I wish to make a point

[TheMirage]

Having now returned for a while from Pendleton, I actually have some time on my hands to visit GF now and again. On one of my recent visits I opened a tread entitled "why do we regret" or something like that. Seems like an interesting question to me, worthy of discussion for disscussions' sake. But the thing that really struck me about what the author posted was at the end of his post

i know i have strange thoughts this late and when im bored

again, something like that.
Why is it in today's world whenever anyone introduces a topic about something remotley intellectual, intelligent or deep, we feel the need to excuse ourselves for being "weird". Stop apologizing for being smart, and actually using that most valuable organ; your brain. This goes right up along there with people apologizing for things that they can't even control, or apologizing for being annoying (which actually IS annoying) every time they ask a question or make a request. Seriously, when did it become abnormal to think about things, ourselves and the way we work? Or anything else? I want to see no more comments of this nature. If you've had a deep or intellectual thought, something you want to discuss or shed light on, DO SO! And without excusing your intelligence and insight!

[Zeez]

we feel the need to excuse ourselves for being "weird".

Welcome to the terror of non-conformity. Welcome to a world where it is safer and more acceptable to be a consumer of the filth they throw at you rather than saying no and deciding upon an alternative point of view. Welcome to a world where we're apologetic for being different from the norm, where you're ridiculed for an individual thought, where only those who adhere to the fashion/style/music/thought/opinion of the masses are acceptable in society. Welcome to a society that applauds those who seek to fit in and ostrasises those who dare to be different. Welcome to a future where being different equals being an enemy of the state. Welcome to the world where your ability as a consumer to buy the same things as everyone else outweighs your ability to think for yourself, decide on your tastes and believe in what you want to believe.

Welcome to hell on earth. Modern life is Rubbish.

(and "hi")

[TheMirage]

well, hello and welcome to GF. Indeed you are right, this is exactly what distresses me. I myself have always been something of a nonconformist simply because of my hatred for everythingh you just pointed out there. My real concern though is, why and when did it become the norm to be an idiot?

[Zeez]

Originally Posted by TheMirage

My real concern though is, why and when did it become the norm to be an idiot?

One only has to examine popular culture to understand that we're Lemmings. Success is based on popularity, not talent or perception. Life is one big popularity contest.



How else does one explain Britney Spears?



Around the time that global communications and instant news became the norm, so adhering to the thoughts and ideals put forward by the instant comms became the acceptable way to behave. I laugh because all we're doing with our conformist approach to human society is dooming ourselves to failure.

Darwin was a non-conformist.
Newton was a non-conformist.
Einstein was a non-conformist.
Curie was a non-conformist.
Hawking was a non-conformist.

Anyone who has offered anything towards the development and continuation of the human race has been a non-conformist. The people we rely upon for our development, for our advancements, for our future, are the very people we seek to subjugate with our desire to be clones of the latest pop sensation.

I wonder often why the Champions of Humanity, the people who still think even bother to put their theories and thoughts forward for criticism. Why set oneself up for the ridicule of one's peers? These people are generations ahead of their peers. Darwin died over 200 year ago but still forms the very foundations of modern concepts of evolution. He died a heretical figure.

My greatest fear is that our Darwin (or Einstein or Hawking) is ridiculed into submission by the idiot masses and our next great step on the journey of conscious development is never realised. Alas I see this is our future. Pop Culture will always 'win out' vs. independent thought. A single voice is oft drowned by the cumulative volume of idiocy.

[NiRv4n4]

zeez, you might do good to bring yourself to the pub during your stay. you seem like someone who is willing to put in energy to make long and convincing posts, so you would like it there. and i agree with the posts you are making. i am nostalgic of the 60s and 70s, and even the early 1800s, though i wasn't even alive. i just wish i was born in different times. being a baby boomer would be the shit man....

[Aeroflot]

Very good point you made, Mirage. It is all about fearing that you will be ridiculed into submission by people who base life upon there own opinions only and have no room to grow in the brainal region. It is not the fault of anyone because that is how people are conditioned to grow. My mom watched older movies when I was growing up so now I like them whereas someone else not raised on them probably has a better chance of not liking the older movies. It is the fault of no one since your parents were raised in a similar fashion.

If you are non-conformist then you have been raised on the fringes of society and you wanting to explore new areas of life comes natural. You are not even a rebel because you probably do not even realize that you are thinking 'strange' thoughts. This stuff comes naturally and if natural is bad then might as well dress yourself up as Santa and go on a shooting rampage.

Welcome to the forums, Zeez. I am looking forward to more of your posts.

[Covin Narcissus]

I don't think that talking about "deep" stuff like that really makes you intellectual... I think it's more out of being curious and wanting to hear other people's opinions on their actions and feelings toward something. Not caring or already having an understanding of something like that doesn't make you unintellectual.

I also don't think he was "excusing" himself for being deep, sometimes it's weird when someone posts a topic like that in the wrong section.

[NiteStryker]

Non conformity is laughable. So many people make it their mission to go "against the grind". To be different, rebellious.

Well, so have many other people. Congrats, you just conformed to the non conformists.

Why do people care so much about trying to stand out?

[Aeroflot]

Originally Posted by Covin Narcissus

I don't think that talking about "deep" stuff like that really makes you intellectual... I think it's more out of being curious and wanting to hear other people's opinions on their actions and feelings toward something. Not caring or already having an understanding of something like that doesn't make you unintellectual.

I also don't think he was "excusing" himself for being deep, sometimes it's weird when someone posts a topic like that in the wrong section.

You cannot separate intellectuals (in terms of writers, philosophers, artists, etc) and intellectuals (asking questions about reality). They are one and the same. The same skills used to wonder why we regret are the same skills used by philosophers, writers, and artists to do what they do.

We generally think of intellectuals as people who devote their lives to 'smart' things, but people are not different enough to separate them into groups such as 'intellectuals' and 'non-intellectuals' because we all use our brains to do 'smart' things at some point.

Originally Posted by NiteStryker

Non conformity is laughable. So many people make it their mission to go "against the grind". To be different, rebellious.

Well, so have many other people. Congrats, you just conformed to the non conformists.

Why do people care so much about trying to stand out?

You do not 'get' it. It is not trying to stand it, it is naturally standing out.

[TheMirage]

thats an excellent point aero, so in reality the true noticeable difference between the people is weather or not they try to "hide" their "intellectual moments" in an effort to conform. Which is why people who do NOT do so feel compelled to "excuse" themselves for not doing it. I think it is the greatest tragedy in human society as a whole that the mainstream to which we are supposed to conform calls for the suppression of intellect in order to be "cool".