Community

[Obdurate]

It being a holiday, and holidays are days that families tend to get together, I think it's a good day to start this thread.

How important is community to you or our society in general? If you've read many of my posts you've probably noticed my "political leanings" and how they're based largely on community and cooperation in place of a government, so obviously community is very important to me. I mean, hell, that's why I post on forums, for that chance at community.

We live in a society - though there are exceptions - that doesn't encourage a sense of community like we should. Often we live amongst ourselves and don't really go outside of the box to welcome others or create community based events. For example, the People's Park in Berkeley is a park that is maintained (well up until recently... perhaps...) by the community.

We live in a society where people actually use "he/she is TOO nice" as an insult. C'mon.

[Hatchet]

I guess I'm guilty of not being more of a participant in the community, but I just don't like how the community is structured. I hate the fakeness. I hate the superficiality, the ignorance and the lack of motivation to do anything about these problems. Sadly, I've just about given up hope on the human population. I'm more or less just waiting for a celestial event to put everything back to square one.

PROVE ME WRONG.



Who wouldn't like a utopia?

[Obdurate]

We're all guilty. Don't feel bad, it's a rough life. I'm shy and I don't feel comfortable walking around because of the way some people are. You're being judged based on things that don't ultimately matter, like clothes. Sure, your clothes say something about your personality, I'm not doubting that, but when you get judged based on the fact that you aren't wearing a 70 dollar shirt that's a fad right now then there's something wrong.
People, and again, that's all of us, rely so much on some organization that's not owned by your "average" person to come in and fix whatever problems we have. Because people are fed the idea that we are not capable of solving our own problems.
I don't go out and do a lot of community based things because quite frankly, I'd be one of the few doing anything, so what will I accomplish?

I haven't given up hope as a rule but I'll tell you a story that involves me going down a Daniel Plainview like perspective ("I look at people and see nothing worth liking") but then getting out of it... and it happens almost everyday.

I work at a grocery store right now and this is gonna seem like a really simple problem but it ties into a bigger picture. When people don't put their shopping carts back in the right place or they put it in at an angle (so any carts after it will just further the issue because people will just throw theirs in randomly as well, not go out of their way to fix it), it bugs the shit out of me. It's not because I'm afraid of the damage that people leaving their carts outside or what have you will cause (carts here cost at least 100 dollars PER CART), though I am aware that some of our money might go towards replacement, my main concern is that people aren't willing to do something as simple as that for their fellow man/woman, because obviously SOMEBODY has to fix them. And no, it's not part of my job by default, it's part of my job because you make it my job. But then there's this one kid who always goes out of his way to fix the carts with/for me, and it gives me hope because not only is he fixing the carts, but he's a KID.

There is no community. Does nobody else find it strange when a place like Disney World builds a town and then says "Look at the community we've built."

[Danger]

Sadly, humankind is just too selfish for a community based way of life, save for those few and far between.

[knoxbox]

Originally Posted by Hatchet

I guess I'm guilty of not being more of a participant in the community, but I just don't like how the community is structured. I hate the fakeness. I hate the superficiality, the ignorance and the lack of motivation to do anything about these problems. Sadly, I've just about given up hope on the human population. I'm more or less just waiting for a celestial event to put everything back to square one.

PROVE ME WRONG.



Who wouldn't like a utopia?

are you always so negetive... because you view someone doing something positive as fake... like community structure etc... superficial.. least they are doing something... even if its not completely for the reason they specify at least its getting done... could you imagine how much worse the world would be if we didn't have the adopt a mile programs in place... fortune 500 companies volunteering for community cleanups and such... i'd imagine walking upon newspapers and trash on the streets... acid rain being literally terms with the air being so over poluted that it consistently rains...... don't know what type of utopian society your wanting... but i don't imagine it being much better than we already have it.. half the people in this world have the "negative attitudes" and "give up on the human population" your not helping make things much better.

ever heard the saying:

There are three kinds of people in the world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder, "What just happened?"

you truely remind me of the last two... you'll be the first to complain about nothing getting done, but you wont exactly put forth the effort to get it done... and then you wonder why it didn't get done.

not trying to pick on you.. because you are not the only one thats like this just using you as an example... just people like this frustrate the hell out of me.

and obby, that kid you speak of has just not been corrupted yet give him time to form his own opinion on things and im sure you'll see a change... if we all could keep an open mind like most children the world would be alot better. but no one thinks about things like this...

i work retail so see what your getting at with the carts... and your right if we can't do something that small... we can't get organized enough to make this world better... but hey... one cart at a time.. its a start... and we have to start somewhere.

