I'm new to Montreal. Came here in July. I've never had a great time meeting friends, not because I'm a bad guy or anything, just from the way I operate I guess. It'd be easier to understand if you met me. I have a lot of good friends but I left most of them behind in the move. I came from Ottawa; I had to leave or I would have died of boredom there. The civil service in Ottawa is really toxic to any form of "joie de vivre". That's why I love Montreal. People are just happier, and they do their own things, and its great.
My problem I think is that I spend too much time alone these days. I have a roommate, and he's a good friend, but he's the opposite of adventurous. I want to explore, but not alone. I have a good friend moving up and in with me soon so that's somewhat fixed.
My problem is the more time I spend alone the more alienated I feel from society. And the more time I spend after that the more I feel I'll never fit in. More and more I feel that society is just fucked. I find everyone just divides into groups and then tries to make their way of life the best. You have more and more people who are just pop culture pawns; those who like all the bland, unoriginal, produced, and fake pop music/movies/books (Twilight anyone?). Those who don't seem to really think about anything, really. The art of critical thinking is just not really that popular these days. People have managed to convince me (for now) that lack of critical thought is more due to poor education than anything you're born into, but nonetheless I find it troublesome. This is the main group of society. The others are a bit less noticeable but still obvious. There's the hipsters, who don't really want to talk to you if you don't like their musical tastes or have different musical tastes; the hippies, who seem like the pop culture people except that they take different viewpoints; the crackheads, who are more interested in getting fucked up than anything, and so on. Basically, I just find people love willingly dividing themselves into identity groups. And frankly, I just don't fit in to any of them.
Added to this is that people seem to be addicted to distracting themselves. cell phones are just way too prominent. the pop-tards can't seem to put them away. I'm like the last person who's never had a cell phone. I'm not tied to that, but we'll see. but people don't even really put themselves in a position to think anymore. you see them in school, with their cell phone on the desk with their pen and notebook/laptop, as if the cell phone is essential to learning. once they leave class they call/text their friends for pointless chatter.
but can I really blame them? the world we live in is so impersonal, I can see the appeal to not feel just quite so much like you're being surrounded by anonymous, faceless, meaningless people, by calling who you like most when you're with noone else. I can see the appeal of overstating the importance of musical taste; some people just want to have an identity to share with people they may randomly meet. I just can't seem to do it myself. I can't tie myself to identity groups. I am a person who has their own way of being. I just can't close my mind, and if something I think doesn't make sense I won't delude myself into thinking it does. I'm willing to accept any view -- if it makes logical sense. If you feel the same way, message me.
basically, I want people to tell me how western civilization is beautiful at the same time. I want someone to tell me how, despite its flaws, there's something worth liking here. I know there are good things. like, how like never before in history people are less judged based on arbitrary characteristics (sex, race, gender, etc), though clearly there is still some discrimination. I like how I am free to do whatever I want really, within certain boundaries, and that deviance is just more "acceptable" than in the past.
but, how else is it beautiful? I know there is a lot to change in our society, and I think that my role in life is to change things, to write and make things better, or at least to lead people in a better path. but I want to know something more positive. something redeeming about society. I fear I'm becoming too jaded, due to my seclusion. if you know of something specific in Montreal that expresses beauty that's somewhat specific to Canadian/Quebecois/Western culture, let me know. but overall,. I want to know what YOU find beautiful about our society. I know it's here, especially in Montreal. I know Dieu du Ciel is friggin sweet, but there's more to life than awesome microbrewed beer, right?
also, if you can't find anything good to say, I wouldn't mine hearing your ideas. if they are the same as mine, feel free to vent. everyone loves mental masturbation, right?
love, Martin
- Location: Montreal
- it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests