Advice I wish I'd received as a kid.

[NietzscheKeen]

As an "adult", I'm finding out many things about people, society, myself, etc. that I wish someone would have told me about years ago. Surely they had to know. Maybe they just didn't think about it. I thought it would be interesting to start a thread for information or advice that we wish someone would have told us years ago, but instead we had to learn it on our own the hard way. Anyone have anything to contribute?

My initial contribution is: I wish someone had told me that my family didn't always know what was best and that it's ok to not listen or not take their advice sometimes. And to not seek the approval of others, especially those that are always nay-sayers.

 

[charface]

If they would have told me, I wouldn't
have listened.

Man hears what he wants to hear
and he disregards the rest
-Simon and Garfunkle.

 

[Walter9999]

"It's better to be thought a fool and remain silent, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt" Dad used that one a lot

 

[Skuxx]

Most people probably receive all the advice they need. It's just whether or not they listen and act on that advice

 

[ThE sAtIvA hIgH]

Dont drink dont take drugs and do well at school .
I recieved the advise just didnt listen

 

[Balke Buds]

Invest in your future, pay future you before current you gets a dime.

 

[vostok]

The truth is that many of us to a very high degree are 'institutionalized' at some time early in our lives and remain that way for life, it sets you on course for serious fuck ups later in life, where it counts, mostly in the area of human relationships, marriages lasting only in weeks, legal abortions, murders in schools, the fuck ups are endless, but whatever way you look at it, you are the products of your parents, and if you want to know what you will be like in 25 years or so, just look to your parents, regardless of how you feel about them now!

 

[tyler.durden]

Hey, NK! I haven't seen you around this sub-forum for a while, good to have you back. Your op is very insightful, I have thought the same thing many times myself. I think parents want to hide the hard and ugly side of life to protect their children, but if they take this too far they end up withholding vital information that may have improved their lives. I've always tried to tell my son lots of truths about life that I thought were important, and I caught a lot of flack from relatives who said I should just let him be a child and not to burden him with this info. I've taught him critical thinking from an early age, how to question everything including what I say. I've taught him to look out for and protect himself against people and entities that may try to take advantage of him and usurp his values (moochers, religious institutions, government, thieves, etc.). I've taught him everything regarding sex from an early age, potential relationship pitfalls, financial pitfalls, and how to plan for the future. I was taught almost non of these things, and I wanted it to be different for him. The amusing thing is, he very often makes the very mistakes I warn him against That's natural, some things we have to learn the hard way. I did teach him to question even me, after all...

 

[NietzscheKeen]

Thanks for the reply Tyler.D! I'm hoping to do exactly the same thing with my son. I'm actually in the process of writing a book for him which contains a lot of real practical advice; not soundbites or platitudes like so many people offer. I've already been criticized for some of the content about drugs and sex, but there is no harm in being honest I think and he's going to encounter it sooner or later. Along with the advice, I'm trying to include anecdotes and other stories from my life and the lives of others. I respect your opinion and insight, so if you have anything to contribute, let me know.

I'm glad you taught him to question even you. Society expects children to "grow up" sooner and sooner, so I don't think you're burdening him with info; you're preparing him for a world that expects children to make adult decisions and to accept the future consequences of these decisions.

 

[UncleBuck]

"neo-nazis are scum"

oh, i did receive that advice as a kid.

 

[Skuxx]

"neo-nazis are scum"

oh, i did receive that advice as a kid.

It's sad when you need to receive that as advice instead of being able to determine from evidence alone.

 

[UncleBuck]

It's sad when you need to receive that as advice instead of being able to determine from evidence alone.

just fucking with nietzschekeen, who is indeed a neo-nazi.

 

[Skuxx]

just fucking with nietzschekeen, who is indeed a neo-nazi.

ohhhh. gotcha.

 

[ULEN]

Adults are just children in adult costumes. Teach that to the youth.

 

[NietzscheKeen]

This is true and a very nice way to put it. Thanks for the post ULEN.

 

[Zaehet Strife]

I remember when I was about 6 or 7, I hated school, I wanted to stay home all day long and play video games and watch cartoons. I didn't understand why I had to go to school, it was so boring for me at that age. So I asked my Dad;
"Dad, why do I have to go to school?"
"Well son, so you can learn, and get smart."
"Why do I need to do that?"
"Well son, so you can go to college and get a degree."
"Why would I want to do that?"
"Well son, so you can get a high paying job, get a house, have a family."
"Why would I want to do that?"
"Well son, that's what everybody does."

"So, pretty much what you are telling me Dad, is that I go to school, go to more school, get a job, work my whole life until I am old, have a family, and then I die?"
"Yes son, that's pretty much it."
"So that is the point of life? School, work, family, getting old.. and dieing?"

"Well son, partly yes, and partly no... lets sit down and let me tell you about this book I have"

~As he pulls out a thick bound book, with a big t on cover....

 

[NietzscheKeen]

Very insightful Zaehet. I think that is the reason most people do anything that they do, "that's what everybody (else) does" so obviously that is how it's supposed to be done; you're supposed to play the game son. Go into debt and work to make money for someone else so that you can pay of the debts you owe to someone else. The first part of that series is what needs to change for most people. We have this idea that the things we have make us someone else. I mean... it's Fight Club all the time. Forget The Matrix, that was just a trip to the playground; Fight Club (the movie, not the book) made me ask some REAL questions.

 

[j0yr1d3]

Words of wisdom from my dad...

When I was 6 I got: "Don't eat yellow snow"

When I was 16 I got: "Don't do more than 1 illegal thing at a time"

Gotta love parents.

 

[SnapsProvolone]

I wish they taught the truth about cops. Not officer friendly. LoL

 

[tyler.durden]

...We have this idea that the things we have make us someone else. I mean... it's Fight Club all the time. Forget The Matrix, that was just a trip to the playground; Fight Club (the movie, not the book) made me ask some REAL questions.

Me too, dude, me too...

You are not your job. You're not how much money you have in the bank. You're not the car you drive. You're not the contents of your wallet. You're not your fucking khakis. You're the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world...