How to cope in these times and pretend you are still free?

[kentuck]

http://www.ehow.com/how_4751926_pretend-everything-ok.html

How to Pretend Everything is OK

<snip>
There are times when everything is spiraling out of control, but you don't want the outside world to know the true anxiety and hopelessness that you feel. There are ways to protect yourself, to project to the outside world the image of a carefree happy person. These methods take time to learn, but once you master them, you may not even know yourself how you truly feel.

<snip>
1. Smile. Keep it in place at all times. Give others the impression that you really are happy. Be overly happy, almost to the point that you are manic. Annoy people with the fact that you never seem stressed or sad.

2. Escape. Find a place to go where you don't have to deal with reality. This place doesn't have to be an actual location. It can be in someone's arms, into a book, or even into another state of mind.

3. Lie. Lie to everyone. Especially to yourself. This is very difficult at first. But eventually, with enough practice, you will be able to have no idea exactly how not happy you truly are.

4. Don't Think. Until you master the art of lying to yourself, just don't think about anything. Don't think about the topics that will bring you down, and don't think about anything else either since your thoughts may wander down paths to the topics that will bring you down. So, to be safe, just don't think.

..........more

[bobbolink]

1. Poor and homeless people have no illusions of freedom.

When the majority grasp that, maybe there will be motivation to change our society.

[undergroundpanther]

17. doing the things on that list in the OP

would kill me. It will literally make me insane,suicidal and sick.

[right2bfree]

21. I have always said that freedom exist only as long as thier if lots of food in the pantry. nt

[elocs]

2. What are the other choices? Really?

This is the real world and not some fantasy land. It's true that most men, and women, lead lives of quiet desperation. You just do the best you can do with things as they are.

[Hannah Bell]

4. the pretense keeps everyone trapped inside the mass prison of consensus-funded reality.

that's why.

one of the reasons people feel hopeless is that they feel alone in their feeling -- because so many people are pretending.

[Odin2005]

5. Revolt. Stand up to those that opress us.

[elocs]

6. Good luck with that. The odds of it happening are very small.

That's how the real world works and not a fantasy that makes for a great movie or novel. Although if you wrote a good novel about it you might get a movie deal.

[kentuck]

10. There is a book...

...from a few years back called "The Revolt of the Elites". Does anyone remember it?

[midnight]

3. K&R... Then learn how to print pretend money.....

Printing money is obviously illegal, but printing pretend money is not! People use pretend money all of the time, for education, games and fantasy, as well as pretend poker money. It's ok to print money as long as it's a different size than the real thing. That's why you sometimes see those really large-sized bills, that have all the same exact detailing of a normal sized one. If you want to print pretend money, follow the steps below and you'll be all set!

Read more: How to Print Pretend Money | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4609833_print-pretend-money.html#ixzz1BGIS79bi

[SPedigrees]

7. Living in Vermont helps

especially now that we elected a democratic governor. Visiting the message boards on the Democratic Underground provides some solace, as does watching Bill Maher, Rachel Maddow or Keith Olbermann. I focus on artistic pursuits, gardening, and pets much of the time. I don't call it pretending, just chosing what to engross myself in and what to ignore.

[cali]

22. it does for me. I feel safe and yes, free here.

[old mark]

8. K&R- Sadly you are right, and I think we are getting worse rapidly...nt

[glinda]

9. Sorry. This is how the Right thinks. No can do. I want to be in Vermont.

[kentuck]

11. In other words...

Ignorance is Bliss?

[Edweird]

12. I took the Red Pill - I grit my teeth and do whatever it is I gotta do.

I keep Slayer/Dimmu Borgir/Rotting Christ/Combichrist on constant rotation on my MP3 player and rage my way through it. It's just how I roll.

[kentuck]

13. music doth have qualities...

...to soothe the savage beast.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ85Hep0kD0

[Edweird]

15. Indeed it does, but I'm fueled by caffeine and adrenaline...

I'm 40(!) going on 26.

Your song was nice, but this is what gets my blood pumping and helps me make it through the rough times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MkHwMwQSV4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3AoBmqElPM

[kentuck]

16. When I was 26 going on 40....

We called that music Alice Cooper. It was chaotic, exciting, and very creative. But then I became a man and put away foolish things...

[Edweird]

24. Different strokes for different folks.

I certainly wouldn't disparage anyone for their musical taste - glass houses and all. I can only speak for myself and about what works for me in particular. I've always been 'different', and I'm OK with that. I'm a middle aged man that listens to music geared towards teenagers and young adults because that's the music that releases the endorphins in my particular screwed up brain. I listen to music that makes me feel good, not music that meets others expectations of what I should or should not enjoy. Be who you are and let the chips fall where they may.
:toast:

[enuegii]

18. I like Rotting Christ...

I'll have to check out Combichrist: not familiar with them.

\m/

[undergroundpanther]

20. Combichrist is great

WTF is wrong with you is one of my faves by Combichrist,So are alot of bands that you will like are filed under "industrial." Five finger death punch,Snog & Angelspit's 100% good stuff to try.



FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH

"The Way Of The Fist"

Break this shit down!
Zoltan, open the sky!


You want it, you got it
Everything you needed and more
You said it, I heard it
Careful what you wish for
Deleted, defeated everything you've ever been
No mercy, it's the way of the fist


Strapped with rage, got no patience for victims
Sick and tired of the whole fuckin' world


I don't remember asking you about your imperfections
You might win one battle
But know this, I'll win the fucking war!

End of the goddamn road! (Right!)

Step to me, step to me motherfucker
Zip your lip, you've run out of time
Step to me, step to me anybody
Talk the talk, now walk the damn line


Deserve it, you earned it, got yourself a fuckin' war
Believe it, you need it, face down on the fuckin' floor
I hate it, can't take it
Wanna break your fuckin' bones
No mercy, you faggot
Should've left it all alone


Strapped with rage, got no patience for victims
Sick and tired of the whole fuckin' world


I don't remember asking you about your imperfections
You might win one battle
But know this, I'll win the fucking war!

As you crash and burn
1, 2, fuck you! (Right!)

Step to me, step to me motherfucker
Zip your lip, you've run out of time
Step to me, step to me anybody
Talk the talk, now walk the damn line!
Step to me, step to me motherfucker
Shut your face, it's your turn to die
Step to me, step to me anybody
Talk the shit, your ass is mine!


I don't remember asking you about your imperfections
You might win one battle
But know this, I'll win the fucking war!

[Edweird]

26. Have you heard this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1Agoc5GUP8

[Edweird]

25. My favorite song by them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3AoBmqElPM

[Webster Green]

14. Whenever someone asks me how I'm doing..which is quite often...

I give them an enthusiastic "perfect!"

It rarely fails to get a surprised reaction, and usually gets a little conversation going.

Of course, nothing could be farther from the truth, but nobody ever says "perfect". It's great!

[Raine]

19. I tried that, did it for almost 3 years after my father died.

It took another death 3 months ago to bring me out of it. Now I have to face reality and realize that I wasted close to 3 years of my life, gone right down the crapper. I have a pile of undone stuff to catch up on, I have to deal with realife and I'm older. Living in a fantasy world sucks in the end.

[glowing]

23. Isn't this more like the steps on Being a Steppford Wife? LOL