I didn't hack challengerX; he's posted this himself...

I agree.

There have definitely been times where I want to just say fuck it and move to Alaska (or somewhere remote) and just live off the land with my family.

Don't get me wrong, I love my life. But between work, school, urban bullshit, ect. I wish things were much simpler.

As for the environment, you are 100% correct. I haven't been away from the city or suburbs for that much time. Only a vacation here and there. But when you actually get to see the environment that isn't spoiled by human habitation, it is beautiful.

Quote from: Meta Cognition on January 15, 2015, 12:46:41 PM

There's nothing inherently virtuous about being a human, and thus nothing to be lost by acting in the way that you so describe. This actually ties in quite nicely with the determinism discussion we were having a few threads over; it actually helps me understand and cope with the things you list.

We're apes. Hairless, violent apes--with nukes, no less. But, in saying that, we're still intelligent. It's not at all surprising that some people have really fucked value-systems, I mean, we're only just stumbling out of the dark ages. I don't feel animosity towards people for being stupid--not in the long-term anyway--because we are a stupid species. All species are.

Heh. You just called us intelligent and stupid in the same paragraph.

I'd opt for the word "sapient". It's in our binomial nomenclature.

Well we have the potential to be extremely intelligent, but most people don't care or are too caught up in the rat race to actually develop themselves in any meaningful way.

Quote from: Meta Cognition on January 15, 2015, 12:46:41 PM

There's nothing inherently virtuous about being a human, and thus nothing to be lost by acting in the way that you so describe. This actually ties in quite nicely with the determinism discussion we were having a few threads over; it actually helps me understand and cope with the things you list.

We're apes. Hairless, violent apes--with nukes, no less. But, in saying that, we're still intelligent. It's not at all surprising that some people have really fucked value-systems, I mean, we're only just stumbling out of the dark ages. I don't feel animosity towards people for being stupid--not in the long-term anyway--because we are a stupid species. All species are.

Heh. You just called us intelligent and stupid in the same paragraph.

I'd opt for the word "sapient". It's in our binomial nomenclature.

I just enjoy the necessary dichotomy involved in sapience between stupidity and intelligence. You need to be stupid in order to be intelligent--that's just the way of it.

Evolution isn't about happiness, it's about dominance.

Why are you placing value on the processes of evolution?

It's objective and inescapable, even if you insist humans have.

That naturalistic fallacy, though.

Physics-wise, it does. The physical purpose of evolution is to convert higher forms of energy into heat. This contributes to the ultimate goal of fulfilling the second law of thermodynamics.

. . .

Still no agency. Still no goal. That's just a happenstance process. I really needn't bring up Dawkins' book: The Blind Watchmaker.

See. This is the stuff I could rant about daily. I could go on and on. And you know what's really funny? People look at you like you're crazy.

When I rolled into the city for the heavy treatments I was going to take there, I couldn't take it. Noise, crowds, and bullshit. And I'd wake up to see people. Stupid people everywhere. Sad people. Some didn't know it. Others did. You see it right on their faces. And then assholes. Assholes in suits that look at you like you're a step or a rock in a puddle to go over. It was toxic to me.

My basic belief was always this. Cities are traps. Cities need people to function, and their sole function is control, and money. Consumption. Those are the cons. The pros, in the past, where this. Easier access to nice things and functions. And safety in numbers.

But in order to have that, you have to play the money game. In order to have those nice things, you need a job. A job that'll keep the gears of the city turning. When I left the city, only after about a week there, I came home. My family understood. But most folks here didn't.

I can't blame them because that's the world and life that they're used to.

But mine is different. My world has space. Room to breathe. And while society up here is just as fucked as it is anywhere else, at least the closest neighbor around here that you can call an asshole usually lives 5 or so miles down the road.

You are right. We did mess things up. But you don't have to worry. If you've been watching the world like I have, you can see that things are starting to strain. This system that we live in can't sustain itself forever. And eventually, something big will happen and things will start falling over like dominoes. Don't know when it'll happen. But I know that it will, eventually.

