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It's the supreme luxury to be able to reject society. It's a luxury that's only available to those who are either born to wealth or put a lot of effort into obt

It's the supreme luxury to be able to reject society. It's a luxury that's only available to those who are either born to wealth or put a lot of effort into obtaining it. There are also the "I just don't use money, man" people who are actually just living off the charity of friends.

seiji 13y ago
Completely rejecting society is one of the most self-centered and egotistical things you can do. Only two classes of people obtain it: the very wealthy (basically, FU money) and vow-of-sileince monks (basically, "I'm never going to interact with humanity again").
- j45 13y ago
  There is a third way, of being present in the world for your worldly obligations, and being able to pursue your personal/inner growth and experience as well.
- foobarbazqux 13y ago
  I agree that choosing poverty as a lifestyle can be egotistical, but monastic silence does not mean never interacting with humanity again. It's more to do with not speaking unnecessarily. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastic_silence#Practice_of_silence_by_ordained_and_laity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastic_silence#Practice_of_s...
- jayfuerstenberg 13y ago
  You can always reject one aspect of society while embracing another. I understand how the author here feels. The whole market economy/consumption cycle is dehumanizing and serves those already in possession of excess riches at the expense of the common folk. It sounds as if he just wants to try living for himself a bit more by being mindful of his purchases. He's more awake than most of the people I know so good on him, regardless of his sentiments towards society.
nether 13y ago
It's much easier to be homeless in a lot of developing nations like Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam. In the US you get thrown in jail/shelter for being homeless, in those countries though many people simply live off the land or work for barter their entire lives. It takes less effort than it sounds, but enormous fortitude to become an expat.
- randomsearch 13y ago
  That's funny, because I was walking around San Francisco today and there were lots of homeless people on the streets, not in prison or a shelter.
  - sliverstorm 13y ago
    San Francisco does welcome the homeless with open arms, though. Did you hear the city was talking about paying the homeless a stipend, for being homeless?
  - rdouble 13y ago
    In the rest of the country being homeless is usually a crime.
    - coreyja 13y ago
      What do you mean? While there are places that may look down on homeless people more than San Francisco, I don't think there is any place in the US were being homeless is a crime. That would be unconstitutional. Maybe you are saying that homeless people are more likely to be criminals, which may or may not be true. But I can't imagine a place in the US where just the act of being homeless is a crime. Do you have a source or a reference to backup that claim?
      - bebop 13y ago
        It has been illegal in the past to be a vagrant: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagrancy_(people)#United_States http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagrancy_(people)#United_States

seiji 13y ago

Completely rejecting society is one of the most self-centered and egotistical things you can do. Only two classes of people obtain it: the very wealthy (basically, FU money) and vow-of-sileince monks (basically, "I'm never going to interact with humanity again").

j45 13y ago
There is a third way, of being present in the world for your worldly obligations, and being able to pursue your personal/inner growth and experience as well.
foobarbazqux 13y ago
I agree that choosing poverty as a lifestyle can be egotistical, but monastic silence does not mean never interacting with humanity again. It's more to do with not speaking unnecessarily. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastic_silence#Practice_of_silence_by_ordained_and_laity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastic_silence#Practice_of_s...
jayfuerstenberg 13y ago
You can always reject one aspect of society while embracing another. I understand how the author here feels. The whole market economy/consumption cycle is dehumanizing and serves those already in possession of excess riches at the expense of the common folk. It sounds as if he just wants to try living for himself a bit more by being mindful of his purchases. He's more awake than most of the people I know so good on him, regardless of his sentiments towards society.

nether 13y ago

It's much easier to be homeless in a lot of developing nations like Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam. In the US you get thrown in jail/shelter for being homeless, in those countries though many people simply live off the land or work for barter their entire lives. It takes less effort than it sounds, but enormous fortitude to become an expat.

randomsearch 13y ago
That's funny, because I was walking around San Francisco today and there were lots of homeless people on the streets, not in prison or a shelter.
- sliverstorm 13y ago
  San Francisco does welcome the homeless with open arms, though. Did you hear the city was talking about paying the homeless a stipend, for being homeless?
- rdouble 13y ago
  In the rest of the country being homeless is usually a crime.
  - coreyja 13y ago
    What do you mean? While there are places that may look down on homeless people more than San Francisco, I don't think there is any place in the US were being homeless is a crime. That would be unconstitutional. Maybe you are saying that homeless people are more likely to be criminals, which may or may not be true. But I can't imagine a place in the US where just the act of being homeless is a crime. Do you have a source or a reference to backup that claim?
    - bebop 13y ago
      It has been illegal in the past to be a vagrant: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagrancy_(people)#United_States http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagrancy_(people)#United_States