Follow or not to follow?

In today's day and age, the pressure from family, friends and everyone else to continue to follow the flock is PHENOMENAL. I've noticed from personal experience. It's just starting to hit me now: that a person could either remain in the flock and be a hypocrite (i.e. have radical ideas and never put them into practice, or express opinions to 'fit in', while also having true opinions that they suppress in order to 'not be weird in other people's opinions'); OR remain in the flock but express opinions true to yourself - in this case, the person is likely to experience rapid ridicule, and, they will: either quickly revert back to the mentality of the flock, OR become totally withdrawn from society - rejected by the predominantly shallow-thinking flock. As for personal experience, I find that having radical and 'different' opinions to most other people makes it VERY DIFFICULT to express it to them. Has anyone else also experienced this? I mean, is it the fear of ridicule? I think it is. Especially when you experience it first hand from close family - then your mind is really 'at crossroads'. Now I know why it is SO much easier to lead a live that everyone else does - 'cause we crave to belong. Do and say anything different - you get it from everyone...

rafal

Your observations are spot on. Communicating your ideas to those who are unwilling and/or unable to understand them is one of the most difficult things in the Universe. If it was easy, The Great Intellect would have addressed the issue in the very beginning. Writing The Freedom of Choice book is my best attempt so far. I found it easier co continue discussion with readers, even if they challenge me.

As to the choice "follow or not to follow"? the first 2 options that you presented are only "virtual" or "theoretical". They are only chosen by those who have not yet begun to understand The Purpose of the Universe.

As soon as you begin to understand - you will find it almost impossible to act against yourSelf. True Understanding cannot be "undone".

Eventually you may let other people crucify you for being who you are rather than submitting yourself to their narrow-minded expectations. As you know, examples of such actions in history of humanity are quite inspiring.

If you really consider becoming a hypocrite - it means that you haven't yet grasped enough about Life in the Universe.

My choice is close to the last option you presented. I have already moved away from the city, jobs, the flock etc.. and begun the process of becoming self-sustainable in Nature, on a farm at the edge of a large State Forest. The farm is high enough in the mountains to protect me from the largest tidal waves that will develop during the intensive volcanic activity in the next decade or so.

I still have a computer and a satellite connection to the Internet, so I can answer your questions and share my views, until the "system" works.

For more details where I am today, please visit MtBest.net

Tom

Tom, the fact that you have already set up an area where you can live on your own excites me greatly. On message boards, I have been able to contact the precious few who dare to think differently than the flock. Many of us, including me, have expressed interest in setting up a place where we could live away from society. An island seemed a logical choice, but I am sure a farm up in the mountains would work just as well. How much room do you have there, if you take my meaning?

Greg

The grid on the zoom 5 at http://mtbest.net is 1x1 km. So, I live on almost a square kilometer of land. As you can see, there is plenty of room for intelligent company.

Tom

Experiencing ridicule is a result of trying to make people see what you see, when they are not ready for it.You dont have to get frustrated because of people who are not interested in what you say. It feels even worse when you try to help people you care about who wont listen.

If you're tired of getting frustrated, all you have to do is let them be. I stopped trying to express my ideas of human evolution to everyone around me without even thinking how they would react. It led nowhere. I'm 16 years old and live with my parents; their feedback was the worst of all.

Just act according to your principles, that way you wont have to deal with people who are not yet ready to see they're live in a bigger context. Your actions will speak for themselves. Being the perfect example of what you preach actually inspires and motivates those around you, it plants a seed in they're heads. Thats when you will start getting questions from people who truly want to learn.

You dont have to go to a mountain and isolate yourself from society, just respect they're point of view and perspective on life, let them be. Only acting and experiencing the consecuences of your actions will lead you to true understanding. It's the diference between 'thinking' and actually 'doing' that Tom talks about. Reading books will only give you an idea of the subject. Understanding the freedom of choice sounds like a good idea. It's one of those things you have to learn FIRST before you can understand the true meaning of life.

Danny

You demonstrate quite extraordinary wisdom for your age and I agree with you.

My motive for living on the mountain is not "isolation from the society" as you perceived it. I have a satellite sytem for Internet and I intend to communicate with the entire society for as long as it is possible.

However, as a result of living in large cities for 50 years I felt isolated from Nature. By choosing to live on a farm at the edge of the State Forest I am closer to Nature than I ever was in my life. Needles to say, it is a Great Lesson for me.

Tom