As the world turns and progress of the insane and blissfully ignorant marches forward I see I haven't posted in awhile. As I look around my environment I realize I have gotten older, but I am still the same. I don't know if I haven't seen it before, or if I am just noticing it, but it seems the world has gotten dumber. I don't know what to think of this. Have we tried to make everything so easy and user friendly that we have lost our ability to reinvent the wheel if need be?
It feels like the whole world is being run by the weak. No one remembers how to dig a hole anymore with a shovel. As if physical labor is below them. Maybe this world needs a reset. I wonder what would happen if an apocalyptic event should ever happen and the ability to code in Basic is no longer a necessity, or a viable skill. That knowing how to grow your own food will be the only thing left of importance. Will the smiths, farmers, and carpenters make their rightful comeback as those who thought they were better wither away to death falling prey to societal leeches that should have died off from starvation without the handouts of the government?
There seems there is no more personal responsibility in today's world. Fear has swayed the political vote where too many people feel they are entitled to take from others they think are more well off than themselves. They vote away their freedom, prosperity, safety, and upward mobility for the illusion of safety.
My grandparents and parents have always told me there is no such thing as a free lunch. Sacrifice will always be made in order to attain something. Let's take food stamps for instance. When on food stamps not only are others who have worked hard for their earnings being robbed to pay for your meal, but the meals you are receiving as a food stamp recipient are never as good or nutritious as if you had earned the meal yourself.
If you don't believe me, let's look at the larger picture of American Society. An individual is more than likely to be grossly obese while poor than someone above the poverty line. I'm starting to think those that are below the poverty line are there because they are incapable of making wise decisions that look at the future instead of the here and now. The whole killing of the golden goose, thing.
I've been back overseas for over a year now, and I read in the news that fast food workers were striking for a "living wage". Life is full of choices. To grow up and work in the service industry was always laughed at when I was a child. All of a sudden being a fast food server is a career? When did this happen? Jobs like that were reserved for teenagers as an after school part time job to help pay for gas and car insurance with, in hopes, a bit left over to pay for prom at the end of the year. We all make life decisions. If your life decisions have you flipping burgers there is no one to blame but yourself.
I try not to dwell on it. I try to just make myself better at whatever I am trying to teach myself. Somethings I love learning because I just want to know more about it. Other things I learn because I have to. Either way, I try to learn as much as I can about whatever subject I can so I can be more self sufficient at it. I keep doing this and I am finding out that of my co-workers I become the subject matter expert. I keep trying to encourage my co-workers as if they are children. I find myself saying things like, "You're doing a good job, keep it up." "Keep at it, you'll get it." "I'm so glad you are here."
In truth I want to say, "I paid attention in life, I'm sorry you are unable to cope." "No one led me by the hand to learn this task. I opened the manual and taught myself." "Google search, they have a 'How To' for everything."
There have been a few people I have met in my life that are knowledgeable and capable. However, they are far and few between. It's like there aren't people out there that want to excel in anything anymore. Even their hobbies are just the celebration of mediocrity. Even knowing every episode of a TV program has become something to acknowledge as a worthwhile achievement.
I'm not saying I know everything about everything. I am far from that. If I was perfect I could walk on water and would have been crucified. It just amazes me that just how far people will go to not put forth any effort.
