First off, thanks for the concern, but don't expect a call from me anytime soon asking for help quitting. I think I'll be breathing this American air for a while longer, haha.😈
It’s true—far fewer people smoke here than back in the States... at least, that's my impression. And it's also true that way more people drink here compared to back home... again, just my observation. (I'm basically acting like Boris Johnson now, hahaha)
But hey, to each their own... I’ve always been a passionate smoker, and money was never an issue (even though I certainly don't have money to throw away). I was always ready to shell out my last few dollars just for a pack. Maybe things will change when I have kids, though I doubt it. I'm the type who would rather work an extra hour or two just to afford a cigarette; I like to combine the pleasant with the practical, haha.
Back home, I didn't have to worry about blowing smoke in anyone's face because my sister smokes, my mom smokes, and my whole crew smokes. We used to just cloud up my college dorm room like we were in a fog machine. Here, however, I actually respect others, and I don't appreciate the way smokers get labeled as one of humanity's greatest evils. Even the non-smokers who visited me knew I respected them by not smoking in their rooms. In return, they’d just hover in my doorway if they didn't want to be engulfed in smoke. Mutual respect, haha.
Oh, and regarding those ads you mentioned—those kinds of campaigns started ages ago in America, and they never had any impact on me. I've noticed that people who are particularly squeamish about anatomy or pathology tend to change the channel at lightning speed, so I suspect those ads don't affect them much either. When they slap that "Smoking Kills" warning on the box, I honestly feel like they're insulting my intelligence. I think to myself, "You idiots, I know it kills; who are you to lecture me?"😛 haha
I’m definitely contributing my fair share to that 40% margin, haha (honestly, I feel like I'm fifteen again 😍). That said, if someone actually bothered to run a study, I suspect the percentage of people smoking for over 20 years would be significantly higher 😕. It isn't as if I have an odor problem—no one has ever been polite enough to mention it—and my hands are as clean as white linen (maybe it's because I wash them with the intensity of someone struggling with OCD, haha)...
I don't really view this forum as a dumping ground for venting frustrations. I haven't exactly been here long enough to claim seniority, but as far as I can tell, I haven't offended anyone or intended to, nor do I think anyone here could provoke me into doing so—just as I wouldn't go looking for a fight with anyone else. Most of the time, I make sure to preface my thoughts with phrases like "I think" or "in my opinion," just to clarify that I'm merely presenting my own perspective. Truth be told, I don't take my frustrations out on people—except for my sister, occasionally—since I lack the backbone for it in real life. Actually, this is the first forum I've ever bothered to register for, haha (I can already hear the comments about how I'm some novice who just discovered computers). I never felt the need to join one before, and honestly, I haven't run into much reason to until now. I'm quite the hacker, after all.😲... And I hope my use of profanity isn't too grating for others (as someone mentioned earlier), because I use it frequently; in the real world, it’s essentially just part of my persona. hahahhahaha
Noah Sanchez7 said:But I'm not hurting them. I'm only hurting myself.
Well, it isn't quite as if your mother gave birth to you just so you could wander aimlessly through life without a care. Do you honestly think she won't feel the fallout too?!🙂div>
Here is a bit of well-intentioned advice—the kind you’d usually get from a fortune teller on a street corner—but I feel compelled to reiterate it because, frankly, I think you brushed it off far too quickly.
I suspect it wouldn't just be a good idea for you to go volunteer somewhere... it would be an absolute stroke of genius. Personally, I’m advocating for the establishment of a dedicated facility for abandoned and neglected children. Believe me, if you actually follow through with that, you won't find yourself constantly questioning the meaning of life and everything else quite so often. You want to understand what it truly means to be lost? To feel like life has just trampled you underfoot? Or to find yourself staring at the world and wondering, "Where did the humanity go?" Just imagine what those kids would offer if they were given even a shred of attention or affection... just a tiny bit... nothing more. I truly believe that if you did, all those existential questions of yours about the meaning of life and such would be answered instantly. Or, at the very least, you'd finally realize they don't actually require nearly as much of your focus as you seem to think.
Beyond all that, I think you’d find some extra motivation to quit if you realized the reality of the situation: most of the kids there are just children of addicts. They're told they were "only left alone for a few months until their parents got clean." Yeah, right. Sure.
