NationStates Jolt Archive


What are the young people doing?

Starps
07-02-2006, 06:12
Hmmm, now that I have your attention...no, honestly. I see this happening in my own school now, just people being stoners in the hallway, people talking about the most random topics, wasting their lives. I'm sure that some of the people on NS probably fall into one of those "categories", but why don't more people try and make something of themselves? Why do they let themselves fall into pieces, especially while they're teenagers?

Ex: About 1/5 of the people in my orchestra have missed school for drug/alcohol rehab, or they do pot on weekends and drink on weekdays, and just don't do anything useful.

Wonder what sort of comments I'll receive on this thread, if any...
The Emperor Fenix
07-02-2006, 06:13
Given that our galaxy is doomed to destruction when it collides with the andromeda thus assuring our ultimate destruction and the destruction of everything we produce, Define useful...
Starps
07-02-2006, 06:15
Given that our galaxy is doomed to destruction when it collides with the andromeda thus assuring our ultimate destruction and the destruction of everything we produce, Define useful...

Maybe useful isn't the right word. Neither is productive. How about just not screwing around, and they could not piss off their parents or the people around them as much? Although they do tell funny stories about their weekends. Hmmmm.
Sumamba Buwhan
07-02-2006, 06:19
I smoked pot, drank alcohol, did acid, mushrooms and speed while in high school and had the third highest grade point average in the school (although it wasn't hard, being a public school in a poor neighborhood).

After HS was over I moved from state to state all over the west coast and got odd jobs just having fun for 5 years (I was homeless more than once and had gone to county jail for two weeks once for growing mushrooms). Then I went to school and got a Bachelors when I finally decided I wanted more financial stability. I now own a house and have a good paying job and am getting married to a gorgeous women.

Never underestimate what people can do, even after they seemed to have screwed up their lives. Sometimes people don't want to follow what society tells them is the only way to live your life.
The Emperor Fenix
07-02-2006, 06:19
I'm in between 9 books ranging from a history of Chairman Mao to a book of interesting Neurological cases by Oliver Sacks, with Battle Royale and a Aldous Huxley thrown in for good measure among others.

On the production side i'm writing a few things and trying to kick this new computer into shape, i'm also about to start on a skyscraper, i like skyscrapers and had the greatest idea for one in a pizza restaraunt... and it has nothing to do with pizza, which is a bonus.

Thats enough needless info for now.

PS. Despite this, i shall ultimately amount to nothing.
Colodia
07-02-2006, 06:20
They do nothing but fuel my narcissism (Ironically, I know I spelled that wrong).
Lacadaemon
07-02-2006, 06:20
What is it with the protestant work ethic? I mean how can people subscribe to it, it's just so depressing.

The entire point of life is to have as much fun as possible before you die.
Voorheesia
07-02-2006, 06:22
Because being a teenager is the time when you are supposed to do stupid, stupid, stoopid things and get away with it, the time when you are suppose to make lots of shitty mistakes so that later, when you have matured, you aren't such an idiot/stoner/screw up
Starps
07-02-2006, 06:23
I smoked pot, drank alcohol, did acid, mushrooms and speed while in high school and hot the third highest grade point average in the school (although it wasn't hard, being a public school in a poor neighborhood).

After HS was over I moved from state to state all over teh west coast and got odd jobs just having fun for 5 years (I was homeless more than once and had gone to county jail for two weeks once for growing mushrooms). Then I went to school and got a Bachelors when I finally decided I wanted more financial stability. I now own a house and have a good paying job and am getting married to a gorgeous women.

Never underestimate what people can do, even after they seemed to have screwed up their lives. Sometimes people don't want to follow what society tells them is the only way to live your life.

I'm not underestimating everyone...you say you still did fairly well, but I just don't like seeing old friends just throwing away their lives. Like literally. But you have a point, I don't know everything about these people. And I'm not trying to judge EVERYONE that have done drugs/had alcohol at some point in their lives.

Thank you though.
Saint Curie
07-02-2006, 06:23
Maybe useful isn't the right word. Neither is productive. How about just not screwing around, and they could not piss off their parents or the people around them as much? Although they do tell funny stories about their weekends. Hmmmm.

I think the mentality reset button must have malfunctioned on your last reincarnation. If you yourself are young, it should be self-evident to you why they would want to piss of their parents and the people around them.

To somebody emerging from adolescence, there can be a fierce impetus to project some kind of standing in the pack. When you're young, you think beer, weed, and partying will help you do that.

Age brings the wisdom that these things must be enjoyed as an end to themselves...
Starps
07-02-2006, 06:24
I just don't see where the drugs have to come in. I'm not exactly the most hard-working person ever...it's 11:30 at night here, haven't done any homework, studied for any tests tomorrow, I'm online chatting to people.

