feralranger said:That is simply incorrect. A vast number of people perform jobs they genuinely despise. Many find themselves stuck in titles and roles they never desired because they failed to achieve their original goals, succumbed to societal pressure, or perhaps realized that their true passions simply wouldn't pay the bills in this economy...
For instance, someone might dream of designing high-performance Formula 1 race cars, only to spend their career designing brake systems for standard Ford sedans or commuter buses, which is undeniably tedious...
However, if that individual performs that dull task with excellence, additional human lives may very well be saved...
There was this thread here once about some guy working in a lab who hated every second of it. It really stuck with me... he talked about how he spent his whole life just taking the path of least resistance, so he ended up finishing a degree he had zero interest in, getting a PhD he didn't want, and now he's just sitting in some lab doing work that bores him to tears🙏🙏
Look, nobody’s life is actually a waste or a total bust. I mean, honestly, if you’ve ever had a real conversation with someone, or even just scribbled some thoughts down in a journal, or simply spent time thinking... then your life has value. It’s only a failure if you decide it is, if you convince yourself there's no point to any of this...
But let's be real, life isn't some damn baseball, so you can't exactly strike out...
There really isn't anything in this life that you can "miss." It’s not like you have these specific targets you're aiming at and—well, shit—you missed the mark. Even if you did set some big life goals, even if you don't hit the bullseye right on the money, you’re still going to hit *something* else, and something else will happen instead...
Like, maybe you don't get into that Ivy League school you were eyeing, so you end up at some state university instead, but then you meet a best friend for life or the love of your life while you're there. You didn't miss...
swifthawk23 said:Honestly, just find yourself some guy who can really knock your socks off—someone who’ll totally wreck you—and you might actually start feeling better. It sounds crazy, I know, but it works for me. Give it a shot; you’ve got nothing to lose.
Seriously? You're really out here telling this younger girl to just find some dude to totally wreck her...😲 I mean, look, if you're old enough to know better, responsible, actually in love, and at least 21—or even 18, I guess—then maybe it's fine...🙂
And obviously, their fighting is going to mess with your head too... I mean, if they're waking you up in the middle of the night... nobody wants to deal with that kind of wake-up call... and regardless of whether you're worried about them loving or hating each other, it still takes a toll on you...
It probably wouldn't hurt to talk to a professional or something...
Henry Sullivan3 said:It’s nothing more than kids playing. Why stop them from having their innocent fun? Besides, getting some physical activity is great for their health, and honestly, getting beat up once in a while can actually make a person think and grow a bit smarter...
Where does the idea come from that intelligence is linked to violence? Are bullies actually considered smart people now?
Intelligence—especially that Machiavellian kind of intellect you see in highly evolved primates—could actually be viewed as a sophisticated form of psychological aggression. It's basically a type of violence where the mind achieves what the body might not be able to handle physically...
Basically, I get your point—it's okay to be a Stalin, an aggressor who lives to crush others. In the end, most bullies have come out on top historically, and modern society doesn't really want to go back to their "philosophy." We try at least a little bit to prevent certain groups from regressing into the Stone Age. So what does that mean? Did the weaker, less intelligent people finally win out over the strong and smart? Or did society just take a wrong turn by moving away from constant slaughter and inventing things like "freedom" and "individual rights"?
Come on, pull yourself together.
I mean, would you actually grant rights and freedom to a weaker individual? Why not just kill them if we have the chance, wipe out their kids, and take whatever we want? That's how it works, right!?
Why on earth would we do that? I don't follow...
Now you're talking about laws and what's allowed. Human stupidity has been the longest-running theme in history, and that same stupidity is what creates and changes laws. There's a massive difference between what's legal today versus what was acceptable a thousand years ago, which seems to align more with your viewpoint. And as for monuments, I don't think many people are building statues to thugs and tyrants. Neither Hitler, nor Stalin, nor Hussein have monuments dedicated to them anywhere, even though they were quite successful at crushing those they deemed "weaker" or "dumber."
