There's a few things about the world that are bugging to me...

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Well, I've had a very powerful bowl of hash after 2 weeks abstinence, and some other things going, and I thought I'd get these off my chest. :stoned:

- First of all, why don't we ever see wild vegetables? I mean think about it; you never go walking around in the wild, and suddenly "hey! There's a patch of carrots/potatoes/beans/peas/radishes/beats/etc" Conspiracies are afoot people. :wtf:

- Secondly, is it just me or is the world getting stupider? Or has it always been this stupid? It frustrates me to no end. Most people don't even want to analyze the logic of various claims, they just get easily impressed and instantly believing by phrases like "studies show". Never mind looking at the methodology, the criteria, the logic of the analysis; instead some article will say "studies show a link between marijuana and violence", or something like that, and they think "Well, it's been scientifically proven!"
And that's another one I hate, people saying things have been "scientifically proven". They so harshly lack any understanding of the scientific method that they think once a "study shows", that means it's been "scientifically proven"; which is infallable, of course.

Furthermore, another jewel of human idiocy is the way people choose a side (politics, religion, whatever), and just interpret everything to coincide with that presupposition. Or even worse, they only listen to/consider arguments that support what they've already decided. It's like "I've chosen what I believe, and I'm going to fight to make sure nobody changes that!" You can't claim your decision is a logical one if you're not willing to change that belief in the face of new and better evidence.

It's like when President Ahmadinejad (Iran) came to Columbia University, and everybody was just outraged that they would let him speak and debate his side. If you're so certain of all your beliefs regarding the guy, then you have nothing to fear by engaging him in logical debate. Nobody has ever been able to explain to me what terrible consequence will happen by letting people hear him, despite my asking for said explanation. But the "don't let him/her speak!" mentallity is everywhere, and I think it's because deep down people don't want anything to threaten their presuppositions.
Just look at how many people pick a political party to hate, one to support, and then their's never, or almost never, does anything wrong, while the opposition is always wrong, of course. They always have criticisms galor for the other sides; the other religion, philosophies, parties, liberals, conservatives, but never or seldom a one for their own; as if a perfect (or even near-perfect) entity actually exists.


- Chronic pain sufferers are not treated as well, by the medical system or just people, as you might think. Stigmas abound, completely contrived and uninformed in their nature. I've done my research, and we (folk in harsh chronic pain) all face the same roadblocks and predudices. That being:

1. Friends (which I'm now almost out of) and people in general think that after years of it every day, you should just be getting used to it by now. BULLSHIT. If anything it just wears you down and wrecks your mental condition the longer it lasts. It makes you way more resistant to acute pain, like stubbing your toe, but the persistant, deep down pain, just sucks you for all you're worth. So please, don't think that about people living with it!

2. Every doctor visit (and there are many), you have to contend with this prevalent attitude that you're just trying to score painkillers to get high. Roughly 80% of doctors have this attitude.

3. Even worse with the doctors, many of them have an attitude that you should just learn to deal with it; I get it all the time. They don't understand at all that intense pain for years is a much harder thing to have than the same intense pain for a matter of minutes or hours. When they picture how you feel with the pain, they picture how they would feel with the pain right now, at this moment - not after years of it beating you down.

4. People who see you take painkillers (even tylenol or whatever) think you're just casually popping one out of shere laziness, like you could deal with it and it's not that bad, but you just can't be bothered.

and 5. This one possibly irks me the most. When somebody asks me to help with something or go somewhere, I say I'm in too much pain, and they act like I'm just using it as a canned excuse to get out of doing something I don't feel like.


Anywhoo, we've got an ignorance pandemic on this planet!


- Is it really such an outrageous notion that we stop pumping all our food with monosodium glutamate and corn syrup? We could incure massive health care savings just by phasing these two things out; but ohhhh no, gotta keep feeding the North American obesity addiction.

- No presidential contender with a chance of winning; not Obama, Hillary, Edwards, McCain, Romney, or the rest, have even talked about putting the Federal Reserve back fully into government/public hands, and out of corporate ownership. That's just a disgrace, and grossly economically irresponsible. It should at least be discussed and brought fully to public attention.

- You know why we have such an epidemic of depression and anxiety? Because we live in a hedonistic, selfish, consumer-driven, instant-gratification society where we try to buy our hapiness, smother it in useless crap and food, and judge each other through narrow views of acceptability. This is an unhealthy society, and it's only gonna get worse.

