Smaerd

In this busy world we live in, where we all run in circles and race to each red light. Ticking away the moments of each day adding up to our only guaranteed life we have. We all want to do the best for ourselves. We all struggle for money, for goods, to live, or things that temporarily fulfill a moment in our lives. But for what? Well no one knows, but we all got our ideas, and dammit you better not try to change those!

Many have and are willing to exterminate a whole race of fellow people for their beliefs. Many would put another fellow human companion down for something new, or better than their current state(snitching, divorce). When we're all governed by nothing, we all have free will to do ANYTHING our minds desire. Why do you think we're all so bounded by the modern cat and mouse game in this reality which we create? Shouldn't the creators of reality be a little bit more empowered, atleast in their own realm.

Some smoke chemicals, and ingest chemicals, to escape from the shit-hole they are so willingly a part of. Some sit in confinement for deeds they have never done, and some they have. So that some group whether it's large or small can feel greater than them. When it comes down to it we all talk shit about at least one of the following people: Micheal Jackson, OJ Simpson, Charles Manson, Druglords, R Kelly, Britney Spears, etc. When we are ALL criminals, and we have all been vain, and we've all been confused.

Why? We don't have a purpose that's why we distract ourselves so much. Money doesn't make happiness but everyone is willing to think it does, and would kill or be killed for a certain sum of cloth. The indians loved treasured beeds, and the Europeans exploited them for it. But we're all so proud of how America was founded. The passive types sit on their computers, their x-boxes, their playstations and collect imaginary data in an imaginary realm to better their imaginary characters/statistics that they hold with such pride. Some sit on online forums and try to become better than another person whether their new to the forum, less educated, or are sharing their beliefs/ideas.

All of this is competitive behavior.

Why? We don't need to be competitive anymore. We can drive down the street in a vehicle of solid steal traveling at 90mph running on dead life, and get two pieces of bread and a piece of meat for the equivalent of 15 minutes of work at minimum wage.

How come the world hasn't congregated on one issue yet? Is it because one location has to be greater then another? Why can't we teach our kids to be humble instead of to be the best? Why can't we embrace the insecurity of not having a purpose?

I'm personally sick of it, opening my eyes to only see darkness, it's all so ironic.{side-bar}Anyone wanna start a colony with me and some friends and work only to live off the land with-in the next few years?

GirlsHateMe

"Publicly subsidized! Privately profitable!" the anthem of the upper tier: the puppeteer untouchable. We focus a moment and nod in approval, then bury our heads back in the bottles of these neo-colonials.

our former nemesis: (ahh! the romance!) the nation-state now plays fund-raiser for a new-brand power-concentrate. Try again, but now we're confused - what is class war? Is this class war? Yes (I guess?) this is class war!!!

And holy fuck! I'm just a kid! I can't believe I'm gonna worry about this kind of shit!!! What a stupid world, and it's beautiful, no regard for principle. what a stupid World. (1)born (2)hired (3)disposed. Where that job lands everybody knows. And you can tell by the smiles on the CEOs that environmental restraints are about to go.

And you can bet that laws will be set to ensure the benefit of an unrestricted labor clause kept in place by (displaced gov't) death squads. They own us. They produce us. They consume us.

Can you fucking believe it?

What a stupid world.

Fuck this bullshit display of class loyalties. The media and "our" leaders wrap it all up in a flag, fucking shit-rag.

Hooray!

Smaerd

Exactly. I'm so fucking frusterated with this world. Even if I go to South Africa and hide in some jungle there's a chance I'll be blown up by some nuke because some asshole was having a bad day.

We cannot be individuals, but we cannot be broad groups. I just wanna be left to congregate and do as I wish. But FUCK something has to hold me down, because it's more right then I am. I am a very spiritual person but after I had my recent concussion I really didn't wanna come back to consciousness.

Call it "depression" I'll call it "opression". I finally figured out I am not naturely depressed, THIS WORLD depresses me. I'm not naturely anxious by some imbalance, this world has taught me to be anxious.

But everytime I go into the woods and smoke a joint and forget about all the bullshit I am at one with everything again. Until a park ranger runs up and talks to me like I'm a junkie and flashes her goddam gun. It's so disgusting.

I'm sick of meditating, sure it's great to dream but damn it I just wanna feel.

The Rev

I'm up for starting a commune.



The Rev

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Waves

i used to feel this way. then i decided not to worry about it, to just do my own thing and be who i am. its not my problem if the world is shit, the most i can do is be who i want to be and live as fulfilling a life as possible. you cant let the fact that the world sucks depress you, or else your just reinforcing the very energy that caused us to get here in the first place. the best you can do is rise above, be an example for others and let your energy ripple outward to naturally affect others. thats the best way to change the world around you. be the change you wish to see in the world.

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On this life that we call home
The years go fast and the days go so slow

Mercury

It seems to me that the world has been consistantly heading towards a more liesurly lifestyle for all. The United States is heading the charge, of course, but everywhere people are getting wealthier and working less. 200 years ago people worked from dusk til dawn, 7 days a week doing intense labour all along. 100 years ago we moved into factories and cut our work down to 12 hours per day, 6 days per week. Now days a 4 day, 40 hour work week is not uncommon.

