My younger brother loves Tyler Durden quotes. One in particular “It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything.”
I’m not sure why that one jumps out at him, dude makes more money than me. I do want to say though that hes genuinely a good person in most ways, hes completely surrounded by frothing at the mouth rightwingers but maintains that he is a centrist. And he says stuff that implies left wing and anarchist beliefs but constantly defends rightwing figures when I shit talk them around him. Most notably Joe Rogan.
Hes just badly propagandized and would end up being socially isolated if he started actually identifying as left wing because all of his friends would stop talking to him. And he refuses to move and make new friends. Its depressing.
That quote in particular is an awful thing to hold dear if your brother loves you and the rest of your family. What good is this ‘freedom’ without the people most dear to you? You become a shell of yourself without the people that give meaning to your life, imo.
Sounds like it will only be after he’s lost everything (his friends) that he will be able to do anything (have compassion for others and stop listening to Rogan).
“It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything.”
This is a pretty common sentiment I believe. Me and Bobby Mcgee came out in 71 with the famous lyric “Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose”
Sorry to read that about your brother. I have similar people in my life and it’s infuriating and depressing to observe.
If you want a positive read to just reframe it in your head, hear me out. People use quotes aspirationally, right? They are summaries of our values or insights into our personalities. Maybe your brother uses that quote because he’s aware that he wants change but is unable to summon the courage. Maybe the conflict between his values and his social circle is wearing him down. Maybe he regrets a bunch of stuff and wants the chance to start over but feels trapped.
You could view your brother’s use of the quote as him being a superficial emotionally stunted dude who misunderstood the premise of the film, or you could view it as something that is meaningful to him, that hints a deeper truth. “I am Jack’s wasted life.”
Maybe. It does imply a desire to be free if that quote resonates, but his actions don’t seem to indicate seeking social freedom from his current set of friends.
There was one point when he got drunk and confided in me that he thought he really had no real friends and had an emotional melt down. But this was a long time ago and as far as I know, nothing has changed for him since then other than a new job.
I do think his defensiveness of Rogan is fraying, if only because Joe Rogan is becoming increasingly bad at managing his own image. He stopped watching Rogan back when he started charging for his show so it was probably inevitable.
He probably wouldn’t watch any political or joe rogan deconstruction video I send him though.
I think I know what you mean. He lacks “broad” compassion and is intellectually a coward. If you think those are prerequisites for being a good person, he isn’t one.
What I should have said is he is empathetic and inter-personally does what normal good people do in the immediate context of people around him, including helping strangers. Even going out of his way to do so.
My younger brother loves Tyler Durden quotes. One in particular “It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything.”
I’m not sure why that one jumps out at him, dude makes more money than me. I do want to say though that hes genuinely a good person in most ways, hes completely surrounded by frothing at the mouth rightwingers but maintains that he is a centrist. And he says stuff that implies left wing and anarchist beliefs but constantly defends rightwing figures when I shit talk them around him. Most notably Joe Rogan.
Hes just badly propagandized and would end up being socially isolated if he started actually identifying as left wing because all of his friends would stop talking to him. And he refuses to move and make new friends. Its depressing.
That quote in particular is an awful thing to hold dear if your brother loves you and the rest of your family. What good is this ‘freedom’ without the people most dear to you? You become a shell of yourself without the people that give meaning to your life, imo.
Sounds like it will only be after he’s lost everything (his friends) that he will be able to do anything (have compassion for others and stop listening to Rogan).
Yes!! It might stick out to him cuz subconsciously he knows that’s what he’ll need to do to grow, but just isn’t ready.
This is a pretty common sentiment I believe. Me and Bobby Mcgee came out in 71 with the famous lyric “Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose”
Sorry to read that about your brother. I have similar people in my life and it’s infuriating and depressing to observe.
If you want a positive read to just reframe it in your head, hear me out. People use quotes aspirationally, right? They are summaries of our values or insights into our personalities. Maybe your brother uses that quote because he’s aware that he wants change but is unable to summon the courage. Maybe the conflict between his values and his social circle is wearing him down. Maybe he regrets a bunch of stuff and wants the chance to start over but feels trapped.
You could view your brother’s use of the quote as him being a superficial emotionally stunted dude who misunderstood the premise of the film, or you could view it as something that is meaningful to him, that hints a deeper truth. “I am Jack’s wasted life.”
Maybe. It does imply a desire to be free if that quote resonates, but his actions don’t seem to indicate seeking social freedom from his current set of friends.
There was one point when he got drunk and confided in me that he thought he really had no real friends and had an emotional melt down. But this was a long time ago and as far as I know, nothing has changed for him since then other than a new job.
Send him the latest Elephant Graveyard video. That should adjust his perspectives on Rogan at least
I do think his defensiveness of Rogan is fraying, if only because Joe Rogan is becoming increasingly bad at managing his own image. He stopped watching Rogan back when he started charging for his show so it was probably inevitable.
He probably wouldn’t watch any political or joe rogan deconstruction video I send him though.
He is not genuinely a good person.
I think I know what you mean. He lacks “broad” compassion and is intellectually a coward. If you think those are prerequisites for being a good person, he isn’t one.
What I should have said is he is empathetic and inter-personally does what normal good people do in the immediate context of people around him, including helping strangers. Even going out of his way to do so.