Are people, in general, out of their minds?

[Hunde Des Krieg]

Well this afternoon when I was talking to my duck about the sunshine flowers we went off on a tangeant about... What was the question again?

 

[Railu]

To put it simply, I think the majority of the Western Culture is that people (for the most part) are trying to better themselves and not thinking about the rest of the world. So people are making wars with themselves and with others around them, and are being led by the same people that make BIG wars.

A little off the mark, but I can see you have the right idea. What I am about to say is not every american, but it is something that the entire world already sees. Americans aren't trying to better themselves, they tend to think they are already the best. If there is one good thing to come from this economic catastrophe it's that it's opened the eyes of many to the outside world.

Americans seem to live in a post-WW2 bubble even 60 years later as if they had just overthrown the 3rd Reich and toppled the emperor's eastern army. It seems America defines itself through war and a measure of military strength. They act as if the very idea of freedom and democracy is their sole propriety and gift from God to share with the world. The US is not synonymous with freedom, but in many American minds, it is. So an attack on the US is the same as attack on freedom and democracy. But it isn't. It's not different than one country attacking another.

So what happens? You go up in arms because some evil power is attacking this glorious gift from God (sound familiar?) and you go to war. The truth is, the people at the top don't think that at all. They have their own agenda but they know the fragile mind of most Americans can be manipulated into thinking it and supporting their irrational claim, even if there is no threat at all.

Now there are many (especially now) who don't get their gun off when the troops get theirs. Support for foreign wars has diminished greatly after the cost of the war has hit home. But so long as Americans can be manipulated into thinking that it's for the golden lamb, freedom and democracy, there are many who will cast in their lots to support it... or at least be afraid to oppose it.

I do understand what you mean by what you say and I can see what you thought of what I said. I merely said something super quick and that was, in a way, the quickest way for me to sum up what I was going to say. I was intending on replying to it later tonight and adding to what I wrote, but just about all I was going to say, you already covered.

Glad to see we mostly see eye to eye.

Thanks for the compliment, but on second read I think I went a little too hard. Another point I should have made is there are 2 levels of consciousness in a society. The individual and the collective. That's really where the term "mob rule" came in, because individually people are not like that.

But you see, as a collective, it changes completely. But also, as a collective you have the most power. The power in America is patriotism and it's a double edged sword. You believe in your country and there are sincere people who don't want war, but want peace. But so much propaganda goes into making it a mob mentality... and that's when people die without needing to.

Obviously I'm not American, but I do believe in its greatness as a nation. But the dog must wag the tail, not the other way around. Take back your country. It's yours, not the sole possession of the few. Decide your own fate, because many are depending on you. Just be sure to walk softly and carry a big stick.

 

[mattttherman3]

Yes they are, and my dream is to perhaps have a wife and then get to play my video games in peace and get some action whenever the need arises(lol), but that probably won't happen. Oh well, one can hope! I could always just move to Nevada

 

[Mostly Harmless]

I'd have to agree with this. We have been taught from a very young and fragile age that the person in authority is always right. That to question them is to question everything they stand for, when really you were just questioning a particular statement. And question about the factuality behind something is something you don't do. There the (teacher/parent/president) and there right.
Then again if you can't trust them who can you trust and how can you be sure anything is true. (I'm just talking myself in circles aren't I)

 

[Johnnyallstar]

Yes.

 

[Ravenseeker]

let's be honest here: people are insane as a whole. what other animals would want to kill other of their kind just to show their own culture. Americans are probably some of the worse because we think we own the world (i'm American, keep that in mind) and don't really care what goes on. we barely care about politics and just care about ourselves. sure we have the ability to do this like santaandy said but we still need to help other countries like Sudan or any other country on Africa (this does NOT mean to conquer them). now back to the subject of this thread. you need to look no further than some people driving abilities than to answer that question.

 

[LewsTherin]

Only when they have minds to be out of.

 

[thefrizzlefry]

By and large, Americans are either raving lunatics (the shamwow dude), or complete morons (Every televangelist, ever).
There are some shining diamonds of intelligence that shine through, though.

