Is the World worth it?

[Neopeius]

For example a guy who's in the second year of my education gave me the advice "if you want to succeed you have to be an asshole" I just wanted to say "Fuck you, I'm not going to be an asshole! I can make it without stepping on people!" But sadly he does talk about the reality we live in, not the one we should live in.

I succeed in this world almost exclusively on being a really nice guy. I'm a journalist, and I've noticed people confide in me a lot more than the other local shlubs.

I'm on the verge of accepting that I'll be unsuccessful and alone for the rest of life just because people are so damned shallow and can't see past the surface, can't judge a person on what they actually do. I don't want to do that, but damn it, it's not that damned easy always.

Don't give up, man. You're an awesome guy. Besides, Commander McCarty had resigned himself to the same fate--and then he met a girl on the plane back home and they're dating.

Keep your eyes open and keep the faith.

 

[Emher]

I used to be an uncurable romantic. Now I'm almost entirely a cynic.

And I can relate to THAT.

I used to be cynical, but now I scoff at that suggestion.

And once again ZR makes us all a bit more confused.

For example a guy who's in the second year of my education gave me the advice "if you want to succeed you have to be an asshole" I just wanted to say "Fuck you, I'm not going to be an asshole! I can make it without stepping on people!" But sadly he does talk about the reality we live in, not the one we should live in.

I succeed in this world almost exclusively on being a really nice guy. I'm a journalist, and I've noticed people confide in me a lot more than the other local shlubs.

Perhaps it's just simply so that people are more rude up here in the cold. Also I think it has a bit to do with the fact that I'm educating myself for a business that which in Sweden doesn't have much money in it actually (movie businness) and thus an asshole attitude is easier since assholes are more visible.

It's good to hear it's worked for you to be a nice guy, I really do hope I can be that and succeed, but it's definetly not easy.

I'm on the verge of accepting that I'll be unsuccessful and alone for the rest of life just because people are so damned shallow and can't see past the surface, can't judge a person on what they actually do. I don't want to do that, but damn it, it's not that damned easy always.

Don't give up, man. You're an awesome guy. Besides, Commander McCarty had resigned himself to the same fate--and then he met a girl on the plane back home and they're dating.

Keep your eyes open and keep the faith.

I just feel that I have this big sign on me that says "Hey look at the sad, alone, fat geek!" Naturally I know there's no such thing and it's only how I act that can be seen by others. But I still have huge problems as how to act around others, I still think somewhere in the back of my mind that people are out to get me somehow. Which is of course silly, everyone can't hate me.

What it comes down to is my self esteem issues, and I need to fix those myself. It's just not very easy when it seems nothing is going my way.

 

[RJDiogenes]

For example a guy who's in the second year of my education gave me the advice "if you want to succeed you have to be an asshole" I just wanted to say "Fuck you, I'm not going to be an asshole! I can make it without stepping on people!" But sadly he does talk about the reality we live in, not the one we should live in.

In my last job, where I was a manager, I was told by administration, "Once you reach management, you can no longer be a friend to the rank and file." That was shortly before I left. And, yes, my leaving made a difference-- it inspired some people to do right and brought hardship on the people who were doing wrong-- it may be a small difference in a world of six billions, but small differences can add up to a big difference.

"You want to know the secret of the world? It's this: Save it, and it'll repay you, every second of every day."
- Warren Ellis, Planetary

I love that book. The reason I started buying it way back when is because I peeked at the last page of the first issue, where two characters had an exchange that went something like this:

"It's a strange world."

"Let's keep it that way."

I couldn't pass that up.

 

[opali]

In other words, God made the world; it is beautiful and man ruined it with sin. A twisted way of thinking that I am so glad I have broken free of. I see beauty in mankind. Society is a beautiful place. Humans are as capable of beauty as they are of monstrosity. These two are always pulling against each other and always have been. It is the striving for the better that moves us forward continually.

I mostly just think people are douchebags.

Well, you're not. That's 'One.' You are a fantastic uncle and have a big heart. Plus you have a cool scar on your hand from where you accidentally stabbed yourself.

 

[Neopeius]

And I can relate to THAT.

I used to be cynical, but now I scoff at that suggestion.

And once again ZR makes us all a bit more confused.

Perhaps it's just simply so that people are more rude up here in the cold. Also I think it has a bit to do with the fact that I'm educating myself for a business that which in Sweden doesn't have much money in it actually (movie businness) and thus an asshole attitude is easier since assholes are more visible.

