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Whenever I see this topic come up, I think back to the climactic speech in the movie Good Will Hunting, the one where Chuckie excoriates Will for wanting to put
by md224 7y ago
Whenever I see this topic come up, I think back to the climactic speech in the movie Good Will Hunting, the one where Chuckie excoriates Will for wanting to put down roots in the community he grew up in. He concludes:
"It'd be an insult to us if you're still here in 20 years. Hangin' around here is a fuckin' waste of your time."
This was framed as an inspirational moment that finally pushed Will to achieve his potential. This idea -- that self-actualization requires abandoning your small-town roots -- is ingrained in our cultural DNA.
- Mindless2112 7y agoSounds more like it's an idea that's been fed to the culture by Hollywood.
- jonathankoren 7y agoAn early memory of mine is when my mother told me that there was no future for me in Southern Illinois, and when I grew up, I’d have to move far away. She was right. I did, right to the Bay Area. When I go back and visit, the area has gotten more economically depressed, and frankly more stereotypical. And to put a cherry on top, I am completely unemployable there.