Well, I certainly hope you give it a shot at least once.
Well, I’m certainly not some teenager... When I mentioned a house, I was referring to a dorm... I'll be turning 24 soon... But I still look young enough that they ask for my ID whenever I grab a pack of Marlboro... haha
She isn't quite that depressed, if you know what I mean... she’s more of a cocktail of various issues. A lack of self-confidence mixed with intense pessimism, paired with an obsession with material things since she hasn't quite tapped into any spiritual side yet—so she doesn't realize how beautiful that can be. It isn't actually that dire...
Man, you should have seen my face when she suggested we move into a group home together... absolute madness. Thank God we both realized at the exact same second that it was a terrible idea. I honestly don't know which one of us would have driven the other into an early grave first with all that gloom and doom, haha... we'd probably just end up spiraling together. I truly believe that wouldn't have happened if I hadn't managed to crawl my way out of my own miserable life philosophy.
Noah Sanchez7 said:I've realized that hating on others is just exhausting..
By the way, I really love your signature. Lots of it.
How wonderful, isn't it? Some anonymous soul plucked it right out of a book, apparently. And did you exhaust yourself?.... Let your brain graze for a bit and just enjoy it.👍
George Jackson5 said:There’s zero point in trying to lift anyone else up if you haven't even sorted out your own mess first. Noah Sanchez7, get it together and stop with the self-pity already. Anything is possible if you actually have the will—whether that means bending the world to your liking or forcing yourself to fit in... Every bit of effort eventually pays off, I truly believe there's a reward for the grind. Either that, or just keep being rebels for the sake of it—you clearly have no idea what you're missing out on in the real world.
I suspect this was aimed my way... Look, I'm not trying to "help" her through those heavy, dramatic conversations filled with nonsense... not at all. It's more about using humor to lighten the mood... and if it doesn't work, well, at least I hope it isn't making things worse. I'm doing my best... But if we followed that logic strictly, every psychiatrist and therapist in the country would be considered incompetent... because you'd have to assume their own heads are perfectly organized and resolved.🙂 They love to lecture people on being objective—it's a staple of their training—but you never truly know what they've been through themselves. You don't know if they're looking at life through the same lens as their patients or if they were once on the other side of the couch... there's no way to tell. That's why, personally, I'm not much of a believer in psychotherapy and all that. It's fine information to have, but that's where my interest ends.
Noah Sanchez7 said:I hear you on some points, but I disagree that it's unchangeable. It shouldn't be "well, my environment made me this way, so deal with it." That isn't who you are—it's just what was forced upon you. The desire to shed that imposed identity and find your true self is what some call "awakening," and it's a difficult path that many avoid simply because it's hard.
It's pretty obvious... nothing is truly unchangeable; some things are just harder or easier to shift, right? I am my own living proof. I used to be incredibly pessimistic, skeptical of everything, and generally guarded—just a bundle of negative traits. I've changed. It wasn't a sudden overhaul, but it was a gradual process (and I'll try not to jinx it by saying too much, lest I slip back into old habits)... That doesn't mean my core philosophies have shifted entirely; those old views are still there. However, I can at least say I approach certain problems differently than I did before. My surroundings played a significant role, certainly. By observing others, I evolved. Now, I find myself trying to help a friend who is currently stuck in the same rut I once occupied. Not through some intensive therapy session—that's not really my forte—but through more indirect means...
Does anyone else—and I mean everyone here, not just Noah Sanchez7—find it fascinating how this whole country acts like one massive stage where we’re all just playing parts? Personally, I feel like I’ve been cast in some sort of tragicomedy, haha... When I really sit back and think about it, it's actually quite profound. Of course, the fact that everything has spilled over the edges of our little bubble is just the flip side of the coin... I honestly wish I could be a slightly better actress than I am at times...
Noah Sanchez7 said:Man, there are way too many posts here for me to reply to everyone individually right now. We should all agree on one thing: I’m talking about spirituality. Honestly, I’m not even sure if that’s the right word for it. What I really mean is an openness to one's inner self—being open with yourself first, and then extending that openness toward others and the world around you. It doesn't really matter whose bread I'm eating, because my focus isn't on material things. To answer the question: I'm eating bread that I didn't earn myself. I'm currently a student and don't have a steady job, though I pick up odd jobs here and there. The fact that I don't eat the bread I earned basically throws my entire philosophy out the window, but whatever.
