True that....by walking through the door of a starbucks makes you a stereotypical yuppie moron....who is no better than the shit I scrape off the bottom of my shoes before I go into the house......so to the original poster of this thread....how does it feel to be judged by some one who doesn't know you....if you wish to be judgemental towards people....might I suggest you find a mirror and judge the image you see
You look EXTREMELY identical to an emo friend of mine. I take it you agree with the origional poster? Well here is a message for the both of you then. If you guys are taking up any hippie like traits, knowingly and purposefully, whether you are trying to be hippie, or if you just like some hippie things of whatever, what you are doing is no differant than what they are doing. You remind me a very great deal of those middle school skater kids. You know the ones. Always have their skateboard with them and constantly talk about how much they hate the preps and jocks. Why? Because they are preps or jocks! No real reason. You have no real reason to dislike an entire goup. You don't know that ponytail guy, or those emo girls. You have seen them, but you don't know them. Wanna know how you can get to know them? Read some of those girl's poetry! Strike up a conversation with pony-tail guy between pone calls! But you won't. You know why? Because those people are differant, and you are prejudice against them because they fit into some sort of cliques or groups you hate for no good reason. That is just like the segregation between races before the civil rights movements! It is the exact same thing, the only differance is that it isn't becausde of their skin, its because of what their wearing! You are still judging by what you see, not what you hear, not what you learn, not any of that stuff. I was there at one time too. I was that middle-school skater punk guy. But I grew up and realised, "Hey! These people are like me! They aren't bad, or anything because they are differant! Maybe, I should get to know people and not make assumptions based on their character!" One of my biggest prejudices was music. Man, I used to listen to rock, and only rock. I hated everything else because it wasn't punk or metal. I thought everyone who listens to country is a stupid gun toting redneck. I thought anyone who listened to pop was an airhead slut. But I started tlking to peple who do listen to country, and people who do listen to pop. Do I like pop or country any more than I used to? No( well except two country artists, Johnny and Willie)! But I do now know that the people who listen to those styles have their reason, and because someone else is differant than e doesn't mean we can't be friends! Open up your mind, talk to some of those people, and I guarentee you will see how wrong you were. I GUARENTEE it!
After reading this post I almost snapped and wrote many nasty things. However someone else needed the computer, so I had an orange juice, and now I am far less agitated. First off, did you even read my post? At all? Please tell me you did not understand what I wrote...otherwise I fear I am wasting my time writing all of this. Secondly, let me take the time to tell you that I have never considered myself an emo, a jock, a metalhead, or even a hippie. Your post was the most flamingly arrogant display of hypocrisy that I have seen in a very, very long time. Had you of said all of this to my face I would have probobly vomited all over you, before fleeing and making sure to never make contact with you again. Ok so that was a little harsh I know your intentions were good. Please re-read my post, and then take a look and the following.... the best example.... I would just like to remind you that you do not know me. At all. I never said anything bad about any groups. All I did was try to put into more sensible and universal terms what the initial poster wrote. heres a reminder of what I said.....
i love you, man. a quote from The Little Prince about sums up my feelings: "That is the most difficult thing of all. It is much more difficult to judge oneself than to judge others. If you succeed in judging yourself rightly, then you are indeed a man of true wisdom."
Okay man, if you read the first couple sentances in mine, I said IF YOU AGREE WITH THE ORIGIONAL POSTER. I found it unclear if you did or didn't because I read a lot of stuff you said that made a lot of sense, but then you said He and myself... I guess I should have added, if you aren't agreeing with him, this isn't meant towards you. If you are finding yourself withouit testing any other waters good for you man! But not everyone can do that without some motivation, at least to start with. I am not gonna say someone else's way is wong, but I don't think anyone should say another person's way is wrong either. Sorry it was taken that way. And by the way, the thing about the emo friend wasn't meant offensivly, I meant you have the same physical features. Same hair, shaped head, facial features, etc. I didn't mean you look emo or anything, I just thought it was really weird how identical you two appear to look. But if you aren't being as seemingly judgemental as that other guy, then that isn't meant to you. You seem like a really level headed guy who knows his opinions but isn't forceful about them that's cool. That is why I was shocked that you seemed to be agreeing with that guy.
