Benevolent Anarchist

[Benwa]

I’ve come to the realization that I am a “benevolent anarchist”. I’m sick of the whole stinking mess. The way we live, tastes like a dry heave to me. Acrid, rancid bile. I want to be done with the whole mess. Governments, Business, Jobs, Controlling Religion, Unjust Wars, Class Systems. It sickens me to the point where I can’t even write about it without my blood pressure rising. But I’m not about to throw Molotov cocktails and fight the power. Fight the Power? I say, F*ck the Power. Let them squabble and bicker about who has the biggest Johnson or whatever mundane thing they are fighting about at the time. I’m concerned with results. I’m concerned with freedom. I’m concerned with tapping the Liberty Tree and drinking the sap deeply and have it cover my face like a child devouring his first birthday cake. The only way to gain this freedom is to simply walk away. Leave our way of life to crumble. Like a long forgotten deity that a people once cared so deeply about, but have since moved on. Let it rot, decay and fall in on itself as we watch the dust plume from a safe distance.

I look forward to the day where we face our fear and realize our way doesn’t work for most of us. I hope we can beat our addiction to a way of life that is cruel, oppressive and filled with so much despair. And I hope I’m alive for the journey to something sweeter. And even if I only glimpse the finish line and fall dead, I will die happy. Knowing that some of my brothers and sisters will break the ribbon at the line. Move beyond what we call civilization to something better.

Like an addict, some will deny there is a problem at all. Some will glimpse the problem but ignore it for fear of being sober, of being clean. Some will justify the addiction and even think of ways the addiction is beneficial. Some will lash out and abuse those who intervene with their addiction. But an addict is an addict is an addict. We’re all addicted to a crappy system and feel powerless to change it out of fear, self doubt, lethargy and being reprimanded.

I’ve been called a pessimist for so long that that word holds little sting. For a long time I thought I was a pessimist. But I realize I am not. I was like the child who was told he was stupid, believed it and consequently got bad grades. I am eternally optimistic about the ability of humans to fix the damage. A human of any intelligence level has the potential to fix it. I refuse to believe that I am the only one who feels this way. That we need a better way to live, a “non-system”, it will include everyone and it must be obtained without violence. Because all this griping of bad jobs, bad relationships, loneliness, depression and despair are a direct result of how we live. You can try to fix each symptom, or you can cure the disease. Lets cure the damn thing before we get too old. Before we’ve been sick for so long that we think this is the way it’s supposed to be. Let’s cure it. Let’s walk away.

[tipsy88]

You should read up on hinduism, maybe abandonish all worldy desires to attain a high level of self may be what you want. Afterall nothing in this world lasts forever.

[dakotagopher]

Interesting thread. I personally disagree that "our way doesn’t work for most of us" - I think that many folks feel as you do, but most in this country are happy and fulfilled.

Throughout the course of human history, man's chief concern was bare survival (up until around 75 years ago, most humans spent most of their lives just locating enough food to survive). Our society has in short order developed into the most advanced system in history, where even the poorest among us live lives much of the rest of the world envies (ie, most have access to regular food/shelter).

We are now to the point that instead of worrying about where we'll find our next meal or how we'll prevent our kids from dying of exposure, that we now fret about "personal fullfillment" and "how things make me feel." Pretty amazing when you look at the historical picture.

Our society is far from perfect, but it's pretty damn good (I've done 6-month volunteer stints in Mexico, Africa and eastern Russia so have a pretty solid benchmark on the stuff we take for granted each day). I grew up scratch-dirt poor on a small family farm, where we often did not have enough to eat (too proud to take welfare, of course) and have climbed to a point where i am successful and have enougoh money to care for those that depend on me; show me another society where an individual can rise up in the space of a third of a generation based on work ethic and tenacity?

We've got it pretty good here; to suggest we all just "walk away" would have disastrous effects (where would the food come from-how many would starve while we ramped production back up? where would the power supply come from? the justice system? the medical/research system?). You pose a romantic notion, one that would have potentially catastrophic results.

It sounds like you are in a state of near despair; I'd encourage you to seek a religious foundation. LIfe is pretty meaningless unless you have your feet firmly embedded in a belief system. All of us need to find ourselves; maybe join the peace corps and get some perspective/satisfaction from helping others? Move to a communist country and meld into a collective (some of your rationale seems to lead to this conclusion)? Take up hinduism as suggested by prior post?

Fortunately for you, you were born into an age where you have the freedom to "walk away" with little personal repurcussions (ie, you'll still be able to find food to survive on, because those of us that continue to contribute to society will take care of you via welfare, etc.; had you been born 100 years ago you'd possibly starve to death).

Do what makes you happy, but don't be stupid, as my momma used to say. Anyway, good luck, i hope you find peace.

[TankgirlyC]

It sounds like you are in a state of near despair; I'd encourage you to seek a religious foundation. LIfe is pretty meaningless unless you have your feet firmly embedded in a belief system.


SO life is meaningless unless you have a belief system? I can tell you that Im not religious, I dont have any foundation of that part of life. I dont see the need for it and I can tell you that my life is NOT meaningless.

Its comments like that that make me want to lash out and say what I really think about religion. But in fear of pissing peole off on this board Ill keep quiet....but I will say that a bunch of stories being written down by people who were high on poppies and opium are not the stories I want to base my life on. Come on walking on water....Im sure that was some hallucination!
Secondly...with the whole priest scandal...tell me that you can trust and engage in what they tell you to do with your life. They sign a life of celebacy but then molest children....I mean really...

