Is life really all that bad?
So I've had some interesting conversations today, but one has stuck out in my mind the most. Ended up out at BW3's for lunch today with an old friend of mine, Amanda. As we were talking (read that as "I was picking on her") the subject randomly came up about how people tend to treat each other downstate compared to the UP. When bringing up how Amanda Leonard went to grab Katie the one summer after she got fired from the camp counselor position for "cohabitation" or how I had a lot of cars stop to make sure I was ok when I ended up in a ditch during a snow storm... Amanda ended up saying "Yeah, you wouldn't get that down here"
Then I thought about it. I thought about how A'Lisa and I were talking about the students from Tech that had their house burn. They lost everything and complete strangers were coming out of the woodwork to help them out. Yet if I think about, if any of that happened around here... not many would care. Not unless you were involved in a close-knit church or something similar. So later, as I was having a conversation with my mother about the subject... her response tended towards the very pessimistic. She felt that the entire nation was going down the tubes and that no one cares about anyone anymore. Most worrisome was the feeling that nothing could be done about it. Her comments like "we never had this roadrage stuff when I was younger!" and that she'd rather lock the doors and feel secure in her own house in an attempt to let the world pass her by so she wouldn't have to deal with all the antagonistic ways that she felt our society was fostering. She was happy to know that at least there's a pocket of the US where the ideals of watching out for your neighbor were still alive.
But is it really that dead elsewhere? I can't imagine that the Upper Peninsula is the only place left.
I just know I'm glad I went to MTU. So I didn't wallow in the negative and pessimistic views of those living down here. Hell, I know right now that if anything happened to me... I'd have numerous people I could call and they'd be there for me. Most, funny enough, are old APO brothers. Maybe it's just that locale or environment but it seems to foster the camaraderie that ties people together. I don't even care how many jokes people make about my tenure there... I honestly think it's the best decision I could've ever made. To get me out of the "well, why should I do shit for anyone else" mentality that surrounds my friends that are still downstate. Hell, a buddy of mine is dating a girl who had to ask him "why would you just give it to him?" when referencing some extra parts coming his way. I'm not even sure if he could explain it to her.
Going to school there was the best decision a brooding, pessimistic, chip-on-his-shoulder kid could have ever made. Even if it was totally by accident.
Sound off, let me hear your thoughts on this one. Are we going in the shitter? Do some of us miss Tech because we'd rather not be working... or because of the people? What can be done against the incredible negatism that seems to be permeating quite a few people's thoughts lately?
Then I thought about it. I thought about how A'Lisa and I were talking about the students from Tech that had their house burn. They lost everything and complete strangers were coming out of the woodwork to help them out. Yet if I think about, if any of that happened around here... not many would care. Not unless you were involved in a close-knit church or something similar. So later, as I was having a conversation with my mother about the subject... her response tended towards the very pessimistic. She felt that the entire nation was going down the tubes and that no one cares about anyone anymore. Most worrisome was the feeling that nothing could be done about it. Her comments like "we never had this roadrage stuff when I was younger!" and that she'd rather lock the doors and feel secure in her own house in an attempt to let the world pass her by so she wouldn't have to deal with all the antagonistic ways that she felt our society was fostering. She was happy to know that at least there's a pocket of the US where the ideals of watching out for your neighbor were still alive.
But is it really that dead elsewhere? I can't imagine that the Upper Peninsula is the only place left.
I just know I'm glad I went to MTU. So I didn't wallow in the negative and pessimistic views of those living down here. Hell, I know right now that if anything happened to me... I'd have numerous people I could call and they'd be there for me. Most, funny enough, are old APO brothers. Maybe it's just that locale or environment but it seems to foster the camaraderie that ties people together. I don't even care how many jokes people make about my tenure there... I honestly think it's the best decision I could've ever made. To get me out of the "well, why should I do shit for anyone else" mentality that surrounds my friends that are still downstate. Hell, a buddy of mine is dating a girl who had to ask him "why would you just give it to him?" when referencing some extra parts coming his way. I'm not even sure if he could explain it to her.
Going to school there was the best decision a brooding, pessimistic, chip-on-his-shoulder kid could have ever made. Even if it was totally by accident.
Sound off, let me hear your thoughts on this one. Are we going in the shitter? Do some of us miss Tech because we'd rather not be working... or because of the people? What can be done against the incredible negatism that seems to be permeating quite a few people's thoughts lately?