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comment by nowaypablo
nowaypablo  ·  3780 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: "You're Doing Great Work, It's Just...You Aren't Trying Very Hard."

>"I wanna go to medical school and see where it takes me!"

>"Wow, how nice! Do you have a field of interest?"

>"HAHAHA. No. I mean, I'm going to go to med school, find the cutest guy, then marry him and drop out."

>"Hah right, nice."

>"No no, I'm serious, that's what my mom did with my dad!"

> Admitted this year to John Hopkins with ~$100,000 school donation from parents.

(edit: the implication was, first-hand experience of an American in the absolute shittiest culture on earth, the American one. )

(edit2: my ignorance in the previous edit is hereby successfuly reputed. Quarter-Pounders with curly fries for everyone!)





thenewgreen  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Funny story:

When I was 17 and almost flunking so badly I didn't graduate on time my mom asked me what the hell I was thinking?

My response, "I'm going to be a rock star."

Her reply, "...and if you're not, what then?"

Me: Then I'll marry a doctor.

Funny part is, I'm not a rockstar and I'm married to a doctor. It just sorta happened. That said, we've been married 10 years and she's still not making doctor money. Residency is a bitch. You get slave wages based on how much time/effort goes in to it.

nowaypablo  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  
This comment has been deleted.
TheGreatAbider16  ·  3780 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    the absolute shittest culture on earth, the American one.

I'm wondering: Do you actually believe that Americans have the shittiest culture on Earth? And if so, why? In fact, do we really have our own culture, or are we home to an incredibly diverse range of constantly-evolving cultures?

I'm an American, though I've never been very patriotic or whatever. I recently spent two months in Europe to study and to travel. I expected to return from Europe feeling very fed-up with America and Americans, but quite the opposite occurred. While I found much of the social and political awareness and atmosphere in Europe refreshing and far better than what I often see at home, I missed many, many things about American culture and people. And I don't think it's because I was feeling extra foreign; I visited countries where I can speak the native language fairly well. I found, upon my return, that I was actually happier than ever to be an American, and maybe even a little bit proud of being an American. This is a foreign feeling to me, but I feel it nonetheless.

That being said, other cultures are doing A LOT of things right, and we should take note. I am an active advocate for all sorts of change in The States, and I think that's the mark of a real patriot anyway. A real patriot wants to change his nation and people for the better. I would, however, never say our culture is shitty. Anyway, I'd love for you to expand on that, and maybe we can talk about it more.

nowaypablo  ·  3780 days ago  ·  link  ·  

You know what man, you're right. Thanks for putting me in my place. I'm neither nationalist-- though I talk about Armenia a lot on Hubski-- nor a patriot to any country particularly, though I was born and raised here in America. I've met a lot of very patriotic 'Muricans who are awful, hideous, vile human beings. However, I've met some incredibly charismatic doers and thinkers, motivators and inspire-ers, warm-hearted Americans who just want the best for everyone around them and themselves.

Such is the case for every other place I've visited. Needless to say, it just becomes very easy to toss aside all the things we have and take them for granted, when we get the awful lot of bad news shoveled down our throats all the time. Disaster makes easier headlines than Success, and eventually we get caught up in it. I think we're alright.

TheGreatAbider16  ·  3780 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I didn't put you in your place, it is very frustrating sometimes to think about American politics and social situations :p But I'm glad you liked my comment! You're right that there are far too many "'Muricans" who really do make it difficult to feel anything but shame about The States some days. I think that they are actually the minority (Maybe the majority in a handful of southern states), but they are the extremely vocal, ignorant, and offensive minority. So of course they stick out. I sure hope that the "doers, thinkers, motivators, and inspire-ers" will end up with the lion's share of influence, but it isn't going that way right now.

    Disaster makes easier headlines than Success, and eventually we get caught up in it. I think we're alright.
Right you are, but I'm afraid that if more of the level-headed Americans don't get a little more vocal, things really may be headed toward a bad place.
PeterC  ·  3780 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Countries are always judged by their people. I've got a theory that I want holes shot in so I'll put it out here.

