The future is here. It's just not widely distributed yet.

Brothers and Sisters,

It has all begun. We have made the leap. We've jumped out of the belly of this beast. Alas, where we land will still be within a yet greater beast. Much like Russian nesting dolls, we find ourselves immersed in many of these vast oppressive creatures. Our struggle does not end here.

We have fought the corporation from within and learned as much as we can. Now we continue the struggle to better ourselves and the world in a much broader and powerful way. The ideals and dreams that Peter, you and I share are the future. All we need to do is keep pushing them out there everyday and work to make them manifest.  

You can expect to hear much more from us. We hope to hear more from you. Things are getting more interesting on this adventure.

See you on the streets.

With vigilant solidarity,
Peter and Frank

The future is here. It's just not widely distributed yet.

Brothers and Sisters,

It has all begun. We have made the leap. We've jumped out of the belly of this beast. Alas, where we land will still be within a yet greater beast. Much like Russian nesting dolls, we find ourselves immersed in many of these vast oppressive creatures. Our struggle does not end here.

We have fought the corporation from within and learned as much as we can. Now we continue the struggle to better ourselves and the world in a much broader and powerful way. The ideals and dreams that Peter, you and I share are the future. All we need to do is keep pushing them out there everyday and work to make them manifest.  

You can expect to hear much more from us. We hope to hear more from you. Things are getting more interesting on this adventure.

See you on the streets.

With vigilant solidarity,
Peter and Frank

Resisting Mamihlapinatapai

We seem to keep having conversations that revolve around our ability to speak up and the hesitation that tends to occur before we do. Last night during one of these conversations, we found out there is a word used by a people native to an island on the southern most tip of south America, considered the worlds most succinct, that describes just that. Mamihlapinatapai. Don’t bother trying to pronounce it. Just know that it means: a look shared by two people, each wishing that the other would initiate something that they both desire but which neither wants to begin. I can not think of a greater tragedy than a circumstance which neither party voices that unspoken something especially if that desired something is noble in nature. I wish they had a word to describe the base desire shared between an entire people. There seems to be an undercurrent, a zietgiest, of something similar to Mamihlapinatapai throughout our society. There is so much we feel and think that goes tragically unsaid. Knowing that this inaction or silence is all too common and all too depressing sheds new perspective on those that do speak up and manifest that shared desire. Regardless of the immediate effect of the act of speaking up, the individual who has it within them to do so is nothing short of heroic.

Within this company we have been fortunate to meet just such an individual. In one of the most oppressive manifestations of a control system there is, a single man has undermined it deeply, and with his voice alone. The corporation is a system in which you are paid to do and say what you are told and refrain as best you can from deviating. Here, there is an infallible chain of command where you are expected to follow orders. We have heard it said in more than one meeting, “this is not a democracy”. There is even a moral/social framework which is unique to the business world. You cannot take the rules of your normal social interactions or even the language you use and apply them to your time there. Essentially they pay you to be someone else outright. This is simply a tactic of control. If they dictate what you do and create a culture which influences how you interact then they have control without you necessarily being aware of what is happening.

In my short lived experience in this corporate system, I have seen hope. Not just hope but hope manifest into action. A 'gentleman' (in the true sense of the word) and peer that I have had the pleasure to work with is that hope. He has influenced each of us through his persistent pursuit of truth and fairness to question what we are told. He does this in meetings, regardless of the attendees “ranks”, following email announcements and one on one with management, never wavering while retaining a respectful tone that he affords every human being.

His constant willingness to act, on what Frank and I both see as being wrong, but don’t always have the courage to speak up on, makes him a hero of mine deserving my support. The support I offer often comes in the form of our lunch hour discussions that reinforce this sentiment amongst a greater number of people. It is amazing the cascade effect we have seen over the years. People have quit their jobs to start their own businesses and pursue their happiness because of the resonating chain of events he has set off. I fear for a world that has a diminishing number of these unsung heroes. It would likely to be a world of robots bending over to the will of our corporate and various other overlords. Next time you feel something is wrong, I urge you to speak up because you have no idea the ramifications of that noble deed.

