Random Thoughts

Discussion in 'Random Thoughts' started by The Alchemist, Nov 8, 2015.

  1. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    Think for yourself
    Question authority

    Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening,
    terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are going in
    this ocean of chaos, it has been the authorities, the political, the
    religious, the educational authorities who attempted to comfort us by
    giving us order, rules, regulations, informing, forming in our minds their
    view of reality. To think for yourself you must question authority and
    learn how to put yourself in a state of vulnerable, open-mindedness;
    chaotic, confused, vulnerability to inform yourself.

    - Timothy Leary
     
  2. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    Philosophy, the beauty who always asks questions until you become like her and think for yourself...
     
  3. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    I just realized Timothy Leary is the inspiration for one of my favorite movies: Altered States. Read the Leary biography on Wikipedia. He is a recognized giver of zero fucks.
     
  4. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    Timothy Leary was a cool dude, except for maybe the drugs thing - although LSD has been proven to help patients with mental disorders. I don't use drugs or even drink, but if I was really that messed up mentally or psychologically (well some people here may think I am) I think I would be willing to try almost anything to get better.
     
  5. keanex

    keanex Martian Bounty Hunter - Friend

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    Lsd and other mind altering drugs can be pretty fantastic, but a lot of my philosophies while I was using them regularly seem silly now that I've been sober for a while.

    Maybe the united States thought process of working to death for a mediocre life has beaten the free flowing thoughts I once had.

    There has to be a middle, and I think that, unfortunately, comes with great bravery or great financial backing.
     
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    It's too easy in modern life to do what everyone else does. I hear lot of people bitch and moan about how corporations suck or how mergers have screwed them over. However, I never see people be brave enough to say "take this job and shove it". The folks running these "evil "companies are pretty smart, they know how to dangle the carrot or instill fear to control their employees.

    Take for example a bank where I once worked where we were getting acquired. The Chairman called everyone to a meeting and gloated with this evil laugh about this "good news" while the employees stood horrified. This bank was only a little more than three years in existence and the employees worked super hard to make it successful (so that the merger could even happen). Senior management of both banks (acquiree and acquirer) had everyone by the balls, using the time-tested techniques of hope and fear (hope: stock options, big severances; fear: losing job).

    The problem is that people allow themselves to be controlled. In that situation, I pretty much said, "thank you, but good bye", and left about twenty to thirty grand in stock options for a another job. I never looked back since I've probably made back way more than those piddly options. It's easier to concentrate on doing a good job / making money than to worry about what may have been lost. If more people had to courage to do things like this, then evil corporations wouldn't exist. That merger would have never gone through (or the employees could have gotten much more compensation for their hard work) if half the employees left or threatened to leave.

    BTW, the merger was mostly a stock swap tied to the current price of the stock of my bank. I was discouraged from selling my matured options before the merger - I actually had to copy my attorney for information on how to sell my existing options before I got a response from the finance department.

    It's fine if you work for evil people or evil corporations to get a paycheck. Just never let them control you. It disturbs me to this day how some employees (the look on their faces) were so scared of losing their jobs or so hopeful of the maybe big severance check.
     
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2015
  7. keanex

    keanex Martian Bounty Hunter - Friend

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    That's mighty impressive, no joke. I wouldn't have the guts to do it myself, at least without having had found another job before.

    I read about this guy who, with his wife, sold almost everything they own to travel the world and take photographs. That takes a lot of guts and one day I hope to just wake up and say, "f**k it, I'm going to just do what I love regardless of the potential consequences."

    I imagine the guy in my example was probably pretty well off to begin with since he's said to be a pretty well known photographer, but the point still remains.
     
  8. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    Through the years I have learnt and adopted two main principles that guide me.

    1. Treat others like you want to be treated.
    2. Whatever works, works. Prioritise practical solutions over ideals.

    Courage is admirable. Being devoted to practical solutions to get things done, gets things done.
     
  9. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    Cherish your ideals. Become good or the best at something and prove the everybody wrong. Including yourself.

    Do not let your weak spirited self get in your way. Keep doing your thing...
     
  10. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    Random thought of mine:

    I believe animals (ducks, ants, squirrels, bunnies) have begun to subconsciously worship roads and sidewalks as "Highways of the Gods". A la Helios and the winged chariot. You see these giant 2-legged apes passing by in their big loud chariots (cars) or walking along with their own guard-beasts (dogs) and it makes sense. When the gods are feeling benevolent they'll sprinkle breadcrumbs. When they're angry they'll unleash their spawn to chase them back to their hovels. I think given enough time, animals will come to worship humans as omnipotent. Like laying out acorns on the sidewalk in hope of blessings.
     
  11. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    At least do or pursue something you enjoy.

    A fellow weirdo who can appreciate the silly things of life I consider a friend. This is a side project I am working on:
    http://metasilly.com/2015/08/17/hello-world/

    Life is too short to not enjoy it...
     
  12. keanex

    keanex Martian Bounty Hunter - Friend

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    I found photography, makes me happy as shit. I don't intend to make money from it, but I love it.
     
  13. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    I like photography, but I am no good at it -but I appreciate others who do well at it
     
  14. keanex

    keanex Martian Bounty Hunter - Friend

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    Don't let my enthusiasm be confused as being good at it.
     
  15. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    12191824_1167213963316640_5125356451524474211_n.jpg
     
  16. keanex

    keanex Martian Bounty Hunter - Friend

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    That's a good beer if you ever come across it, Raison D'etre
     
  17. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    Needs a soundtrack.

     
  18. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    I moaned about the merger while it was happening (it was a long slow process) because, as you know, it is no fun watching what people have built being thrown down the drain. When it happened, life took a different turn.

    The year on "gardening leave" was bliss, with work amounting to answering some questions on the phone every couple of weeks. Being paid to do sod all has always been my idea of a great job. Then, when the crunch came, I gathered my pennies and shifted to a new continent. Now, I could not be happier about that merger!

    But...

    Patently, from what I just said, I never subscribed to the working-to-death idea!

    However, sometimes now, when I listen to songs that, when I heard them in my early 20s (I was a late developer) gave me inspiration and hope of doing, being, something different, and maybe changing the world just the most nano-tiny bit, I feel embarrassed --- bottom line is that I'm middle-class and ordinary and didn't change anything.

    Nicky my child he stands there with the wind in his hair
    Wondering whether the water the wind of the where
    I fear that someday he might ask me if mine is the blame
    And I've got no reply save to tell him it's all just a game

     
  19. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    In the end many things are in vain. In the Bible there is the book "Ecclesiastes." The least you can do is enjoy life for what it is worth.
     
  20. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    That means it is time to get dirty and out there. There is a world to discover ;)

    Every day I try to learn something new. Student for life \/
     

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