Lesser (hideous vile) people naturally associate themselves with things that will hide their quality of character. They lose themselves in the group - the KKK, Nazism, bad cults. Often they misappropriate a good cause and turn it into shit - I'd say the Black Panthers might fall here. Nationalism is no different. It can attract highly outspoken morons easily. Like moths to light, and they swarm to it in clouds. Patriotism is generally viewed as a good thing so it gives them a mask to wear.

Meanwhile the good people - by their inherently tolerant nature - tend to rise above national boundaries and instead focus on people. Because they're concerned with everyone, it's hard to tie a nationality to them.

Eventually this translates into a global redefinition of what an American patriot is where the loudest group dominates the news people see.

kleinbl00  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    I've got a theory that I want holes shot in so I'll put it out here.

once you let the vampire in...

I think you're neglecting the relativism of morality. Those you view as lesser are often those that consider themselves the most pure - the KKK aren't a bunch of nefarious racists in their minds, they're Aryan purists out to unify and preserve the hegemony of the master race against the lesser species of God. The Nazis were only creating lebensraum for the Ubermensch. Aum Shinrikyo didn't spread nerve gas on a Tokyo subway because they were supervillians; they were hastening the coming of the apocalypse and the enlightenment of all mankind.

I think you're closer to a defensible argument if you state that those without a strong internal moral compass seek strong external reinforcement. "Lost" people "find" themselves in strict organizations all the time - it's an organizational trope. This is why shiftless adolescents are often shunted into the military.

There's nothing inherently bad about nationalism. Problems occur when it transcends morality. You're right - for those with a stunted internal compass, it's a lot easier to argue that torture is OK because The President Said So than to bulk up your conscience and decide you've been following the wrong leader. But that doesn't mean Scientologists join Scientology because they're shady.

PeterC  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I think you're right. That's a pretty important distinction to make too. This doesn't make everyone who joins a group like the Manson Family a shit person. It also explains whistleblowers and informants as people who grow stronger moral fiber - or had it to begin with - and become dissatisfied with the organization.

That's much more inclusive. I like it.

kleinbl00  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

If you haven't read this you're missing out.

OftenBen  ·  3780 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    Meanwhile the good people - by their inherently tolerant nature - tend to rise above national boundaries and instead focus on people. Because they're concerned with everyone, it's hard to tie a nationality to them.

Just my two cents, I think that kind of sentiment is pretty new. Nationalism in my mind is at an all time low in favor of trans-nationalism, or more generally humanism.

PeterC  ·  3780 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I'd agree with that. I think people are pretty sick of international conflict and are embarrassed by their country's role in it.

kleinbl00  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Thing of it is: parents who can kick six figures to their daughter's college can afford to throw a trophy wife into the mix. In our anything-but-classless society her strategy is entirely sound.

nowaypablo  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

That's the infuriating bit. She could actually pull it off. Mildly hot too. Oh well.

kleinbl00  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Okay, so mildly hot, no ambition, expects to ride her parents' money until her husband takes over? Yeah, fail. She's gonna have to trade down especially since JH is a Tier 2 school.

She's at the apex of her life right now unless she develops some drive. It's all downhill from here.

nowaypablo  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Mildly hot, so 7-8/10 plus I'm picky. Still nothing?

edit: I believe her emotional capacity peaks at the equivalent in color of sand dunes in a desert. Does the transparency of a Proterozoic jellyfish add points?

kleinbl00  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Dude. You live and hunt in Manhattan and you're calling her a soft 8?

If you're a moneyed rentier slumming it at Johns Hopkins, you're not putting up with a soft 8 every bit as rich as you are. You can pillage all the 10s that actually give a shit that your BMW is less than 8 months old. A soft 8 with shit tons of money becomes interesting only to aspirants on scholarships, who are exactly the prospects she's looking to dodge.

You need to read you some Brett Easton Ellis. It'll never be as good as it is now.

b_b  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Yeah, but an 8 in Manhattan is probably a 9.5 elsewhere. I've gotten some high class tail there in my life that were basically castaways for the New York elite. Maybe your view is skewed too, since you live in the one other place in the US that's on that level.

nowaypablo  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

guys there are girls here

but, to be clear, she's an 8 from my school in new jersey. Here round my work, in Midtown Manhattan, she's a generous 4. Not joking.

kleinbl00  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

The numerical rating system is gender-agnostic. And, not to put too fine a point on it, but we're discussing a girl who intends to use an internationally-renowned medical school as her singles bar. The crassness of the topic matches the crassness of the language.