This conversation followed a brief meeting in which we were told about a seemingly ineffective call out campaign we were to waste our time with. The aforementioned individual made sure he didn’t let the unfairness of this directive go unsaid.

Peter [10:22 AM]:

There is always grumbling over what Ram has to say.

Frank [10:22 AM]:

Its stuff that needs to be said usually.

Peter [10:23 AM]:

I find the issue can be irrelevant as can who is right and wrong.

but the power comes from simply speaking up

offering resistance or another way. The less courageous can rally behind that persons courage and themselves be empowered.

Thats why when people get cheesed at ram i dont understand it. sure he draws meetings on a little but who cares.

He shows us all that this place is broken and we shouldnt just blindly obey our overlords

Frank [10:28 AM]:

Thats the thing, I feel as though most people would prefer to sit quietly while we are just told what to do rather than deal with any conflict or tension.

I don't know why that is, we seem to be conditioned to just accept things the way they are and not disrupt anything further.

Peter [10:31 AM]:

its kind of crazy that we understand struggle is growth yet we are content with status quo so we just nod and smile

Peter [10:33 AM]:

which is why outspoken people are integral to human survival against this beast.

Frank [10:33 AM]:

its true. We do seem to be able to see the problems when someone like Ram speaks out.

Frank [10:37 AM]:

Why do you think people require someone to speak up first before they do?

Peter [10:38 AM]:

Courage possibly. If you look at mob mentality it only takes one to throw a brick for the rest to get behind that

Frank [10:39 AM]:

I guess that’s it. Once someone else takes the first step into the unknown then everyone else can do so a bit easier.

I heard a good story about something like this recently

A friend of mine was on a bus and a guy got on who was way too drunk. He was harassing other people on the bus as he stumbled side to side. Almost immediately an older little lady stood up and went right up to him to tell him he was not allowed to do this.

He said almost immediately after she did that the guy sat right down and everyone started to jump in to reinforce that.

Peter [10:43 AM]:

that is awesome people were able to get behind this lady probably because they shared the belief that this guy should sit down and shut up. Which is interesting the idea that we need external validation that what we feel is right/acceptable then we are able to rally together to accomplish a goal

Frank [10:44 AM]:

That external validation part is funny. Its true though. Why would we need to have it confirmed that we are right, drunk people shouldn’t harass strangers and disrupt our ride.

Or, corporations shouldn't make us employees feel afraid or do unecessary work while paying improperly and treating us with less respect than we would otherwise demand in the “real world”.

Peter [10:46 AM]:

ya why do our moral compasses and our ability to determine right and wrong take a back seat EVER?

Its scary

Frank [10:47 AM]:

That’s a huge question.

We have lowered that on the list of priorities.

I agree it is scary. Especially when you take the time to think about how making money and being seen as a "good employee" is more important than being a good person and living happily.

Peter [10:50 AM]:

Its slavery putting someone else ie corporations before ourselves

Frank [10:51 AM]:

It is willful servitude. We have decided for the most part, we are not important enough to be ourselves and stay true to our beliefs but the system despite its massive flaws exists so therefore it supersedes us.

Peter [10:51 AM]:

I find it annoying people deal with binaries and see this as possibly the only way. They do not realize that they can still have a job and be happy. Humans can still progress and be happy. Happiness and productivity are not binary opposites

shoot i have a customer call then a call with andrew at 1130

I am about to willfully put this company before this awesome convo that is bettering my understanding.

I am disgusted because I know the struggle taking place will be won by my willful servitude. hHopefully that changes in a few weeks!

Frank [10:53 AM]:

haha well sometimes it has to be done to some extent. But we are working towards not having to do that

Peter [10:53 AM]:

ahhaha right right

Frank [10:55 AM]:

Its better to not beat ourselves up over our complacency because were it not for that bit of it in the first place we would not have found a new direction and be actively working on it and sharing with others.

But soon it will be gone and we will be an upgraded Ram, roaming the earth doing and saying what needs to be done and said.

