RE: Rags to riches stories why they tick me off.
May 10, 2015 at 10:41 pm
(This post was last modified: May 10, 2015 at 10:49 pm by Brian37.)
(May 10, 2015 at 9:00 pm)AFTT47 Wrote: I don't know, Brian. I can't argue that we can all be Bill Gates or Barack Obama. We obviously can't. We can all rise to our best potential though. I see nothing wrong with encouraging us all to give it our best shot. Where's the value in telling people that they may as well forget it, that they're fucked? Seems to me like that's a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you tell yourself you don't have a chance, that's not much of a motivation to try, is it?
I hate it when even atheists get stuck in either/or propositions.
Did you not read my OP, I dont fault anyone for getting where they want. But the truth is most of us if lucky get to a place where we manage to keep a roof over our heads and pay our bills and keep food on the table. What is wrong with promoting the idea that the more stable people there are in our society we all do better?
There is a huge difference in inspiring someone and selling candyland. Candyland is what the top sells which gets everyone to chase utopias. Happiness isn't about title or class or wealth, happiness is being yourself and if you do get lucky that is a bonus, but the important thing is to be happy.
(May 10, 2015 at 10:35 pm)vorlon13 Wrote: As a 12 Stepper, I've encountered quite a few people over the years that have found themselves literally set for life, and have totally pissed it away.
and then;
Some years ago, the neighbor lady had me transfer some family photos to disc. Her dad I had always viewed as a damn hard worker that never got a break. He wasn't destitute, but he lived his whole life with damn little in the way of possessions and died in the meager straits he had always lived.
My shock looking at the pictures was considerable. Not one of them showed him with anything but a smile on his face.
I don't know about the rest of you, but there is a lesson here . . . .
That is what we should be addressing right there. Not masturbating over pretty stories that are very rare. Conditions need to improve so that no matter where someone ends up they don't have to be slaves their entire lives.
