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pluralMoney,
dollars,
cash,
greenbacks,
whatever the name,
it is all worthless.
Money is all virtual, a never ending process by which we move zeros from one column to another, one ledger sheet to another.
We are a pathetic and sick society which has lost any connection between production and value.
A hundred dollar bill has no inherent value.
It is our collective necessity, our overall agreement that gives it value.
I am superior to the vast majority of the inhabitants of this world, the collective stench of their weakness revolts me.
Am I superior because I make more money... No...
Our society values individuals based on their balance sheet.
I make more money because I am superior,
I am not superior because I make more money.
If we had other values, then it would be to those values which I would excel.
Why then, am I so sure I am superior?
Is it because of genetics?
No, though I hold the opinion that I am of superior genetic construction.
Some of the most pathetic revolting wastes of human flesh,
which I have had the misfortune to know,
have superior breeding and genetics.
I am superior for no intrinsic, immutable reason.
Superiority is based upon one thing,
and one thing alone.
Action.
I act, therefore I am superior.
I make choices, and make sacrifices to forward my own goals.
I do not sit a home watching television,
lamenting that my boss wont give me a raise,
or that I can not afford some trivial material item,
which seems beyond my resources..
People are pathetic.
What is worth more to you?
Is time with your family worth more than the new car?
Are you willing to have less things,
To have more time with those you love?
Can you make the decision between your immediate wants, and your long term interests?
You can have anything that is important enough to you.
You just have to choose,
What it is that you wish to focus on?
What is it that you really want?
Our entire world has been commodified, merchandised and put on the auction block.
The only thing that changes is the price.
People, things, even emotions can be bought, sold, traded, extorted and stolen.
The only question is....
Are you willing to pay the price?
dollars,
cash,
greenbacks,
whatever the name,
it is all worthless.
Money is all virtual, a never ending process by which we move zeros from one column to another, one ledger sheet to another.
We are a pathetic and sick society which has lost any connection between production and value.
A hundred dollar bill has no inherent value.
It is our collective necessity, our overall agreement that gives it value.
I am superior to the vast majority of the inhabitants of this world, the collective stench of their weakness revolts me.
Am I superior because I make more money... No...
Our society values individuals based on their balance sheet.
I make more money because I am superior,
I am not superior because I make more money.
If we had other values, then it would be to those values which I would excel.
Why then, am I so sure I am superior?
Is it because of genetics?
No, though I hold the opinion that I am of superior genetic construction.
Some of the most pathetic revolting wastes of human flesh,
which I have had the misfortune to know,
have superior breeding and genetics.
I am superior for no intrinsic, immutable reason.
Superiority is based upon one thing,
and one thing alone.
Action.
I act, therefore I am superior.
I make choices, and make sacrifices to forward my own goals.
I do not sit a home watching television,
lamenting that my boss wont give me a raise,
or that I can not afford some trivial material item,
which seems beyond my resources..
People are pathetic.
What is worth more to you?
Is time with your family worth more than the new car?
Are you willing to have less things,
To have more time with those you love?
Can you make the decision between your immediate wants, and your long term interests?
You can have anything that is important enough to you.
You just have to choose,
What it is that you wish to focus on?
What is it that you really want?
Our entire world has been commodified, merchandised and put on the auction block.
The only thing that changes is the price.
People, things, even emotions can be bought, sold, traded, extorted and stolen.
The only question is....
Are you willing to pay the price?
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no subject
Date: 2000-09-24 04:41 pm (UTC)While I think the thrill you get by symbolically burning money as a kind of in your face fuck you to those that chase the dream of doing such things is silly, it is still (vaguely) age appropriate.
Like it or not, believe it or not, there are some who literally cannot break free of their own situations. Not for lack of trying, or ability, or anything else, rather just bad luck.
To these folks, $200 may be a car payment (they don't have generous relatives to buy them cars as I do), or a portion of thier months rent (they don't have generous relatives to buy them houses as I do), or a portion of their tuition payment or student loan (they may not have fee wavers, or generous relatives to foot the bill as I do/have had), it may even be six months of diapers, for a single mom (single due to bad luck, or poor choice. mother due to bad luck, poor choices, or ethical belief structure).
To these folks you actions may seem piggish.
There is a class of folks I grew up with in the eighties (I was even a member for a brief time), who prided themselves on their nihlism (sp). They felt the world was shit, why waste my glorious talents on a world that is so utterly fucked up and decidedly ungrateful.
One might think you have a similar worldview...
Nihilistic tendencies? perhaps, a nihilist? never...
Date: 2000-09-24 05:27 pm (UTC)but then again,
being silly can be most enjoyable ,
after all, and what else is there to do in this life,
but bring whatever joy we can to our lives and those whom we keep close to us.
There is no one who can not break free of their situation,
for some it is harder than others,
but I do not believe in impossibilities.
Yes people make poor choices,
or in many cases are harmed by the prejudices of others.
