My Damn World

Ghost you've touched upon a subject here that I myself have struggled with. For me, moments where I could have made a stand to preserve my and my families honor, good name etc. were never to be. Instead, a system with no bounds controls most everyones lives today, swept in, time and time again, to blanket these situations. I'm an activist feminists poster child. I don't call my quality of life "living" at this point. Instead I merely exist. States vary somewhat on how the inhabitance are allowed to exist. All have some level of control over our lives. This brings us to the "Honor" subject. Today while towing a boat 160 miles to store it (can't park it in my driveway, against city code) NPR radio plays literary "short stories". One of todays readings was an Edgar Allen Poe story read by a famous artist. It was called "Manuscript in a bottle" it was about a antique dealer aboard a ship at sea. It was set in a time well into the past when ships were made of wood. Poe's lavish details thrown in. A sudden Tempest struck the ship as it was anchored to prevent the ship from coasting ashore, as there was no wind prior to this storm and no indication of weather. After a huge wave overtook the ship, only two people were left aboard. The author and a Swedish crewman. You will have to read the story for yourself. As Poe pens out this person's experience. It reminded me of how my life has been for the past 20 years. During the story, this person is flung aboard another vessel hundreds of tons larger then the one he had been aboard. As he's aboard this much larger vessel, he is invisible to the people aboard it. They speak a language he's not familer with. He walks amongst them but no one takes notice of him. At one point he is standing at elbow's length from the captain and the captain is saying something to himself. Although he is so very close, the captains words seem a mile away. That phrase has been with me since the radio show. When I speak with people, it seems as though I'm a mile away from them. To get through this period of my life. I've become self-imprisoned in order to cope with all the demands placed upon me by a system created by activist feminists of this region. My situation is no different then what we see on TV today. Hate is a big seller. Actually I do have the answer. Although it's not what people want to hear. Back in the mid 1800's women were not allowed certain privilege that men were. They called themselves "suffrages" to accent their situation. It's taken one hundred years but now, this generation of men are paying for what those women went through. Honor? I don't think much of that word applies to how a man can conduct himself in a gentlemanly way our parents were accustom too. My father is the kind of person unknown to todays generation. I used to wonder how he handled domestic situations. My youngest sister was beaten up by her boyfriend. She called dad for help. When dad arrived, the boyfriend had taken off on foot as he didn't have a vehicle because of numerous DUI's. Dad went into the night to look for the guy but wasn't able to locate him. I wonder to this day, what would he have done? Later, Steph moved out of the house she was renting from dad. Dad allowed the boyfriend to continue living in his rental. Steph and I discussed this at length. She said dad didn't understand what could be wrong with the guy inhabiting the house. His money was just as good as anyones. The guy ended up tearing the place apart before skipping out. I guess to me, honor begins with solitude.
 

I'm sure I've read that story as I have read most of Poe's works but, can't quite remember it right now. I do understand your struggles in this society we have allowed to exist. I've had many people question how I can still act the way I do in many bad situations. My philosophy is if I continue to do what I believe is the right thing to do then, no matter what happens I always have the satisfaction of knowing I did the right thing and nothing ever comes back to haunt me or bite me in the ass later. I never lie awake at night wondering who might come to get me because I screwed them over or what I might get caught at because nothing like that exists. The best you can do is live your life the way a man or woman should live and be secure in the knowledge you did the right thing. Turbo Ghost
 

The world we all exist in now is just a rotting cesspit, it's a pile of crap.
I have four children who I bring up and educate in what I believe is the right way to conduct themselves in company, around their elders etc - in fact my son was provoked while playing football out the front of our house by a particularly stupid and obnoxious woman who lives on our street and he reacted by telling her to shut up. This was an entirely valid response to the woman, but nonetheless I made him go and apologise to her for the way he had spoken.
This kind of teaching seems to be pretty much non existent in almost every other kid I see. I hate it.
I drove up our small cul-de-sac (dead end road) a few weeks ago and there was a group of 5 or 6 kids around the age of 8 - 10 years standing in the middle of the road. I had to come to a complete stop before they slowly ambled their way out of the road - they new there was absolutely NOTHING I could do or say to them, and to weild such power and knowledge at their age distresses me greatly.
We just spent a few weeks camping in Spain at a fantastic campground where they have STRICT silence between midnight and 7am rules, yet ALL the teenage kids of the other campers (Dutch mostly, but some Irish too) thought it would be super-cool to run around the site shouting as loud as possible until around 4am, and taking towels off wash lines and throwing them on the floor.
Did WE used to behave this way - as far as I remember I was too damn scared to do anything, not that I particularly wanted to - don't get me wrong I'm not a goody-goody, I just have respect.
There have always been bad people in the world, but it seems to be getting worse and worse. Parents don't seem to care anymore for the values we were all taught - look at the number of obese unhealthy disrespectful kids EVERYWHERE you go.
Anyway, on this cheerful note I will sign off.....
 

You bring up a very good point about another topic that strikes a nerve with me. "EXPERTS" These are the educated idiots who know everything about everything that they have never actually experienced! They are the ones who have made it a crime to smack a child or spank them. I am in no way endorsing child abuse but, until a child reaches a certain age, they are unable to be reasoned with. Until this point, they must learn respect through a series of rewards and punishments. They quickly learn if they do this, they get punished and shy away from that activity. Once they can be reasoned with, then you can merely tell them about the consequences of their actions. Then, if they disobey, it was by CHOICE and not simply a childish mistake and they deserve a good ass-busting! Look around at the "adults" of the world that are causing the problems. It is because the "experts" have made sure there are no consequences for their actions so there is no fear of retribution. If you can kill someone and get probation, why not kill some more? Deal drugs, pay a fine. Deal some more. Children need to be taught respect early. If not, they will never show it as adults and the next thing you know, they become politicians!
Turbo Ghost
 

The Poe story in question is usually written as "MS. Found in a Bottle." I thought that might help you remember it. If I'm not mistaken, it was one of the first stories Poe ever had published.