This thread is getting ridiculous.
Look, there's such a thing as kid's play... like when they pretend to fight wars or whatever... but it stops being fun the second someone's teeth get knocked out or they're getting kicked until they're bleeding. Or is that just part of the game to you?
And I totally disagree with the idea that being smarter makes you a better fighter... I'd argue that smarter people are actually more peaceful, because they actually use their brains and realize there’s no real reason to kill, since they can solve their problems through other means instead of just resorting to brute force... And all those monuments we build to "great leaders" who spent their lives slaughtering people and conquering territory? I don't see that as anything remotely legitimate. That's really the sickest part of our society... viewing those kinds of people as heroes... heroes who sent thousands of their own people to die while they stayed perfectly safe... imagine the sheer "courage" it takes to command an army and just watch them get slaughtered... People in general tend to value all the wrong things in society. Killing is definitely one of them...
blueeagle25 said:You were probably calling me one of those "moral crusaders." Well, fine then. I actually agree with everything you said, and I was just thinking the other day about how we tolerate violence but get so worked up over people openly showing sexual stuff.
...
Just try looking at it from a parent's perspective for a second. You've got a ten-year-old. They're surrounded by porn, and they pretty much know everything about sex already. They see how their aunts and uncles enjoy it—they see that passion, hear the sounds of happiness—and as a kid, you just want to experience that too because you see the adults having such a good time. So, the kid finds someone of the opposite sex and decides to go for it. And I'm just asking you nicely: would you really let God allow a child to end up pregnant or forced into an abortion? That would pretty much seal their fate forever, wouldn't it? I doubt it. And yeah, sure, it doesn't even have to be another kid; there could be some predator out there who goes out of his way to convince a child that sex is the greatest thing ever, especially at that age.☕
Did ten-year-olds used to go out and watch Terminator or Rambo and then start roaming the streets acting like they're in a movie, killing everyone because they thought "Hasta la vista, baby" was a great way to live?! Of course not... because parents and schools exist to raise them and tell them that killing isn't okay...
In the same vein, parents can talk to their kids about STDs, how pregnancy works, and how incredibly painful it can be, so kids actually understand what they're getting into...
And as if ten-year-old boys aren't watching porn!?!?! Obviously, they'd want to mess around, but they don't have anyone to do it with, and even if they did, they wouldn't have a clue what they're doing... no matter how many millions of porn videos they watch... because they're just kids... and honestly, I don't think they'd even like it... I mean, how much pleasure can a ten-year-old really get from sex!?! They aren't even developed yet...
I'm totally with the OP on this... I hate how much violence is shoved down our throats on TV. Even in the regular news, you hear about some killer or a massive accident with a thousand dead, and then at 8 PM, they're showing bodies and blood on the highway and stuff like that... it's just... it's not just bad for kids, it's depressing for adults too...
The OP doesn't have to be some nudist, and I don't think everyone would be hooking up left and right if people were just more open about sex... though, personally, I think being more open would be pretty great...
Just imagine if your parents were talking to you about pregnancy and STDs when you were seven, eight, nine, or ten years old... maybe sharing their own experiences... since most people have dealt with something like a yeast infection or whatever... if I were a little kid and I was allowed to do whatever I wanted, but I had to listen to stories about someone having a nasty infection, how itchy it was, or how someone got pregnant, went for an abortion, and was basically falling apart from the pain... I wouldn't even dream of hooking up...
But this way, when everything is forbidden and treated like a taboo, it just makes it so much more interesting to them...
copperskipper68 said:Exactly. The key word is "true." I know people who identify as Nazis or extremists, yet they claim to be more devout than the Pope himself.🙄
Faith and tolerance don't really have anything to do with each other... honestly, if you look at the history of the Church in America, both back then and even now, it's pretty clear evidence for that...
And honestly, I think everyone has to have at least one group of people they just can't stand... because let's be real, we aren't supposed to like everyone or accept everything... for instance, I've got zero interest in Satanists, even though I don't actually know any of them personally... I just wouldn't want to meet one, you know? Because they're all about Satan and that whole vibe... :/
Happiness only really counts because it breaks up the monotony of everyday life... if you were happy every single second of every day, it’d just become the new normal and lose all its spark entirely...
Sometimes I find myself feeling incredibly lucky just to be alive, or even just for grabbing a glass of water or finally hitting the sheets at night... which, let's be honest, happens every single day, so I don't exactly throw a party over it most of the time... it's usually only those rare, standout moments that actually give me that crazy, euphoric rush...
As for this idea of constant happiness... I guess that's basically that peace about who to talk about everyone keeps mentioning... but I still get these bursts of pure joy out of nowhere, like when I'm heading out with my friends or hanging out with my boyfriend... it isn't just some calm feeling, my heart actually starts racing and I can't stop grinning (and no, I'm not talking about being in love... I'm not catching feelings for my buddies)... it's more like... I'll catch my reflection in the mirror and just start laughing and dancing around for no real reason at all, usually right before I head out to somewhere, like 😁 my university classes ... But honestly, you can't ever reach a state of total peace, perfect happiness, or complete bliss... there's always something weighing on your mind... like, even if you had a private chef and a pantry full of gourmet food, you'd still find some tiny way to worry about what you're eating tomorrow... it's just how we're wired. And something "bad" is bound to happen eventually, which will inevitably stress you out, upset you, or make you feel down... you can't truly wrap your head around what happiness is unless you've lived through the misfortune... you can't understand peace if you've never known what it's like to be restless...
I honestly feel like being upfront is one of those vital things in life... because let’s face it, there isn't really one single "absolute truth" out there, or if there is, we probably don't have the capacity to fully grasp it anyway..
Take any interaction between two people, for instance. It could be anything from a deep talk to just some random chatter on a street corner in Chicago. There are a billion different variables influencing how a conversation flows, and we’re never actually going to know the full story behind why someone chose a specific word at a specific moment or how a situation truly unfolded in the grand scheme of things.. :/
That’s why I see honesty as a genuine virtue... because in this twisted, fake-as-hell world we live in, you’ve gotta try to get as close to the truth as possible, right? People are way too obsessed with being "polite" and all that social fluff—you know, constantly walking on eggshells regarding everyone else's feelings..
If you lie to a friend just to save them from feeling awkward today, you’re basically just setting them up to get totally screwed over tomorrow.. :/ It’s pointless. If people were just more honest with themselves and everyone else, the world would definitely be a much better, smoother place to exist..
And honestly, I think Hegel was probably just acting disappointed and decided to write something sounding "profound" to cope... which might work for certain niche situations or for the hardcore pessimists out there. But imagine if everyone just lied to your face whenever you asked for an opinion?! Nothing would ever be professional or accurate... teachers wouldn't even dare tell their students they messed up a test or failed a project.. where would that leave us? Plus, you'd have people who aren't exactly fit thinking they look like supermodels (at least the ones who are delusional), and completely incompetent people would just keep doing a terrible job because nobody would ever have the guts to tell them they're failing..
Honestly, I deal with the exact same thing... though I guess I’ve just gotten used to it by now. I always make sure to snag that seat right by the window 😉 (just so I can zone out and ignore the world), but then a crowd of people piles onto the bus and suddenly everyone would rather stand in the aisle than sit next to me. Every once in a while—maybe like every fifth trip or something—someone will actually ask if they can sit down near me.
I finally realized it's because I'm just not the type of person people gravitate toward; instead, I'm usually the one who has to make the move toward others... which honestly isn't even that bad compared to being constantly hounded by some random old ladies on the street... :/ My friend is basically a walking magnet for those types of people, too. One time, I left her alone for literally five minutes to run into a CVS to grab something, and when I came back, some lady had already cornered her and told her her entire life story. 😁
I mean, honestly, it’s totally normal to spiral like that sometimes... damn... I think it hits pretty much everyone at some point, where you just lose the plot, and then eventually something else grabs your attention and suddenly life feels like it actually makes sense again...