I have lived a mostly privileged life, I will freely admit it.
I have not had it all handed to me either.
My parents did not buy me a nice car...
The only help they gave me with my house,
was loaning me the money up front,
so I would be able to hold off liquidating my stocks until closing.
If I didn't have the money, they wouldn't have given me a cent.
Granted even that is more than many peoples parents can do.
I received two presents from my parents on my 18th birthday.
I have never since or before received a birthday present of such immense long term value.
The first gift?
My parents gave me the money for first, last, and damage deposit.
The Second?
9 words which are easily associated with a symbolic gesture...
"You are an adult now, have a nice life"
as they smiled and extended their middle fingers. (at least in my mind)
As for Nihilism, while I greatly revere the works of brilliant thinkers such as Nietzsche,
I do not agree with their view of the essence of things.
On some things yes I agree with them.
The world is shit - absolutely, but only because we make it so...
We abuse the environment, animals, each others and ultimately ourselves.
The statement of regarding wasting ones talents, is utter bullshit.
If you have talents, use them for your own gratitude and satisfaction.
The idea that the world should be grateful, is banal and arrogant.
As an old man walked by the beach at dawn,
he noticed a young man ahead of him
picking up starfish and flinging them into the sea.
Finally catching up with the youth,
he asked him why he was doing this.
The answer was that the stranded starfish would die
if left until the morning sun.
"But the beach goes on for miles, and there are millions of starfish,"
countered the old man.
"How can your effort make any difference?"
The young man looked at the starfish in his hand
and then threw it to safety in the waves.
"To this one, it makes a difference."
I am a man of immense empathy and idealism, which cannot survive in this world without an equally staggering amount of cynicism.
People complain constantly about their situations, but refuse to take even the most simple steps to resolve their condition.
The human condition is one where we desperately seek the utopia which we could easily have if we only believed we deserved it.
It breaks my heart and churns my stomach to the point I can hardly look at the world.
Without my disgust to prop me up..
Cynicism to propel me forward..
I would be only a miserable ball of quivering flesh, spilling useless tears over the inhumanity of us all.
Re: Nihilistic tendencies? perhaps, a nihilist? never...
Date: 2000-09-25 03:25 am (UTC)A ridiculous response founded by a rigid adherence to one's principles (Indeed you are a cynic).
While this behaviour is certainly silly, it is utterly age appropriate for a 25 year old...
-------------------
There are impossibilities:
if ones' lot is beyond their abilities to cope, they are in an impossible situation.
--------------------
Are you judging me for the generosity of my and my wife's families?
--------------------
I liked the starfish story.
--------------------
You can turn a phrase.
Re: Nihilistic tendencies? perhaps, a nihilist? never...
Date: 2000-09-25 03:25 pm (UTC)Firstly, I would never presume to judge you or your family,
I was merely stating that while I had a privilege childhood,
My family was not as generous with me as an adult.
for the most part, I was on my own.
Even if I had sufficient knowledge to make such judgements,
I am merely a pathetic wretch of a man,
judgement of any one person is completely beyond my capabilities.
You are correct,
there are surface similarities between the nihilists and my own philosophies
where we diverge most dramatically is in the understanding of the essence of things.
"If one's lot is beyond ones ability to cope, they are in an impossible situation"
I can't say I find much sympathy,
most of my life,
I have been faced with situations
which I did not know how to nor were able to cope with.
When one cannot cope with events, there is only one solution...
Action.
put one foot in front of the other
repeat
One's situation will always be impossible when one never tries to improve it.
Most people are so afraid of losing
what they meager little life they have accumulated,
and the fear of failing in an attempt to improve things,
sets them in stone,
in front of the TVs idly dreaming of things
which will never come.
I am glad you liked the starfish story,
it has been a favorite of mine for sometime.
and as always,
you have quite the talent for fiction,
especially when it comes to flattery....
*wicked grin*
Re: Nihilistic tendencies? perhaps, a nihilist? never...
Date: 2000-09-25 03:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2000-09-25 03:52 pm (UTC)I believe I said you have a talent for fiction,
and as we have been discussing, talents can and often are wasted,
I only implied (ok strongly implied) that you were using it for flattery...
Besides the cow bit was delightful...
p
interesting debate
Date: 2000-09-24 11:46 pm (UTC)#1- If you keep going where you're headed, you're going to end up where you're headed.
and, #2, and one of my favorites- No matter how far you travel down the wrong path, turn back.
I have broken free of so many situations, and often times those words have helped to fuel my struggle. even when crying in the dark and scraping every cent together to try and make rent and buy bread and maybe even save enough that I could one day go to school.
we are constrained by our mindsets. whether we enable ourselves through cynicism or joy, or hamper ourselves with such tools. our lives and views of our lives are what we make them. I will never be president or a millionaire. but I will be happy because I've turned back on so many damned paths that there is no other way to be.
besides, I don't want the responsibility of such things...
rambling in the inane market
Lost