Power-to-weight ratio

I actually got the spark for this topic from a thread over on a literature forum started by druid. Here’s what he was asking:
"How much do you value routine, and how does that mesh with being someone who loves literature, reads constantly, and considers themselves an intellectual (unlike the mindless masses)? Maybe you're even a bit eccentric. How does it feel to exist in a society where the conversation revolves solely around football, mindless nonsense, and the monotony of daily life? A world where people just whine and roll their eyes, where every single complex sentence is hailed as profound 'philosophy,' and where people barely bother using that incredible, fantastic organ they happen to have inside their skulls. If hell is a place for an artist, then an environment filled with such people is exactly that..."

To be honest, though, this feels like it was framed through the lens of an artist. I don't really consider myself an artist, but man, I definitely feel a lot of what he’s describing. I just... I can't seem to get into those everyday small-talk vibes. Most of the time, I catch myself just rambling aimlessly just to have something to say. What bugs me the most is that constant circling. It’s always the same stories, the same problems, the same events—maybe just different faces involved. But maybe that’s just how life works? Circular, day-to-night, life-to-death... maybe everything has to be that way. I haven't quite figured out if it's the "circling" itself that bothers me or just the act of talking about it. Honestly, I find it kind of funny how much people feel the need to talk, especially when they're trying to vent about their own issues or just trying to sound smart. Is there really a need for as much talking as there is today? From what I can tell, a huge chunk of all that chatter is just total garbage.
There’s another thing that strikes me as really weird. I know for a fact I don't fit in with the crowd, mostly because I'm not one for constant talking. And while some people struggle with not fitting in, I don't mind it at all. But then something else happens—the crowd gets bothered by my refusal to blend in. It’s almost like my being different offends them. Not to mention how most people assume I think I’m special or smarter just because I stand apart. I just... I've always preferred doing things "My Way" over just "going with the flow."

Anyway, those are just some random thoughts of mine. Please write back if you feel the same way or if you think along these lines—how you experience the crowd and how the crowd treats you...

Brenda Williams13 said:"How does one even function in a society where the conversation never drifts beyond football, mindless trivialities, and the sheer monotony of the daily grind? In a world where people spend their time whining and rolling their eyes at everything, where every half-baked thought is heralded as some profound 'philosophy,' and where most people seem to treat the incredible, complex organ inside their skulls as little more than a decorative ornament? If hell is defined by an artist's struggle, then being surrounded by people like this is precisely what it looks like..."

If such an environment truly constitutes a living hell for an artist, then perhaps that artist needs to come down from their ivory tower and realize they aren't actually that different from the rest of us. Aside from maybe the occasional performance, isn't their supposed "artistic expression" just as much a game as the simple, honest interactions of those they dismiss as talking about "nonsense"?

I fail to see how hell exists anywhere other than within the mind of the "artist" themselves. Isn't the true name of that hell simply PRIDE? Is that not why they struggle so much? Their entire sense of superiority collapses the moment they encounter the very people they believe they have outsmarted.

First off, you totally misquoted me there. If you’d just taken a second look, you’d see those were actually Druid’s words from that "Literature" thread on the subforum. And honestly? I’m right there with you—there’s definitely a hint of arrogance and pure snobbery in what he said. I’ll be the first to admit I used to feel that same way toward others, but that all changed once I realized how pointless it was to carry that kind of attitude around.

Anyway, I never actually said I felt like I was in hell, or anything like that. Nor did I say I thought I’d somehow surpassed everyone else. I was just trying to point out how much of an outlier I am... how I don't really fit in. I wasn't claiming superiority by any means. I don't consider myself better than anyone else on this entire planet, seriously.

Brenda Williams13 said:I’ve always known I don't really fit the mold, especially since I'm not much of a talker. Some people get really agitated when others don't follow the crowd, but honestly, that doesn't bother me one bit. Though, I do notice something else happening... people seem offended by my refusal to just blend in. It’s like they think I’m acting superior or trying to prove how smart I am just by being different. That isn't it at all. I guess I've just always preferred doing things "My Way" rather than just going with the flow...

So why don't you just stick to your guns then?
I highly doubt the crowds are knocking on your front door just to chat, so you're likely running into them out in the world... you're heading toward the masses, not the other way around.
There's that old saying about adapting to the culture wherever you land, kind of like how people used to adapt when moving through the Roman Empire back in the day. 😁

It feels like you're the one who needs to adjust, not them. 😉
Either that...
😉 Or head out into the wilderness.

Or, you know, just find a group of people who actually care about the same stuff you do. 😁

Brenda Williams13 said:To begin with, you botched the quote.

I realize those aren't actually your own words, but rather a citation.
It just dawned on me that your username is attached to the quote above.
My bad!

