Be neither a conformist or a rebel, for they are really the same thing. Find your own path, and stay on it.
Paul Vixie
I’m currently living in a tiny town in the south of Germany. That this town has “university city” written on the town sign tells you everything you need to know about it. Interestingly, the town is rather conservative overall, yet has a rather leftist student culture.
Recently, someone sprayed a number of quotes on the sidewalk. Essentially these quotes mock pedestrians as automatons, mindlessly doing their work, and never questioning anything. It ends with a sarcastic “Repeat after me: I am free.”
Frankly, I find these quotes pretty arrogant. To assume that the people who do their job are unfree automatons who should rebel … seriously, why? Isn’t that a bit simplistic?
People are far more complex than they look on the outside and just assuming that no-one ever does anything “rebellious” is ludicrous. Who knows what that grey mouse does in the bedroom, or what that empty shirt does online after work.
Hmm, the older I get the more curious I find the naivety of many people. So secure in their world-view, sometimes so self-righteous in their actions, but sometimes also so completely off the mark that it’s almost funny. Unless they are in positions of power or can influence people in positions of power, — then it’s usually a pity for all involved.
But regarding these quotes … thanks, but I think I stick with the one at the beginning of this posting.