8 Reasons Young Americans Don't Fight Back

[Cain]

Also, between this and Eartha, it seems this website is filled with cynical, middle class apologist, bomb throwing, "burn down the system" boosters for the status quo.

Which is actually much more common a politcal position than people would believe (see: Lenin).

[Doktor Howl]

Enjoy your idealism while it lasts.

And enjoy the paycheck and benefits that come with working within the system after it fades.

your fatalistic cynicism and lack of vision is noted, thanks.

my "idealism" has already affected positive change within my (very limited)
sphere of influence, and it shall far outlast the opposition, because
while i might not necessarily be too keen on setting fire to the streets i have
no qualms about setting fire to the minds and imaginations of those around me.
and yes, i have found myself the only one in the room still arguing for a purpose.
this does not worry me

and my "paycheck" is not in government issued currency, i've gone long enough
without it to know that i can, and i have a support system of family and
friends to shore me up while i carry out my little farce. the "benefits" i receive
are not dependent upon the current system. that is kind of the fucking point.
by working to change the system, i am not worried that i will be left out to dry,
for either it will change for the better or i have not yet finished trying to change it.

but again, i thank you for your support

Um.

Patchouli?

Well it obviously wasn't in educational spending......  

You can't blame him (her?).  The cutbacks mean they don't have any shift keys at his/her university.

[Dysfunctional Cunt]

Enjoy your idealism while it lasts.

And enjoy the paycheck and benefits that come with working within the system after it fades.

your fatalistic cynicism and lack of vision is noted, thanks.

my "idealism" has already affected positive change within my (very limited)
sphere of influence, and it shall far outlast the opposition, because
while i might not necessarily be too keen on setting fire to the streets i have
no qualms about setting fire to the minds and imaginations of those around me.
and yes, i have found myself the only one in the room still arguing for a purpose.
this does not worry me

and my "paycheck" is not in government issued currency, i've gone long enough
without it to know that i can, and i have a support system of family and
friends to shore me up while i carry out my little farce. the "benefits" i receive
are not dependent upon the current system. that is kind of the fucking point.
by working to change the system, i am not worried that i will be left out to dry,
for either it will change for the better or i have not yet finished trying to change it.

but again, i thank you for your support

Um.

Patchouli?

Well it obviously wasn't in educational spending......  

You can't blame him (her?).  The cutbacks mean they don't have any shift keys at his/her university.

You have no idea how many annoyances you have just explained for me.  Thank you Dok.  I can rest better this weekend.  I've been thinking it was sheer laziness and a "I can't be bothered" attitude.  Or complete stupidity.  The jury was still out.  Now I know the problem and can direct my rage accordingly 

[iarmit]

Did it ever occur to you that the institutions you are talking about are not woefully misguided or uncomprehending in the impact of their actions and choices, but actively wish for them to occur?  That they're not being slightly irrational, but are entirely rational, and you are just not seeing the advantages which accrue from such actions.

In which case, your advice will be given all the attention one gives to a buzzing insect.

...

The problem with "working in the system" is that it automatically privileges "the system", aka the status quo, the way things currently are, as a mode of organization.  Following on from that, it therefore it reasonable to assume that the only methods of "reforming" the system will be those the system actually allows.

Which is pretty useless if the system in question is a giant behemoth death-machine that sees you as a tribute-extraction being and occasional human shield.

I was trying to avoid going into specifics, but yes, I have considered that
those of the institution are aware of their actions. This is the reason I have
chosen to act in the past or chosen to not act. I do not just throw myself
into the fray willy-nilly, railing against institutions for railing's sake. But if I
think that there is something happening that is not in the best interest of
myself and others (particularly when these actions and thoughts are from
those purportedly in position to assist those they are harming), then I feel
it my Responsibility as a thinking individual to see if there can't be something
done about it.

There has been a culture of financial and procedural tom-foolery within certain
departments of my little community college (namely with the fees the students
pay that are earmarked for Student Life, and the Student Government that
nominally controls these funds). Along with a small group of like-minded students,
we have brought these concerns to light in a matter that required the college
to begin to rectify the problems in-house (because frankly, I have no real
problem with the college, just how certain people were handling certain monies).
These efforts were recognized by my state's General Treauserer and House
of Representatives (which is laughable, considering the state of Rhode Island's
finances, but it helped to serve my purposes), and by other colleges within
the US (mostly in California).

So as I had stated earlier, my idealism has been tested, and these experiences
have only improved my skills and abilities to work within the system. Luckily
for me, it was not the entirety of the system that was flawed, but only parts
of it (though I did have to force those parts to accept my attempts to use
the system as intended). But yes, to cede the point, if I find myself against
a system designed to exclude any attempts to change it I might have to
re-asses my methods... but then again, I'm only working within my small
sphere of influence.

