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I would consider a person that goes off into the wilderness, say in Alaska, and homesteads and thrives and is self sufficient to be a success, without a doubt.
But you added exclusions that the original statement did not make, so you changed the equation.
They are, in fact, extremely common, especially in the arts. Indeed, I'd wager that most of the people making a good living in their arts are quite often less talented than many that do not, they've just learned to appeal to the public's taste, which generally results in lesser works.
Lol. Yeah you can be "successful" in your own mind with all that "talent" but reality is going to keep smacking you in the face.
Location: RI, MA, VT, WI, IL, CA, IN (that one sucked), KY
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Detguest
Lol. Yeah you can be "successful" in your own mind with all that "talent" but reality is going to keep smacking you in the face.
And you can be successful in the minds of many others as well.
Reality, especially in our society with incredibly skewed values and priorities, is highly overrated. Thankfully there are lots of people that don't buy into most of society's vision of what "success" looks like.
I think it depends on a person's priorities. Buying a house of my own was important to me, so I worked three jobs and made it happen when I was in my late twenties. I was attracted to men who did the same, but to many of my friends this wasn't important.
And you can be successful in the minds of many others as well.
Reality, especially in our society with incredibly skewed values and priorities, is highly overrated. Thankfully there are lots of people that don't buy into most of society's vision of what "success" looks like.
Successful in the minds of the deluded. Ramen every night? Home at the parents because you can't afford your own spot at 30. Oh yeah, man you got it, society's view of success is just skewed and overrated, just keep doing you.
They are, in fact, extremely common, especially in the arts. Indeed, I'd wager that most of the people making a good living in their arts are quite often less talented than many that do not, they've just learned to appeal to the public's taste, which generally results in lesser works.
You are citing an extreme corner case exception. A fraction of a percent of the population. 50% of the country is poor. They're not all starving artists with van Gogh-level talent. They're low-average non-achievers.
Location: RI, MA, VT, WI, IL, CA, IN (that one sucked), KY
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffD
You are citing an extreme corner case exception. A fraction of a percent of the population. 50% of the country is poor. They're not all starving artists with van Gogh-level talent. They're low-average non-achievers.
No one has said otherwise. But when someone makes an absolute statement, it only takes one exception to negate it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Detguest
Successful in the minds of the deluded. Ramen every night? Home at the parents because you can't afford your own spot at 30. Oh yeah, man you got it, society's view of success is just skewed and overrated, just keep doing you.
It is skewed and overrated. You're free to feel otherwise.
No one has said otherwise. But when someone makes an absolute statement, it only takes one exception to negate it.
With particle physics, it's theoretically possible for me to swing my fist at a door and go right through it. No human has ever observed that phenomenon but it's possible. Every human is an individual but you can model human behavior statically. I can pick 1000 men at random out of the homeless shelter and the odds are fantastically low that I'm going to find the next Jack Kerouac among them. Is that absolute? No. Is it sure enough to make a broad sweeping generality? Of course.
Location: RI, MA, VT, WI, IL, CA, IN (that one sucked), KY
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Detguest
I don't think having your own place and being self sufficient is overrated whatsoever.
You're also free to have a silly hipster mindset.
I don't either, I never said otherwise.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffD
With particle physics, it's theoretically possible for me to swing my fist at a door and go right through it. No human has ever observed that phenomenon but it's possible. Every human is an individual but you can model human behavior statically. I can pick 1000 men at random out of the homeless shelter and the odds are fantastically low that I'm going to find the next Jack Kerouac among them. Is that absolute? No. Is it sure enough to make a broad sweeping generality? Of course.
Your experience differs from mine. I've met many a superbly talented and indeed successful individuals that earn exceptionally little, yet they live life on their terms and are independent and happy.
And I've met many a person that earn a good amount, and are miserable and hate their lives and jobs, which I think by most reasonable measures indicates they aren't successful at life.
Your experience differs from mine. I've met many a superbly talented and indeed successful individuals that earn exceptionally little, yet they live life on their terms and are independent and happy.
.
If they were actually talented in a meaningful way, they'd be paid, and paid well. That's how reality actually works.
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