It's good to hear it's worked for you to be a nice guy, I really do hope I can be that and succeed, but it's definetly not easy.

I'm on the verge of accepting that I'll be unsuccessful and alone for the rest of life just because people are so damned shallow and can't see past the surface, can't judge a person on what they actually do. I don't want to do that, but damn it, it's not that damned easy always.

Don't give up, man. You're an awesome guy. Besides, Commander McCarty had resigned himself to the same fate--and then he met a girl on the plane back home and they're dating.

Keep your eyes open and keep the faith.

I just feel that I have this big sign on me that says "Hey look at the sad, alone, fat geek!" Naturally I know there's no such thing and it's only how I act that can be seen by others. But I still have huge problems as how to act around others, I still think somewhere in the back of my mind that people are out to get me somehow. Which is of course silly, everyone can't hate me.

What it comes down to is my self esteem issues, and I need to fix those myself. It's just not very easy when it seems nothing is going my way.

Well, fat you can always fix. My wife is prone to fat, and even I have wrestled with a pot belly and shapelessness You just have to decide if the work involved in making yourself less fat is worth the rewards.

I think so. I now work out 3 times a week and can't imagine not doing it. I'm able to do so much more. It makes you more confident. If you need tips, let me know.

 

[Emher]

I know. And it's not that I don't want to, it's these damn recurring colds and the fact that when I have been healthy I don't have to time to excersise. Spring is hopefully going to be a bit easier on me timewise, and in any case I don't think I'll go on the the optional second year of this education because I think I've learned what I need to, and really just want to start working.

And I do actually do know what to do to get in shape, my sis helped me with a training regime last spring and I followed that rigorously up until I started getting sick in october. I'm okay now so unless I wake up tommorow feeling total carp i'll tyr and squeeze in some training before school and the bi-monthly beard trim.

 

[Ben Sisko3]

I love that book. The reason I started buying it way back when is because I peeked at the last page of the first issue, where two characters had an exchange that went something like this:

"It's a strange world."

"Let's keep it that way."

I couldn't pass that up.

And I'm still waiting for that last issue. Hurry up, Cassaday!

 

[RJDiogenes]

Tell me about it. This has gone on the list with The Last Dangerous Visions and the final act of Exeter.

 

[Corwwyn]

The physical planet, I'm good with.

It's all the human beings on it that make it not worth saving. People are greedy, self-serving, jerks for the most part. These day's you are considered virtuous if you haven't killed someone. That is how low the threshold for 'goodness' has been lowered. Certainly, stealing, cheating, robbing and looting are okay...as long as they are done by guys in suits rather than kids with the wrong color skin and dreadlocks.

And certainly, taking unfair advantage of others is okay...as long as you are wealthy and your victims are poor or otherwise disenfranchised.

Yeah....the rich and white have managed to rationalize themselves into sainthood, despite their exploitation of...well...pretty much everyone else.

Just ask any of those Enron guys.

Which one, Jeffrey Skilling or Kenneth Lay? Skilling's probably not leaving prison for a quarter century yet, and Lay died before being sentenced to some 45 years behind-bars time. Perhaps one of the chief executive underlings or lesser-lights? (All were found guilty.) Maybe Kenneth Rice (he got off on a token term of 27 months for testifying against Skilling and Lay).

Enron's really not a good example, but that doesn't invalidate your point.

 

[RoJoHen]

In other words, God made the world; it is beautiful and man ruined it with sin. A twisted way of thinking that I am so glad I have broken free of. I see beauty in mankind. Society is a beautiful place. Humans are as capable of beauty as they are of monstrosity. These two are always pulling against each other and always have been. It is the striving for the better that moves us forward continually.

I mostly just think people are douchebags.

Well, you're not. That's 'One.' You are a fantastic uncle and have a big heart. Plus you have a cool scar on your hand from where you accidentally stabbed yourself.

Well, there's my year in a nutshell. On to the next!

 

[Ben Sisko3]

Tell me about it. This has gone on the list with The Last Dangerous Visions and the final act of Exeter.

At least Chinese Democracy came out, right?

 

[RJDiogenes]

Yeah, so my brother is happy, anyway.

 

[Danoz]

I couldn't care less if 99% of the world got wiped out tomorrow.

Infact i'm a firm believer that our civilisation needs a fresh start. I pray for the day we are hit with an Asteroid and the worlds population falls to about a thousand people.

