People!

( I posted this on another section of the forum too, but bah... I probebly only post 3-4 threads a month as it is, so if I do post a thread... then I will spread it around the oceans! )

This is something I have been trying to correct in myself for a while, and I think I am truly getting there now...

When I first started to post on these forums I did not really see the other posters here as REAL people, ya know. You get to know the posters as just these entities... with some pictures, a nifty user title, and some quote in the signature. One gets used to seeing them as just that, which makes it very easy to criticize, belittle, and ignore them.

I think that it's hard for us to realize that there are actual people... real breathing people, full of life, dreams, energy, and so much more. People who project happiness, who project ideas, peace, and so on and on sitting behind these computes and typing.

In the past year, I have realized this, and it completely changed my outlook of these forums. It is truly amazing to be able to communicate with people of a purely though based process. All we transfer to each other here are thoughts... the most carnal entity of human identity.

This is beautiful in itself, but... it limits us greatly as well. People are defenatly not only thier thoughts. People move, shake, bake and all that good stuff. People live, walk to places, do things... and then come to this silly forum to relax, learn, and discuss.

In the last year I have truly learnt not to hate or judge people in the "real world", but to understand them. It has been harder for me to do on these forums because of this same exchange of pure ideas, not of pure human energy... but now, I think that I have achieved this.

Lately, I haven't been transfering soley my thoughts onto these forum, but also my character as a whole... for I am a silly random person who dances alot, says "wham bam thank you ma'am" to female clerks in stores, and smiles at everything he sees. Through doing this, I realized that some or most people here actually do this too... they are themselves in thier full essence on this forum (a tad more talkative, surely)... but still, themselves... and as silly as it sounds... that makes my heart smile

 

That's a really awesome thread. Good points.

 

AWWWWWWW! Wonderful!!!!

 

Merci

beautifulhippie, where in Arkansas are you? I know a whole lot of amazing folk in Little Rock, Conway, and some in Feyatville and they always welcome new faces.

 

it took me a few years to realize what you just realized, in that there are real people behind the computers - who project all of the human emotions at times.

but in the past year, i've made the most connections here and i'm tremendously grateful to have made them with the few people who've allowed me to open up to them and they felt they could open up to me. and to one person who i consider a best friend in my life now, i value our friendship greatly.

and yea, here, i can be myself - in that i don't feel limited to what i can say or express - whereas at school, its a different story sometimes.

 

The connections that one makes on these forums are indeed wonderful. I still chat with people I met here 3 or more years ago on msn once in a while... I'm not good about staying in touch and go through periods of months without the internet, so most connections I have made here have sadly been lost by now.

What I am trying to achieve now, in real life itself is to be myself without limitations in it too. I truly no longer care what people think of me... those who take 2 minutes out of thier busy lives to get to know me know that I only mean good... and the rest, at least I get stares It's a tad hard to do without offending people though, but I am rather good at it so far.

I also try to not let my insecurities limit me, and I have been doing wonderfully well at that. I am a naturally shy and introverted person, but if you were to meet me now... you wouldn't be able to tell. I force myself of let go of every unreasonable doubt I have about myself... and just live... not try to live... but just live.

Like I say way too often... life is rather very silly... so I might as well love it and love the world through it.

 

thats fine , but me and half the other posters here arnt real people ....we are computer generated hologram caricachures !!!

 

i've only just, after all this time, managed to start connecting with people on here on a person to person basis. i've been so shy and paranoid these past few years. i'm beginning to feel more human than i have in years. i haven't made any new friends in ages. and i have a tendency to hold people far away from me. i'm not a very loving person. i love a few intensely, and ignore the rest. but this past year i'm coming back to life. it's probably the exhaustion, but i just have a hard time maintaining my walls when i wanna jump over them and run away

 

This is so beautiful said..i was thinkin of posting sumtin like that myslef
but you said it better..lots of love 2 u

 

:agree: BSR, that's a really wonderful thing that you've written.

:cheers:​

In the last few months, I too have made a more personal connection with a few folks who post in here, which opened my eyes to how real people are here. :birds:

:hurray: It's very easy to get lost in the idea that these are just posts, just threads, by some random people from who-knows-where.... It means a lot more when one makes an effort to make a more personal connection with their surroundings.

 

Thank you for all the lovely comments

I've been thinking about that for a while... and letting it out felt great.

Now, all I need to do is save some money for a car, and go out on the road to meet the couple of thousand hip forum members

I knew it, Skip's a robot!

 

I know how you feel. When I was a tad younger I felt the same way... I was sad, intoverted, and extremely shy. I was afraid that everything would break if I "jump over the walls", as you say.

Yet then... ahh... love happend... nothing really worked out from that, but it did open my eyes to the world on way too many levels.

Now I love, love!

 

Thanks for posting that, Pavel, there's so much truth in what you say. All the love you have to give just speaks from your words, you're such a loving person!

