Collection Critique 39 For Dummies Uncut

I have not

The "Societal-machine" is what I call in relation to what you guys spoke about in the beginning. Have any of you guys read the two books of the Capitalism and Schizophrenia series by Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari?

I think loneliness may be the most powerful force/feeling that pushes people toward the “machine”. Some people simply aren’t good at feeling alone even in their thoughts or opinions. Being alone has been made out to be scary and often dangerous in so much of the media we consume. Independence has also been, at best, only selectively celebrated. We have had “strength in numbers” pushed as a narrative for so long (and it simply can’t be argued in many cases) that it’s a natural and fundamental want to be a part of something. Or at least perceived as a part of something larger. I definitely also think it gets more difficult to avoid being assimilated into whatever groupthink you may align most with as you age. I’m in my mid 40s and have only very recently found myself feeling the pressure that being alone brings in many respects. I think that this can be attributed to a couple of things. If you’re an independent thinker your views will evolve over time and divergences that may once have been minor can become expansive as life marches on. You’ve also likely experienced more loss as you age and these traumas can affect major changes in several different ways. They can quite literally separate you from those that may have had similar (though not identical) views and paradigms. They can force one to rethink things and perhaps come to different conclusions on topics they once had. They can bring to one the realization that we are mortal and that time is fleeting at best. Forcing reevaluation and realignment to better utilize and prioritize the limited amount we have. Depending on one’s approach to these occurrences they can either push you further toward a machine or out on your own in terms of thought. I believe much of this all has to do with being comfortable. And what people perceive as comfortable. For many a simple lack of conflict (in thought and being) is sufficient. While others may still feel the constant sting that fundamental personal compromise can bring. These people may push out on their own or (at first) with smaller groups in search of a truer happiness. The people in the first camp will likely never bother testing any limits or boundaries because they have settled on that level of comfort and will remain “blissfully” unaware. And there is nothing wrong with that. The people in the second group will likely split, and repeat the process until they have, individually or in smaller groups, found their own contentment. This is where acceptable difference and counter culture comes from. A select few may keep going for time immemorial. Absolutely aware of the discomfort that independent thought brings and hoping it may also, one day, bring a happiness unimaginable by those that chose comfort. That of being one’s true self and having actually strived to match the potential one has. Also. Love the collection critiques. I have assimilated much of what I have seen to make my own more acceptable and pleasing to myself and others…

Bobby's on the train, but he's looking out the window the whole time.

Esteban Romo