kyuuei
Emperor/Dictator
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2008
- Messages
- 13,964
- MBTI Type
- enfp
- Enneagram
- 8
- I work for a system I don't like as well, but that doesn't mean I don't critique it and offer suggestions. I guess the difference is, I view myself as cooperating with the system rather than being in the system.
So you're saying you feel like you're visiting the jail rather than being inside of it. Whereas, it is more pragmatic to say 'You are technically inside of the jail even if you are only a visitor. You're not a prisoner, you can leave if you want, but to say you aren't in jail at all isn't practical.' This is the way I see it. I do NOT cooperate with the system all the time.. I work within it. I don't follow all of the rules to a T, I just need to know what they are so that I know where the weaknesses are. This is just part of being an adult. You have to know what you have to work with.. You cannot cooperate with a system without playing a role in it. You ARE in the system, even if you don't want to be. You still have to realize that the entire fucked up system of healthcare in America is STILL affecting you even if you don't get sick and need the doctors much. You are in that system whether you choose to be or not. (Though, theoretically, you 'choose' to be in it since you're living here.)
while I have no qualms about contributing my fair share of the work load agreed upon for my wages, it doesn't mean I feel responsible the results of the system as a whole unless it has to do with my position specifically (say, if I am the store manager rather than the cashier). I don't believe anyone has a moral responsibility to anything until they agree to it (for instance, deciding to have kids, agreeing to do a certain job or paying taxes because you have chosen to take advantage of government funded services)
This is false though.. You ARE contributing to the system. You don't just 'get a pay check and do your job'. You are also contributing to taxes, the tax system, the corporate system, OSHA regulations, etc. So, unless you say, "Hey, citizens, I am suddenly interested in the environment and will not litter." you don't think anyone is obligated to clean up after themselves? Which, is honestly at least a little understandable.. But to say you only acknowledge things that immediately affect you and that you actively participate in is a bit childish. I think people have obligations that they don't even agree to. We have laws, and even if you don't like those laws, you're under their umbrella. There are litter laws in place even if you didn't start to care about the environment.
It's really, really hard as an adult to just 'opt out' of things and still function in society. I don't at all like the gender bias of society, but it is hard to opt out of it in my job. I didn't join the army just to be told I can't get any cool jobs... but I didn't just rebel and say "Your system sucks! Go home Army, you're drunk!" and throw away my shot at an education just because of that.
- in other words, you are a soldier; I am a mercenary. objectively, I can see the benefit of social unity (it makes things go smoother and alliances last longer), I can even understand how, on an emotional/spiritual level such unity can be deeply fulfilling for some people, but it's not for me. my contributions to society are going to be more indirect as the system itself is, in my mind, a means rather than an ends. while I believe both of our worldviews relating to society are mature, yours are mature in a more supergo STJ-ish fashion while mine are mature in more an Id NFP/NTJ-ish fashion
Unity affects us all because we live in society. You could certainly opt to get rid of your internet, electricity, and get REALLY fulfilled by being alone and outside of this pathetic excuse for a working society. But that isn't really convenient for people. And that is what I mean. It's cool to say you're a mercenary, just opting into the jobs 'you want', but that's not REALLY how mercenary work goes. Desert Punk is a more accurate description of it. You do EVERY job that comes your way, whether it's glamorous or not. Whether it's what you saw yourself doing with your life, or not.
The world is STJ-based. Coming at it from an NFP mentality may spice things up sometimes, but overall it just doesn't really work. Getting idealistic on people doesn't make them move. Throwing their own rules in their face does. I think idealistically of things all the time... How much I wish this, how much better if that.. but I'm not going to get the land I need by wishing and dreaming and telling the banks, "Sure, you can trust me banks, I'm a good citizen." I didn't work in their system, and because I didn't I got denied. None of my dreams, and all of my service and odd-ball jobs that I took matter to them. Only their rules and parameters.
Those are NOT the only things, though, that matter to me. I will get my land regardless of their stupid system. I just won't get it right now.