Since we're talking about being open with ourselves, I have just one question for everyone. Do you feel even the slightest change within yourself the moment you step out the door? How different does it feel when you’re just hanging out at home versus that exact moment you step out the door? I'll tell you this... that moment exists. It might not happen right away, but it’s out there, and not everyone realizes it. And what exactly is that moment? It’s that specific instant where you put on a mask, almost like sliding into an invisible suit. Is that what they call the superego? I wouldn't know. Honestly, it doesn't even matter. What actually matters is... It’s all about that specific moment—the point where you cease being who you were. You transform into a creation of your own mind, designed specifically to project the version of yourself you want the world to see. Designing an environment—well, a hundred years ago, you would have been wearing a different kind of invisible suit, just like 300 years ago, and again in the future. It'll always be different. And where exactly do you all fit into this whole mess?
Most people either don't get it, or they do and just shrug it off like, "Eh, that's just how things are." I’m telling you, it's definitely not normal. I think I expanded my consciousness in a way that might not have been the best idea, using psychedelics like marijuana and LSD. To be clear, I didn't start using drugs because I was struggling; it was actually the opposite. I was perfectly happy and content with myself when I first started. How did I expand my awareness? Some people call it meditation. Personally, I’d just say I stopped. Like becoming a zero. No activity... Just being there, observing everything—mostly watching people and the situations they find themselves in. I've started scanning my own thoughts. It’s actually quite simple: a thought pops up right before an action, you just pause instead of reacting immediately, and then you take a moment to really examine what that thought was all about. First, identify the need. Second, determine how you respond and why you choose that specific reaction. Third, define the payoff from your action. You can even apply this logic to something as simple as an Average Joe grabbing a bottle of water. I won't bore you any further with that...
Let's be honest with ourselves first; after all, who else can you truly be open and sincere with if not yourself? Scott Sanders2, what was your actual reason for heading out to that island? Just wanted to clear the air—I don't actually hate people who travel there, if you took it that way. What’s your motivation for wearing makeup and dressing up for work? Once you answer that, the most important thing is: do you actually feel comfortable in it, or does getting ready feel like a chore?
Just to be clear, I’m not trying to provoke anyone or start any trouble. I truly want everyone here to be genuinely happy; seeing you all stay positive and spread good vibes really helps me out, too. Everyone is lying. What can I even do? The world is a mess, and there’s nothing I can personally change. But honestly, I think a lot depends on every single one of us. If we could just flip that negative energy into something positive, the world would be a much better place to live.
I don't want to overstep. Just so we're clear—before any critics jump in to say I’m acting like a know-it-all or lecturing anyone—I'm not trying to be superior. I’m just reflecting on human psychology and how people behave. I have no desire to put myself above anyone else. I think that, in a way, I'm just chipping in. The development of human consciousness is the foundation for everything; it’s the core of our very existence. Even if I'm off base, I actually welcome any fact-based criticism—it helps me make sure I'm not just stubbornly insisting that I'm right when I'm actually wrong.
Just one more thing... I have this vision of paradise, an Eden, and it’s not something meant for the afterlife—it's something we should experience right here on Earth. Honestly, I don't see eye to eye with the traditional Christian view on this. I don't think Eve actually messed things up for us; if anything, it was the opposite. I believe God knew exactly what He was doing when He forbade the fruit. He knew she would take it, and that’s exactly what He intended, because human curiosity is a beautiful thing. If that story captures the heart of everything, then our fundamental duty is to see this whole "exile from paradise" through to the end. I believe the answer, the actual solution, lies in that single moment when you step out of your house and experience a subtle shift. If we could just get rid of the masks, the pretenses, the constant grooming, and all that superficiality, we would finally be free. We’d be free with one another, and love would take over, bringing Eden back to us..
No, we aren't constructs of our own minds; we are products of our environment, plain and simple. From birth onwards, it's all predetermined... the trouble starts when we begin questioning why we were molded that way. That's where the discontent creeps in. To suggest we are creations of our own minds would be a joke so ridiculous it would leave people speechless.