 

[Masika]

To put it simply, I think the majority of the Western Culture is that people (for the most part) are trying to better themselves and not thinking about the rest of the world. So people are making wars with themselves and with others around them, and are being led by the same people that make BIG wars.

A little off the mark, but I can see you have the right idea. What I am about to say is not every american, but it is something that the entire world already sees. Americans aren't trying to better themselves, they tend to think they are already the best. If there is one good thing to come from this economic catastrophe it's that it's opened the eyes of many to the outside world.

Americans seem to live in a post-WW2 bubble even 60 years later as if they had just overthrown the 3rd Reich and toppled the emperor's eastern army. It seems America defines itself through war and a measure of military strength. They act as if the very idea of freedom and democracy is their sole propriety and gift from God to share with the world. The US is not synonymous with freedom, but in many American minds, it is. So an attack on the US is the same as attack on freedom and democracy. But it isn't. It's not different than one country attacking another.

So what happens? You go up in arms because some evil power is attacking this glorious gift from God (sound familiar?) and you go to war. The truth is, the people at the top don't think that at all. They have their own agenda but they know the fragile mind of most Americans can be manipulated into thinking it and supporting their irrational claim, even if there is no threat at all.

Now there are many (especially now) who don't get their gun off when the troops get theirs. Support for foreign wars has diminished greatly after the cost of the war has hit home. But so long as Americans can be manipulated into thinking that it's for the golden lamb, freedom and democracy, there are many who will cast in their lots to support it... or at least be afraid to oppose it.

I do understand what you mean by what you say and I can see what you thought of what I said. I merely said something super quick and that was, in a way, the quickest way for me to sum up what I was going to say. I was intending on replying to it later tonight and adding to what I wrote, but just about all I was going to say, you already covered.

Glad to see we mostly see eye to eye.

Thanks for the compliment, but on second read I think I went a little too hard. Another point I should have made is there are 2 levels of consciousness in a society. The individual and the collective. That's really where the term "mob rule" came in, because individually people are not like that.

But you see, as a collective, it changes completely. But also, as a collective you have the most power. The power in America is patriotism and it's a double edged sword. You believe in your country and there are sincere people who don't want war, but want peace. But so much propaganda goes into making it a mob mentality... and that's when people die without needing to.

Obviously I'm not American, but I do believe in its greatness as a nation. But the dog must wag the tail, not the other way around. Take back your country. It's yours, not the sole possession of the few. Decide your own fate, because many are depending on you. Just be sure to walk softly and carry a big stick.

That is a good way of putting it. I'm most people are aware of just how strong the patiotism is there. I lived in the States for seven years and now that I'm back in Canada, I feel almost like no one is patriotic, because it's no where near what it was then. But, I do feel that it helps Canada be more accepting of new cultures, then again, that also ties in with the histories of the two countries and I'd rather not go through a history lesson of the two, so, I'll leave it at that.

Don't worry about being too hard. I can take it and I found reading what you wrote to be rather interesting. Besides, sometimes to get the point out, one has to be hard.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

That is a good way of putting it. I'm most people are aware of just how strong the patiotism is there. I lived in the States for seven years and now that I'm back in Canada, I feel almost like no one is patriotic, because it's no where near what it was then. But, I do feel that it helps Canada be more accepting of new cultures, then again, that also ties in with the histories of the two countries and I'd rather not go through a history lesson of the two, so, I'll leave it at that.

Don't worry about being too hard. I can take it and I found reading what you wrote to be rather interesting. Besides, sometimes to get the point out, one has to be hard.

I have always found that with Canada. The United States makes quite the spectacle out of their holidays, whereas Canada barely even acknowledges any of them; with the exception of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day in Quebec, and even then it is only because it is a day off from working and Quebec trying to show how much different/better they are in comparison to the rest of Canada.

That said I concede I, myself am not at all patriotic. I couldn't give much of a damn about this Country, although I love it, the States is better for making money and thus it is where I go. I know it may seem selfish however I hold no loyalty to any country really. I might not sell out however I go to where it benefits what I intend to do.

