Greetings Earthlings

[Grassharpper]

Hey Folks,
       I was born an atheist and have never been indoctrinated into any religious belief system. It's very frustrating for me to sit quiet when the whole world seems to be so hypnotized by all manner of superstitious belief. I spent the last three years driving a semi all over America trying to get a feel for what people are thinking out there. I gotta say, it did surprise me a bit. As I tuned in to local radio stations in all the different towns, I found there to be an intense media campaign against science, intellectual endeavor, and the social diversity that makes a free society worth living in. I grew up in Northern Virginia near D.C. and have had the good fortune of being exposed to the extensive variety of differing socioeconomic classes, ethnicities, and ideologies that only a cosmopolitan region can offer. So when I got out there to discover the relative homogenization of culture in the interior of the country, I started to really get interested in listening to what political and religious agendas that a great many people were being exposed to. I'll tell you, I've never heard as much vitriol, xenophobia, and just plain hate over the airwaves during these travels as I've heard in my entire life. There is a concerted effort among these media outlets to really gin up fervor for these really radical and dangerous ideological points of view. I developed a kind of obsession with listening to the harshest and strictest kinds of intolerance that these broadcasters were espousing. Now that I'm back in D.C. and done with my whirlwind adventure, I need some decompression from all the intense vulgarity that I subjected myself to. So I've come here mainly as therapy and to try to reassemble a more positive outlook on the state of humanity. Because that crap really bummed me out.

[AlP]

Hi Grassharpper. I hope you find this a good place to decompress. What are you doing now after your trip? And welcome to the forum!

[Grassharpper]

Thanks AIP. Right now I'm trying to get my guitar chops back up to par and get with some of my old rock 'n roll pals and try to do a few gigs around town here. I've actually had about a month to come down so I'm feeling a little more groovy than I was. I appreciate the good tidings.

[Jolly Sapper]

Welcome to the forum.  

 

[Grassharpper]

Thanks Jolly Sapper--There's so much here, I don't where to begin. Some of this stuff is over my head but I sure will enjoy the reading material.

[curiosityandthecat]

Good to have another lifer with us.  

Welcome.

[Grassharpper]

'Preciate it Curio---glad to be with you.

[Jolly Sapper]

Thanks Jolly Sapper--There's so much here, I don't where to begin. Some of this stuff is over my head but I sure will enjoy the reading material.

Most of it is over my head too, but I haven't been chased off yet.  

[kenh]

Welcome to the forum.  I've found it abounds with eloquent and intelligent posts - and a few rants!
Of course, you are assuming all of us here are Earthlings...  

[pinkocommie]

Welcome to the forum, super buddy!

[McQ]

Welcome to the forum, and thanks for that intro. Yeah, you can really hear it all by tuning into the "Rush wannabees". Although why they would wannabee is beyond me...

[G-Roll]

Welcome to the forum. I've found it abounds with eloquent and intelligent posts - and a few rants!

haha i think alot of the rants may be mine!! i seldom seem to have anything truely intelligent to add to the topic  

welcome and enjoy your stay.

[Grassharpper]

Well see there---thank you all for the reception . Relating to realists helps me get back into a positive state. I mean, am I crazy for thinking that the norms of this society are just a little bizarre?  We're dealing with a mass mental illness here.

[elliebean]

Hi, I just joined too, so....nice to meet you =)
 Great story. I like that you took it upon yourself to gain that perspective. I myself had to endure the lon version of that experience by living in Mississippi for 9 years. I look forward to reading more of your posts!

[Grassharpper]

Thanks for your kindness Elliebean--- As a traveler, I'm getting a fleeting view of a generally polite and amiable society. "Belief" doesn't seem to play much of a factor in how friendly or helpful strangers are to me. So it can be a little "Twilight Zoney" sometimes.