[Hatchet]

I am pretty negative, I won't argue that point. But as for "isn't this world so much better thanks to (insert big name corporation) dedicating a half assed approach at solving a problem"...no, I give them no credit. A lot of companies do those things because THEY HAVE TO. The government forces you (if you make enough money) to donate something back, so they do. Some do more then others, but none do enough. Why not? Resources? They have the work force if they choose to dedicate them to something more worth while then selling a new $1 double cheeseburger, or the new Will Ferrell DVD. They're more concerned with their bottom line. Which brings us to the next "limited" resource they list as a reason why things can't get done: Not enough money. Thats something I could never understand. People always say you need money to transport things, and build things, and replace things...but the money doesn't DO any of that. All those things that you need to get something done, like building a house for low income citizens, cleaning a road (as you mentioned), fixing up old burned out houses; none of that requires money. It requires a dedicated person willing to better something. The materials needed to complete that work will still be there with or with out the money.

The uptopian society thing was a joke...sorry you missed it. I'd also like to thank you for judging me as the kind that does absolutely nothing about any situation and enjoys to sit back and bitch and whine about it. You're not far off, but I have to break myself of the degrading capitalist mentality before I can DO anything else. And even then, good luck convincing the majority of people to agree with you're view point, even if it is the most logical decision a person could reach.

So yes...I reiterate. I have given up hope on the human population, please prove me wrong. I want to be wrong. To get people to wake up and realize what they're doing, you have to make bold statements that you know will strike a nerve with people. Statements that will make them wake up and be like "Hey, fuck you...I do have hope!" And THAT'S what I want.


Edit: Btw, the cart thing. That's a perfect summary of people. Lack of care...they put the cart any which way, cuz fuck it right? Doesn't bother me any. It's funny...everyone says I'm just one person, what can I help? So no one helps. But then everyone says, I'm just one person, how much can this really damage the planet? So everyone damages it.

[knoxbox]

Originally Posted by Hatchet

I am pretty negative, I won't argue that point. But as for "isn't this world so much better thanks to (insert big name corporation) dedicating a half assed approach at solving a problem...no, I give them no credit. A lot of companies do those things because THEY HAVE TO. The government forces you (if you make enough money) to donate something back, so they do. Some do more then others, but none do enough. Why not? Resources? They have the work force if they choose to dedicate them to something more worth while then selling a new $1 double cheeseburger, or the new Will Ferrell DVD. They're more concerned with their bottom line. Which brings us to the next "limited" resource they list as a reason why things can't get done: Not enough money. Thats something I could never understand. People always say you need money to transport things, and build things, and replace things...but the money doesn't DO any of that. All those things that you need to get something done, like building a house for low income citizens, cleaning a road (as you mentioned), fixing up old burned out houses; none of that requires money. It requires a dedicated person willing to better something. The materials needed to complete that work will still be there with or with out the money.

The uptopian society thing was a joke...sorry you missed it. I'd also like to thank you for judging me as the kind that does absolutely nothing about any situation and enjoys to sit back and bitch and whine about it. You're not far off, but I have to break myself of the degrading capitalist mentality before I can DO anything else. And even then, good luck convincing the majority of people to agree with you're view point, even if it is the most logical decision a person could reach.

So yes...I reiterate. I have given up hope on the human population, please prove me wrong. I want to be wrong. To get people to wake up and realize what they're doing, you have to make bold statements that you know will strike a nerve with people. Statements that will make them wake up and be like "Hey, fuck you...I do have hope!" And THAT'S what I want.

i got you to responds thats a start... your not as lazy as i originally thought... *claps* go you! its your birthday!

[Hatchet]

lol..you just don't know me. I always respond. I just don't post here a lot because the majority of the topics I just generally don't care about.

[knoxbox]

there ya go.. even more negativity i don't think you can say a anything without being negative... try some therapy or something.... get all your repressed childhood thought out in the open then maybe think positive... might change your life.. never know give it a try...

[Danger]

Originally Posted by Hatchet

lol..you just don't know me. I always respond. I just don't post here a lot because the majority of the topics I just generally don't care about.

Honestly, and this is just me, I don't reply to some of your topics because I honestly just don't have the knowledge and/or vocabulary to either understand or reply to your threads.

Not making fun of you, just saying that your a pretty intelligent person that just surpasses me.

And no, I'm not kissing ass.