 

[Player 2]

yes but thes nothing you can do about it,

Spoiler: so...

 

[manicfoot]

I think the majority of people are disappointed with their lives and want someone or something to blame. They stick to their beliefs blindly because its all they've ever known. They need to give it value otherwise their life would be pointless, right?

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Dear speaking (in a sense) members of the Escapist,

What do you feel is the goal of your average American? Would you say it's the house with the white picket fences and the children on their swing set with the wife bringing a delicious casserole out of the oven?

Sure that sounds like it would appease just about anyone.

But what do you feel pushes them on a more base level? I mean with the proper application of oneself the above scenario is possible to just about anyone. So with every thing in reach what is it that drives your average American?

The theory I push is that there really isn't much of anything pushing your average American. And thus we come to delusion.

Think of how divided America has become in the last decade. I'll admit being only twenty I'm not much qualified to confirm this but I've been told that I'm on to something.

People are taking their sides and sticking to them with fingers in both ears and eyes closed to the opposition. Here I would like to post a few little posts which were in reference to the Congressional Address of last night:

I am amazed how the American people can be led to slaughter. It was not bush who led us to this hell. First it was Clinton who went to China in 1995 and cut some huge deals and pakaged up all our manufacturing in a huge box and sent it lock stock and barrel to China.

I hope they Fed Ex-ed it. That's still an American business, right? But seriously. Let's use some common sense here. Does he honestly believe that a president could control private businesses and force them to relocate to China? Does he honestly believe that businesses weren't doing this in bulk before 1995? Does he honestly believe an elected public servant met in an alleyway and took a briefcase full of money in exchange for a little box marked, "American infrastructure" on the side?

Clinton left the Governors office in Arkansas with a small salary to get into the presidency and is now worth over 105+ million dollars, he wanted the money and Hiolary wanted the power. Do you Know that Clinton never worked a job in his life? He had a law degree but never went to court? It was the Justice Department who set the anti-trust suits to make IBM move out of the country and teach all the Indians how to do our jobs.

Holy shit. I think he IS serious.

Now I don't want to move into a political argument. I will readily admit there are people JUST like this on the other side of the political spectrum substituting Obama and Clinton and racist overtones for Bush, Rove, and Cheney. I was just roaming around and spotted that gem and thought, "Jesus. Do these people actually believe themselves? Do they HONESTLY think Obama has ties to Muslim terrorist organizations and is just waiting to strike?! Do they know that law-making passes through three branches? Checks and balances ring a bell? The man can't pass a stimulus bill in a major recession let alone go all Nero on the Christians."

And so that brings me back to my starting point. Are people in general conducting a war in their heads? Are they seeing everyone who disagrees with them as, "the enemy" and living in fantasy realms where justice shall come to their enemies and that they are always right? Is it, "In delusion we trust" now? And the ultimate question: Are people, in general, out of their mind?

Well I don't see people who disagree with me as the enemy, unless its something to do with gaming, then I let 'em have it. And its not that people don't accept that they are wrong, the problem is that they realise this but don't bother learning from the person who they KNOW is right.

 

[Masika]

I have always found that with Canada. The United States makes quite the spectacle out of their holidays, whereas Canada barely even acknowledges any of them; with the exception of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day in Quebec, and even then it is only because it is a day off from working and Quebec trying to show how much different/better they are in comparison to the rest of Canada.

That said I concede I, myself am not at all patriotic. I couldn't give much of a damn about this Country, although I love it, the States is better for making money and thus it is where I go. I know it may seem selfish however I hold no loyalty to any country really. I might not sell out however I go to where it benefits what I intend to do.

Again, as I had said, one really does have to look at the history of the two countries to really see why the States puts so much more emphasis on national holidays that celebrate the country. Such as Idependence Day Vs. Canada Day. Even the fireworks are better in back road town than in a city here. But then, you can look at other holidays, such as Christmas, and I find that more people get more riled up for Christmas here than in the states. However, the reasons behind the differences deal a lot with where in the country you are, the history of the country and the are to which one is in, and what particular holiday it is.