Also, I see a lot of "be a good little cog" here.  No really.

Fuck off Or stop putting words into others mouths.

Aye, I was butt-hurt, but if their implication was not as I presented it, mea culpa.

Additionally, I did not mean to cause such irritation with my lack of proper
capitalization (and I am male, Dok, for what it is worth), but rather, much
like my silly line breaks, it is more of an affectation of my writing; one that
can be changed.

[Kai]

your fatalistic cynicism and lack of vision is noted, thanks.

If you look around on this forum you'd find I am neither fatalistic nor blind. I'm preparing for a collapse of industrial society, and I plan to live forever (or die trying). I don't get paid, just like you, but unlike you I am working within a reality based view of possibilities and necessity. And let me emphasize, I am working. I work so hard that I fall asleep on the train going home. That's not the sign of a fatalist, thats the sign of someone doing work with so much driven passion that they need have no expectations of any repayment. Because, frankly, the meaning behind documenting and curating our scientific, cultural and biological heritage is inherent.

I am a visionary, and the vision is scary. And wonderous. And terrifying. I plan for but try not to think too much about Venus, for example, lest I be paralyzed.

[Phox]

I am a visionary, and the vision is scary. And wonderous. And terrifying. I plan for but try not to think too much about Venus, for example, lest I be paralyzed.

I had a horrible image of the goddess Venus as a Lovecraftian aberration because of this post. 

[iarmit]

Enjoy your idealism while it lasts.

This was what came off as fatalistic and cynical. The assumption that I would
lose my ideals. It sounds you have not lost yours, and for this I applaud,
but I took umbrage at your assertion I would lose mine.

Beyond that, it seems I genuinely misread you, and admittedly I was not
familiar with your other works on the board when I spoke.
I'll try not to make the same mistake twice.

You might do well to try and give others the benefit of the doubt, even the noobs

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I guess your other option is to learn to play their game and realize while you will never beat them you can at least take care of you and yours.

i think it's kinda of neat that a number of people here are into ecological studies,
the reason i bring this up is: PopeTom, i believe i may have found my own way
to take their game and turn it on its ear. i'm working towards my undergrad in
Environmental Science and Management and Environmental and Natural Resource
Economics (with a minor in Soil Sciences because, fuckit, it's not like i need a social life).

and while i would be all for the youth of today (and i think i still fall into this category for
awhile longer) taking to the streets, i also know that i'm not by nature a violent person
and the burning and shit would put me off, i've found it better (for me, at least) to work
within the system (with their rules even, just to spite them) to exert influence and change.

The bitterness and burnout you are setting yourself up to experience in ten years will taste SO SWEET. 

[iarmit]

The bitterness and burnout you are setting yourself up to experience in ten years will taste SO SWEET. 

I suppose it would seem as such, but you would think different if you knew
me... I used to do volunteer tech support, you learn patience

[Cuddlefish]

In the system, out of the system... To rephrase something i've heard before:

"The system doesn't recognize discordia, because dicordia doesn't recognize the system."

Or:

There is no spoon. Use a fork.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

The bitterness and burnout you are setting yourself up to experience in ten years will taste SO SWEET. 

I suppose it would seem as such, but you would think different if you knew
me... I used to do volunteer tech support, you learn patience

Your naivete is refreshing.

[iarmit]

Thanks

[Salty]

I was awfully, horrifically certain that I could Change Things if I could just manage to make people aware of the raw power and capability of their own bodies. I boiled down any philosophy, worldview to that one point. You are in control of your body, which is where any line of action must inevitably start from. Your physical being is the beginning of every single influence you could have over the entire fucking universe. Fucking EMPOWERMENT. 

Which, while true or not*, is completely moot because the majority only care about their bodies in the most superficial ways. If that.



* It's not.

[Gordon C]

I was awfully, horrifically certain that I could Change Things if I could just manage to make people aware of the raw power and capability of their own bodies. I boiled down any philosophy, worldview to that one point. You are in control of your body, which is where any line of action must inevitably start from. Your physical being is the beginning of every single influence you could have over the entire fucking universe. Fucking EMPOWERMENT.  

Which, while true or not*, is completely moot because the majority only care about their bodies in the most superficial ways. If that.



* It's not.

One's "locus" (Latin for "place" or "location") can either be internal (meaning the person believes that they control their [body]life) or external (meaning they believe that their environment, some higher power, or other people control their decisions and their life).
Please note that I am asserting* this is absolute fact.