Hessian Lifestyles

[Eleison]

A common question is, if I believe "x", how should I live?  This is certainly a serious issue for a hessian in modern society, I can think of three potential ways...

The first is the one advocated here, the middle way.  Listen to good metal, support good causes, get into a career where you can do something constructive, raise a family etc.  This will be the most common path for intelligent metalheads.

The next two options are for minorities but should still be viewed as valid.

Firstly, withdrawal from modern society, a metal monasticism so to speak.  These people would spend their time advancing their spiritual insight, performing metal rituals and undertaking academic tasks necessary for the advancement of metal.

Finally, become a metal anti-martyr.  Work yourself into a frenzy listening to Slayer and then go on a murderous rampage.  This should also be viewed as a valid option for hessians even though few will undertake the task.

More suggestions...

[aquarius]

I mainly fit into the first and second catagory. Live a very humble life, try to reduce everything to the basics. Not career-orientated though still trying to expand knowledge outside of that. Lone-wolfish by default. Would never do a shooting frenzy but see it as a measure of societal dysfunction.

[Cargést]

Again, fusion of first two, in that I am the first by necessity, now, with a pure aim to be the second as a result of my current actions.  I can also see fusion with the third, in that, in bringing a whole group of people with me when I DROP OUT OF SOCIETY, I can (and should) form a military organisation within whatever lands I've amassed.  Partisan warfare, here we come!

[Veritas]

The same thing as everyone else.

MAKE MUNNE MUNNE MAKE MUNNE MUNNE MUNNEEE

[lafindumonde]

I see money as a way to escape the burden of society and money itself. Beware this path though, for there are many traps.

Most people want money. Popular culture conditions people to look for "easy money." Most people don't view money as a tool for escaping the condition society imposes on our lives, but view it as a path to material hedonism or social competition. There are many successful business owners who could have easily retired 40 years ago, but keep working because they have no other meaning in life. Others are never satisfied. Short-sighted people imagine they would be happy as a "millionaire", but once they achieve that goal they meet others worth ten million, or one-hundred million, etc. No matter what net worth is achieved, without a goal outside the material/money paradigm there is no ultimate satisfaction to be found within it.

Hopefully obvious to the Hessian, but it is extremely common to see successful (and apparently intelligent) people dedicating themselves to being caught in a trap. Instead of using their success to escape the trap, they just bury themselves deeper into it.

[Bandh]

I see money as a way to escape the burden of society and money itself. Beware this path though, for there are many traps.

"x as a way to escape the burden of x itself"

Somewhat perplexing. What do you mean?

[we hope you die]

Ideas associated with Max Weber? The ends get confused with the means. The means are still useful, but it is incredibly easy to become enslaved by them until nothing else matters, only making more and more money.

If you avoid this trap then money stays as a means, make enough of it and you freed from the monotony of a daily routine. Make too much and you risk losing yourself in a fantasy world not connected with any kind of reality whatsoever, aka film stars and the super rich.

[Tancred Hauteville]

Family (men find fullfillment in being a good father and loyal husband) - Job (to support your family, as men we find much fullfillment in this also) - Workout - Attend Traditional Latin Mass when possible (it is a link to the Traditions of my forefathers) - Shoot Arrows (do I need to explain this?) -  Build shields - Read meaningful texts - Listen to Music

If I may:  there is not such thing as an honest dissenter  - succeed first -  destroy and recreate from within...


Onwards......

[NHA]

Subculture based "lifestyles" seem pretentious and devoid of any real meaning in themselves - they exist only as a decoration on top of actual lifestyles. Your taste in music and philosophers might lead you to explore certain lifestyles but it should be nothing more than a gateway. I'm curious of how many punks that live in squats do so primarily to justify their own self image. Why justify your existence in terms of group membership?

So what are the base components of which actual lifestyles are constructed?

Physical:
- Drifter, Nomad
- Farmer, Tribalist - Live as primitive man
- Industrial wage slave - Live in society as the tool of others
- Recluse, Hermit, Dropout - Live outside of society
- Bourgeoisie - Live by controlling and dominating others
- Parasite - Live at the expensive of society

Abstract:
- Ideologue, Philosopher, Terrorist, Revolutionary, Ascetic - Live in the world of ideas
- Hedonist, Materialist - Live in the world of pleasure


What else?

[scourge]

I see money as a way to escape the burden of society and money itself. Beware this path though, for there are many traps.

There is a lot of truth in this. As you build up your own safety net, the necessary orientation of life around earning it may recede except for those who do so by choice, which is a trap. After padding yourself with a stash, if you aren't a jobaholic, you can then make room for other things in life. It is a better place to be than just living to work to avoid being penniless on a given day. If you can also find a way to work less, that's icing on the cake.

[Humanicide]

Do I REALLY have to quote that line from "Conan The Barbarian" again?

[Conservationist]

Don't withdraw.

Get powerful.

Find approximate allies and build consensus.

In short, everything your standard internet forum fetus will tell you NOT to do.

[August]

I am studying to become a teacher, and it just hit me that some students might belong in the third category. I hope my brain does not end up on the chalkboard before I can get productive and start shaping the next generations!

That is me saying that the third option is not a good one. If you have the means to truly make a positive difference in the world you need to do everything in your power to utilize them.

[Eleison]

Subculture based "lifestyles" seem pretentious and devoid of any real meaning in themselves - they exist only as a decoration on top of actual lifestyles. Your taste in music and philosophers might lead you to explore certain lifestyles but it should be nothing more than a gateway. I'm curious of how many punks that live in squats do so primarily to justify their own self image. Why justify your existence in terms of group membership?

So what are the base components of which actual lifestyles are constructed?

Any culture requires a symbolic and artistic framework, for hessians that is metal.  Yes all lifestyles are based on traditional archetypes, but how to realise these in the modern era from a hessian perspective is the question being posed.  It's not about socialisation and justification, it's about integrating metal into a productive culture.

Don't withdraw.

Get powerful.

Find approximate allies and build consensus.

In short, everything your standard internet forum fetus will tell you NOT to do.

I think this is fairly well understood around here.  However, I also like the idea of a hessian monastery where the most intelligent metalheads can temporarily escape the burdens of modern society to perform essential academic tasks.  Think about how effective Christian monks were at fulfilling this role in the middle-ages, they are responsible for practically all intellectual culture from that period.

[lafindumonde]

There is a whole category of ineffective fantasy ways to "fight back": Ayn Rand's dropping out, OWS protests, communist revolutionaries, etc. These things are comparable to teenage rebellion.

When you actually involve yourself in a system, there is a lot that can be done. Perhaps that is why the faux constipated movements exist. It's easy to protest, just set up a tent + bang some pots and pans + get high + ? = Profit! There are seemingly infinite ineffective past-times that emulate action.

Despite all that adult responsibility stuff though, a Tom Bombadil type existence does sound appealing.