The Social Commandments
Life and society are filled to the brim with unwritten rules that, because of their being hidden, cause untold havok to sweep the social landscapes of peoples’ lives. If everyone fully understood what these rules were, I think society would be an unrecognizably better place…
Thou shalt understand the reality of narcissists, sociopaths, and people with “Antisocial Personality Disorder” (which, by the way, has NOTHING to do with being “un-social”).
The problem is that you know more than several, they poison our world to a magnitude you can’t imagine, and it’s likely that you know NOTHING about them. If they were a common subject in our culture, known by all (and from an early age), it would greatly reduce their ability to poison everything. (see links below)
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Narcissists | Sociopaths/Psychopaths | Antisocial Personality Disorder
Thou shalt not be impressed merely because someone can TALK about a subject convincingly, or create a convincing impression.
All too many people who talk the talk can’t necessarily walk the walk… as evidenced by the vast number of film-school students (and other types of students) who can talk like they’re great philosophers at their art, but simply can’t make a film for beans.
No matter what the subject, you simply cannot allow IMPRESSION to form your opinion/understanding of something. Just think about all the products that you’ve purchased based on impression, then wanted to return. With that in mind, do not believe that a person has true qualities or expertise based on a mere impression they create by their mannerism. Psychologists will tell you that it’s the worst people (narcissists and the like) who usually try the hardest to create these impressions. (still, don’t automatically assume now that ANY person who seems to radiate a certain quality is trying to create that impression deceptively. For those who truly are good, love them for their qualities and attractive mannerisms.)
A person you meet should be a question-mark until you truly know them. It may be less convenient than being able to walk away from first meetings with strong impressions about how people actually are, but it’s INFINITELY more accurate, and will steer you away from people you regret knowing.
Same with products. Always, always, always read product reviews before buying. Sometimes, even when you THINK you got something good, you don’t even know what convenience you would have scored with a different product, because you were too satisfied with one you GOT. (think about everything you own. Now think that 75% of those things could have been MUCH better. Moral: read product reviews)
Thou shalt think of the money you spend as votes being cast for companies that should or should not exist.
With that mentality, you should not buy anything from companies that you know shouldn’t exist. What people don’t realize is that even a small amount of neglect can kill (or change) MOST of them, and in their wake is either a repaired way of operating, or a new company.
(next time you’re out driving, look around you: every building you see is like a little governor that has been voted into office, with your money. If people stopped voting for the parasites, they wouldn’t be there… and something that was actually good would take their place (because we would vote for them))
A small amount of economic pain is ALWAYS worth the trouble of bringing about a much better way to live; where companies are the servants of humanity, not the masters.
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Thou shalt discover small, local shops you never knew about.
Drive around your city, memorizing the locations of tiny local shops and restaurants that you never knew about, and try to go to them. Spread the word about the good ones. Happily shun the parasites.
Note: be smart… A local shop that appears overpriced might not be a parasite. Sometimes, they can’t stay in business with lower prices, or their stuff is just vastly superior to the shorter-life junk you’ve gotten used to at Wal-Mart.
Thou shalt not romantically idolize any famous person of the opposite gender, in any way at all, if you have plans to ever be in a romantic relationship with someone.
You can appreciate one’s realistic qualities for what they’re worth – like their ability to act or sing – but you can’t say, “Oh, I love “such-and-such”… he/she is so hot.” It drives spears into your partner – even if they discover that you only USED TO romantically idolized someone – and it’s very difficult to explain away.
Remember: even acceptable answers here are not good answers. There’s no REAL excuse for a partner’s worship of an opposite-gender person, when the context revolves around appearance or general attraction.
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