- People's understanding of spelling, grammar, and punctuation these days is just atrotious. Just read the comments on youtube, you can barely understand what these nitwits are trying to write. And they just keep getting dummer...

- On that note, I have no friends spare one that lives very far away. Know why? Because all anybody wants to talk about is mindless dribble, chit-chat about nothing - just whats goin' on today, who's doing what social thing with who, and that wretched media media culture that gets everybody obsessed with mindless dribble like American Idle and what celebrity's cheating on who. And so here I remain alone still, because I can't find anybody who doesn't give me a blank look and slink away as soon as I say something that might present the threat of having to work a neuron or two.
I don't even try hot-button topics like politics or religion either, they really do just hate having to work their brains at all. I blame television, all the crap in our food, and a growing society where people think there's nothing wrong with the government mandating personal morality. Well, partially anyway.



And then they wonder why, in a world like this, we want to get high. These "high on life" people are actually content with this screwed-up world, blissfully unaware of the real reasons why we have all these problems.


Yep, I'm thoroughly dissolutioned with life at this point; quite miserable with it in fact. Nothing ever works out, no hope for humanity, and good things happening are just those rare little moments that give you a quick breath before holding your head under water again. "Life is suffering": Buddha was right.

Gandalf_The_Grey Reviewed by Gandalf_The_Grey on 07-08-2008. There's a few things about the world that are bugging to me... Well, I've had a very powerful bowl of hash after 2 weeks abstinence, and some other things going, and I thought I'd get these off my chest. :stoned: - First of all, why don't we ever see wild vegetables? I mean think about it; you never go walking around in the wild, and suddenly "hey! There's a patch of carrots/potatoes/beans/peas/radishes/beats/etc" Conspiracies are afoot people. :wtf: - Secondly, is it just me or is the world getting stupider? Or has it always been this stupid? It Rating: 5

[smartin.2006]

:thumbsup: Well said Gandalf!

[Greenthing]

Thanks for those words of wisdom Gandalf :thumbsup:

[Peruvian Devil]

Congratulations! you have reach a level of consciousness achieved by few, you see thru most of the bullshit that blinds the people. There is a purpose to everything that is happening, now your job is to find out what this purpose is, and who is behind it. Free your mind and the rest will follow

[FreshNugz]

While I agree with several of your points, there is a little too much of a condescending nature in your rant. Basically, you're calling everyone stupid, and you think of yourself as a rare found intelligent know-it-all. That smacks of arrogance. I'm sorry but it does. Although I agree you seem to be of a higher standard of both intelligence and relevance, and you are of course in a minority, pointing it out does nothing but hurt others, and give you a temporary pick-me-up.

I agree with everything you said about chronic pain sufferers. Not a thing disagreeable there.
But the part where you speak of an 'ignorance pandemic' gets a little more interesting.
You preach that society is plagued by a narrow view of acceptability, yet you rant about some typos/incoherence on a youtube comment forum???? WHY DOES IT MATTER?????
You made several of your own errors in grammar and spelling while calling out those people...somewhat of a hypocritical statement, no? It would seem that you have your own small errors, and should stop commenting on others' faults while so clearly exposing your own.


I know I'm going to be flamed for this, but you know, I read your post and couldn't help but feel a bit offended.:wtf:

Try to see the good in people before the negative. I know you must be having a hard time seeing the good in many things, but if you try it might induce a bit more happiness for you.
There are millions of intelligent people on earth. You can't blame having no friends on the stupidity of everyone around you. There are smart ones around you I'm sure, just find them.

[jimmy8778]

dude, i completely agree, though i dont know much about the chronic pain part, i believe you of course though, i just dont have any experience in such fields, but believe that doctors are assholes and believe you are just trying to score a high.

[Born To Stone]

And they just keep getting dummer...

hehe forgot the b matey

All these things that are annoying are the not the only things in the world. Even though it seems like these issues might be forced into your mind, try and focus on the positive a little more. I see a lot of dumb and/or cruel behaviour in the world but I see an equal amount of kind and/or smart behaviour e.g. a person holding a door open for you, someone you hardly know who is being genuinely nice, ongoing developments in science and technology.

This is an unhealthy society, and it's only gonna get worse

Or it won't? Is it me or does everyone always believe the future looks bleak?

