What are your thoughts on this image and what it means?

[Zazu]

I would be very interested to see what people think of this image (whether you agree with its meaning, what you think it means, what you think it's trying to say e.t.c.):

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5006/5272318308_ffee45aecf_b.jpg

I personally completely agree with the meaning I feel the original creator wants you to gain from it; society is becoming a pre-formed model now. We're brought up with dictated education, told when we're young to unquestionably follow the 'law' and that the police are always our friends, we're told that we must do well at school and get a job to earn lots of 'money', society tells us that being straight is the norm and that we must get married and have children to continue our family gene pool, you're labelled as 'odd', 'strange' or a 'conspirator' if you question the law or truly disagree with it, advertising tells us that we must follow fashion and consume endlessly to be normal and fit in and feel better, we're force fed bullshit through the mainstream media most of the time which is all total crap, we're told that we should save for our old age where we'll inevitably die in a dingy shit hole of a hospital or nursing home. The powers that be are constantly trying to shape society and how we live and consume. We are never truly free in current society and one of the biggest control factors is 'money'. It limits what we can feasibly do in their model of society and it creates classes / people with more power than others. We're told that we MUST follow everything they tell us to do (the law, the government, 'democracy').

So what do people think about the whole idea of society being completely moulded by the powers that be? Do we truly live as free men and women? Are we truly allowed to fulfil out potentials as human beings? Should a group of people with money be allowed to come along and tell us "This is right, this is wrong, this is the law, if you break it the Police will deal with you."?

[The Joker]

It just shows me how fucking much I hate society. I tell people about how I think marriage is a bad idea, I get labelled as a player. I go to a church and see old white ladies talk about their grandson doing some fucking thing no one cares about. I see people being absolutely identical and endlessly ridiculing people for being different. I see people who have to fucking be boring as fuck, to follow a life path. Fuck getting married and growing old. Fuck your values and your morals, they mean NOTHING to me. The things that are important to most people have no value, and if I were to live like these people, I'd KILL myself.

[ShaneK]

The quote I believe in is everything is plastic and we are all going to die. It all is so pointless

I am young and have so much in my favor, I have no right to feel like this. American society doesnt uplift and support us, we have our hopes and dreams stolen from us and crushed before our eyes. We are manufactured just to consumer and conform. Part of the american industrialized process, we are consumers not individuals. And God forbid that we are individuals, if we are it is beaten out of us. Look at Facebook the fake individuality, the music, the movies, the likes etc, even the clothes we wear. Were told we must have these things or were worth nothing. What fucking right does society have to do this too us? All the problems in society are our fault we are told

[Sage]

This is why I'm a amoral narcissistic hedonist. I think, however, that energy is better spent taking pride in being above the masses than being fearful of their numbers. Humans are humans, and they are social, and for societies to exist, there must be sheep. We are not all individuals because we cannot all be individuals, and that is not something that is going to change. My opinion?

Good. I like things this way. I like seeing people for the identical, monotonous drones they are. It saves me an immeasurable amount of time in judging them, and sorting those who are worthy of my attention from those who are not. May I get poetic for a moment?

I believe each and every one of you with a self-proclaimed free-spirited bone in your bodies should stop looking at yourselves like drowning victims in a sea of conformity and rather as the eyes of hurricanes. True, what surrounds you may be unpleasant, but you ultimately control the path it takes. The solution to the world of problems you see before you lies not in ending trends, but setting them.

Now go choke on that food for thought.

[Amnesiac]

It shows how moral values have eclipsed our freedoms. Anybody who is even slightly abnormal in this society is shunned for their beliefs. Nobody respects anyone else's opinions anymore. It's all about being "good" and "religious", saying the right thing and "not offending people". This is what social conservatism, a driving force in modern politics, is based on — trying to create a society where everyone conforms to one "model family" that is "perfect" in every way. If the rest of society stopped shoving their idea of right and wrong up every individual's ass, we would live in a much better world.

[Camazotz]

I think I'd have to disagree with everything in that statement. In no other time of history have people been as religiously or socially accepting and tolerant than they are right now. Thousands of years ago, you were stoned. Hundreds of years ago, you were hanged. Decades ago, you might be shunned or made fun of. Now, we are moving towards a form of nihilism. No one cares as much what people are like, as long as it doesn't affect them. Society has no control over what you do. Everyone knows that. Lots of people tend to conform with others because they can be comfortable with that. Society does not force anything upon anyone. It is perceived that way, but it's not true at all.

[The Joker]

^I only truly see that on the internet...not at all in my real life.

