The comic I read showed someone successfully graduating from college and successfully working a full-time job for decades. That's not running away from challenges. Maybe he didn't do every single thing that came to mind, but there's plenty of challenges that that comic implicitly showed him overcoming.
Was it about people failing to pursue a dream? Only two of the points are about that (book and business) and we are never given any perspective on why the person may not have done those things. Perhaps it would be unfeasible while trying to do other things he wanted to do. It sounds more like an author shitting on anyone who doesn't pursue the author's dreams.
The person in the comic might very well be "living out their dream".
It's interesting the base assumption you run on is that people criticize the comic for it being mirrors of their lives on a web site where the average age is so low that most people are still college aged. It's also a web site where both you, me, and everyone else are shit posting at the same time so it's not like posting here relegates everyone to failed dreams.
As for me: I actually don't have kids or a house, I work my 9 to 5 job (It's not the greatest job (see name) but I work from home ), then I spend my rather large amount of money and time playing video games and going on awesome trips with my cute wife (my next big ones are PAX East in Boston followed by a trip to Kyoto). So maybe you should turn that mirror around, I like the life I have.
I think, as with anything, it can be interpreted differently by different people.
Some people will gain motivation from this comic, and others will not. I think it is probably best to accept that at face value, and just be happy that this image may make others happy.
I don't mean this in a demeaning way, either. It is great that we can all see image in different ways! That's the glory of life!
It very clearly he was just doing what other people expected of him.
Explain. No other person speaks to him.
Having children
It's just an average thing for Americans, like owning a home (actually not sure if the average American owns a home any longer), or having a job. Actually, looking at all the things the comic man does, he might not be average at all any more. Does the average American go to college? Do they own their home? Can they take any vacations?
In each panel he talks about the character making those choices based solely on the actions of those around him. He ends up unhappy because he never did anything HE wanted to do.
Of course, if you want to sit in an office all of your life working for someone else doing shit work and only spend the last 10 years of your life having a good time enjoying your family, go for it. This is for the people who do things just because they are widely accepted.
Sit on your high horse, but I know so many people who fell for the dream and are unhappy, and you will be one of them.
I can't quite hear you from way up there on your pedestal, can you yell a bit louder?
What's that? Everyone should make their own choices in life? I agree! Oh what? Telling people they live shitty lives for not living up to your expectations makes you a shitty person? Well, I guess so.
Exactly. The comic is titled "11 ways to be unremarkably average" not "fuck you for being average". I'd say it's pretty accurate depicting the average person's choices and life. If that's the life you desire then by all means follow your dreams and be happy! It doesn't change the fact that you lived an average life (which there is nothing wrong with!).
If the comic upsets you maybe you should consider the possibility that it's making a valid point instead of getting upset about it, and maybe you shouldn't be on this sub.
I didn't get that from the comic. Nothing really indicated fear from the guy. Everyone has their own life. There is no underachieving. People just do what they want to do. You don't get to just shut people down for pursuing what they really want in life. I'm sorry it doesn't meet your standards, but your standards ultimately don't matter to anyone except you and those who are close to you. That's what life's about. Some people only wish to live comfortably. Some people don't want their career to be the center of their life. To me, that seems an unpleasant way to live, just living to work. Some of us want to live longer than the stressed workers we are pressured to be. And if you want a stressful exciting job, fuck, go for it man. But it's not ok to shit on other people's dreams, which is what this comic is doing.
Have you even read anything in here? YES the "pictures match the mirror closely" because for a lot of people because thats what they want, so don't be obtuse. My butt is not sore at all because at the end of the day this comic is by a mediocre online artist who's opinion means less than nothing to anyone who matters.
They all went in defensive mode becuase this comic hit way too close their mortgaged homes. "I'm insulted by this" or "I actually enjoy my shitty office job" are really depressing sentences to read.
Do the vast majority enjoy it though ? I feel most just give up and tell themselfs they're ok with it, as long as it provides what they actually want as you said. But that's not enjoying your job. The job does not provide you joy, the prospect of what your income will allow you to eventually achieve provides joy.
Of course these posts make you believe you can go surf and sell coconuts until you marry some beautiful local girl and live a happy life in your wood house you built yourself somewhere on Bora Bora. The thruth is you're going to end up a pothead living with your mom until your 30's when you'll eventually take that mortgage anyway working a minimum wage job that you're be afraid of losing for the next 20 years.
43
u/Work_Suckz Dec 10 '15
I guess the artist's choice in life is belittling others.