Ps. Your rant about science is a pet peeve of mine, especially journalists masquerading as scientists using vague statistics to try and prove a point "this graph may suggest". I suppose though, the people who take this information as fact do not matter because they won't be the people actually influencing science.

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Hey hey everybody. First and foremost, apologies for sounding like a complete condescending asshole. That wasn't my intention, but I'm sure it sounded like that. Really I was just completely wrecked last night, having something akin to a bad trip, and feeling extremely frustrated and angry.


Anywhoo, great replies all (I expected all-negative reactions actualy), and I especially like FreshNugz' post which I'll reply to right off the bat.

While I agree with several of your points, there is a little too much of a condescending nature in your rant. Basically, you're calling everyone stupid, and you think of yourself as a rare found intelligent know-it-all. That smacks of arrogance. I'm sorry but it does. Although I agree you seem to be of a higher standard of both intelligence and relevance, and you are of course in a minority, pointing it out does nothing but hurt others, and give you a temporary pick-me-up.

Actually I hardly think of myself as some rare, mega-intellectual guru. Were that the case, I would actually have my life together, and I really don't. To this point I've been a real failure if anything, but I'm working on changing that (going back to college this September, for one). As I said above, twas all a result of pure (stoned) frustration and generally hating my life.

You preach that society is plagued by a narrow view of acceptability, yet you rant about some typos/incoherence on a youtube comment forum???? WHY DOES IT MATTER?????

I just feel it's frustrating, and a bleak indicator of where humanity is right now, that so many internet-goer's write so rediculously incorherently, and often offensively. I'm sure you know what I mean my good fellow; not just in poor articulation, but the pure sub-standard intelligence that so many seem to take pride in. Youtube, I feel, is a prime example; when somebody makes an argument, or expresses themselves somehow, and 75% of the replies are somewhere around "fuk yu faggot I screwed your mom last nite and yur an idiot and dont know shit abotu anything!!!111" I just wish people would take value in their mind, because most of us do have a LOT more potential and ability to articulate ourselves, but so many refuse to use it.

You made several of your own errors in grammar and spelling while calling out those people...somewhat of a hypocritical statement, no?

Actually, no. But to clarify (which is badly needed), I wouldn't expect anybody (myself included) to write completely free of typo's. Even my favorite authors, internationally renowned for the literary prowess, make mistakes here and there. I'm just referring to this swarm of folk that write so incoherently, putting NO effort into their writing, that you can barely even make out what they're trying to say.

Of corse than theres me, and I NEVRE make riting mistakse!

I know I'm going to be flamed for this, but you know, I read your post and couldn't help but feel a bit offended.

You suck!

No, just kidding, no flames here. You're very good at articulating your thoughts FreshNugz, and I appreciate that greatly. You have good reason to be a bit offended, seeing as my rant was a pretty anger-fueled one.

There are millions of intelligent people on earth. You can't blame having no friends on the stupidity of everyone around you. There are smart ones around you I'm sure, just find them.

I know there are a lot of intelligent people in the world, many smarter than me, the stupidity that permeates society just has a way of overrunning ones perception at times. My prolonged isolation is definately self-imposed in large part, and those I meet aren't necessarily idiots perse. It's just that when I got talking with students in my classes, they always wanted to talk about stupid things like celebrities and what happened at parties. These same people are the ones I initially talked with because they showed a glint of intelligence; it just seems most don't have much desire to make use of it.

dude, i completely agree, though i dont know much about the chronic pain part, i believe you of course though, i just dont have any experience in such fields, but believe that doctors are assholes and believe you are just trying to score a high.

Thanks for the reply Jimmy. :thumbsup: Doctors aren't generally assholes (though I've met a couple), but many do seem to have this preconcieved notion that no 23 year old could actually be in that much pain, and therefor I must be faking or exagerating it. There are two in town that I seldom get to see though, and both are brilliant men that I wish would have an oppening to take me.

All these things that are annoying are the not the only things in the world. Even though it seems like these issues might be forced into your mind, try and focus on the positive a little more. I see a lot of dumb and/or cruel behaviour in the world but I see an equal amount of kind and/or smart behaviour e.g. a person holding a door open for you, someone you hardly know who is being genuinely nice, ongoing developments in science and technology.

