Mercurial

It is interesting how our society, tired of finding ways to amuse itself, has decided to become one giant trembling defenseless whining aggregate. Dave Pollard sums it up when quoting Gladwell's article in the New Yorker, where Mr. G says

I can go on more and say that this learned helplessness is part of the code of this society: kids not allowed to do anything not approved by the omniscient principal, corporations with a permanent CYA policy, a huge military and incredibly powerful country checking every purse in a plane, and so on.
This Learned Helplessness Syndrome is an interesting phenomenon. We gladly surrender our responsibility and entrepreneurship to others, our stewards, that although abusive and clearly taking every possible advantage from us, give an excuse for anything that goes out of control, take away the immense pain that is thinking responsibly and facing, courageously, whatever may happen.

Thus, when somebody else sues a company for making them fat, or lazy, they are being just a blatant example of what the society in which they live is: a bunch of serfs, lacking control over their lives, decisions, attitudes.
And the ones buying SUVs? Not even regaining control: They are being the most frightened of the bunch, getting a big car because they are afraid of everything: This is evident not only in the car industry, but in the pharmaceutics, diet, fitness, coaching and dating industries, to name but a few.
Everything has been decided for you: we know who you should talk to, how, when. We decide whether your pictures can be good, what to say, what to wear. We tell you that it is impossible to lose weight unless you subscribe to our own way of doing so, and of course you can not get a fulfilling job unless you agree to buy our enrichment tapes.

Of course, the answer to this comes by being unruly, rebelling from and confronting ideas, authorities and assumptions. Do stuff, even though you may be tagged as an anarchist, or unpatriotic. Think differently, even though it requires to stop watching Reality Slut II or whatever. Go to a place where your ideas can be debated, examined, and published. Dare to be an iconoclast.

Seeing how everybody loves to be told what to do, it is not surprising to have this presidency ruling this country: this society learned to be told what to do and think.

My friend the Russian was telling me that she hated the extreme control under which Americans live. That there is no freedom.
Beautiful, ain't it?
via Obvious