But the key thing here is, you know you can still have a decent life right? Just because you live in a city doesn't mean you're trapped. It's just a really hard system to break free of once you're in there. Don't forget that just because everywhere you look and you see people being stupid, it doesn't mean that nice parts of the world are gone.

It doesn't mean that you can't live a more enjoyable life.

I'm the only person on this forum that seems to understand that. Because I lead a life that's different from every single one of you people here. I understand that in order to function in today's world, you need some money. So I do work and make money. But I make the bare minimum that I need.

In that way my life isn't constrained or tied down to a constant soul crushing job. I take jobs all over. But they're short lived, temporary. I try to focus my life on what makes me happy. I study and learn about things I enjoy, and in general try to live and lead a life that I enjoy. I try to walk a middle ground with my life. One foot in today's world, and the other in yesterday's simplicity and peace.

It's not easy up here. It's not sunshine and bunnies all the time. But things are coming together and soon they'll really start moving when I have my strength back.

But don't give up on things. If you're so upset with your life then you've got the ability to change it. All you need is to do some good old fashioned thinking.

Quote from: Sandtrap on January 16, 2015, 04:37:09 AM

See. This is the stuff I could rant about daily. I could go on and on. And you know what's really funny? People look at you like you're crazy.

When I rolled into the city for the heavy treatments I was going to take there, I couldn't take it. Noise, crowds, and bullshit. And I'd wake up to see people. Stupid people everywhere. Sad people. Some didn't know it. Others did. You see it right on their faces. And then assholes. Assholes in suits that look at you like you're a step or a rock in a puddle to go over. It was toxic to me.

My basic belief was always this. Cities are traps. Cities need people to function, and their sole function is control, and money. Consumption. Those are the cons. The pros, in the past, where this. Easier access to nice things and functions. And safety in numbers.

But in order to have that, you have to play the money game. In order to have those nice things, you need a job. A job that'll keep the gears of the city turning. When I left the city, only after about a week there, I came home. My family understood. But most folks here didn't.

I can't blame them because that's the world and life that they're used to.

But mine is different. My world has space. Room to breathe. And while society up here is just as fucked as it is anywhere else, at least the closest neighbor around here that you can call an asshole usually lives 5 or so miles down the road.

You are right. We did mess things up. But you don't have to worry. If you've been watching the world like I have, you can see that things are starting to strain. This system that we live in can't sustain itself forever. And eventually, something big will happen and things will start falling over like dominoes. Don't know when it'll happen. But I know that it will, eventually.

But the key thing here is, you know you can still have a decent life right? Just because you live in a city doesn't mean you're trapped. It's just a really hard system to break free of once you're in there. Don't forget that just because everywhere you look and you see people being stupid, it doesn't mean that nice parts of the world are gone.

It doesn't mean that you can't live a more enjoyable life.

I'm the only person on this forum that seems to understand that. Because I lead a life that's different from every single one of you people here. I understand that in order to function in today's world, you need some money. So I do work and make money. But I make the bare minimum that I need.

In that way my life isn't constrained or tied down to a constant soul crushing job. I take jobs all over. But they're short lived, temporary. I try to focus my life on what makes me happy. I study and learn about things I enjoy, and in general try to live and lead a life that I enjoy. I try to walk a middle ground with my life. One foot in today's world, and the other in yesterday's simplicity and peace.

It's not easy up here. It's not sunshine and bunnies all the time. But things are coming together and soon they'll really start moving when I have my strength back.

But don't give up on things. If you're so upset with your life then you've got the ability to change it. All you need is to do some good old fashioned thinking.

Thanks buddy. I knew you'd understand.

I lived in the mountains for 2 years. They were the 2 freest years in my life. It was pure living. Every time I'd go into town or into the city, I just wanted to handle my business and get the fuck out. Now I'm trapped again.

Heyo. Don't worry. You put your head in the game and you'll find a way out. It certainly isn't easy. But if you want it enough then you'll make it a reality. It just takes time, patience, a little bit of good luck, and keeping a sharp eye out for opportunities.

You're probably close to the same age range as me. You've got time to look for a special place.