My parents weren't drunks or physically abusive, but I still think there were really terrible parents. You couldn't talk to either of them about anything. My father would grab the remote control and make the TV louder. My mother would close her eyes, wave her hands around, and say, "Peace!" over and over again. To this day, I don't even really know much about them. Had it been in my nature, I probably would've become a seriously delinquent youth. I was just a wind-up toy they sent off to school every day to get A's and B's on tests. Nothing else mattered. If I ever got a C on my report card (like I did one year in Gym...GYM! Who the hell cares about gym??), I would be grounded and read the riot act.
On the other hand, I think it taught me to be really independant. I don't rely on anybody but myself to get me through life or for happiness.
I'm also reminded of a college professor I once had who was particularly incompetent. Every day of that course, he droned on and on and on about the "follow your dreams" and "you can be whatever you want to be" crap. He barely ever touched on the actual course material, but then would quiz us at the end of the day on what we were supposed to have read from the book. After, I dunno, 10 or so classes, I finally got sick of this joker and asked him specifically HOW do you go about "following your dreams" and "doing what you want to do"? What's the first step to take?
His outrageous response was, "You take $20,000 and start a business."
I asked him where I'm supposed to get $20,000? Rob a bank? The class chuckled, the professor was not amused. We didn't get along after that, and he ended up giving me a C in the course. Parents flew into a tizzy. I explained what happened, and they said I should've kept my mouth shut. But of course! Never ever talking about anything at all is the answer to everything (but we'll make a special exception for when you get a grade lower than a B).
So, yeah, that's one of three experiences I've had with "follow your dreams" type of people. They're either:
1. People born with a silver spoon up their ass, have had everything handed to them, and have absolutely no concept of anyone who isn't on the same financial level as they are.
2. People paid to say such things on TV or paid motivational speakers they'd bring into schools now and then to put on a song and dance in the auditorium, who only care that they're getting paid to say it, and don't give a fuck that it really means nothing.
3. People who are totally delusional.
Reality bites.
Devlin Domaine
"I have studied many philosophers and many cats.
The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior." - Hippolyte Taine
On the other hand, I think it taught me to be really independant. I don't rely on anybody but myself to get me through life or for happiness.
I'm also reminded of a college professor I once had who was particularly incompetent. Every day of that course, he droned on and on and on about the "follow your dreams" and "you can be whatever you want to be" crap. He barely ever touched on the actual course material, but then would quiz us at the end of the day on what we were supposed to have read from the book. After, I dunno, 10 or so classes, I finally got sick of this joker and asked him specifically HOW do you go about "following your dreams" and "doing what you want to do"? What's the first step to take?
His outrageous response was, "You take $20,000 and start a business."
I asked him where I'm supposed to get $20,000? Rob a bank? The class chuckled, the professor was not amused. We didn't get along after that, and he ended up giving me a C in the course. Parents flew into a tizzy. I explained what happened, and they said I should've kept my mouth shut. But of course! Never ever talking about anything at all is the answer to everything (but we'll make a special exception for when you get a grade lower than a B).
So, yeah, that's one of three experiences I've had with "follow your dreams" type of people. They're either:
1. People born with a silver spoon up their ass, have had everything handed to them, and have absolutely no concept of anyone who isn't on the same financial level as they are.
2. People paid to say such things on TV or paid motivational speakers they'd bring into schools now and then to put on a song and dance in the auditorium, who only care that they're getting paid to say it, and don't give a fuck that it really means nothing.
3. People who are totally delusional.
Reality bites.
Devlin Domaine
"I have studied many philosophers and many cats.
The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior." - Hippolyte Taine
