So apparently I have a lot to learn about "teaching the childrens" to be obedient little cogs.

[Satoz]

*snip*

To clarify his point of view. He knows that after school no matter his grades even with college the most he has to look forward to is working a 9-5 job, in an office or not doesnt matter because he gets that all he will be doing is getting up in the morning, going to some job he might even not like but has to suffer through because he needs to make a living, coming home from work, maybe go to a pub with coworkers or do some other kind of socializing, get home, go to bed and do the whole thing over agian the next day.


I cant say I blame him. I was completely demoralized when I came to this realization at his age. I believe some of his words were "No matter how my mom, or dad or other people try to spin it, the world is mundane. All i have to look forward to is getting a job I may hate or may be able to tolerate, toiling away under florescent lights just so I can collect a paycheck to buy enough material goods to make me forget how uneventful life is while I am workign away paying taxes waiting to die."

Not his exact words, but close.


Also, it never fails to amaze me when I say "anti-social" people automatically go to the emo kids or goth kids or general people with bad attitudes. He is generally like me except he doesnt really see the world being as hopeless as I do. He simply does not operate on the same level as kids in his school. While they are busy with keggers and how got nailed at what party or who got knocked up by the star quarterback he is saddled down with more worldly views and knowledge. In short, his perception has grown far to soon than it should have. He percieves things as an adult would and undersands them as an adult would.


I guess it is fair to say that he has charted his future, and even his best possible outcome has left him at most apathetic about it all. I cant really say I blame him but I did encourage him to take more of an initiative in getting better grades. I told him that in this world money buys freedom, not the kind that government is supposed to give you, but personal kind of freedom that allows you some real escape from the world if even for a little while.


Sitting here, typing this out I am probably going to go over there tomorrow and see if I can take him out sailing for a week. He loves boats and the ocean so I think steering him more towards a nautical lifestyle would do him good and give him the freedom he wants and a sense that he is in charge of his own life and not simply at the whims of society.

I understand the "in thing" now is to allow this kind of behavior to run crazy without question, because it certainly does seem appealing. However ive heard the same "oh ill end up at a dead end job etc" too many times to actually think its an original thought. Also I think its wrong to generalize the "social kids" who can only be heavy drinkers who have sex all the time and have to be "star quarterbacks". The issue here is that it seems you are only defending his side, and truly think the other options have to involve brain washing and stupidity. Believe me I understand how you feel, or more how the kid feels, im only 18. When I was in 8th-9th grade I had that feeling too, that life was just a huge annoying loop, of wasting time going to study, to eventually learn what I wanted, to land a job where I would do the same junk over and over etc. I thought that everything was terrible because everyone always said it was, government was always criticized, and I wasnt happy. Your life doesnt need to be this cycle if you make good decisions now though, you will end up with that repetitive lifestyle if you let yourself, he could aim to be a cop (that has variety and excitement) he could do community works in different countries, or take exciting vacations. Life can take you in many directions, and yeah there are some repetitive things, but if you are making money you can save up for exciting ones aside from going to the pub.

You cant call the world mundane, its not always a constant bore if you choose something with excitement, you could go bungee jumping, hang gliding, go into space, go through battles, create, destroy, explore whats out there. Im sure lots of people in the past thought the world was mundane too, but there are always people who enjoy their lives, who explore and see what our lives have to offer. Im not saying you can just rocket off into space, but you can get there, you could realistically go hang gliding, you can realistically travel and work, you can take vacations and make them count. If he takes this path, and just lets his grades slip he will shut a lot of doors. Unfortunately most people dont judge whether you get a job by how you are, but more on the numbers on a sheet of paper.

I dont think I called him emo or goth, but I do think he has a bad attitude, because I had that before too. You can tell me im wrong, im too positive, but life does have a ton to offer, and none of it is really "lame" if you enjoy it. I mean there are tons of trips and stuff you can do with friends etc like a long hiking trip to enjoy nature. I mean I think ive already listed quite a few things, but life isnt this huge bore. Sure you have to earn money, but you can get a job you like...

I understand the need for personal freedom, but society doesnt bunker you down, society doesnt stop stars from becoming stars (they just have to like you) society cant do anything about you following your dream (as long as it isnt to kill a bunch of people) society only has so much power, people still make breakthroughs, people can still stay under the radar, and people can still go above the norm. Society is too general to really take your personal freedom away, unless what you are doing infringes on someone elses freedom.

Basically he is only looking at one example of a life, that he doesnt like, sees as negative and can see himself in. Thats the problem, if he thinks he will end up there, then its much easier to get there. You should try and encourage him to push past this barrier he is making and really find something to enjoy out there.

Also come on hes 16, he doesn't know a lot about life, because there is still alot to experience, im only 18 and I know its foolish to think that I really "understand" everything out there, sure I have basic concepts, but experiencing them is different. Im just about to go to college, and personally I cant wait for all the exciting clubs, classes and paths that can branch out of it. Life is only a bore if you let it be.

sorry for the hyper long post, its just I really dont think the right path is to enforce these thoughts, sure life can suck, but also tell him there is a good side and you can always find it. The trouble is there is so much of a negative feel to everything in news/media/online that you can find that these views are easy to make and also easy to break, hopefully all goes well. Im not saying to try and strip him of his values and of who he is, but dont let him limit his view either

 

[Kollega]

Everyone who has a working brain (that is,most of the humans) must think freely and must NOT put up with all the bullshit in the world! Being obidient part of a system is a sure-fire way to get caught up in a brutal,authoritarian dictatorship. Even if someone is going to be part of some system,he must be able to critisize it,so the system can improve itself.

 

[ZSF]

The Society which surrounds us is clogged with conservacy pulling everything and everybody to itself, while it sinks slowly in the quicksands of time. However doggedly some refuse to believe it, it is obvious that we live in a sick society. The so called reforms which our governments so adeptly use to boast, are nothing else but a little step forward, when a whole jump can be done. People fear the new and unknown. They prefer the old, the known and checked truths. They are afraid of what the new can bring to them. They are afraid that they can lose what they have. Their fear is so strong that it has proclaimed the revolutionary a foe and the free idea--its weapon. That's their fault. People must leave this fear behind and go ahead. What's the sense to stick to the little you have now when you can have more tomorrow. Everything they must do is stretch their hands and feel for the new; give freedom to thoughts, ideas, to words: For centuries each generation has been brought up in the same pattern. Ideals are what everybody follows. Individuality is forgotten. People think in the same way, following the cliche drilled in them in childhood, the cliche--education for all children: And, when someone dares defy authority, he is punished and given as a bad example. "Here is what happens to you when you express your own opinion and deny your teacher's." Our society is sick.