Developing the ability to easily speak up is not an easy task. A few weeks ago I stood in line at a local grocery store, only to witness a mother push her young son and yell in anger over the fact that he had said a case of brand name pop was a $1.50. Somehow to this disgustingly mentally unsound woman a $1.50 for a case of pop was fine but, the fact that it was 5 dollars was justification to assault her kid in public. Something in me held me back from trying to give her some perspective. Her relationship with and the well being of her child should be worth more than this whole grocery store. I regret not speaking up. I regretted it especially when I noticed the cashier, bag lady and friend I was with all noticed the same wrong. What's worse, I walked away thinking over and over, "I should of done something or at the least said something." Imissed an opportunity. I believe awareness of that elephant in the room is common amongst those with the slightest ability to empathize and observe. Then why is there no action? I know I am not alone when I feel uncomfortable resisting doing what is right, that's just logical. However, I find myself fixated in regret asking questions such as, why does the resistance to do what's right exists? What I have realized is that regardless of the cause of the inaction the solution is within. Speak up. That is what Ram, the aforementioned coworker, has taught me. When something is wrong, silence is simply complacency. A couple well timed words, will prevent regret, help a child, or throw a major wrench into the corporate machine. Lets be ready for those opportunities. 

What's New?

Beside the basic necessities of survival, is the pursuit of happiness not the most sought after goal in life? Then why is it that human beings tend to put this quest aside for the most trivial of tasks? We as a western culture have lost the passion to be happy. What has led us to this contentment with misery, with drudgery? In an attempt to find happiness, I think it is imperative to combat the falsehoods that drive the overwhelming majority away from happiness.

I understand that happiness is a state of being technically able to be attained by any means. But I am not interested in attaining happiness, I wish to sustain it.

The 'pursuit of happiness' as an adventure in tracking and capturing happiness is seemingly no longer possible as there are blazed trails in which we are told will lead to happiness. We all follow these trails, consciously or not, only to find they are dead ends. Therefore, happiness is no longer achievable through the adventure of pursuit but, instead you must battle, battle hegemonic ideology, battle corruption, battle nonsensical logic.

A forty hour work week is the western standard for a full time employment when this is held up against the one hundred and sixty eight hour week it may not seem too intrusive however if we also subtract the seven hour a night sleep that leaves you with a mere eighty hours to pursue happiness. Remember this does not include the commute to and from work or any other misused time. There is something fundamentally wrong when we devote considerably less then half, in actuality a mere fraction of our time on this earth towards the agreed upon ultimate goal of life; happiness. The obvious argument would be that I have made the assumption that work and other uses of time to be in some way counter to happiness. I would refer to the subjectivity of happiness and how eating shit I suppose could lead to happiness for some but I find it hard to believe that the majority of the western culture is not only content but happy with being enslaved and stripped of their time, essentially eating shit. I will now take a moment to tip my hat to Bertrand Russel for his work In Praise of Idleness. Western culture in its entirety has condemned idleness and praised hard work, from the church to the state, idleness has been accompanied by Satan and mischief not happiness which is why the battle ahead is an uphill one, but one worth fighting.

In the below conversation we discuss the relationship between working and consuming and the affects that has on happiness.

Frank [1:35 PM]:
 I have been listening to this book, Walden. By Henry David Thoreau. Same guy that wrote on the
duty of civil disobiedience. Pretty awesome so far. Just talking about how we are slaves to things.
How we toil away so hard for little return. 
Peter [1:38 PM]:
ya i think that can be boiled down to our need to belong
we throw away logic just to have an ipod when there are other things better
Frank [1:42 PM]:
 very good point
 interesting take
 I agree
Frank [1:44 PM]:
 Actually he starts to get into that a bit. About clothing
 how close it is to us as creatures although not always necessary. But how we throw stuff away rather than patch it. How the more worn clothing is the more part of us it becomes. 
 It is pretty deep, I have to listen to it again to pull out the implications. But you added a new angle
I like. 
Peter [1:47 PM]:
it is very interesting our obsession with new
Frank [1:48 PM]:
it is. Trying to peel back the reason is interesting. 
 Status? Cohesion?
Peter [1:51 PM]:
ya most definitely not just one underlying motivation but definitely interesting boiling it down to the root causes
Frank [1:54 PM]:
You are right, it's a multitude of things. What would be really interesting is to take into 