[MoveAlong]

Yeah, I know what it's trying to say. And it doesn't stir up any emotions inside of me. Because it sounds like old news. I just follow what I like.

This is why I'm a amoral narcissistic hedonist.

What?
Some people just seem to be wayy to rebellious or aggressive about this sort of stuff and they have to define themselves with a lot of strange words. I guess that's their decision but it seems like a lot of work...

I just say be who you want to be. Duh.

[Sage]

and they have to define themselves with a lot of strange words.

There is nothing strange about having a remarkable vocabulary.

[MoveAlong]

There is nothing strange about having a remarkable vocabulary.

While you take pride in it, it's still difficult to understand, and with that difficulty I see little gain in using them.

[Sage]

While you take pride in it, it's still difficult to understand, and with that difficulty I see little gain in using them.

The people I associate myself with never have any difficulty understanding me.

[AgusCO]

The people I associate myself with never have any difficulty understanding me.

The only thing I don't get about your description is "amoral", I mean, do you really believe that there is no "right" or "wrong" acts? (And by the rest of your definition, I'm inclined to think you only act on your own interest, and in seek of pleasure).

As for the image...I don't really like to think about this kind of things, I mean it's like "If it's real,I don't wanna know". I believe there's still individuality, freedom of living your life as you wish, even if it's different to the usual.
There has always been expectations in society, and those who don't...fit the norm are usually frowned upon; still, I think modern society is more accepting than ever before.

[Peace God]

The pic is alright, but i dont think it digs deep enough.

What?
Some people just seem to be wayy to rebellious or aggressive about this sort of stuff and they have to define themselves with a lot of strange words.
I normally keep my composure but this comment seriously made me rage. First you admit to not understanding the "strange words" that define his ideology(which is completely understandable) but instead of quickly (http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/7668/derpn.jpg) looking up the words to understand what he stands for, you then judge him as being overly rebellious and aggressive?
Using words like "amoral" "narcissistic" and "hedonist" is both simpler and more effective than saying..."i think highly of myself and I prioritise my own pleasure rather than blindly following our societies restricting moral standards and values". It's not useless.

[Church]

Shows me people care more about how society tries to control their lives than how they live their lives, it does no good to stay home and say we arn't free etc. No one is forcing you to get married, or save for retirement etc.

Shows me people see everything in a negative light and they end up ruining their own lives through unneeded anger and resentment.

(Trying to say I disagree with this pic/its meaning.)

[Sage]

The only thing I don't get about your description is "amoral", I mean, do you really believe that there is no "right" or "wrong" acts?]/quote]
"Right and wrong" are arbitrary labels we assign to things to structure society. It is entirely in the eye of the beholder, and I prefer to examine every act on an individual basis rather than simply deeming it right or wrong, always, or even generally. But I suppose people prefer simple explanations of the world around them.

[QUOTE=AgusCO;1117586](And by the rest of your definition, I'm inclined to think you only act on your own interest, and in seek of pleasure).
That depends on just how you look at "my interest." Is it not in my interest to be kind and generous to my friends? Is it not in my interest to improve my community?

I help those who help themselves, or more importantly, those who help me, or even more importantly, those few and far between that I consider a cut above the average yokel walking down the street.

[Magus]

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5006/5272318308_ffee45aecf_b.jpg
I did not get this...

[msbrooklyn]

all that is only true if you ALLOW yourself to conform. we are free because as americans we have the right to stand up and say "fuck you im doing it my way" and yes i have done that. we are lucky as americans to be able to walk into the city councils chambers and say "ya know what your not doing a good job, im not electing you again" sure we are forced fed bullshit everyday about what is normal and what isnt. but we are also free to say i dont care, i deside what is normal, its my life. now how many countries can do that? think about the chinese they are forced literally to conform to what their government says or they can be killed or arrested. i think this picture just doesnt examine all of the aspects of america. it makes a valid point but one that is soon overshadowed by the fact that this is still and always be a FUCK YOU NATION. if we dont think something is right, well fuck you, then we make it right. its what this country is founded on. -england- well colonies we need more taxes. -colonies- well england, fuck you. i rest my case :P

[Aves]

Image (http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5006/5272318308_ffee45aecf_b.jpg)
I did not get this...

Well, what it's trying to say is that "everyone" in the US is the same (the picture uses the US as an example). That if you don't do what that says, you're weird. The irony in that is we are a "free country". But really, you have to do what the government tells you, like go to school and such.
The people are pictured as skeletons, because they have no free will. They're mindless. They just do what they're told.

What I would have liked to see in this picture, is one actual human being, walking in an opposite direction...but that's just a random side note.