The only thing I make is the pledge to be poor all my life.

Philosophy Forums Philosophy
1

I’m worthless. I got a hole in my pocket. I cant even afford the bus to go over my friends house today. Am I looking for pity? NO! I think the cruelty of my existence is actually funny to a degree. I dont know poverty the way those starving do.

The reason why I post: I notice on tv and in the attitudes of many americans, being rich and superior is shoved down our throats. You all know the deal. Buy this. Buy that. Well, I dont do it! Does that make me superior, that fact that I take out library books for free and that’s it.

I cant believe I’ve existed this long on survival bucks. I have no lifestyle. I feel like kurt cobain. Only less cool.

What do you think of my poverty stricken ass? Can you afford a compliment. I’ll take insults too. HAHA, I have a desperate laugh when I laugh about how bored I am with bread and water.

2

notice this, the next time you read or re-read a book you like, pay attention to how you identify with any certain character. Does that character act and re-act in superior ways? Say superior things? Hold a superior inner world?

Even holden caulfield, the anti hero of catcher in the rye, had a superior way about him.

Maybe there is something to that will to power philosophy. I still champion the weak.

3

A man who owns one million dollars, and owes one million and one dollars to another, is poorer than the man who owes and owns nothing.

I am filthy rich, Kev. Know why? Because I have hardly any bills or obligations. I’m kinda like that “Freebird” fella Skynard talked about.

Some people just got it in them. I think the anti-social non-ambitious consumerist surrender to the rat-race of modern society is the manifestation of an archetypical “philosopher” type mentality. You might be a philosopher, conman, because golden bricks of enlightenment are dropping on your head every time you read my posts, and your starting to feel like a revolutionary. The first step is the awareness that you don’t “feel” whole as a consumer. You create this morsel of questionable logic:

The “stuff” around me is meaningless.

This means people who like this stuff are meaningless.

I am not meaningless, so I no longer like this stuff.

I should buy some green fatigues and a red beret.

4

yeah, I have no obligations. The stuff I used to buy just weighed me down. And “stuff” always seems to break or get lost.

Detrop, do you have any socialist stuff for me to read. Can you recomend anything?

5

Can I get fatigues at the salvation army?

6

No dude. Its never gonna happen.

Just talk about it and bring it up around people you interact with. A humble request, and all I can expect you to do, my friend.

Our generation must be the voice which transforms the new generation into thinking communistically. A revolution probably won’t happen in our lives. But the next generation, perhaps.

Whatever you do, don’t buy a Che T-Shirt. Please.

7

…Me too. I am broker than the ten commandments.
…TV commercials do not help. Commercials always remind me of; how my toothbrush should pulsate ,vibrate, jet and rotate, how ugly I am, how I dress funny, how my lawn needs to be greener, how bad I smell, how fat I am, how my car is too old, how my hair is too grey, how much tartar I have, how much faster I will run with new shoes, how beer attracts pretty people. Everything is New And Improve and I must have it.

8

EXACTLY!

I must find an alternative to these types of messages. There is no way I can listen to it for another sixty odd years.

I’m thinking of becoming homeless on purpose, maybe in san francisco. Not a bright idea, I know. but the buddha did it. So maybe I’ll become enlightened.

9

I love it that there have been rich philosophers, poor philosophers, rich then poor philosophers, and… I don’t know if there have been that many poor then rich philosophers. But there probably are examples.

It’s good to see this thread. It is easy to get so caught up in American consumerism and flash. Poor is good. Poor is simple.

The song below helps me tear away from those needless desires. The fast pace of the song absolutely captures the feeling of the crazy consumerism madness that is America.

Band: System of a Down
Song Lyrics: Chic ´n´ Stu

[i]This ballgame’s in the refrigerator,
The door is closed,
The lights are out,
And the butter’s getting hard.