consideration how important new things are to those root causes. Maybe even doing an experiment.Peter [1:57 PM]:
ya the concept of new would be hard to tackle
Because it covers absolutely everything
Frank [1:59 PM]:
 I guess I am more interested in the obsession with accumulating, and often discarding, large numbers of material things. 
 To sell ones very life in order to obtain these things is to me insane.
 But I guess here I am right. 
Peter [2:00 PM]:
ya it makes no sense
to work for so long and so hard to constantly refresh everything
its like companies grow and need new things fine
but im sure a buttload of them are refreshing for the sake of it
we refresh for the sake of it in many aspects of our lives
which really keeps us stagnant
Frank [2:01 PM]:
well put. It is a facade of fresh
Peter [2:01 PM]:
ya its weird i caught myself buying a book from chapters being like did i just spend 20 bucks on this when
i know its 1 dollar used in some awesome mom and pop book store
the value of fresh is the majority of the value we pay for
That's why if you stay one step behind technology you dont pay a 1000 for a ps3 when it launches but instead
200 bucks now
Frank [2:03 PM]:
and really, what did you miss? Its funny how conditioned we are to avoid stuff thats used. Like it is
dirty in some unholy harmful way. 
Peter [2:05 PM]:
ahahah ya
Frank [2:16 PM]:
But men labor under a mistake. The better part of the man is soon plowed into the soil for compost.
By a seeming fate, commonly called necessity, they are employed, as it says in an old book, laying up treasures which moth and rust will corrupt and thieves break through and steal. It is a fool's life, as they will find when they get to the end of it, if not before.
Peter [2:17 PM]:
ya once they catch that carrot thats always been infront of there face they realize it was just a carrot or worse
never even catch the carrot and just realize they chased nothing
Frank [2:22 PM]:
It is disturbing. But like most cults, knowing its a cult is not always enough to resist. I am going to throw you another quote from the book: Most men, even in this comparatively free country, through mere ignorance and mistake, are so occupied with the factitious cares and superfluously coarse labors of life that its finer fruits cannot be plucked by them. Their fingers, from excessive toil, are too clumsy and tremble too much for that. Actually, the laboring man has not leisure for a true integrity day by day; he cannot afford to sustain the manliest relations to men; his labor would be depreciated in the market. He has no time to be anything but a machine.

Working and consuming seem to be activities we spend a great deal of time doing. Evidently, the two are interrelated. If you are buying all the latest gadgets and have an obsession with the new and novel, you quickly require better paying work in order to fuel this process. I suppose the big question here is why? Why do we engage in this process? Why do we believe it is the only way to live and more importantly to be happy?I think if any one of us took a couple minutes to meditate deeply on our day to day actions, we will find a great deal of what we do is automatic and in actuality detrimental to our true happiness. Too often, as the cliché goes, we are our own worst enemy.

As aforementioned sometimes knowing you are in a cult is not always enough to get out. If being aware is not enough then what is the next step in bettering yourself and moving towards sustaining happiness? In my relatively short lived journey I am beginning to understand it's about breaking habits that I have reinforced with the help of external forces. These habits include the obsession with new and the demonizing of old or used. If I am to break free from this stagnant constant refresh of new and move towards something better, habits will need to be broken. This task is not a flip of the switch. Action against our norm, not to mention societies', is not an easy task. Which is why I am taking small steps in the right direction. I challenge any and all to refrain from buying something new and instead see the value in something old. Specifically, borrow the next book you read. Reach out to a friend for a recommendation and note the value in this human interaction opposed to a store clerk exchanging currency. Reduce your material consumption. Start taking the wall of detrimental habits down brick by brick.

