Who else is not interested with...?

Why is that? Because I don't think or act like everyone else?

Try twice that age.

And - erm, maybe it's just me, but I don't feel I could be truly happy until there's no more suffering in the world. I know people like you can just ignore the fact that people are being tortured to death and starving whilst you go out and spend your "hard-earned" money on a new ipod, but hell. Just. Try. To. Think.

So yeah, third option: use your life to help others, whether it's helping them break free from the prison they've built for their own minds or helping them physically in, say, Africa.

Nope, it's because you believe that there IS an 'everybody else' - that you believe we're all a nation of mindless drones and that you're somehow the only 'different' one - a rebel.
You have a very childish 'black and white' view of the world, when in fact all people are different.

Nope, it's because you believe that there IS an 'everybody else' - that you believe we're all a nation of mindless drones and that you're somehow the only 'different' one - a rebel.
You have a very childish 'black and white' view of the world, when in fact all people are different.

Nope, wrong. I know there are other people who think in a similar manner to me.

And I know that there are degrees of mindlessness: the neo-liberals, the once-liberals, etc...

However, I've always thought differently and been different from most people in this country. It's not something I chose one day: I didn't say "hey, I know what'd be fun - nonconformity!" I've just been like this as long as I can remember - but when I started to really think about the way things were and looked into political theory (and philosophy) I realised that the way I thought made a lot of sense.

Of course, all you, and most of the other users see here, is the great big anarchy avatar and the username which were chosen quite deliberately to cause annoyance and provoke judgmental behaviour amongst the TSR "elite". A social experiment that worked quite well, if I may say so myself.

I'm no saint but I would say that I help people at times. I've noticed that whenever I am helping someone emotionally, it's very far from getting them out of 'the prison they're mentally trapped in' (thanks, that could be a line in a nice song) - it's usually me helping, or at least trying to help friends with various forms of relationships. Well, I would think that breaking them free, as you put it, would be in some form or another, forcing them to do something and that's something I don't like.

I would rather the person does it on his own, maybe with a little push on my side. But look at this way, why should I do it? The person seems perfectly happy with the way his life is, so why should I change (or try to) his way of life which he is firmly rooted to? If he's happy with his illusion, so be it. :]

Cheryl, my view on life is quite on the extremes, I would think and is similar to that of Punktopia, here but it definitely isn't the exact view. It's similar in many ways, but not quite it. I'm more of a cynic than an anarchist.

On the outside, everyone is different, true. However, most people think the same way. You'd probably think of me as an angst-filled teen or tag/describe me with something of a similar nature, as you did with Punktopia, but whatever - this forum again, is a great example of what I'm on about.

Reading various threads here, I see patterns in posting. I don't have enough time on my hands to group/classify these posts and I doubt I would want to do that for any reason, let alone, proving something to one person (and anyone else who bothered reading and who had the same opinion as you) but if I were to classify that, you would see that while being differences in posts, many of the main ideas are one and the same. I'm not sure I was coherent, I hope this makes any sense!

A fisherman goes out every day to trap fish in his net. The net holds most of the fish but isn't very well constructed: some fish swim through the holes. Eventually it starts to fray and wear. The fisherman decides to construct a firmer net, with smaller holes. His son takes up the family business, and follows suit. Again, he weaves a stronger net, and less fish escape. Eventually, after several generations, the fisherman's descendant has weaved a net so fine, so strong and so large that no fish can escape at all. And yet the net is invisible, and the fish are spread out across such a wide area that after a while they start to believe that they are swimming in the open sea, and are not held or restricted in any way.

Nope. I agree with you.

A fisherman goes out every day to trap fish in his net. The net holds most of the fish but isn't very well constructed: some fish swim through the holes. Eventually it starts to fray and wear. The fisherman decides to construct a firmer net, with smaller holes. His son takes up the family business, and follows suit. Again, he weaves a stronger net, and less fish escape. Eventually, after several generations, the fisherman's descendant has weaved a net so fine, so strong and so large that no fish can escape at all. And yet the net is invisible, and the fish are spread out across such a wide area that after a while they start to believe that they are swimming in the open sea, and are not held or restricted in any way.

If so, you are, at the same time, agreeing with Punktopia?

Academic success, social status, a ridiculously high income due to a successful career...and just about everything everyone seems to want?

It's not for the sake of being different - it's that I dislike being told what to do, I like being in control. So, I should be working in my own firm/business/whatever someday but what if I don't want to? What if I find it boring? Does this make me a social outcast? Why are people so quick to judge others based on their academic performance/history and not the actual persons?

I would be satisfied with a ****** job (no offence intended, honestly - I wouldn't want to "hurt" anyone) that would be just enough for me to live (that is, small apartment, food, clothing, etc) if that meant that I would have a lot of time on my hands to do what I like, which is:

a) Writing - Lots and lots of writing, be it short stories or poetry.
b) Music - Listening to and again, writing (or composing, if you prefer)
c) Just live my life. It's not that I'm going to live again. Why should I work my behind (haha) out to get a ridiculously high amount of money when I doubt I'd want that much and chances are, I'd be old before I get the chance to actually spend it!
d) That is all?

Maybe I'm very wrong...which is partly the reason I made this thread. The other reason is to see if there's anyone who is in a (nearly, perhaps?) similar situation to mine and what they would actually like to do and stuff. Just to satisfy my curiosity, tbh.

Honestly, I don't see any other reason, other than not wanting to disappoint my parents and/or anyone else having high hopes for me, for actually attempting to get good grades at my GCSEs. It's ironic, considering they want what's supposed to be best for me and that's exactly what I want.

Maybe it's just a phase which will pass and will join the unthinking majority and transform into a sheep again?

To what end have the government, in your opinion, created this net?

What if there's something beyond the government? Yes, I am implying that there's a secret society or something equally (or perhaps even more) dangerous and powerful pulling the strings of the govt. Fwahahaha.

I wouldn't say so, no. What you're saying is that a majority of people seem to have the same opinions and that yours are different; that they seem to be a certain way and that you aren't. That, I agree with and relate to - I, too, think that the mentality and behaviours of most people are ridiculous, and I, too pity the way people behave, the way they strive for so many pointless things because they never question, and the way people will sacrifice happiness to follow 'the norm'. However, unlike punktopia seems to, I don't consider myself unique, or special, or to be entirely outside some huge system. We're ALL in that big fishing net - it's impossible not to be - it's just that some people are more influenced by the other fish than others.

Who is silly rich perhaps?!

Regardless of who made the net, I'd just like to know why it was created in punktopia's opinion.