You and Mr. Scrooge appear to view the world through similar lenses

As somebody who works for a global public health center, I find your desire to see humanity completely wiped out both tragic and deserving of pity; I imagine you've either been seriously wronged or you have never experienced or understood the benevolent and redeeming aspects of humanity. It also tells me that you likely care very little when AIDS destroys countless communities and disease and natural disasters kill thousands.

Perhaps it is out of arrogance that I am both humbled by the power of the universe but also believe that human consciousness has value, and that all life should be protected.

Forgive me if I have a lingering respect for life.

 

[The Borg Queen]

As somebody who works for a global public health center, I find your desire to see humanity completely wiped out both tragic and deserving of pity; I imagine you've either been seriously wronged or you have never experienced or understood the benevolent and redeeming aspects of humanity. It also tells me that you likely care very little when AIDS destroys countless communities and disease and natural disasters kill thousands.

No, I care that the only reason the pharmaceutical companies are looking for a cure for AIDS is because it'll make them instant multi-millionaires and they'll get back thousands of times their initial investment on their researching funds.

Also, why sell a cure when you can sell a dozen palliatives?

This is the kind of behaviour society has demonstrated time and time again. Only the terminally naive would believe otherwise.

 

[Nardpuncher]

As somebody who works for a global public health center, I find your desire to see humanity completely wiped out both tragic and deserving of pity; I imagine you've either been seriously wronged or you have never experienced or understood the benevolent and redeeming aspects of humanity. It also tells me that you likely care very little when AIDS destroys countless communities and disease and natural disasters kill thousands.

No, I care that the only reason the pharmaceutical companies are looking for a cure for AIDS is because it'll make them instant multi-millionaires and they'll get back thousands of times their initial investment on their researching funds.

Also, why sell a cure when you can sell a dozen palliatives?

This is the kind of behaviour society has demonstrated time and time again. Only the terminally naive would believe otherwise.

I think you may be a little paranoid. The idea that drug companies don't want to find cures because they can only sell the cure once is a conspiracy.

Nardpuncher, terminally naive.

 

[Danoz]

As somebody who works for a global public health center, I find your desire to see humanity completely wiped out both tragic and deserving of pity; I imagine you've either been seriously wronged or you have never experienced or understood the benevolent and redeeming aspects of humanity. It also tells me that you likely care very little when AIDS destroys countless communities and disease and natural disasters kill thousands.

No, I care that the only reason the pharmaceutical companies are looking for a cure for AIDS is because it'll make them instant multi-millionaires and they'll get back thousands of times their initial investment on their researching funds.

Also, why sell a cure when you can sell a dozen palliatives?

This is the kind of behaviour society has demonstrated time and time again. Only the terminally naive would believe otherwise.

What your post doesn't explain is why you feel the corruption of a select few would warrant the destruction of humanity of Caprican proportions. Your logic doesn't follow through. The fact that you wouldn't care if humanity was vastly thinned out at the cost of millions of lives would mean you shouldn't care about death or destruction on smaller scales. Why should you? We're decreasing the surplus population.

 

[Nardpuncher]

As somebody who works for a global public health center, I find your desire to see humanity completely wiped out both tragic and deserving of pity; I imagine you've either been seriously wronged or you have never experienced or understood the benevolent and redeeming aspects of humanity. It also tells me that you likely care very little when AIDS destroys countless communities and disease and natural disasters kill thousands.

No, I care that the only reason the pharmaceutical companies are looking for a cure for AIDS is because it'll make them instant multi-millionaires and they'll get back thousands of times their initial investment on their researching funds.

Also, why sell a cure when you can sell a dozen palliatives?

This is the kind of behaviour society has demonstrated time and time again. Only the terminally naive would believe otherwise.

What your post doesn't explain is why you feel the corruption of a select few would warrant the destruction of humanity of Caprican proportions. Your logic doesn't follow through. The fact that you wouldn't care if humanity was vastly thinned out at the cost of millions of lives would mean you shouldn't care about death or destruction on smaller scales. Why should you? We're decreasing the surplus population.

I brought this up a couple of pages ago...The Borg Queen's ire seems to be the kind that gets stirred up by a broken heart.

 

[Trekker4747]

The world is where I live.

The world is where my children will live.

The world is where my grandchildren will live.

It is worth it.

 

[Nardpuncher]

The world is where I live.

The world is where my children will live.

The world is where my grandchildren will live.

It is worth it.

Wow...it looks like the brilliance of your post (no sarcasm, it was quite succinct) killed that thread. Well done!

 

[The Borg Queen]

Unfortunately most people in power only care about the profit they can make within their own lifetimes, future generations be damned.