Job Title: Aspiring Human Being

Good Afternoon World,

I had a strange moment this morning I thought I would share. I was walking to work, on the last leg of my often profoundly eye opening journey, and I suddenly became overwhelmed with the compulsion to write myself a note. I suppose I had been day dreaming of leaving the company and, as I often do, started visualizing the process. I just began typing a note on my phone, to in some way, answer the stupid, all too common, question, "What will you do?" or "What do you do?" This will be an answer to both myself and everyone else who asks me those questions following my departure from this company and as I move along through my adventure:

"I am going to learn to talk to strangers, enjoy it and do it more often. I going to lose the fear to fail when the task is noble and I am passionate. I am going to develop a sane relationship between my material needs and security and the real reasons for living. I am going to build and find community. I am going to expand my mind forever. I am going to help others. I am going to develop an unconditional love for life."

That's what I am going to do and that's what I am doing. It is never complete and never will be. The list will only grow.

Anyway, I wanted to share that with you. I think that question is so ridiculous and narrow minded. It is telling that this is one of the main questions we ask each other. I had struggled with answering that in the past and I think now I will refuse to answer the question with a simple economic answer describing my job. Having a note like this to read every day will help me solidify a proper answer and also make it be true.


Regards,

Frank
Aspiring True Human Being

A seed a stranger gave to me and planted on my tongue

Lunch time conversation really has become our battleground of choice. It typically begins as a time to just breathe deep and try to forget where you are but almost inevitably evolves into a skirmish between the forces of bland shallow filth-speak and some decent conversation and potential laughs.

Today we found ourselves smothered in what can be best described as ignorant, boarding racist, garbage speech from a woman who sounds like a slightly punch drunk wanna-be gangster who believes the misuse of a dictionary will help her sound ‘more smart like’.

Her loudspeaker of a face dominated most of the conversation that began with a simple inquiry into a friend’s trip to the Bahamas. She wanted to explain to death the fact that the Bahamas has an airport which is disproportionately shitty in comparison to what she believed to be a wealthy island. We did what we could to dispel her misconception of one of many poor island nations that have multinational resorts funneling money out of the country. She couldn’t handle that and quickly began a diatribe about some rich friend of hers. This is a typical tactic she uses to woo and awe us into enjoying her obnoxious, fat headed presence. Here is the conversation that followed.

Peter [1:33 PM]:

 we are too nice

 we make one good point and the conversation is gobbled up by gross people

Frank [1:33 PM]:

 hahaha

Peter [1:33 PM]:

 with a hollow fact

then sequayed into a useless story about a rich friend

 ya we listen too much ahahha

Frank [1:34 PM]:

 she is always mentioning her fucking rich friends.

Peter [1:34 PM]:

 ahahhaha

Frank [1:34 PM]:

 boring. Next time I need to just start a side conversation overtop;

 I am not sitting through another rich friend story.

Peter [1:36 PM]:

 ahahhahah

 ya we gotta avoid that at all costs

 "do you understand that the people that go there are primarily richer than most people" - in regards to the state of the airport which she is furious there is only a wendys and no duty free

 when if you look outside you see people in huts

 unreal

As I was writing a response something clicked in my head as a colleague went to sit down at the desk behind me. I engaged him in what began as simple small talk. I reached out to someone I sit near and never spoke to. I don’t know why I had never spoken to him. The conversation evolved quickly as we both realized we shared viewpoints and a disdain for this environment and the world that bred it. We spoke about the shallow nature of this culture and the misleading notion that this corporate servitude is the path to happiness. We discussed our fears and limitations. We pondered our conditioning and how we can get outside this to help others. We even engaged one of the high five brothers from the other day. We may have even planted a seed in there somewhere. I was inspired and filled with renewed hope. I walked down to Peter’s desk to tell him. 

Frank [2:02 PM]:

 its brutal!

 Sorry, I started one of those conversations I wanted to before

Peter [2:03 PM]:

 no worries

Peter [2:14 PM]:

 it is amazing seeing others work through ideas like that

 especially if their eyes are opening for the first time

 its like giving birth to a real conscious human

Frank [2:20 PM]:

 its so much fun

 taking them the next steps that they are afraid to ask why

 Rob was talking about how his favourite thing is going to the bar and getting wasted and blowing like 600 bucks.

