A thought: maybe I should tone down my social pontifications. I do subscribe to about 15 magazines though, mostly news journals. So it's hard not to start shouting when I notice over the period of a year or two an underlying current within worldwide problems.

Here's a more personal observation. Through my own eyes and experience, it seems to me that there are these huge social cliques. Rather than trying to act the way they feel is rational and with purpose (hence genuine), individuals try to fit perfectly within the stereotype of their group. People who party need to drink with reckless abandon and brag about it later. Computer geeks need to immerse themselves forever within virtual worlds. Gothics need to try to out-pierce each other. Potheads need to wear hemp and listen to their own type of music. Just about all of the mentioned categories would frown on the need for eating right and working out. Any sort of deviation, unless justified, leads to loss of respect within any of the groups.

What was ever wrong with moderation and trying to find your own best path to live? Sure, there is a need for unity, but restricting yourself to one way of thinking is downright conformity. The only benefit I can imagine from this is making life easier by not actually considering other options. But in no way is such a path genuine.

posted by Brett @ Tuesday, May 09, 2006