And since we all have to keep grinding through life anyway, you might as well try to make it even slightly bearable... you know, just enough to catch a few decent moments here and there... I don't know, maybe it's just because spring is finally hitting, or maybe this winter was just way too long... everything I've worked on lately just feels completely pointless, and whatever new project I start, it immediately feels like a waste of time... honestly, I'd rather just be out somewhere riding my bike and forgetting about all of it... 😁
Soooo... hmmm... most women seem to get a kick out of things like a guy's shoulders, his arms, or whatever else... some people are into tiles, others aren't... I don't know... I feel like a fetish for long hair or female legs isn't even that intense or anything... I mean, a truly hardcore fetish is when you literally can't get in the mood without it. Like, someone who can't get turned on unless they get a good beating first, or if a woman isn't wearing specific stockings or something... basically, there's zero chance of getting an erection without that one thing... And that's a whole different ballgame than just having a little quirk, something that's kind of "wow" but doesn't actually control your entire sex life...
hmmm... I never really had anything quite like that happen to me, but I guess when I was just a little kid, sometimes whenever I’d close my eyes, this image would just pop up... it gave me this really strange feeling, but not a bad one, more like... I don't know, maybe a room or some kind of space filled with these perfectly smooth, rounded squares or clips or something like that... everything just felt so soft and had these seamless colors and shapes... and then, out of nowhere, the whole image would just sort of crumble away and everything would turn rough and totally ordinary... though I haven't actually gone through any specific experiences lately 😢
Linda Diaz3 said:I don't want to sound like a know-it-all since I'm still just a high school student myself, but I’m actually dealing with something very similar: I just finished my sophomore year, and while my grades have stayed pretty solid at straight A's, I absolutely loathe this school because my parents were the ones who forced me into it. My heart was set on a liberal arts high school because that’s where my passions lie, but my mom insisted on a pre-med track because she’s convinced it’s the only way to ensure a stable career, a high salary, and constant respect in the community... and honestly, what am I supposed to do about my interest in the humanities? I despise being here with everything in me; it has pushed me toward an eating disorder, deep depression, and lately, I’ve even had thoughts of ending it all.....
In theory, you're supposed to just ignore all the nonsense and follow your dreams, BUT, there's always that huge "but"................ I just don't know
Look, don't let this weigh you down quite so much, because once you're through with high school, you can totally pivot to language studies or whatever else you're actually into. It’s really not the end of the world, seriously. My sister went through vocational training, then did business studies, and now she's studying Japanese. And yeah, she's already halfway through her junior year of college and things aren't exactly perfect—we lived in Germany for a while, so you know how it goes, you have to understand the bigger picture here. You're still young, and while high school matters, it doesn't dictate your entire career path—not even close. After any kind of schooling, you can find work basically anywhere if you try hard enough. Plus, I honestly think some of the knowledge you pick up in that pre-med track might actually come in handy later on...🙂
As for the eating disorder stuff, though... please, talk to someone, get professional help, or whatever you need to do to take care of yourself.
Look, it’s never too late to flip the script and change everything up... honestly, when is it ever actually too late? And as for that whole "what will the neighbors think" thing—especially with the kids watching—please. Calling an artist a loser is such a tired trope, and frankly, I don't even know who still buys into that nonsense. I certainly don't. If being an artist makes you a loser, then we've got bigger problems. Besides, maybe there’s a middle ground where you find some soul-crushing corporate gig that requires half the effort, just so you can hoard all that extra free time for your actual craft... What does your wife have to say about the whole situation? Because, well... if you guys have enough of a cushion in the bank to let you walk away from that lab job and just exist... then go for it. But if not, man, damn... you might just have to squeeze the painting and sculpting into those three or four days off you get...
