I can't take it anymore

DeliriumWartner

Find like-minded people who can relate, preferably out in the real world, and rant rant rant.

You're never going to be able to change people's minds, especially by force. The best thing I've found is acceptance that they're not in the same place as you right now.

AnthroUndergrad

Norway is pretty awesome. But Canada too, and it's less expensive I think.

Airazz

Sometimes people are brainwashed too much and you can't change anything, it's too late. You have to accept that and stop giving a fuck.

By the way, I use that Amway stuff too. Not really the vitamins, but more the dish washing liquid, clothes washing powder, soap, tooth paste, car shampoo, hair shampoo, etc. It works well, and it's cheaper than the much-advertised stuff from the local supermarket.

Diacide

Move to the Netherlands. Look into how amazing it is there compared to here.

EDIT: I live in Canada. It sucks here too.

multivoxmuse

standing against progress, against education, against rationality, AGAINST SCIENCE

Wow, I think I heard the Star Spangled Banner being played in the background as you said that

seekerdarksteel · This blog entry dated June 09, 2005 calls it an old joke.

You know what they call alternative medicine that works? Medicine.

I first heard it in Tim Minchin - Storm, though I don't know if he came up with it originally.

schoofer

I struggle with the same feeling. I fantasize of a place/country/different planet where I don't have to deal with the stupidity, irrationality, and all-around ridiculousness of people.

Then again, that feeling gave me a nervous breakdown that required me to take a week off work taking 3 xanax a day. Now I'm trying to simply learn to cope with the rest of the world.

I realize, now, that learning to cope with the rest of the world is what we are expected to do and is why we end up jaded.

Brachinus

The quote about alternative medicine is from Tim Minchin, and he's also a great answer to the question, "where to go?" Humor can keep you sane in a world full of crazies.

BTW, you can't change everybody, even (especially) your family. That's just life, and everyone goes through it (your parents are going through it with you -- you think they wouldn't like to show you the "error" of your ways, as they see it?).

Tyfud

You sound a lot like the wife and myself. We try very hard to be tolerant and respectful, but it is quite taxing. Norway is the answer, at least for us.

wonderfuldog

Where are there fewer dumb people

Where are you now?

If you're currently in the DumbZone, then almost anywhere else.

If you're currently at MIT or Oxford, then we might have trouble recommending someplace that's an improvement.

wonderfuldog

I can't take it any more either, and I've been in that situation for a long time.

Trying to make people smarter is a lot like trying to make them taller. Yeah, there are probably some radical interventions of marginal effectiveness, but on the whole, what you see is what you get.

I've never been able to come up with any sort of solution other than to avoid interacting with people as much as possible, which is of limited utility.

I do expect to die young of stress-related illness.

darthnuri

While botanical remedies do hold some medicinal weight, of course the extracts and derivatives created from these base compounds are going to be more effective in the treatment of ... anything.

choosebenefits

I can't take it anymore either, and I feel absolutely alone in that fact. Good to know I'm not, I guess.

Narpak

one of my favorite quotes (can't remember where it's from) saying: You know what they call alternative medicine that works? Medicine.,

Sounds a bit like Dara O'Brian. At least, in this clip he says something like "They say that herbal medicine has been around for thousand of years, and it has; and the stuff that worked became medicine!".

He talks a bit about quackery in general; pretty funny.

LSJ

we all need to move to Sealand.

Bad_Samaritan

Take consolation in the fact that you, and millions of others, now and throughout the annals of history, have had the perspicacity to see through or at least be skeptical of such drivel. As bad as things are, the world could be worse.

It is not your responsibility to teach even one adult the correct way to think. This is a nearly impossible task, unless a person is very young and her mind, malleable.

schnitzi

I don't think he invented the phrase about alternative medicine, but check out this awesome video by Tim Minchin that uses it...

42tastic

Stupidity hurts.

BdotDS

Nothing you can do, I'm afraid. Religion, much like conservatism, stems from an irrational need for emotional reassurance. Some people act on logical impulse, and some act on emotional impulse. You can't reason with the latter, because objections just make them dig their heels in even further. Its a concept called commitment and consistency. Read a book called Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Dr. Robert Cialdini(Psychology/business professor at ASU)

Potassium39

New Zealand! Seriously, we're pretty awesome over here, there's maybe 55% Christians, 35% Atheists and the rest are all random other religions. We all get on pretty damn well, there's a few little silly bits here and there, but generally all is well.

So yeah, assuming immigration isn't too much of a dick, there's always us.

Or I suppose you could go to Australia or maybe the Scandanavian countries.

TangLikeAnAstronaut

First off, quit trying to reason people out of holes they didn't reason themselves into in the first place. The slow embrace of rational thought will expand over time. It will take generations, and can't be done now on an individual basis of antagonistic augment. First and foremost, demonstrate humility. Beyond that, set a good example. Don't feed the notion that atheists are arrogant.

We can spread rational thought. It will just take a long time, and we have to stop looking like dicks.

beyonddeities

Holy hell. Are you me?

HappyWulf

I have a good idea on how you can get them started..... Look though their Homeopathic stuff... find a sleep aid. Take a good look at it's active ingredients (probably coffee) and if it's legitimately Homeopathic and nice and safe, overdose on it in front of them... Just like James Randi.

seancurry1

"If you could reason with religious people, there wouldn't be any religious people."

-Dr. House

Twerty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWE1tH93G9U James Randi is pretty amazing with these sorts of things, I wasn't even aware what homeopathic medicine was until I saw this lecture. Seeing some of the comments on the video lashing out in anger kind of amazes me.

Edit: Some of the comments in general just amaze me. "I am a scientist. [...] Homeopathy exists energetically & quantum physics will proove this oneday : )"

... What.

natussum

It hurts me to know that there's nothing I can do about it. I get to watch them waste their lives, and other's, making things harder for the rest of us to move forward.

I want to fix them, fix all the stupid that's out there.

... really? You're not this much of an asshole in real life are you? I'd give you mean looks too.

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