_refugee_  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Yeaaah this whole conversation is making me way curious

nowaypablo  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

i would be happy to alleviate you of your curiosity

kleinbl00  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Precisely: an 8 in Manhattan or Redondo Beach is a 10 anywhere else, but an 8 from Manhattan or Redondo Beach sees all the other 8s as 4s. Where she's going there's nothing but castaways.

b_b  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Point taken. I just want the lad to know that his views of which women are attractive are probably skewed by circumstance, as relativity matters. Back in engineering school I used to drool over girls I wouldn't hold the door for in high school (figuratively speaking). Gotta take advantage of what you can while you can; that's always lost on young men.

Note: Don't get a big head about the Redondo thing, insomniasexx.

ButterflyEffect  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    Back in engineering school I used to drool over girls I wouldn't hold the door for in high school (figuratively speaking).

As someone currently in engineering school it's the beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeest.

galen  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

As someone currently in a high school that's 85% male, I feel you. You just have to join up all the clubs and groups you can find relating to your interests and hope to meet someone.

Unfortunately that's far easier said than done, especially when you're my age. But you aren't, so congratulations, I guess.

ButterflyEffect  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

What kind of a high school is 85% male? That's a bit unusual, no?

My post was a bit sarcastic, I've done quite well considering I mostly avoid my college of study and have been heavily occupied in two organizations plus our center for leadership and community service, and the music scene of the city at large. You are right though, it is all about the extracurriculars. Much easier to find people of common interests while still having them come from a diversity of genders, sexualities, cultures, etc.

galen  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Yeah, it's a tiny private school with some pretty serious privilege issues. It's 90% white, 85% male, etc., probably due to a combination of the surrounding area, the high tuition, and the stated mission (school for the gifted - not that white males tend to be more gifted, but I wouldn't be surprised if white males were more often designated gifted).

ButterflyEffect  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Ah, we have a high school like that back home and I recently worked about a mile away from Phillips Academy. Talk about privileged. But you know, I'd like to think that while they're not exactly melting pots, that places like those set a person up to go almost wherever they would like, and open up a lot more doors down the road. I'd think a lot of it has to do with socioeconomic standing as well.

galen  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I sure hope so. But at this point I've switched schools so many times I've decided just to make the best of where I am. Senior year!

humanodon  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I would say that being born with a silver spoon in one's mouth is something of a gift, but I don't think it indicates intelligence or capability at all.

kleinbl00  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

The other nice thing is that composition shifts with the scale. A Seattle 10 is a different kind of beauty than a Los Angeles 10 than a Denver 10 than a Utah 10.

I find women in Los Angeles to be a lot more tan and a lot more put together than women in, say, San Francisco... but also a lot deader behind the eyes.

insomniasexx  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Another thing I've noticed is the disparity between weight in different places - across both genders. You don't often see awfully obese people in NYC or Manhattan Beach. Go to Portland, Maine or Central MA and I'm a fraction of the size. I'm never the skinniest person in NYC or MB though.

kleinbl00  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Hie thee to Wisconsin. You'll be anorexic.

humanodon  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

You are very tiny.

insomniasexx  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I'm actually from Manhattan Beach and live in RB now and I think I kept up in NYC. Soooooo. What does that make me?

b_b  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

nowaypablo  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

You're a 10, insom. You're a 10.

b_b  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Easy, son. She doesn't need her tires pumped that much.

_refugee_  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

u guize

(i know we were referring to insom but for the reocrd)

i'm not a number i'm an anglerfish

nowaypablo  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Hey there pretty lady, nice gonads.

_refugee_  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Pretty much exactly what I look like, too.

thenewgreen  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I've actually met _ref_ and I can attest to the odd gonad shaped fish protruding from her head. It took some getting used to, but by the third round of rye whisky's, nobody noticed anymore.

nowaypablo  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

you're the most beautiful anglerfish there ever was ref. you're a rainbow anglerfish. A golden rainbow anglerfish dolphin shark.

nowaypablo  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

You're right, shit. Shit shit shit. I need to get rich stat. But I don't want to work hard :'(

kleinbl00  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Dude.

marry that chick.

SORTED!

nowaypablo  ·  3779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Lmao. You're a wizard kb.