3 ms·

I don't believe sheep is overused when a huge population of people are pursuing material gains for people who don't care. The short list of what this leads to:

by base698 13y ago

I don't believe sheep is overused when a huge population of people are pursuing material gains for people who don't care. The short list of what this leads to: depression, hopelessness, addiction, dietary diseases, and other first world problems. All trying to keep up with the Joneses. There are more meaningful pursuits.

untog 13y ago
There are more meaningful pursuits. Like Chris McCandless's one that resulted in death? Seriously, you can't hold him up as an idol of a 'better life' when his life was cut short very, very prematurely. I'm not qualified to judge whether depression and dietary diseases are better than death, but I think it's at least worth debating. And few people pursue material gains for the purpose of simply having them. Like I said, for a great many people in the world, being a parent is hugely meaningful. It leads them to pursue material gains in order to provide for their children and watch them grow in comfort. That does not make them 'sheep'. If they are then everyone is a sheep. You are an "anti-'sheep'" sheep.
- base698 13y ago
  I'm not saying to hold him up as an idol. I'm just saying, if you aren't happy and you are "successful" then you may have to rethink your approach. Happiness is hard and a lot of work, and I know a lot of people never figure it out. If you're trying what consumer culture is offering and you're miserable, then maybe try something else? I would highly debate it's few. There's a reason AdBusters struck such a nerve.
- Goladus 13y ago
  > Seriously, you can't hold him up as an idol of a 'better life' when his life was cut short very, very prematurely. You can still respect the attempt, consider the ideals, and identify specific mistakes (which most of his intellectually stunted detractors fail to do).
kamaal 13y ago
>>people are pursuing material gains What is so wrong with that? >>The short list of what this leads to: depression, hopelessness, addiction, dietary diseases Do you think poor people don't fall ill? Or that when they fall ill they don't need pay hospital bills? >> There are more meaningful pursuits. Like? Care to give examples?
- base698 13y ago
  Here's a short list: Spending time with your family, building your business, learning a trade, volunteering, learning to surf, hiking, learning to cook, learning to fly a quadcopter, volunteering in a soup kitchen, learning a new language. People consume more when they are filling a void and it consumes them exacerbating their problems.

by base698 13y ago

untog 13y ago

There are more meaningful pursuits. Like Chris McCandless's one that resulted in death? Seriously, you can't hold him up as an idol of a 'better life' when his life was cut short very, very prematurely. I'm not qualified to judge whether depression and dietary diseases are better than death, but I think it's at least worth debating. And few people pursue material gains for the purpose of simply having them. Like I said, for a great many people in the world, being a parent is hugely meaningful. It leads them to pursue material gains in order to provide for their children and watch them grow in comfort. That does not make them 'sheep'. If they are then everyone is a sheep. You are an "anti-'sheep'" sheep.

base698 13y ago
I'm not saying to hold him up as an idol. I'm just saying, if you aren't happy and you are "successful" then you may have to rethink your approach. Happiness is hard and a lot of work, and I know a lot of people never figure it out. If you're trying what consumer culture is offering and you're miserable, then maybe try something else? I would highly debate it's few. There's a reason AdBusters struck such a nerve.
Goladus 13y ago
> Seriously, you can't hold him up as an idol of a 'better life' when his life was cut short very, very prematurely. You can still respect the attempt, consider the ideals, and identify specific mistakes (which most of his intellectually stunted detractors fail to do).

kamaal 13y ago

>>people are pursuing material gains What is so wrong with that? >>The short list of what this leads to: depression, hopelessness, addiction, dietary diseases Do you think poor people don't fall ill? Or that when they fall ill they don't need pay hospital bills? >> There are more meaningful pursuits. Like? Care to give examples?

base698 13y ago
Here's a short list: Spending time with your family, building your business, learning a trade, volunteering, learning to surf, hiking, learning to cook, learning to fly a quadcopter, volunteering in a soup kitchen, learning a new language. People consume more when they are filling a void and it consumes them exacerbating their problems.