I used to be a tad afraid to love. You see, when I love someone - no matter in what kind of way - I do this really intensely. That way you can easily get hurt. But during the years, I've got myself over that and now I dare to take that risk. And it feels so good to have all those positive emotions in me!

By the way, Pavel, I've been missing ya so much lately!

 

It's human nature to insulate oneself from an unseen person's humanity. It's more than being dismissive of an online persona. It reflects itself in how many people treat strangers, store clerks, customer service reps over the phone. It is very much in evidence when people drive their cars. Taking the time and effort to treat unseen strangers as people is a feat of wisdom some people never realize. Congratulations Pavel, you've attained a level of character that all to many people never will see.

 

My beautiful Laura! I haven't heard from you in so long! How have you been? What have you seen? What have you heard? Show me the world!

I can truly relate to that... I have always backed out of relationships because I was afraid to fall in love, and then be hurt, for I am too emotional for my own good and have been hurt in the past... and I am like you, when I love... I love with all my being. I too have gotten myself over that (or so I hope ) and I agree... all the positivity is amazing... and if I get hurt, ehh... I will learn from it. Pain tends to be a much better teacher than pleasure.

I miss you, too much dear girl

 

Thank you

I disagree though, I do not think that it's human nature. I believe it's conditioning. People are naturally social creatures, in past ages... people were forced to socialize with one another in order to survive, gaining a naturally social instinct. In modern society though, people no longer need to socialize in order to survive, and they are taught that by society. Happiness these days is sought through materialism, hope, religion, and so many other things... but not through people... and that saddens me.

I only regret that I have not seen the beauty of all people at a younger age. I saw the beauty of certain people, people that I could strongely relate to... but now I see it in every face, in every heart. If I felt this earlier I could have learned so much more from my interractions, especially while backpacking... so many colourful characters... and I was just a sad pessimistic kid back then... tsk, tsk, tsk.

 

You are most welcome!

We're naturally social creatures but we're also territorial. We need some space to ourselves. Civilization warehouses people in suburban developments and apartment complexes where individual space is at a premium. Individuals find themselves crowded in by people they do not know and have little time or inclination to get to know most of their neighbors. I suppose we're conditioned to value our possessions over the character assets of our neighbors. Your point is well taken

Happiness is indeed sough through materialism, religion, power... sought but rarely achieved. Time is the most valuable asset at our disposal and most squander theirs chasing elusive dreams that suppose that true happiness is perched atop a mountain of possessions. They discard what can potentially be the most valuable asset of human interaction. A lasting reward can be realized by connecting with another soul and investing the time needed to get to know someone. An individual who has spent all his time amassing worldly goods and devoted none to cultivating friendships is a most destitute individual

 

I defenatly agree. I myself am not the most happy person naturally, I seem extremely happy outwardly, but that is because I do not want to project my sadness unto other people... it's in me, and there it stays. I take it out through poetry, music, and such lovely things. Point being, I noticed that I feel something close to true happiness when I am around people, yet at the same time I tend to feel happiness when I am alone in solitude (as I am now... taking a break from the world for a couple of months, it has been getting to me lately, and I'm better off staying sober in the middle of nowhere than very not sobber among great people). What is necessary is a good balance, like with everything else in life.

I can easily say that materialism is negative, but like everything... it also has its positive aspects. Human beings are also instictively materialistic, we've been hording shit for both survival and entertainment for ages... and in this world, it is a necessary distraction to survive. The world is indeed a sad place. Some people find comfort through Jesus, some people find comfort through stuff... and this comfort is defenatly necessary for the modern human. I myself tend to find comfort with people, in nature, or through creativity, yet I am also guilty, at least on some degree, of materialism. I am rather unattached to most of my belongings (other than my guitar, I've had that old piece of shit for 7 years now, and I love it to death) but some things I would rather have than loose. I have lots of silly small items that remind me of past experiences and people, but which are still of a material nature. We cannot escape our materialism, but we can defenatly... as individuals and as a society limit it.

I think I'm doing well with it. My laptop (to which I was rather attached) was stolen from me a month ago, and instead of getting pissed off, I just let go... and it was rather easy... much easier than letting go of a material possession for me has ever been in my life. It's the people one leaves behind though... those are the ones that get ya... the ones you can never let go off... I haven't lived long, but I have already left so many amazing friend in so many different places behind... and I still think about them, and remember all the things they have taught me

 

Ya know... I've also talked to my father lately... I have felt more humane... I haven't talked to him in nearly 2 years, and then just one day... I decided to call... he's going through some very intense rehab, and it was amazing... he had a different voice... a pure voice, a voice that I haven't heard since my very early childhood. I think that I can give anyone in this life a break, and a second, third, millionth chance, if I can give my father... a true fucker... another chance.

 

Don't know about your dad, but I'd be proud as hell if I were your dad!