Lesson 2 Four choices for young people

Shortly before graduation, Jim, the fourth-grade chairman of Stanford University? Spencer wrote me a letter in which he talked about some of his anxieties.

Shortly before graduation, Jim Binns, the senior chairman of Stanford University, wrote to me and talked about some of his doubts.

He wrote: "Compared with any other generation, our generation has more doubts about the adult world ... and is increasingly inclined to completely deny the adult world."

"Compared with any other generation," he said, "our generation is extremely skeptical about the adult world ... and there is a tendency to completely reject the adult world."

Obviously, his words represent the views of many colleagues.

Obviously, he represented many people of his contemporaries.

In recent years, I have listened to many young people's conversations. Some of them are still studying in universities, and some have graduated. They are equally uneasy about the adult world.

In the past few years, I have listened to many young people's speeches, both inside and outside the university, and they are equally nervous about the adult world.

Generally speaking, their attitude can be summarized as: "The world is a mess, full of inequality, poverty and war. Adults are probably responsible for this. If they can't do better than these, what can they do to educate us? We don't need such teaching at all. "

Roughly speaking, their attitude can be summarized as follows: "The world is very chaotic, full of injustice, poverty and war. Presumably, the people responsible for this are the adults who have been managing this matter. What can they teach our generation if they can't do better? We can skip that class. "

I think these conclusions are reasonable, at least from their point of view.

These conclusions seem reasonable to me, at least from their point of view.

For the growing generation, the relevant question is not whether our society is perfect (we can take it for granted), but how to deal with it.

For the coming generation, the relevant question is not whether our society is imperfect (which we can take for granted), but how to deal with it.

Although this society is harsh and unreasonable, it is the only world we have after all.

Although it is harsh and unreasonable, it is the only world we have.

Therefore, choosing a way to cope with this society is the first decision that young people who have just entered adulthood must make, which is usually the most important decision in their lives.

Therefore, choosing coping strategies is the first decision that young people must make, and it is usually the most important decision in their lives.

According to my findings, their basic choices are only four:

As far as I know, there are only four basic options:

1) divorced from traditional society

1) drop out of school

This is one of the oldest methods, and people of any age can use it anywhere, whether they use hallucinogens or not.

This is one of the oldest stopgap measures. It can be practiced anywhere, at any age, with or without hallucinogens.

Those who think the world is cruel and intolerably complicated usually choose this method.

For those who feel that the world is too cruel or too complicated to bear, this has always been their choice of strategy.

Essentially, this is a parasitic lifestyle. People who adopt this strategy are parasitic in this society they despise in one way or another and refuse to take responsibility for this society.

By definition, this lifestyle is parasitic. In one way or another, its practitioners get rich in a society they despise, in which they refuse to take any responsibility.

Some of us are disgusted with this-they think this way of life is shameful.

Some of us find this disgusting-an indecent life.

But for those who are humble, lazy and lack self-esteem, this may be the most feasible and tolerable choice.

But for people with poor spirit, low energy and self-esteem, this may be the most unbearable choice.

2) escape from the real world

2) escape

This strategy has precedents as early as ancient times.

There are also ancient precedents for this strategy.

Since the birth of civilization, some people have tried to escape from civilized society, hoping to seek a simpler, more idyllic and quieter life.

Since the beginning of civilization, some people have tried to escape from civilization, hoping to find a simpler, more idyllic and more peaceful life.

Unlike people who are divorced from traditional society, these people are not parasites. They are willing to stand on their own feet and make contributions to society, but they don't like the environment in this civilized world. Indeed, I don't like this metropolis full of ugliness and tension.

Unlike dropouts, they are not parasites. They are willing to support themselves and contribute to the whole society, but they just don't like civilized environment; This is the city, with all its ugliness and nervousness.

The problem with this method is that it cannot be implemented on a large scale.

The problem with this solution is that it is no longer practical on a large scale.

Unfortunately, on our earth, there are fewer and fewer noble barbarians and unspoiled natural scenery; There is no undeveloped land except the polar regions.

Unfortunately, the noble barbarians and unpolluted scenery on our planet are disappearing; There are no frontiers except the polar regions.

A few rich squires can escape from reality and live an idyllic life-but on the whole, the migration trend is the opposite direction.

A few rich farmers can still escape to rural life-but on the whole, the tide of immigration is flowing in the opposite direction.

3) Planning revolution

Plan a revolution

This strategy is very popular among those who are impatient with the complicated operation of democratic procedures or believe that only force can change the basic social system.

This strategy is always popular among those who have no patience with the tedious work of democratic procedures or believe that the basic system can only be changed by force.

It attracts more active and idealistic young people in each generation.

It attracts every generation of more active and idealistic young people.

For them, this strategy has romantic appeal, usually symbolized by an attractive and exciting person.

For them, it provides a romantic attraction, usually symbolized by some personable and charismatic figures.

This strategy is simple and more attractive: "Since this society is hopeless, let's smash it and build a better society on its ruins."

It has a greater simple appeal: "Since this society is hopelessly bad, let's destroy it and build something better on the ruins."

Some of my friends are revolutionaries, and some of them are quite satisfied.

Some of my best friends are revolutionaries, and some of them lead quite satisfactory lives.

These people are actually unsuccessful people in the revolution, and they can happily continue to plan until they are old.

The revolution of these people has not been realized; They can happily plan their massacres until they get old.

Others died at a young age, in prison or by the barricade.

Others died young, in prison or on the barricade.

But the most unfortunate people are those who have succeeded in the revolution.

But the most unfortunate people are those who succeed in the revolution.

They are extremely disappointed to see that their authority has been replaced by a new organization, which is still so cold and lifeless.

They live in painful disillusionment, watching the institution they overthrew be replaced by a new institution, which is equally cold and stuffy.

Of course, I'm not saying that the revolution achieved nothing.

Of course, I'm not saying that the revolution accomplished nothing.

Some revolutions (American Revolution, French Revolution) really make things better and better.

Some (American Revolution, French Revolution) do make things better.

I just want to say that no matter whether the revolution succeeds or fails, those revolutionaries who plan the revolution are doomed to be disappointed.

My point is only that in any case, the idealists who carry out the revolution are bound to be disappointed.

Because the dawn of victory will never shine on the bright new world where they dream of getting rid of all the meanness of mankind.

Because in the best case, their victory will never come to the glorious new world that they dreamed of and cleared all human meanness.

It shines in a familiar and mediocre place, which still needs groceries and sewage.

On the contrary, it illuminates a familiar and ordinary place that still needs groceries and sewage treatment.