Um, might I suggest that by actually READING the Ayn Rand book, rather than using it as a prop in your mean little excercise in post-irony, you might actually learn something useful instead of being so judgmental of others? Or would to suggest that be too "pseudo intellectual" and render me a target for your next round of neo-witted sardonicisms??? I don't want to come off as condescending, but jeez, let the folks just enjoy their coffee and do their own thing if they ain't botherin' you, and go after something more meaningful, like trying to stop this "war" we're involved in or something...
Many people wear their identities casually, like a ratty old overcoat. For practical reasons, especially if you have a "square job" in the "real world" rather than following the Rainbow gatherings for a living or what have you. Anyway, people just pick a persona for practical reasons. "Time to go into work. Guess I'll slap on the bland, professional-guy appearance." And off you go. Is it hypocritcal and ungenuine and whatnot? A bit. But lots of people realize this, too, even as they slap on the mask, and it's possible to do it and have a sense of humor about it. A little grin, a little shrug, a little "so whattya gonna do?" That's human and real, too. The thing is, society demands predictablity from its members because society is a machine, providing survival and entertainment and life for its members. You could argue we live in a sick society that destroys our time and freedom and spits out plastic trinkets, and I'd agree with you, but the fact remains its still a mecahnism. And even healthier societies would have to control the behavior of their members in some way. You can't grow the corn and hoe the beans if you are laying around grooving on the sky in the big open field. So sometimes people have to do things they don't want to do, for survival. When this gets complex enough, you get roles, like "worker" or "leader" or "warrior" or "scribe" or "computer programmer" or what have you. All is just part of the dance of survival. And society expects people in certain roles to act in certain ways, to demonstrate their committment and seriousness to their role. So people end up acting and living in formulaic ways, to survive. Even if you think its sick and wrong (and this argument can be made...we can certainly structure our society in a myriad better ways...), you must have compassion for people doing what they do, to survive. In each being is the pain and anxiety of not knowing what the future will bring, and doing their best to scrape a living of some sort together. Even if you think they are wrong and shallow, stretch yourself to see the divine in each person, that beautiful, humorous, human part that worries and aches and loves. Try to draw it out of them; if you succeede you've done a good thing.
Very well said. Most people are just products of the machine. Look at Highschool, you are forced to take classes that the government deams required for you to prosper (for them that means having tons of money and great matrialistic goods) in thier society. You are told your whole life to conform conform conform, and look at us..what do we get for not conforming? Ridicule, beatings maybe...you know what I mean. So how can you blame them for falling in with the crowd? Some people just don't see the point of being an individual, they would rather have it easy and not face "persicution" by others. You don't think my life would be easy, atleast to find a good job, if I didn't dress like I do, have long hair and a full beard?? So how can you blame people for just doing what our society tells them is right? Just as we think it is right to stand out and be an individual, they think it is right to stand with the crowd. The original poster (I would qoute but I don't know how...maybe someone could tell me..lol) said they are faced with the burdon of waking up everymoring and trying to fit in. Do you really think they feel it is a burdon? (not trying to start an argument...I never want to fight..lol) They get through thier day without hassel or getting looked at funny. So don't judge them for "fitting in", thats just doing what they think is right. Just as we are doing what we fell is right. Peace and I hope I didn't come down on anyone too hard, Al
I agree! If they are happy with there life then let them live it. U wouldn't like if someone did that to u.
So very true. There was this girl in school, she looked stupid and superficial, wearing clothes that's sooo not my style. Then one day, I don't remember how, we got to talk. I discovered that she was smart and funny. And we became friends. People are not always like they look. Peace to all
yeah i agree to an extent, but, there are people who are happy to abolish rainforests, people who are happy with watching child pornography etc.. Unless theyre not harming anything or anyone, i say go for it. I cant help not liking some people, doesnt mean im going to diss em n shit, if they let me go about my buisness ill do the same fo them.. peace*love*apple tea*
If what you want in these cofee house-goers is originality and the ability to stand out in the crowd... Maybe you're looking a little to hard at what similarities these people have, rather than looking for their differences. *shrugs* Not that it matters. Odds are they took a look at you and figured you're just some punk brat. Who knows, eh?