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Expectations surrounding education have spun out of control. On top of a seven-hour school day, our kids march through hours of nightly homework, daily sports p
by icanhackit 11y ago
Expectations surrounding education have spun out of control. On top of a seven-hour school day, our kids march through hours of nightly homework, daily sports practices and band rehearsals, and weekend-consuming assignments and tournaments. Each activity is seen as a step on the ladder to a top college, an enviable job and a successful life.
Small-print: Successful life not guaranteed. Neither is happiness but we didn't specifically mention that.
For me the depression stemmed from existential nihilism paired with a lack of control of what I had to participate in. It taught me, once I was fully in control of my own time and energy, to be careful with who I spent time with and what I was doing with my time. Not in the Get-Shit-Done sense, more in the Will This Shit Affect My Zen-State. Often the answer is Yes so instead I play games, drink beer, read, hang out with my partner and friends and occasionally make cool things.
I won't be remembered in 200 years, few people will, but at least my time was mine.
- branchless 11y agoThe dominant culture says you are a loser. Well done to you for having the confidence to stick to your guns. Problem is you can't opt-out fully because you have to live and for that you must pay banker tribute via rent.
- icanhackit 11y agoThe dominant culture says you are a loser. Paradoxically I'm doing OK by society's standards. By valuing personal space and control over it I decided to get into the property game with my partner earlier in life, enabling us to purchase an inner city property before their prices exploded. Now I'm watching my friends work their arses off to live further away in the 'burbs. Often success comes down to timing...and an aversion to bullshit social rituals can also help. Problem is you can't opt-out fully because you have to live and for that you must pay banker tribute via rent. No rent, but you point remains: gotta work to live.
- branchless 11y agoOk this isn't really representative then. You got in by entering the pyramid scheme earlier. For 20 somethings who were born too late this isn't an option. They are not suckers, they are victims. I don't think social rituals are what is breaking most people, it's economic rent and exploitation by money issuers. On that let's be clear - this is not the kids' fault.
- neves 11y agoDon't forget the college payments.
- chillwaves 11y ago>No rent, but you point remains: gotta work to live. The irony is coupled with your statement about buying property. You don't pay rent, we pay you.
- deleted 11y ago[deleted]
- TeMPOraL 11y agoI think 'icanhackit meant they bought a house they live in, not one to rent out.
- meric 11y agoRead HN. Write code. Play games. Eat with family & friends. Repeat. Thank you, universe.
- askafriend 11y agoSounds like a really chill life. What more do any of us really need? Even the founders of Google won't be remembered in 200 years. This isn't to be negative about their accomplishments but just trying to put their massive, incredible accomplishments into perspective. I work hard at the things I care about. I make sure I'm experiencing the things in life that I'm fascinated by. I explore. And I will die. And it will all be pretty great because on a long enough time scale, your position on the socioeconomic ladder is worthless, and at the very least unrecognized so why bother obsessing like so many seem to do? Perhaps scaling back the obsession is healthy for us as a community. We can hold it as an important value to work hard and create good things in the world that will have impact, but too often this turns into an intense obsession for some explicit outcomes.
- Jordrok 11y agoThis also describes my current situation almost exactly, and generally I am pretty happy with things. I know that these are the things that make me happy and I try to keep them in balance. Sometimes though there are some nagging doubts that creep in. I worry that the balance I'm comfortable with doesn't quite line up with what society seems to expect, or at least idealize. Sometimes I feel like I "should" be doing more, but whenever I try to push myself harder I just end up expending a lot of energy spinning my wheels. I worry that something unforeseen and external could pop up and disrupt my current situation, or at least make it unmaintainable. I guess that's life though - adapt and enjoy.
- meric 11y agoI worry that something unforeseen and external could pop up and disrupt my current situation When the situation changes, I'll live as the situation has changed. I know one day it will happen, that is why now is the time to live life as it is now, or later I'll regret why I didn't take the time to enjoy what I have now.
- dilap 11y agoSounds cool. Where do you get money? Don't care about kids?