Center

how old are you man. jesus. sounds like the same whiney existential angst driven thoughts of my youth at 17. guess were those take you? sitting on your ass comtemplating live endlessly without having ne fun.

im curious about something, do you believe humans are fundamentally good or bad?

not tryin to come across angry here but im gonna throw up in my mouth reading this stuff...

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Mercury

^Humans are fundamentally stupid and stupid is bad.

farmergiles

Humankind is competitive by nature, I don`t think there`s any getting away from that.

Even if you start a commune with the ideal of non competition participants would just find ways of competing within that environment.

But I don`t think competition is necessarily malignant. Problems arise when people are rewarded for success in ways which are harmful to society and the world in general.

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Cultivate a stoic calmness

SageTree

No offense man, but this is a blasphemous statement to alot of people. I wouldn't say that has totally ended in the 'civilized' world you speak of, and I know that is hasn't in many many parts of the world. Immigrant farm workers to the States would be the least of my examples. People are still working dangerous jobs and dying, so the people on 'top' of society can live the way they do. What are they on the top of?.....IMO it's a steaming pile of lies they cohorse others into believing so they'll do the work for them, and maybe just maybe, they are told, if they stick with it, some day they'll rise to the 'top' to, which to me would mean selling out, joining the system of lies, and living off anothers oppression.

Try to think outside upper middle class north america. Aren't those people all just slaves to debts anyways? They have to get up and propetuate the lies of their lifestyle and live on the backs of others, so they can protect they shitty prefab McMansion, while others go homeless.

I realize that people are allow to spend their money or what ever, but what about the acctual cost to fellow humans? When can the working poor have a chance to choose where their money goes? These are the people who are suffering as well, right here, right now, as the States " Charge ahead" they seem to leave alot of their fellow citizens, even, in the dust.

Capitolism as it stands today is the core of many lies and problems lived out everday in my opinion. I have no problem with a gov't that steps in and says "hey you can only make X amount of money." I wish this would happen, and yes that is called communism, in which law regulate how far you can 'get ahead' of the rest and dictates how much you are liable to help you fellow humans.

We are only as free and the least of our brothers and sisters. Rich or Poor, All bound by a system that propetuates the dream that we can " Get on Top" and some how that will make everything better, but few ever reach because no matter what your 'class' is, your life is never full enough of shit to fill the voids of True Self.

I agree with Waves's last statements of making the world around you the one you want, and being that change. This is an ancient buddhist idea as well. In my daily life life I make choices that align with my values of doing right by the person who put the thing I need to live, in front of me. And buying those things that the other can still have that he needs. Otherwise that is oppressive colonialism. Do the poor in Africa get to wear the diamonds they mine or taste the cocoa they grow in S. America? These are the things I think about when I'm consuming. If the dollar is what speaks these days, then I make it say what I want, by putting where it should go. I work to feed and shelter those who have fallen out of 'society', because those are base needs, no matter what system you are in, you have to have. The golden rule applies to ALL action. While I know there are things in the world that I don't agree with, I find happieness knowing that Life is a cycle, and while I can be attached to the cycle, I can choose to reside in the fact that it too shall pass, and all I can do is try to end that suffering in front of me, and pray there are others doing the same.

I'm not picking on you Mercury. Your thought process isn't out of line with others. However it made me think to explain how I feel about the Idea you shared with us. So just take it for what it is, which is My Opinion. Don't feel shamed or bound by it. But I will ask you to consider and find examples from all over the globe to support your idea, and I think you'll find out how many more people live, and it's not ' America Dream' material.

Compassionatly,
SageTree

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AeDeAeMn0886

Look to the Op I have just this to say. You think the people in this country made the choice to compete ? Everyone in this world who is alive is involved in a competition for food, shelter, resources, etc. its just in this country you cant tell its a competition because resources are so evenly distributed compared to a 3rd world country like Niger for example, where you might actually have to kill someone for a meal. Your idea of self inflicted competition because of human defect is imposterous.

SageTree

Is that a general reply? or Geared to someone? Just asking. Puts "Your" into a better perspective.

Thanks
Sage

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SageTree

Ocean Pacific?

Sorry man, that's a new inferance for me to take it. Shouldn't it be 'Looking' as to be a proper verb usage?

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Smaerd

Look. The main point of this was the title, why do we live in this competitive world?

And to who ever it was that took a crack at my age, that doesn't matter to you but I'm definatly an adult. And this type of thinking is getting me somewhere, I am going to pull an Alexander Supertramp ever see "Into the Wild"? So now off a personal attack because you didn't agree with my post.

From competition leads to corruption, liars, and cheaters. Cuz everyone wants to win, but not everyone can/should win. I do enjoy the idea of Capitalism, however we don't live in a capitalistic society by any means(check out our taxes). What I'm trying to say here is we're all so distracted by the bullshit in life that doesn't matter just the shit that makes us feel good even for just a moment.

So we're beings of pleasure, and obviously your life means more to you then mine. But why is that? Shouldn't we all treat each other of equal importance considering we all have equal potential to do anything?

I don't think the sentiment of competition is a bad one, you know let the better man win or w/e. But that's the thing, there's nothing to win anymore. Ideally one would devote their life to sneaking their way up the social ladder in the job world, make lots of money consume other peoples lives that live underneath you so your wife can have a nice huge ring(the mining of which cost three Africans lives) that has no practical use and your kids can become spoiled and ignorant but born higher than kids in the projects. When there shouldn't be any projects?

Think about how many people live in slums across the nation or even the world as aposed to those in mansions. How is that even close to okay? I guess eventually when one corrupt person takes over everything with his cloth and digital numbers(money) then you'll revolt but until then you'll keep on chasing the dream.

I'm personally sick of seeing people getting produced to be consumed into statistics, into health-care debts, when they could shine and be alive and aware of that.

Why do you think 90% of politicians are corrupt? Because they can exploit anything for money, for personal gain. Sorry to say 90% of the people on this forum in a similar position would do the same. This unhealthy competitiveness I believe is what has already eaten away the supports of our great foundations.

And I don't believe mankind is born evil.

I'd rather be a survivilist Adeaman then a praiser of nothing and a slave in a society were your family and friends has a price on you.

AeDeAeMn0886

Smaerd, I think you need to look at why those people are in mansions. You want to know why ? Because they bought them. Anybody in this country who is free can buy a home. They didnt worry about what you or somebody else thought, they did it. And in return they are living in a crime free neighborhood, sending their kids to college. Thats a future I want, how about you ?

Smaerd

There shouldn't be crime, crime mostly happens for money. College should be free for anyone(gov't takes 33% of our earnings where does it go?). Being allowed to live should be at your own free disgression. But moral value is a competition.

I'd love to buy a mansion, hell I'd love to buy a house, but at what cost? You know when you retire from working I do hope you don't sit there and go what the fuck did I spend 50 good years of my life on? Things.

I just wish work had meaning still. There's no fucking craft anymore. Advertisements, your meat in a can, pull this lever 5,000 times a day, call households for 8 hours, sit in your office and think of how I can make more money. All for what? A shot to move up and be on top. It's only not slavery because your allowed to chose not to work and be out-casted and put in the next bum-fights dvd.
Last I checked you can't really buy land.

SageTree

The days of needing to compete should passed by as a tool of a less enlightened age.

I think that the next evolution is one of the mind. One where we realize we are all connected and valued. One where we see we are capable of helping others with all the bounty we have in our lives, no matter how much money we have. We can help ensure the life we lead isn't causing someone else to be strapped and bound to survival. Why should our conscious be diluted and accept that it's okay that one country is dying from obesity, while another parishs? If one would cut back and give to another, and that mind set became pervasive to all aspects of life, then couldnt we truely all live an equal life? Where all our houses are safe, and where education isn't based on the the money in your wallet or the line of credit. Where everyone's work contributes and we get fed good healthy meals. I care as much about the happiness and health of the fatties as I do the gaunt.

Gandhi said, the oppressors are oppressed just as the oppressed allow themselves to be so.

To me my life doesn't stop at a border. So while I can see the old ways of competition and how it works in one country, I don't think that makes it right that the competition oppresses other lands because of historical mistakes made in the name of having the Right, and knowing what is best for all.

Others must not lose for you to win. This is my belief on this topic. And people are losing.....I just think of side doesn't think they are. Don't lose the time to help.

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AeDeAeMn0886

SageTree do you think thats a new idea you have ? You dont think there is a reason that hasnt been done in the 200,000 + years of human life on the planet ? Heres a hint it wont happen.

Smaerd

Because people like you need to be better than others otherwise you would be so scared to think that your life is insignificant to the 'system' of life. which is what the Original Post(OP sagetree ) is about.

SageTree

I don't think it's new at all. I historically disagree, that it hasn't been done. And I don't believe that it can't happen again, and that it doesn't happen on a small scale everyday. Sorry that you seem to be angry.

I think the average person is bummed about others being in misfortune. The evolution is All people realizing that they have it in them to end suffering in others. The answer to ending suffering is just under the surface, we each only need to look with in to find it.

I hope that you are living a happy and fulfilling life the way that you see fit. And I hope that you sleep well at night with the choices you make in your daily life. I truely don't know you or what you do to help your fellow humans or if you do at all. I hope that what ever your choice, your happy.

Honestly. I don't wish anyone unhappiness. Which is why I'd like to add the question," How free are the people in those mansions?" The way I see it, very few can afford to live there fincially free, but is that from honest action with which they generate the money? Are they free from karma or sin from oppressing others in mines or mills? Then there are the many, who think they almost have the dream. Does their credit line and debt make them free? They aren't free from their car, they have to work to drive to work. That doesn't sound very free, to me.

Free to me is freedom from attachment. I like a life some people are amazed with. My combined household income is $15k a year. I eat, have good times, am able to listen to music, have a bike that gets me places, and a job which I like and am valued to be at. I see the world, and get to where I need to go. My life has been better the less and less I have with each passing year. This is freedom to me.

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