You're qute right BTS, though I don't know if there's an equal amount of good vs bad in the world. I guess it gets hard to see the good when everything seem to keep falling through for me, everything good always ending up as a set up for disappointment. I guess pain and isolation are all I experience any more, and it muddles the rest. I agree though, I badly need to work and seeing and finding the good. But as far as actually figuring out how to reach a fulfilling life, I'm fresh out of ideas.

I do make an effort to be nice to people though; holding doors open, offering support, always being nice to service people and making their job as easy as possible. etc. I truly believe Ghandi's old saying "be the change you want to see in the world". This attitude has generally made people take a real liking to me at first, but they NEVER want to take it to any level of friendship, and women certainly never have any interest in me (I've never even been kissed, how sad is that? doesn't help being ugly as I am). It makes my perception kind of bleak, knowing I'll be alone forever, but I think I'm learning to accept that and stop fighting it.

Oh, and for the love of Buddha, please nobody tell me to watch The Secret! lol

Or it won't? Is it me or does everyone always believe the future looks bleak?

Very true, I've noticed this myself. I'm sure during the 1940's and 50's, after seeing the Great Depression, WW1, WW2, a massive deadly flue pandemic, Korean War, and the Cold War, everybody thought the world was going to hell in a handbasket too. But I'd actually say things have improved in many respects since then. I guess there's a pessimist inside me that needs a good beat-down.

Your rant about science is a pet peeve of mine, especially journalists masquerading as scientists using vague statistics to try and prove a point "this graph may suggest". I suppose though, the people who take this information as fact do not matter because they won't be the people actually influencing science.

True, but the problem isn't their influence on science, it's on public perception.




Well... seeing as I've been more and more depressed and kind of suicidal over the last several months, anybody have a suggestion as to how a guy is to find hapiness? Any ideas on a life-change I should make, something I should take up, a change in my routine? You know, a big reason I took up the username "Gandalf" is because it reflects how I feel inside; like an old man, worn and tired with the world.


But much thanks to all of you for your constructive comments! You guys really are all awsome.

[FreshNugz]

Well, I know I didn't need to respond the way I did. But I did it because I knew you were smart enough to realize I wasn't attacking you personally, just being somewhat of a devil's advocate. The reason I do this Gandalf is because I want you to see the good in life. You are 23 man. There's so many good things out there possible, you just haven't found them all. I want you to WANT to see them, instead of only recognizing things which anger you.
With all said and done, there was only 2 or 3 things in your post which I took offense to. Everything else got a hearty "Right on!".

I understand you when you say students in classes talk about nothing but celebrities and useless crap. You know what I do when I'm at university and I come across that kinda thing? I am always in a political science/law/history class, which means debate is always happening. You take that person...wait until a debate starts, and you take the extreme pleasure of articulating yourself better than they ever could. For every bullshit argument they have, make a better one. I have seen you hold your own, I know you can. When all is said and done, take pride in it. There are few who can do this.
The best thing by the way is when you ask them to defend their argument, and they say "...because". You, my wizard friend, can have a ball with that one.
Thank you so much for being intelligent, and not completely chewing me out for what I wrote. I know you wish someone was around who had a neuron so you could talk to them..well lets just say thats what canncom is for, right?
Don't give up yet. Stay smart and positive. Life will surprise you. :jointsmile:

[phatsesh101]

i have to write good in reports the hell with it here or any where else for that matter five pages or 1000 words of crap every week and thats just one class. i dont care what people think and i hate typing

with that out of the way, i understand your rants and venting i would do it too but i dont want to type that much

all of america is addicted to drugs it helps keep your mind off things. they take something too im sure of it probly psyche meds

have you heard of the Illuminotti, maybe you should check it out it may provide you with some thoughts on alot of the things that anger you

understanding is key, whats said not how pretty it is

do you believe in magic?

a perfect entity does exist. the Universe from the minute differences in beak length of birds to the depth of the waters in the gallapagoes depending on season or how the circle of life works every thing has a purpose or it wouldnt be there
dont get me wrong i dont believe in a god with human likeness or even an entity that has a conscience thought but youmust say that all these things are quite miraculous and beautiful

but back to the og thread yo that stuff is deep meng evrybody got side tracked cause u had a bad day but the matter at hand is the content of your rant and so forth i must cocure with that stuff about the fed especially so, someone speak on it man thats enuf typing study break os over