I suspect you'll change your tune once you're standing on your own two feet... and it'll sting if your boss at the firm demands you wear an expensive suit. Because a suit doesn't actually make the man... and you'll put it on and grin from ear to ear because you're the only one who knows what's really going on inside your head. You'll need the money for groceries or, well, other necessities. Terry Anderson10 put it perfectly.
Not that I'm suggesting you should bottle up your thoughts... back in the day, people like you used to laugh at philosophers, and now we find ourselves quoting their words.
Noah Sanchez7 said:Look, I don't know if I can truly call myself my father's son, but the truth is, he's been gone for seven years now. Maybe I'm more like my mother—and maybe I've just been spoiled. One thing to keep in mind is that I wasn't using drugs just to run away from my problems—though, if I'm being honest, maybe that was part of it. Mostly, though, I used them to sharpen my focus, helping me study better and really perceive the people and situations around me. Marijuana basically sharpens your senses fivefold and speeds up your brain by five times. I’ve been there myself. Since this involves Horse, it’s more of that specific vibe. I felt like I was being labeled a junkie, so I might as well just wrap things up with Horse.
I don't know. I feel like I used drugs to dive headfirst into some dark, secret side of humanity that I was never meant to see. It’s the kind of truth that leaves you feeling disgusted and terrified, completely shattering every dream you ever had about yourself, your family, or anyone else. It felt like trading away all my beautiful illusions just to face the brutal reality of what’s actually out there. I've learned some things that I never expected to find out—like the fact that we're on our own. We really are all alone. It’s actually pretty eerie. I definitely wasn't thinking that three or four years ago.
Just a classic case of being misunderstood by someone who is perpetually misunderstood, haha. You know I didn't mean anything by it... I'm just a mama's girl myself, but since it's such a common expression, I suppose I might have misused it.
Did you start using once you realized the world was a mess, or did the drugs open your eyes to realize the world was already a mess? And do you think you wouldn't have seen it clearly without them?
So, there’s this growing narrative suggesting that the urge for social change is somehow fueled by drug use. Personally, I don't buy it. If anything, I’d argue the opposite: drugs are more likely consumed by those entitled "daddy's boys" who have nothing better to do than chase pure hedonism because they lack the mental capacity to actually contemplate radical shifts in global structures or ways of thinking. It's just mindless indulgence. I suppose fifty years ago, it was all about that raw Rock n' Roll energy, but today it seems to have shifted toward whatever the current "vibe" is. I haven't spent much time in those circles, so maybe I'm just rambling here. 😲 I'm not trying to contradict you, Noah Sanchez7...
Just another person born in the wrong era, I guess. But thanks—as my friend would say, "stay frosty." For now, I've had quite enough alcohol, haha. It really makes you wonder what people are willing to do just to alter their state of mind, if only to spend a couple of hours living in the kind of world they wish actually existed...
On a side note—I'm genuinely impressed by your writing style and how you process things. I'm currently wading through a decent psychology textbook for an essay, and honestly, I could see you being cited in there for good reason.👍
Here are some poignant reflections from Leszek Kołakowski:
"The question of life's meaning is never asked by those who feel an inherent need to change it; instead, that question is avoided by all who have found their purpose simply by maintaining the status quo."
Just checking in... I wanted to say that I’m standing right behind you (Noah Sanchez7 and scarm) in all that resentment and the drive for change. Honestly, if it weren't for people like you, the world would just stay stuck in a permanent state of stagnation indefinitely...
I consider myself a rebel, though perhaps an unspoken one. Life has a way of squeezing the protest out of you, teaching you when to just shut up and take it... but don't mistake my silence for compliance. I am not a "go with the flow" type of person. Never. I can't speak for everyone else, but as I get older, I've found I simply stopped giving a damn about certain things. It's funny—there was a time when I genuinely despised certain types of people (specifically those who are perfectly content with the status quo and have zero desire to shake things up). I wouldn't have even given them the time of day back then. But now? Now, I'm indifferent. Let them wallow in their own ignorance. My focus is elsewhere: I'm looking for something better, something larger, something different... CHANGE...
Anyway, I've had a few drinks, so excuse the sudden philosophical rambling, haha...