[dakotagopher]

Tankgirl - there are no absolutes in life (death & taxes??) so you may very well be someone who can go through your entire life berefit of a relationship with a deity. Many people, however, at some point in their life reach a point where they question the meaning of it all and wonder why life seems so empty and unfullfilling. I see this sentiment echoed often on this board. I'm just saying that many people, including myself, find solace and true inner calm & peace via religion. You may find solace and true peace elsewhere, but kindly do not mock that which allows others to be happy. I would never mock that which makes you happy:) As for the priest situation, it totally sucks, but the vast majority of the clergy are honest and sincere. As trite as it is to say, don't let a few bad seeds ruin the whole batch.

Weirdbrake - as I stated, our society is not perfect, but I would wager that were you to poll any segment of our society at random, the vast majority would define themselves as happy to a large degree. There will always be a percentage of the population that are dissatisfied, etc., and I'd also wager that the percentage of people that are dissatisfied in our society is less than in any society that has existed before us. I could be wrong, of course, but I really believe this.

Keep in mind that all of the negatives you have listed, all of the negatives that are reported in our society, make news and are noticed because they're "bad." "Good" stuff doesn't get much press. What about the armies of volunteers that help the sick/old/orphaned every day? The massive amounts donated to charity each year? The untold thousands that each generation pull themselves out of poverty and rise up to the next social strata? None of this makes good press or is interesting to talk about or worry about, so it largely goes unnoticed.

I am an Ayn Rand fan, especially w/respect to her overall economic theories, but not so much w/respect ot her dissallusionment with religion. Rand was for the most part hostile to religion for the same reason she's hostile toward socialism: w/respect to the degree to which it can promote group think and subvert the individual. This can happen, granted, if a religious order takes advantage of its members. However, in truly healthy religous environment this won't be a problem.

I don't believe taking solice in religion has anything to do with "hiding." If anything, based on your response and that of Tank's (and this is true of society at large, i think, also), it takes a pretty stong willed and open minded person to embrace religion and admit that it can be the source of solace and peace; most of society will mock you for this, calling you things like simplistic and delusional. Again, there are no absolutes in life, but I can only wish that everyone could someday know the degree of peace and inner quiet I feel because of my relationship with my deity. Nothing else (personal relationships, money, success, drugs) will ever compare to it. Granted, I still at times feel as though i am adrift (thus my locating this board).

[weslarson]

WeirdBrake,

Where do you find peace and solace?

Dakotagopher and I seem to find it in our respective religious beliefs. Perhaps you can offer Benwa your own personal source of peace?

[pisces2473]

I've been watching the dialogues between WeirdBrake, WesLarson and Benwa for some time...and now I want to make a comment.

Why does it matter if someone has/doesn't have religion to find peace and solitude? Just because it works for one, doesn't mean that everyone else needs it. Isn't it funny how some people on this board talk about religion all the time and tell people how important it is? Isn't it okay to have a different opinion? I think we need to stop challenging other's opinions who are different, especially when that person hasn't done any attacking.

Now Wes, if I knew you better, I would say you're trying to gain converts...:confused:

[weslarson]

The point of this website (as I understand it) is for those of us who are looking for other folks who are in the same position in life, with the perspective of twentysomethings entering the "real world". Many of us feel like we are just kind of wandering and somewhat lost. These forums are a place for each of us to turn to our virtual neighbors and get support.

So, DakotaGopher offered support to Benwa, who is clearly troubled by the society in which he lives. WeirdBrake ridiculed the support that was offered, and failed to offer any support of his own. I was giving him a chance to redeem himself by asking him to share with us where he finds peace, just like DakotaGopher did.

[pisces2473]

I tried to post something earlier but my computer froze up on me.

Wes, why do you feel the need to challenge everyone's religious beliefs/disbeliefs? Have you never met an atheist before or does it shock you that someone actually might NOT believe in any sort of deity? Everything you ask about (at least to WeirdBrake)seems to be focused around religion. Does he really fascinate you that much so that you must study him and probe his mind? Are you hoping that he might break with your questions and finally realize that he's been wrong and Jesus is Lord?

As for me, I'm content to let everyone believe what they want, and if someone respects my beliefs, I'll respect yours. Wes, I don't think you're respecting people's beliefs and tell me if I'm wrong, but that doesn't seem very Christian.

[weslarson]

folks, you got me all wrong.

DG offered support with the advise to find religion. WB called this "simplistic" and "not an answer".

If finding religion is "not an answer", I'd like to know what IS an answer. With your atheistic approach to life I figured you would have an alternative to offer. So, I asked what that might be.

Instead of getting any words of wisdom I get hailed as a stalker.

So, again, let me ask:
When you are troubled you seek comfort from sources other than those where I would look. These sources may be valuable to others--including me. All I'm asking is for you to share what you have to offer. If you don't want to share, then don't.

[Gregarious]

You know what you are? You're a philosophical stalker! LOL


I had to laugh at that ! Too Good! LOL

I have to disagree with you guys on depression and lonliness though.

Is is really wrong to be lonely? It may not be desireable, but I really don't think there is necessarily anything wrong with it.

Our society seems to shun the solitary. Just walk into any restruant alone for a table, and look the patrons and servers in the eye. Chances are you will be greeted with rueful looks. Yet again, the media, film, etc. gives us a contradictory message, glorifying and romanticizing the notion of the rugged invidual, the loner.

If you ask me, ultimately we are all lonely, whether we want to admit it or not. There may be exceptions, like girlfriends, boyfriends, wives, and husbands. Friends come and go. Family isn't always around, and passes away eventually. You're born alone, you die alone, and you live most of your life alone. It's sad, it hurts, but it's a fact.;)

As far as depression goes, I think you guys are being too hard on that issue too. There are many people out there who can't just will it away. Right now, science tells us that brain chemistry plays a role. It's not their fault. Still - you have to wonder - if depression has to do with brain chemistry, why haven't there been a steady number of people with it throughout the years? The drug companies make a lot of money from people who take those medications..