hmmm... I mean, it’s totally typical for guys to get obsessed with their cars... honestly, I don't think I'll ever truly get it... men just seem way more materialistic in general than women... I mean... if my apartment burned down, obviously I'd be gutted that all my stuff and memories were gone—okay, memories can be a bit abstract, but you know... like old photos... but at the end of the day, I'd be just freaking thrilled to still be alive... you really shouldn't get too hung up on material things... I love my computer and I've loved every single one of my bikes and my sneakers and my clothes... but whatever... if I trip and rip my jeans... there's no point in crying over them... sure, those pants might have been part of some great moments, like wearing them when I was feeling awesome and stuff... but still... just thank God you're still breathing and that your parents are okay, man... would you really be happy if you died along with your car just so you could run into it somewhere in heaven and take it for a spin???
Come on, give me a break, that’s hardly worth a trip to the OB-GYN unless we're talking about something massive. And honestly, if the whole thing just grosses you out, just let your boyfriend or your mom—or whoever—deal with it for you... or just wait for it to clear up on its own... maybe try some rubbing alcohol or some topical stuff... or just take matters into your own hands and kill it once and for all... Seriously though, you people would run to a doctor over the tiniest little thing, as if gynecologists have started specializing in treating chafing or something?! (though maybe a dermatologist would take a look... but even they'll probably just tell you to get lost)
If you're dealing with constant pain every single day, that's definitely not right... you really need to get down to the gynecologist's office as soon as possible, but if it's just that stuff happening before the discharge (like it happens to me sometimes during my fertile window, or even just when I catch a chill in my lower back or whatever)... then it’s probably totally normal...
Douglas Brown4 said:What you have is called INTELLIGENCE. As for what you're asking about—that thing called "emotional intelligence"—it is a bit like the Mormons in the USA: Americans are so frustrated by the fact that they don't have an indigenous religion that they had to go ahead and invent one. It's the same with foolish people. They want to be intelligent too. Various managers, scammers, bar owners... they all possess a very low form of intelligence known as PEASANT CUNNING. Well, in modern times, with these trends where everyone wants to feel special—even though most people can't move an inch away from their herd—they invented the concept of EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE and stuffed their own CUNNING into it. Basically, they pitted it against actual INTELLIGENCE and started claiming it is vaznij. So, the EQ of some dart player in a pub, or someone like Franc Ozbolt or Cinober, is supposedly more important than the IQ of Albert Einstein. And I guess it will stay that way as long as American managers keep writing their life essays instead of focusing on what they actually know how to do: stealing.
I think you’ve totally misread the whole EQ thing, Look, you’re partially right, I guess, and yeah, if you have high EQ you might navigate certain things better in life and blah blah blah... fine, that’s all great when we're talking about corporate nonsense. But generally speaking, having a high EQ is just good for your own happiness... You don't need to be a shady street hustler, or a manipulative jerk, or some kind of con artist just to have high EQ; it’s more about simply understanding the world around you, accepting yourself, and being content with who you are... Have you ever actually sat down and taken one of those tests? Because if you look at the questions... They aren't questions like "how can you shift the blame onto someone else without anyone noticing"... Most of them are more along the lines of "well, I don't really know"... At the end of the day, EQ has everything to do with a person's overall satisfaction with life...
Honestly, I wouldn't mind having a little bit of that, or maybe even a whole lot more... you know how it is... whatever you think you have, it’s never quite enough. God, people are always breathing down my neck telling me I don't care enough, that I'm cold, that I'm this or that... blah blah blah... and I don't know... I used to be way more empathetic back in the day, but then it just sort of... I don't know, faded away on its own... I used to be the type to jump in and help anyone out of any mess just because I felt bad for them, even when I knew damn well they were just trying to play me... and I guess... life just does that to you, either it drains it all out of you or it builds up... don't sweat it though. Having that kind of capacity is actually a pretty great thing to have...