 Then I asked him to stop and think if it’s the getting wasted and blowing 600 bucks that you enjoy or the crowds of people and interactions.

 he stopped to think for a good few seconds which with him is an eternity

Peter [2:24 PM]:

 ya man

 you witnessed human growth

 its perfect

Frank [2:24 PM]:

 hopefully its not just shrugged off.

Peter [2:25 PM]:

 it may be. Hell on some level I do that myself

 but the more constant the message the deeper it seeps in

 those soulless advertisers taught us that

Frank [2:27 PM]:

 hahaha thats so true. Proven also by our wonderful route learning school system

Peter [2:27 PM]:

 ahahha real things of beauty

Peter’s sarcasm was clear. But I had experienced something of true beauty. My day and likely life in some form or another was changed by stretching myself just outside my norm.

The conversation I had with this previously unknown intellectual and spiritual comrade drew in two more people after it started up again. We had at least 3 others listening while working. I could not have asked for better results. The conversation my brother and I had inspired me to speak up. My speaking up inspired others to engage and tackle these problems of modernity. We made progress and we reinforced our convictions. Imagine we could do this thing once a day. If we all could speak up just a little more we would realize we are not alone. The world is full of fat heads but it is also full of beautiful, inspiring people. We can’t shy away from confrontation and conversation.

I returned home with renewed exuberance. I sat with one of my roommates and listened to records and discussed all matters of life. We both learned a lot from each other. And the waves keep resonating out.

Do me a favor; just a small one. Take a couple minutes and watch this poetry reading.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzY2-GRDiPM

 If you catch the message near the end, take some steps to implement it in your life. I'll leave you with this quote from Saul Williams' song, Talk to Strangers. It might just help a few things click.   

Talk to strangers when the family fails and friends lead you astray
When Buddha laughs and Jesus weeps and it turns out God is gay
'Cause angels and messiahs, love, can come in many forms
In the hallways of your projects or the fat girl in your dorm
And when you finally take the time to see what they're about
Perhaps you find them lonely or their wisdom trips you out

Maybe you'll find the cycles end you back where you began
But come this time around you'll have someone to hold your hand
Who prays for you who's there for you who sends you love and light
Exposes you to parts of you that you once tried to fight
And come this time around you'll choose to walk a different path
You'll embrace what you turned away and cry at what you laughed
'Cause that's the only way we're going to make it through this storm
Where ignorance is common sense and senselessness the norm
And flags wave high above the truth and the two never touch
And stolen goods are overpriced and freedom costs too much
And no one seems to recognize the symbols come to life
The bitten apple on the screen and Jesus had a wife
And she was his Messiah like that stranger may be yours
Who holds a subtle knife that carves through worlds like magic doors
And that's what I've been looking for, the bridge from then to now
Just watching BET like, "What the fuck, son? This is foul."
But that square box don't represent the sphere that we live in
The earth is not a flat screen, I ain't trying to fit in
But this ain't for the underground, this here is for the sun
A seed a stranger gave to me and planted on my tongue
And when I look at you, I know I'm not the only one
As a great man once said,
"There's nothing more powerful
than an idea
who's time
has come."

Oppression? High Five!

As is becoming customary during the lunch hour, Peter and I broach topics which we feel should be of interest to rational compassionate minds. We look to both understand the opposing points of view and change them. Peter made a point while gesturing towards a tv, “the youth of North Africa and the Middle East are proving human’s are still willing to fight for what’s right.” There was a split moment of silent deliberation that ended in a disgusting spectacular fashion.

 

One of our collegues piped up, “I don’t care what goes on over there. They just need to find a way to get my gas prices back down. I’d be for bombing everything if we could just keep the oil.”

This was concurred with an over the head high five by the guy sitting next to him.

 To be fair, I understand shock comedy is in itself a tool for encouraging analysis. However, this was simple, brutal honesty. Here is the conversation that followed that lunch hour.

Frank [1:05 PM]:

 thats what we are up against.

Peter [1:10 PM]:

 yup

 set in their ways

 dont worry they will have mid life crisis

 or regret on death bed

Frank [1:11 PM]:

 I know but I want to save those ones too.

 I am spiteful in some ways but I have a hard time labeling lost causes

Peter [1:12 PM]:

 but you have to manage your time productively

Frank [1:12 PM]:

 they are a source of strength for evil in the world but they have been misled. They are the raised racists.

 this is true. But it takes no extra time to draw lines at lunch tables.

 to slide in questions

Peter [1:12 PM]:

 oh absolutely

Frank [1:13 PM]:

 thats what I can do in my everyday

 change my life to fit and change the minds I can

Peter [1:13 PM]:

 Fighting blissful (ignorant) happiness is hard

 but worth pecking at

 your going to face a lot of ignorance and confrontation but they just dont understand

Frank [1:15 PM]:

 which is fine. It’s a win-win when you think about it. It hones my skills. Reveals the heartlessness of their position. Reinforces and boosts the views of those who are already leaning my way.

Peter [1:16 PM]:

 for sure

Frank [1:16 PM]:

 I have the morally superior position

Peter [1:16 PM]:

 very true

Frank [1:17 PM]:

 well I mean you can argue the subjectivity of morality but when it comes down to it, people look bad and feel bad when they outright say, I would rather spend 15 cents less on gas than have people live in freedom

Peter [1:18 PM]:

 ya you change the outlook people unconsciously have by forcing them to verbalize it

Frank [1:18 PM]:

 for sure

Peter [1:18 PM]:

 and if they ignorantly cling to it they will be ostracized for being assholes

 or high fived

Frank [1:20 PM]:

 next time I think I will take a very serious approach. Just ask one question, Can you actually imagine what it would be like to have your family blown up over a dispute for oil?

Peter [1:21 PM]:

 ya when you try to get them into the other perspective it should shake the cobwebs loose

Frank [1:23 PM]:

 it should. If it doesn't at all, they have a damn strong defense mechanism or are sociopaths

Peter [1:23 PM]:

 ya however the hegemonic view is undoubtedly one that could only be held by sociopath

 they have created a nation of sociopaths

Frank [1:24 PM]:

 haha I just wrote something similar to Paul.

 we think alike. It’s a culture of learned sociopaths

Peter [1:24 PM]:

 for sure its scary how good they are

 like i am/was a sociopath im just smart enough to realize it and rebel against it

 smart people fall victim its sad

Frank [1:25 PM]:

 dont believe they are done moving things in that direction. We haven't reached the end game.

 smart people join cults.

 They use brainwashing, cult techniques.

 Consumer culture provides a source of meaning. Its all about filling that void. Displace community and organic culture and replace it with one which drives consumption. 

 creating needs and wants is advertising. Define beauty and capture the courtship rituals and displays.

 Define happiness as inextricably linked to products. friendship is over beer. Entertainment is on a screen.

 What we share is what we believe and what is thus real. Intangibles are defined by us. We create meaning in symbols. They have captured these and so to belong you must believe or at least reinforce the system

Peter [1:32 PM]:

 ya they are damn good at what they do its super scary

Frank [1:32 PM]:

 but when it is broken down, it is simple

 it is an economic hijacking of all that is human. The capital motive is the fuel for it all. What is enough?

Peter [1:35 PM]:

 ya people have broken down what it means to be human and are capitalizing on every aspect of it its sooo effing sad

 cause it seems like it works but its like eating junk food

 your full. the hunger void is gone but your not healthy

 no nutrients

Frank [1:36 PM]:

 well put.

 And the symptoms are brutal and sad. So much pain for what?

Peter[1:37 PM]:

 so much pain for a few people to have a bunch of stuff but still they are susceptible to that pain they cause

Again, we find our way of thinking butting up against the general sentiment. Where is the best place to battle this? Where can we start to shake people out of the stupor? Where did they learn this malicious indifference?