By the way, I fail to see why you feel the need to get so defensive over someone else's commentary.
But if you felt personally attacked—if you saw yourself in those words and felt compelled to push back—then isn't this whole defense somewhat futile, essentially proving the point you're trying to deny? 😁

Jack Harris3 said:Well, if that's how you feel, why don't you just stick to your own ways?
I highly doubt people are knocking on your door just to gossip with you, so... let's be real, you're running into the "crowd" out there somewhere else. You go to them; they aren't coming to you.
It’s like that old saying, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."😁

You're the one who needs to adapt, not them. 😉

Either head out into the wilderness. 😉

Or, you know, just find a group of people who actually care about the same stuff you do. 😁

But I *am* sticking to my way! I think you kind of missed my point. It’s not about me failing to adjust—I’ve already done that. The issue is more that I get this weird, nagging feeling that the crowd finds my specific way of doing things annoying.

And as for finding people with the same interests? I’ve already got that covered. I mean, my core circle, my closest friends... 😉
So, the whole "wilderness" thing can wait a little while, at least until I'm much older. I mean, come on, humans are social creatures by nature. 😛

copperowl2 said:Look, I totally get that those aren't actually your own words—it's clearly a quote.
I just realized your name was right there in the quote block above.
My bad!

Anyway, honestly? I don't see why you're getting so defensive over someone else's words.
But hey, if you felt personally attacked and felt the need to defend yourself, then all this explaining is kind of pointless... it actually proves the exact opposite of what you're trying to say... 😁

It’s not defending, really, just clarifying. I just wanted to make it clear that while his words gave me the idea, I don't actually feel the same way he does.
In the past, my go-to moves were usually just being dismissive, acting disgusted, or just straight-up criticizing everything. But that ended up bothering people, and honestly, it was exhausting for me too. When things get like that, you realize you have to change something up, and the easiest thing to do is just take a step back. 😁
So, I've mostly swapped out those old reactions for just... accepting things and trying to analyze them instead.

Brenda Williams13 said:I’m just sticking to my guns. I think you missed my point a little bit. It’s not that I haven't adapted... I have. It's more just this weird, nagging feeling that people get uncomfortable when I don't follow the crowd.

Oh, you "adapted," did you? Like this?

In so many ways I know I don't really fit in with the crowd, especially since I'm not much of a talker. And while it doesn't bother me at all if people can't handle someone who isn't part of the pack, something else happens too. People seem to take my refusal to blend in personally... almost like me standing apart is some kind of insult to them. Not to mention how most folks assume you're just acting superior or trying to look smart by being different.

So, what does it actually look like when you *don't* adapt? 🤣

I feel like you're missing the mark here... When you're hanging out with people who love to chat, and they expect YOU to jump in too—you know, just the usual small talk, nothing heavy or deep about the meaning of life—well, the social expectation is that you contribute. 😉
Of course, nobody is forcing your hand, but you can't really claim you've "adapted" if you end up looking like a snob who thinks they're too good for the conversation. 😁

Don't worry, I get it. I've definitely had those looks thrown at me, that "ugh, why are they being so difficult" attitude... so trust me, I know exactly what you mean... 🤣
I've learned how to play along sometimes, just to be "shallow" and repeat the same old clichés, and honestly, it's not always a bad thing. It teaches you that you aren't actually better than anyone else. 😁
And if it gets too annoying? I just stay home.

Jack Harris3 said:It feels like you’re missing the point here... When you’re hanging out with people who just love to chat, they expect YOU to jump in too. It's trivial stuff, everyday small talk, not some deep philosophical debate about the meaning of existence. You're expected to contribute. 😉
Of course, nobody is forcing your hand, but you can't really claim you've "adapted" if you end up looking like a condescending snob who thinks they're somehow above everyone else. 😁

Don't worry, I'm speaking from experience—having dealt with that constant "oh, you think you're so much smarter than us" attitude thrown right in my face. So, believe me, I totally get where you're coming from... 🤣
I've learned how to play along and engage in that mindless chatter too, and honestly? It isn't always that bad. It actually teaches you a lesson: you aren't actually any better than anyone else. 😁
And when it gets too annoying? I just stay home.

I feel like we're on the exact same page, we're just getting tangled up in our own words. Believe me, I know how to babble about nothing, and it doesn't bother me that much. It's just that I often find myself stepping back, watching what we're talking about, and laughing to myself when I realize how ridiculous the topic is. 😁
So, it's not that I'm embarrassed or feeling drained by it; I used to get really frustrated by it, but now it just makes me smirk a little. 🙂
And as for the whole thing about not being better than anyone else—I think I already mentioned that in one of my older posts.

And generally speaking, I find this phenomenon fascinating: when you say you feel different from others in some way, people almost always interpret that as you thinking you're superior to them. 😕

Brenda Williams13 said:I’ve always found this phenomenon pretty fascinating... when someone claims they just feel different from the crowd, it almost always ends up being interpreted as them thinking they’re somehow better than everyone else.😕

Just a bunch of cookie-cutter minds, honestly. What a joke.😁
Anything that doesn't fit the mold is seen as "unknown," which triggers all that suspicion...
But instead of actually doing the work to understand the unknown, people just slap a label on it. It makes them feel like they’ve got it figured out, so they don't have to bother with any real thinking...😁

