It turns out that advertising really can change your life. Even if unintentionally.
Here's this fat, middle-aged, depressing, jerkoff of a man dancing around as if he just won the lottery. His arms are in the air, his tight pants protesting the sudden onslaught of activity. Surely something wonderful has happened to this man. No man with any semblance of dignity would parade himself in this manner for any reason less than waking up to find that his cock had grown 6 inches overnight.
His reasons weren't that significant.
It turns out buddy found himself a way to save a quarter of a percent on his interest rate. Yeah, congrats.
That's when it hit me - one day I will be that guy. I will be middle-aged, pathetic, and depressed to the point that saving a couple bucks on my mortgage payment becomes the most exciting thing that could possibly happen to me.
So I've made up my mind to do everything in my power to not become that guy.
But it's an easy trap to fall into. I'm 24 years old and I look around and it's already happening to my friends. Step one - Obtain secure employment. Step two - Purchase shitty little starter home. Step three - Coerce interested female to share habitat. Step four - Acquire necessary toys for the burgeoning couple: ATV, patio furniture, holiday trailer, a dog. Step five - Produce offspring, sell aforementioned toys. Step six - Go on the internet doing a dipshit dance for low interest rates. It's an easy trap because you're just following the motions. You're doing what you're expected to do in the precise, logical order.
I couldn't imagine anything more depressing.
But I can see that without effort to the contrary, I too would end up just like that. I have a great job, I was content to spend my evenings drinking beer on the couch, and I was already starting to collect the necessary instruments of suburban comfort (fancy sports car, the latest gizmos, a cat...). To think that I was doing things that I enjoyed in order to expediate my journey towards a life I don't want.
So I made changes. I started selling off my stuff and even started my own company on top of my normal eight-to-five. My days now consist of working all day at the office, only to go home and work all night on my own stuff. Sucks, but I have to sacrifice now in order to create the freedom I need to avoid the beaten path. Speaking of sacrifice, I stopped drinking too. Anyone who knows me will realize the significance of such a thing. Uh oh, Steve must be pretty serious about this.
So I'm trying to define the line between what's a blog topic and what's a General Forum topic. This is what I've come up with:
1) Something pointless but can spark some kind of conversation or needs feedback should be in the General Forum
2) Something pointless but I just feel like talking about it regardless of whether or not it gets feedback or warrants discussion - blog. More the type of stuff I'd just talk to myself about without feeling the need to share. Hmmm.
I dunno. It makes sense in my head but the words escape me.
Are you just not going the "beaten path" because you really don't want to or simply because it's the beaten path? The only thing it seems like that is changing is if you're self-company is successful you'll make more money and not have to worry so much about interest rates. The only thing that seems to have changed is, if you're successful, you're making more money...
What's so bad about liking to save money? It's just a damn commercial so obviously it's exaggerated.
edit: There are plenty of things more depressing, how about you have cancer?
On June 27 2007 21:18 ManaBlue wrote: This is the best thing I've read all day. More blogs should be like this. I might actually start reading these things.
On June 27 2007 21:54 boghat wrote: Are you just not going the "beaten path" because you really don't want to or simply because it's the beaten path? The only thing it seems like that is changing is if you're self-company is successful you'll make more money and not have to worry so much about interest rates. The only thing that seems to have changed is, if you're successful, you're making more money...
What's so bad about liking to save money? It's just a damn commercial so obviously it's exaggerated.
edit: There are plenty of things more depressing, how about you have cancer?
There's a lot more to it than that.
Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with people doing what they do - but I know the process would murder what's left of my bruised inner child. It's just not for me.
And it's not about money. I don't worry about money at all as it is - like I said, I've got a great job. But what I'm after is personal freedom. If my little start-up is successful (it'll take years), then I get complete freedom in the work I do and when I do it, plus I can do it from any location in the world - no more being tied down to a specific location because that's where my office happens to be.
Obviously I don't expect people who know me over the internet to know me all that well, but when I explain my plans to people close to me in real life, they understand that it's really the only logical choice for me.
Yeah, cancer would suck, but it's a different set of problems, isn't it? What makes falling into a miserable life depressing is that it was my own consciouse choices (or lack thereof) that got me there. It's my fault. I'm to blame. I did nothing to prevent it. If I get cancer, well shit, not much I could've done about that. I'm a person who tends to focus on the process as opposed to the outcome. If I crash my car in the winter I won't be nearly as angry about my wrecked car than I am about my dumb decision to drive it on icy roads when it wasn't necessary. Does this make sense? I don't see the point of dwelling on things we can't control =p
Ya man..i hear ya But don't worry...that sorta thing probably happens a lot more to people who don't see it comming. So...so far so good. And honestly I think cancer is a better way to go than that guy. At least then you can die with dignity knowing god hates you...kidding. If I offended any people who have been effected by cancer I am mildly sorry, but really thinking that you should learn to laugh at your pain because then it doesnt hurt as much And makes you look tough..which is nice.
By the way flaccid you're going about the this the wrong way. If you REALLY wanna avoid being a fatass 40 year old...start smoking ton's of meth now. That way you should be a rediculously skinny dead person long before your big 4-0.
Best of luck in all that you do. I hope that your new business turns out to be successful and gives you the freedom you are seeking.
However, and I'm sure you know this, just be careful. Don't become so wrapped up in seeking your freedom that you lose all the time that you are looking for in the first place. It sounds like you got your head on pretty straight though, so it really shouldn't be a problem.
Regardless though I wouldn't really say that life is depressing. I probably have the ability to go on to grad school and complete my doctorate and possibly do good things for my field, but I know that life of getting excited of mortgage rates sounds exciting to me. Being married and having 2 1/2 kids a dog and a cat sounds like the perfect life. Each to their own I suppose.
Its a good thing self-worth is measured on an individual basis. Anyway, enough ramblling . . . Best of luck again and keep us informed on how its going
On June 27 2007 21:36 Flaccid wrote: So I'm trying to define the line between what's a blog topic and what's a General Forum topic. This is what I've come up with:
1) Something pointless but can spark some kind of conversation or needs feedback should be in the General Forum
2) Something pointless but I just feel like talking about it regardless of whether or not it gets feedback or warrants discussion - blog. More the type of stuff I'd just talk to myself about without feeling the need to share. Hmmm.
I dunno. It makes sense in my head but the words escape me.
Post more in the general forum. Your stuff is funny/insightful usually and there's usually so much random garbage in the blogs (spare a few) that I don't bother checking much
EPT
But don't worry...that sorta thing probably happens a lot more to people who don't see it comming. So...so far so good. And honestly I think cancer is a better way to go than that guy. At least then you can die with dignity knowing god hates you...kidding. If I offended any people who have been effected by cancer I am mildly sorry, but really thinking that you should learn to laugh at your pain because then it doesnt hurt as much