Yeah, I'm probably a prude. Eh.
Lunatic Goofballs
07-02-2006, 06:25
Hmmm, now that I have your attention...no, honestly. I see this happening in my own school now, just people being stoners in the hallway, people talking about the most random topics, wasting their lives. I'm sure that some of the people on NS probably fall into one of those "categories", but why don't more people try and make something of themselves? Why do they let themselves fall into pieces, especially while they're teenagers?

Ex: About 1/5 of the people in my orchestra have missed school for drug/alcohol rehab, or they do pot on weekends and drink on weekdays, and just don't do anything useful.

Wonder what sort of comments I'll receive on this thread, if any...

The world needs ditch diggers too. :)
Starps
07-02-2006, 06:26
Upbringing also affects what you do. I'm born to fairly strict Asian parents, but somehow I'm not like a lot of the other Asian kids that go to my school. I don't care about my grades as much, I don't kill myself studying for example, and I actually do go out and have fun. Maybe I'm just sheltered. Let's say that for now. I'm a sheltered child. Bleh.
Starps
07-02-2006, 06:27
Yeah, I'm not asking for perfection in the world. I think this whole thread was just kinda a rhetorical question and a way for me to vent, but it's nice seeing how other people feel. And helping to humble myself as well.
THE LOST PLANET
07-02-2006, 06:31
Glad to see nothings changed since I was in school.


The world didn't end when we took over, it'll likely continue to spin around the sun after we hand over the reins.
Starps
07-02-2006, 06:34
Glad to see nothings changed since I was in school.


The world didn't end when we took over, it'll likely continue to spin around the sun after we hand over the reins.

It seems like a lot of people on NS like to talk about the end of the world :) I don't school will ever really change, except for what people wear and the contant upgrading of technology.
H N Fiddlebottoms VIII
07-02-2006, 06:35
My problem isn't what the young people are doing, it is what they aren't doing. For one thing, they aren't being as careless with their wallets as I would like, petty theft is a tricky enough business without having to play grab ass to get your wallet.
Another thing the young people aren't doing is gambling as freely, which makes my practiced skills at rigging coin tosses and cheating at poker even more useless than usually.
Goddamn young people, blowing their cash on drugs and booze. How the Hell am I supposed to profit from my immorality then? And before you suggest the obvious, let me remind you that I am morally opposed to the idea of perpetrating the sins of capitalism by exploiting the base desires of others for profit.
Starps
07-02-2006, 06:36
I love refreshing sarcasm. And if it's the truth, well, how nice to hear another voice from another corner of the world. *shifty eyes*
The Emperor Fenix
07-02-2006, 06:37
My problem isn't what the young people are doing, it is what they aren't doing. For one thing, they aren't being as careless with their wallets as I would like, petty theft is a tricky enough business without having to play grab ass to get your wallet.
Another thing the young people aren't doing is gambling as freely, which makes my practiced skills at rigging coin tosses and cheating at poker even more useless than usually.
Goddamn young people, blowing their cash on drugs and booze. How the Hell am I supposed to profit from my immorality then? And before you suggest the obvious, let me remind you that I am morally opposed to the idea of perpetrating the sins of capitalism by exploiting the base desires of others for profit.
Well obviously you have to move with the times, gain new skills. Drink Spiking, High School Drug Spiking, there's a whole world of immorality you've yet to explore.
Lacadaemon
07-02-2006, 06:39
Actually, by all accounts, the youth of today are remarkably straight laced compared to when I was in highschool.

No wonder they are so depressed.
Starps
07-02-2006, 06:41
Actually, by all accounts, the youth of today are remarkably straight laced compared to when I was in highschool.

No wonder they are so depressed.

I wouldn't say ALL accounts, but yes, quite a few. Heh. I blame it on SAD.
THE LOST PLANET
07-02-2006, 06:44
My problem isn't what the young people are doing, it is what they aren't doing. For one thing, they aren't being as careless with their wallets as I would like, petty theft is a tricky enough business without having to play grab ass to get your wallet.
Another thing the young people aren't doing is gambling as freely, which makes my practiced skills at rigging coin tosses and cheating at poker even more useless than usually.
Goddamn young people, blowing their cash on drugs and booze. How the Hell am I supposed to profit from my immorality then? And before you suggest the obvious, let me remind you that I am morally opposed to the idea of perpetrating the sins of capitalism by exploiting the base desires of others for profit.Too bad...

Selling booze and drugs is a tried and true way to pay your way through college...
Infoclypse Industries
07-02-2006, 06:44
I read on average A book a day, on subjects ranging from crap fantasy to Astrophysics. I plan on devising a means to permanently afix my name somewhere in the universe so that all future generatins will be able to look into the sky and say "Wow that <Name with-held pending spectacular placement in eternal stars> sure was one Egotistical bastard". until the ned of time...at least
IL Ruffino
07-02-2006, 18:20
Hmmm, now that I have your attention...no, honestly. I see this happening in my own school now, just people being stoners in the hallway, people talking about the most random topics, wasting their lives. I'm sure that some of the people on NS probably fall into one of those "categories", but why don't more people try and make something of themselves? Why do they let themselves fall into pieces, especially while they're teenagers?

