Optimism and Reality: Goldfish21 Response to me

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When it comes to my health I refuse to be like ASS-P. As for employment I'm calling it quits on that. I'm not playing someone else's game by someone else's rules I can't play by and don't wish to play by. If an opportunity does come my way I will not pass it up. ASS-P let his health turn to s**t by going to MCds and stressing about college and employment. If one is eating like s**t and is becoming so consumed by getting employed it is to one's detriment its not worth it especially if I have one life to live. Millions of years from now I will be dust and so will be the employers so in the end does it really matter? Rich or poor we all end up in the same place. Growing one's food does have its own appeal.

Yeah, sure, rich or poor we all die.. but just in case the human experience is the only real one we get to have I’d rather work for, earn, and have a life of adundance and excitement than accept abject poverty as my permanent existence. To each their own, I suppose.

In other words, either play the game or be in abject poverty with no 3rd way?

No. Anyone is free to break the rules and make their own f*****g game. Be an entrepreneur, investor, online celebrity, literally code your own game.. no one is bound to employment income in the 9-5 rat race in order to have financial success in this world, especially not now with the advantages people have with internet access. Or play the game and play it well to win, but there are many 3rd ways. Stop pretending like the ONLY way anyone has ever achieved financial success, independence, or a life of abundance is by getting a job and working for the man. It just isn't true.

And therein lies the issue right here. You seem to think the only kind of success is financial. What about living a life full of measure and authenticity? What about being yourself and being true to who you are? What about spirituality?

GF, these are not 3rd ways at all. They're all different options to play the game in which one has to sell is soul. What is beyond the game itself? That's the problem GF. You see choices. Yes, technically there are choices but they're choices within pre-selected parameters.

I spoke to someone a while back and this is what he told me

There was a car commercial a few years ago that said, “On the road of life, there are passengers, and there are drivers.” The message: “Buy our car and be a driver, not a passenger.” What they didn’t say is that you were still in the same car, whether a driver or passenger; and you were still driving on a road constructed by someone else, leading to a destination determined by someone else. That’s the American version of “finding your true self” and “being an individual” — just as long as you meet the minimum social requirements of an acceptable “true self” or “individual” as determined by others, of course.
The one thing they would never say? “Get out of the car, walk away from the road, take your own path across all that wild country around you.""

What good is all of this tech including the internet if we as humanity are losing our souls in the process and we're becoming caricatures, soulless, fake, and plastic? We have gained a lot but yet we have lost a lot as well. Our world is fake and plastic. There is no authenticity here.

So then why are you complaint about others’ metrics of success and the game you refuse to play if you’re not interested in financial, material, or experiential wealth that costs money in our economy to pay for?

Why aren’t you well on your way to being a self fulfilled Monk or something? Whatever that something may be outside of obtaining financial wealth and the freedom of choice it affords one within the game. Why not spend your time and energy being whoever and whatever it is you deem to be a successful life path vs complaining about others criteria for success and reaffirming your position that you’re not interested in playing along? What good does that latter do for the former?

Have you decided on your own criteria for a life well lived? Are you living, or working towards living, that life? Why or why not?

I never thought about the monk lifestyle my friend.

GF, thing is though the world presents employment and running one's own business as though it is the end all be all and it encompasses the entire scope of life. You asked about why wasn't I on my way to becoming a self-fulfilled monk or something. I never really thought of that especially when I was younger. Therein lies the issue, why didn't I. Cause the monk lifestyle or anything outside of employment (self or otherwise) was never presented. My HS counselors and middle school counselors, parents and other adults that had authority back in the day when I was younger never presented that as a valid choice.

Are there any choices outside of the capitalistic game itself? Yes, but they're not really advertised or presented that much. Employment and playing the game has more emphasis then that.

I brought up the example of the car commercial. It presents it as though one has the choice of being a driver or passenger like the guy I spoke to says and nothing else. It never presents a third way. Which is to be neither one and metaphorically run into the woods like he says. If I'm the driver, like he says I am driving on the roads built by others, planned by others with laws and rules designated by those in charge. Point is a. we're presented with choice but only a certain range of choices is presented. b. when one peels back the layers one doesn't have as much choice as one really thinks. One's choices actually are limited within our capitalistic system. The Simpsons present it well. One has the choice between Kang and Kodos. The idea that we're in control of our destiny, we have all of the limitless choices and opportunities and life is what we make it is over-hyped and an illusion. What we are in our society is but a cog in a machine in which I as a cog and you as a cog have very limited say in it.

The problem for me is limitations are like remaining static for me. I want freedom, and I'm sure many others want it.
I am personally disappointed I have to go to therapy for "teachings" so I can just "deal" with the world, where ultimately the best fulfillment is earned when you fulfill on your own, yet that's not possible for people like me

The third option has been presented.. unplug from The Matrix, my friend, and relax in your world of indifference about material and monetary things.

One has to learn how to play by the rules before one can successfully rebel against the rules.

That's not true. All you have to do is learn what the rules are to know whether or not you're willing & wanting to play the game. You don't have to pass go or collect $200 to decide to be a subsistence farmer, a hermit, a squatter, hippie commune member, or a monk etc. You can just be & do those things instead. No one's stopping anyone.

No one's stopping you.

But what you've listed is beset with difficulties. Difficulties which are unanticipated should you not know what the "rules of the game" are.

See?

See how GF over-simplifies everything?

I feel Goldfish has good intentions. I feel he wants people to succeed. He found a method which has given him success.

Of course, he can be more diplomatic about how he presents his advice---but that's not Goldfish. He feels diplomacy dilutes the impact of his advice; whereas I believe diplomacy is necessary for advice to be fruitful to many; I know I don't like to have somebody ram things down my throat.

Some of this "method" involves the avoidance of thinking about the potential "pitfalls" of actions. It involves "taking the plunge," so to speak.

In my life, there have been times when I had to "not think" of possible negative consequences which might cause me anxiety. I had to "take the plunge," and confront the anxiety head on.

There have been times when I've succeeded; and there have been times when I have failed. But I believe would have suffered worse, in general, for not trying.

Sure, 80% of Autistic people might be unemployed; but, I thought of myself as, possibly, the 20% who will be employed, and "went with it." I knew I had to become independent of my mother. And I knew I couldn't stay dependent on others for life. I am fortunate that I've been able to make my adaptations, and succeed (somewhat).

Sometimes, people do have to take risks in life. And, at least, think about the possible positive outcomes vis-à-vis the negative ones. I don't find this to be the "American" ethos or whatever.

It should be noted that I'm not an advocate of "positive thinking."

Um, what could be simpler than choosing to live a Monk's lifestyle?

Want for nothing.
Keep everything super simple, wardrobe included.
Don't worry about material and worldly things.
Do physical labour to pass the time.
Maybe grow a garden or brew beer if you're so inclined.
Say some prayers.
Don't say much else, ever.

Can't be a whole lot else to factor in considering their whole schtick is to keep things as simple as possible.

Here's One with everything to have while you ponder: