easier not to think for yourself.

garyww
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11 Jan 2009, 9:09 pm

I think it was God who once said that 'most' people were just 'filler' material used to pad out the blemishes and defects in the landscape of the environment.

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11 Jan 2009, 9:46 pm

Yep To use a somewhat popular saying "Most don't know beans!"! Sorry for the pun! :lol:

falcorn
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12 Jan 2009, 5:21 am

Metal_Man wrote:

that is the dumbest thing i've ever heard

Wolverine-X
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12 Jan 2009, 6:41 am

Thats is extremely accurate. I think only we have the power to not do what the rest of the world is doing.
I totally agree with your views.

But after all, mortals are only mortals and will never comprehend as much as we will.

BokeKaeru
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12 Jan 2009, 6:56 am

I myself am often surprised by how accepting and complacent people are about things that are pointless, harmful and just plain wrong because they're "normal" and "everyone thinks that way." I don't understand the logic of that. Anyhow, the few who are smart and motivated will get s**t done because s**t needs doing, and the rest will fade into the background and become insignificant in the long run.

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12 Jan 2009, 4:29 pm

Metal_Man wrote:

You think they're the only ones hoarding lots of material junk?

I can hardly move in my house.
I thought that stuff would make me feel happier too in the absence of people.
I bought the stuff to get me educated and keep me occupied when I was alone.
I didn't buy it because of other people's peer pressure.

You're right of course: we live in a very wasteful society.

It's the gathering instinct gone mad all this capitalism.

Perhaps mankind in western society is trying to make the transition from "tribe" to "hive".
Perhaps our bodies and minds aren't ready for this transition yet.
Looking down from a city skyscraper, all the people look like tiny ants.
I have nightmares about this sometimes.

falcorn
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12 Jan 2009, 4:38 pm

bahh back in my day we didnt buy stuff, we cared about people, not material items. we also farted rainbows.

bahh decay of moral society, and get off my lawn you dam kids

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08 Aug 2010, 11:26 am

Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it.

- Henry Ford

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08 Aug 2010, 11:39 am

I've been feeling this way, about the western world, all morning. I've been thinking about how people are only willing to indulge in the things that they see, before their eyes. People are after the the latest and greatest things, which are a waste of my time. I was looking through the women's section, in Wal Mart, today, and I didn't see anything, that I would actually want to wear. It was all prissy and hippieish.

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08 Aug 2010, 12:21 pm

falcorn wrote:

Metal_Man wrote:

that is the dumbest thing i've ever heard

You need to take an economy class, kid, because he's correct.

To the OP, yes you are 100% right.

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