Ex: About 1/5 of the people in my orchestra have missed school for drug/alcohol rehab, or they do pot on weekends and drink on weekdays, and just don't do anything useful.

Wonder what sort of comments I'll receive on this thread, if any...
You sterotypical sterotyper! typos? meh. must be the weed..

I've noticed most of the stoners are good with computers. yay! heh, im studyn programing yo. so anywayz whut abt thoze poodles ing the mtv commercials?!
Dakini
07-02-2006, 18:25
You know, you never really have a chance to be a complete idiot/slacker again like you do when you're young. Once you start getting real responsabilities and the like it's all over.

Enjoy it while you can.
Dakini
07-02-2006, 18:26
I read on average A book a day, on subjects ranging from crap fantasy to Astrophysics. I plan on devising a means to permanently afix my name somewhere in the universe so that all future generatins will be able to look into the sky and say "Wow that <Name with-held pending spectacular placement in eternal stars> sure was one Egotistical bastard". until the ned of time...at least
If you consider that at all possible, you haven't been reading enough books on astrophysics.
Mariehamn
07-02-2006, 18:27
I just looked up "emo" on wiki because I'm a red-neck hick who is completely ignorant.
All my friends are emo.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

But, really, I love stoners, alcholics, and all of the people "wasting" their lives.
Eventually, they'll be worth something. Until then, I'll continue profiting off of their sloth aspect.
Kzord
07-02-2006, 18:31
Hmmm, now that I have your attention...no, honestly. I see this happening in my own school now, just people being stoners in the hallway, people talking about the most random topics, wasting their lives. I'm sure that some of the people on NS probably fall into one of those "categories", but why don't more people try and make something of themselves? Why do they let themselves fall into pieces, especially while they're teenagers?

Ex: About 1/5 of the people in my orchestra have missed school for drug/alcohol rehab, or they do pot on weekends and drink on weekdays, and just don't do anything useful.

Wonder what sort of comments I'll receive on this thread, if any...

I can understand your worries about drugs and alcohol, but "talking about random topics" is hardly a crime. People should be allowed to choose their own subjects of conversation!
Kanabia
07-02-2006, 18:52
Hmmm, now that I have your attention...no, honestly. I see this happening in my own school now, just people being stoners in the hallway, people talking about the most random topics, wasting their lives. I'm sure that some of the people on NS probably fall into one of those "categories", but why don't more people try and make something of themselves? Why do they let themselves fall into pieces, especially while they're teenagers?

Because it was fun.

You watch, in 5-10 years, quite a few of these "stoners" will have their lives on track. You might even end up working for one. Haha.
Kanabia
07-02-2006, 18:53
You know, you never really have a chance to be a complete idiot/slacker again like you do when you're young. Once you start getting real responsabilities and the like it's all over.

Enjoy it while you can.

That's right. :)
Revasser
07-02-2006, 19:07
But, really, I love stoners, alcholics, and all of the people "wasting" their lives.
Eventually, they'll be worth something. Until then, I'll continue profiting off of their sloth aspect.

People wasting their lives rock. In actual fact, they're enjoying their lives, more often than not. Seems like they've got their priorities right, to me.
Liverbreath
07-02-2006, 19:23
Ex: About 1/5 of the people in my orchestra have missed school for drug/alcohol rehab, or they do pot on weekends and drink on weekdays, and just don't do anything useful.

Wonder what sort of comments I'll receive on this thread, if any...

If you put things into their proper perspective, and by way of contrast, compared to the time around 1970 you would have found that close to zero would ever miss a day for rehab, and the number of entire school populations doing pot and drinking on weekends would probably be closer to half of them, mabe more.
While your school could be an exception, if this is representative of the school systems in large urban areas, I would consider it an encouraging sign.
Luporum
07-02-2006, 19:26
Young people are doing the same thing "Old people" were doing when they were young. The only thing that has changed is your perspective of the matter.
The Doors Corporation
07-02-2006, 20:03
I'm a young people, and I'm doing NOTHING. no girls, slow college, two part time jobs, uh ayup. I bored. well this could just be because the past 48 hours have been my first two days off in a LONG time so I have no idea what to do
Pure Metal
07-02-2006, 20:10
Hmmm, now that I have your attention...no, honestly. I see this happening in my own school now, just people being stoners in the hallway, people talking about the most random topics, wasting their lives. I'm sure that some of the people on NS probably fall into one of those "categories", but why don't more people try and make something of themselves? Why do they let themselves fall into pieces, especially while they're teenagers?

because real/grown-up life is stressful and boring. wanting to get there any faster is just weird... staving it off and enjoying a lack of responsibility and enjoying knowing whats round the corner... thats far more fun :)

"making something of yourself" can come later... plenty of time in life.