Don't feel that I fit in my community

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Blieb
I think instead of complaing you'd get more satisfaction if you just teach your neighbors how to read and write. Then they could get read the paper instead of wiping their ass and heating their homes with it (economy ++), clip coupons to save on groceries (personal finance ++), learn about cultural and social happenings in the area, etc.

You could be responsible for changing their lives and giving them purpose!!!

As phase II, I'd strongly suggest building a school or something ...

Nice

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: RKS
I am an attorney and my wife has a couple Master's degrees and the complexity of conversations with our neighbors (other professionals) doesn't rise above " you wanna a beer" or "you should try this gin and tonic".

Maybe the OP is reminiscing about dorm room days and staying in on weekends and discussing politics.

Maybe he should try Starbucks?

Certainly no shortage of snotty jerkwads there. I bet most of them even have bachelors!

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: Engraver
Buy the DVD collection of King of the Hill, that should help.

My Name is Earl, season 1.

I love that show!

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: thatguy82

Originally posted by: NiteWulf
Wow, people are really going deep with this one. I was just going to post something like "Welcome to America. We don't talk to our neighbors"

so true, living in the country is much better than suburbs though regarding this

fixed

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: steppinthrax
When they find what I do they treat me different for it. I almost feel alienated. Also when I talk to them there isn't much I can talk to with them. It's like their conversations lack substance. They can't discuss political matters, ethical matters or have a high level conversation about issues in this country right now. It's like I?m talking to the uninformed. I'm also the youngest homeowner on that street (23) and I feel people treat me different for that and my status.

I felt that way when I was working at the warehouse. I couldn't really participate in the conversations going on there, because I would have had to give a lesson in basic economics and international diplomacy first before I could properly convey my views. The best example I think was when someone was complaining about gas prices, and said, "why doesn't the government just fix the price of gasoline?"
Well gee, there was a time and place where the government controlled the market extensively. It was called communism. It didn't work.

This was a place where the highest education was generally high school, if even that. It also didn't strike me as a place of high IQ's.

Options:
- Stop associating with them, or at least stop trying to join such conversations.
- Move
- Start running into brick walls repeatedly and hope that it dumbs you down a bit. You may eventually develop an unhealthy addiction to sports, to the extent that you'll learn what the various players eat for breakfast. You'll also want lots of NASCAR bumper stickers and an inbred hound dog. :laugh:

 

[Darwin333]

Get more friends.

 

[MagicConch]

I'm also the youngest in my neighborhood, one of the few who works from home, and the only single person (although thankfully not the wealthiest I think). Eventually they will chill out, and if not it's their problem. Best memories I have living wise was in a blue-collar neighborhood. MMV though

 

[DangerAardvark]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: steppinthrax
When they find what I do they treat me different for it. I almost feel alienated. Also when I talk to them there isn't much I can talk to with them. It's like their conversations lack substance. They can't discuss political matters, ethical matters or have a high level conversation about issues in this country right now. It's like I?m talking to the uninformed. I'm also the youngest homeowner on that street (23) and I feel people treat me different for that and my status.

I felt that way when I was working at the warehouse. I couldn't really participate in the conversations going on there, because I would have had to give a lesson in basic economics and international diplomacy first before I could properly convey my views. The best example I think was when someone was complaining about gas prices, and said, "why doesn't the government just fix the price of gasoline?"
Well gee, there was a time and place where the government controlled the market extensively. It was called communism. It didn't work.

This was a place where the highest education was generally high school, if even that. It also didn't strike me as a place of high IQ's.

Options:
- Stop associating with them, or at least stop trying to join such conversations.
- Move
- Start running into brick walls repeatedly and hope that it dumbs you down a bit. You may eventually develop an unhealthy addiction to sports, to the extent that you'll learn what the various players eat for breakfast. You'll also want lots of NASCAR bumper stickers and an inbred hound dog. :laugh:

Same with me, though not in a warehouse. But, that's what friends are for. Don't burden co-workers and neighbors with your politics and world view, I say. Just chat about how much work sucks and that hot chick that works in the snack shop.

 

[quakefiend420]

i have to agree with most of the rest of the thread, you're probably coming across as an elitist prick...there's a time and a place for everything, and foreign policy probably isn't the right topic of conversation for that particular group...if you want to be well-liked and fit into different social situations you need to change it up a bit

i can hang out with one group and talk computers and video games, another group and talk about motorcycles and cars, and yet a different one and discuss world events and politics, and go to the local bar and join in the complaints about the state of the world and cheating women

my point is, figuring out how to blend and join into different social circles is a valuable skill that you're going to need to learn...give it a try, you might be surprised

 

[bctbct]

You keep stroking yourself like this, we're all going to come.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: bctbct
You keep stroking yourself like this, we're all going to come.

LOL

 

[Born2bwire]

As a rule, I don't talk politics with people unless I want to get rid of them.

 

[jjzelinski]

Originally posted by: pontifex
whats up with all the ATOTers that have it all but are bored with life or feel they don't fit in?

It shouldn't be a surpise at all. We're all getting a social fix from TEH INNERNETS, that should tell you something about how well the average ATOT'er is adjusted.

As for the OP, I'm in the same boat. In my situation however there's no sense of elitism, not sure about yours. The people I'm surrounded by are intlligent and interesting, but different. They enjoy standard American entertainment fare; sports, funny movies, BBQ's, NASCAR, etc. Just not my thing. There are a few who I can engage with on a more intellectual level and it's very refreshing to have what I would call substantial conversations with them. The others aren't interested. Not because they aren't capable of being interested in what I'm interested, nor vice versa. We're just different. I try to enjoy the differences as much as I can, and what I can't I try to ignore.

 

[Cattlegod]

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan
OP is definitely having a superiority trip or has a complex. People don't usually shun other people for no reason. Based on this post and your attitude, it is obvious that you have given then sufficient reason to think you are pompous and arrogant, which seems to be true.