What a splendid pie,
Pizza-pizza pie,
Every minute, every second,
Buy, buy, buy, buy, buy,

Pepperoni and green peppers
Mushrooms, olive, chives,

[b]Need therapy, therapy,
Advertising causes need,

Well advertising’s got you on the run,
Need therapy, therapy advertising causes,
Well advertising’s got you on the run,
Advertising’s got you on the run,…[/b][/i]

10

It might be fun to try it internationally. But then again, it might be easier to live off the fat of America as a homeless dude. :wink:

11

What if he works in a factory that produces them? You’re not trying to alienate him further are you?..And you call yourself a communist.

12

Turn off the TV. Download some (free) software that blocks out the ads on web pages.

The Buddha lived as an ascetic, got skinny as a rail. This was useful information, because it led to his realization that living in an extreme way didn’t solve the problem of suffering. That’s when he basically said, f*** this and sat down under a tree to meditate, vowing not to get up until he’d figured it out. He came up with “The Middle Way” as a path to peace and equanimity in life. You don’t get too fat, you don’t get too skinny, you balance stuff. Easier said than done, I know.

Why San Francisco, anyway? It gets COLD. I’d go for LA or San Diego, the weather’s better.

13

I agree with Ingenium, the first thing is to kill your television, or better yet, sell it and get some bus fare.

14

Consumerism may kill the soul of some, but I believe the ultimate triumph is to live in a society such as America without being sucked into the wasteful desires.

It is freedom, after all, if there is such a thing. People can become enthralled with their wants to a point that nothing else matters. Who is to say this is a bad thing?

The key is to keep your wants in perspective. Once you get beyond food and shelter and clothing, everything you want is just fanciful toys. As long as you realize this, there is nothing wrong with wanting material wealth.

The key is realizing you are happy with little. Then everything beyond that is just cake. Communism is the way some rationalize this, but I would avoid such radical tyranny. People will never act in a way compatible with communism, and they shouldn’t be forced to. If some are too stupid and ignorant to excape from the desires of material wealth, that is their own fault. A system which gives you choice is a system that will allow you to find truth.

15

I have certainly been very very poor, and I think it sucks. There was a time years back when I was out of work for a long period and got this infected tooth- one side of my head was swollen up like a softball, and I was so broke I couldn’t afford $20 for penicillin (luckily a family member helped me out). Those days put a real fear of poverty in me and now I live far below my means.

Consumerism may suck, but in this civilization you need some money. Medical care isn’t free (sadly), and it sucks when you can’t afford a bus ride to hang with your friend. I agree with you about one thing- even at my poorest, I had food and a roof over my head. It wasn’t the best food and I feared that I would maybe end up out on the street, but even then I didn’t live under the crushing hopelessness that some people face. I knew if I could just dig my fingernails in and hold on I’d eventually find a job and things would turn around, and they did. Hopefully things will soon for you, too, kevconman.

16

Poverty and richness if completely dependent on your ability to be thankful and content with what you have.

It has nothing to do with money.

17

YES! We must TRIUMPH! We must fight the good fight!

18

I agree. While away this last week on a road trip, I was thinking about this thread. I was down at Venice Beach, California during part of my trip and it seemed like it would be a great experience to live homeless for a little while down there in the sun. But after a few days of truly considering it, I think a balance is more important.

For one… responsibility is the big issue. I personally cannot drop everything and go homeless and live the life of a vagabond. I have a wife, family (no kids yet) and community to which I am a part of. The immense joy I get from my wife being a part of my life will forever keep me ‘working’ to keep her happy and content. She is completely one with me and I am honored that she has chosen me to be a part of her life. I am honored to have the opportunity and responsibility to keep a roof over her head and food for her to eat.

Sorry about the rant about my wife. Anyway, you get the point…

I choose to have, what I believe is a balanced life of responsibility. I choose to have the responsibility of a mortgage, wife, community, etc. because of what I get out of them.

19

Today’s battle for the noble is a war against consumption as a virtuous activity. Stuff this rhetoric on terrorism, Muslims and the like, it is against consumerism as to where the war must begin!

20

As long as you don’t ask for a public handout, I’m fine with however you choose to live your life.