Jack Harris3 said:They’re just a bunch of cookie-cutter minds, honestly. 😁
Basically, anything that doesn't fit their little mold is considered "unknown," which immediately triggers all that suspicion.
But instead of actually doing the work to understand the unknown, they just slap a label on it—boom—now they think they've got it figured out so they don't have to bother actually thinking about it. 😁

And honestly? You just get used to it. In my humble opinion, people see someone being "different" as a direct hit to their own ego. It's like... if you think differently or act differently, they take it personally, as if you're indirectly telling them that their whole way of life is wrong. 🙂

Just say it. 🤣

I mean, wouldn't you probably think and act just like them if you were in their shoes? 😉

I’ve noticed the exact same number of total morons as I have posers and mindless sheep

Jack Harris3 said:Well, they *do* talk. 🤣

Otherwise, I’d just be thinking and acting exactly like them, don't you think? 😉

I really don't see it that way. For instance, when I post my own take on things here on this forum, my goal is just to share what I think—not to go on some crusade to prove everyone else is wrong. That's a whole different thing, how people actually perceive what I say.
So, honestly, that word "talk" I used in my last post... I should probably have used "persuades" or "proves" instead. 😉

And look, it's not like I'm trying to force my mindset or behavior on anyone as some kind of "role model." To be honest, even if I wanted to, I couldn't—I feel like I'm redefining myself every single second. 😁

Monolith, ????

The very term "the masses" carries such a negative connotation—it’s a bit of a loaded word—so I doubt anyone would ever calmly or rationally choose to identify themselves as part of a mindless mob.
However, being swept up in the crowd and feeling that collective psychological pull firsthand is an entirely different beast. There really are only two ways to play it: you either surf the wave that the crowd creates, letting it carry you along, or you ignore the siren call altogether... though standing your ground against the momentum of the majority requires a hell of a lot more grit than most people realize.

Jonathan Brooks8 said:Look, just the word "masses" carries this negative vibe, right? So it’s pretty unlikely anyone is going to sit there and rationally decide to identify themselves as part of a mindless mob.
But man, being caught up in the crowd and actually feeling that group psychology kick in on you? That's a whole different story. You really only have two choices then—either you just ride the wave and let the crowd carry you along, or you ignore that pull entirely. And honestly, standing your ground against the crowd like that... you need some serious backbone to pull it off.

Wait, why on earth would the term "the masses" have a negative connotation?!?!? In this context, it’s just a way to describe the majority of people who think similarly or just follow the most common social norms. Nobody here is trying to label things as "good" or "bad"—because let's be real, those labels only exist from our own personal perspectives anyway—we're just talking about what's mainstream versus what's different.

As for that second part, I actually find it much harder to just ride the wave. For me, it's way easier to just live by my own convictions. When it comes to the crowd, I always end up finding some kind of compromise. 😁

Brenda Williams13 said:Why on earth should the term "the masses" carry such a negative connotation?!?!?

The negative undertone stems from a simple reality—if you simply surrender yourself to the crowd, the crowd begins to think for you. In other words, your individuality gets swallowed up by the collective, leaving you to act exactly like everyone else... even when it’s not who you truly are. At the same time, you can't just offload the responsibility for your actions onto a group; at the end of the day, accountability is always an individual matter.

Brenda Williams13 said:I don't really see it that way. For instance, if I’m posting my own opinion on this forum, the whole point is just to let people know where I stand... it isn't about proving everyone else wrong. Besides, it’s up to them how they choose to take it.

Well, they perceive it exactly how it's delivered.😁
When you voice an opinion, you're essentially saying "this is what I believe is right," aren't you?
And by extension, you're implying everything else *isn't* right... which basically means anyone disagreeing is wrong.😁
Then, if you start throwing out arguments to back up your side, you're simultaneously using those same points to prove that the other person's view is incorrect.
Kind of like what I'm doing to you right now...🤣

Jack Harris3 said:They just see him exactly for who he is. 😁
By simply stating your own opinion, you are presenting what *you* believe to be the truth—isn't that the premise?
The logical conclusion there is that anything else is, by definition, incorrect—meaning everyone else is wrong. 😁
And if you go a step further and throw in arguments to prove your point, you're essentially using those same arguments to claim that everyone else's perspective is invalid.
It’s the same thing I’m doing to you right now. 🤣

This whole "if you aren't with us, you're against us" philosophy is incredibly narrow-minded—and frankly, quite inaccurate. Even if a huge portion of the population thinks this way.😁

Jack Harris3 said:They just take him exactly as he is. 😁
But look, if you're just being honest about what you think, you're basically saying "this is the right way," right?
And by extension, that means anything else... well, it's *not* right. So, naturally, everyone else must be wrong. 😁
Then, if you throw in a bunch of arguments to prove your point, you're essentially using those same points to try and prove everyone else is tripping.
Kind of like how I'm talking to you right now. 🤣

🤣

Alright, let's keep this energy going then. Since we're at it, I'll give you a little 😁
Seriously though, tell me—can't there be more than one "right" opinion? And honestly, who even defines what's right or wrong anyway? It feels a little too easy to just paint everything in black and white like that.
For me, I mostly use arguments to explain the *why* behind my thoughts, not just to slam my foot down and insist I'm 100% correct.