In my young life, I have developed a sense of observation and analysis of the current world. When I watch a movie, I often compare it to real life. Obviously, movies are not like real life. Perhaps even the ones based off true stories are twisted enough that the point is missed or the meaning is forgotten. Movies based off true stories contain two main things different from real life. One: They place things in the movie to keep us in our seats and entertained. Two: Experiences lived are more influential than experiences watched. Always.

When comparing movies to real life, I often wonder about such differences and why movies are what they are: Much better. A movie is a revised and edited version of real life. Monologues, dramatic sequences, and music are all examples things located conveniently in movies to make the plot or development better, or to keep us interested. Even with today's efficient technology access, one does not flip on their iPod and play Gary Jules' Mad World when we lose a loved one or fail our goals. Such a task is surely possible, but not realistic. Movies add these things to increase the influence of a movie because we cannot spice up our own lives. When thought into deep down below the surface, our lives revolve around an empty set of influencing topics. These principles we live by are only truly followed for one simple reason: To keep us in our seats.

These empty topics could be set into an outline as follows:

I. Difference
a. Religion
b. Race/Gender/Looks
II. Politics
a. War
b. The News
III. Gossip
a. Hierarchical Popularity
b. Everyday Discussion
IV. Pleasures
a. Physical
1. Sex
2. Sport
b. Mental
1. Movies
2. Video Games

The set of topics can be arranged in however way of importance, however, they all maintain a tight grasp on our everyday lives and, most importantly, eat our individual thought. Most of which are either unavoidable, or demanded as a want often labeled as a need. There are obviously several other topics, however, this will suffice for a temporary general inclusion of main types.

One might ask when reading what I've called them: Why "empty?" What is intended with the word usage? The word "empty" is given because all of the topics suggested are draining. They all take time, dedication, focus, effort, and often give nothing back to us in return. It is surely possible to learn and pick up various experiences from these certain topics, however, like junk food, will suffice us temporarily, harming us in the long run.

To explain reasoning for the ones suggested, I will start with the first section, being in the devision of "Difference." Difference is an empty principle that is inescapable. Humans initially fear difference when it is not considered normal, or investigated into. Religion and Race are not empty causes, the prejudice and ignorance of such properties are. When thought into, it's not surprising that these certain aspects are on this outline.

The second section is politics. Knowledge of the current world is, by all means, useful and wise to know and understand. However, the events of the world are ongoing and obviously, will never end. Events happen on the Earth daily and we may learn of such causes, but to hear about such things from a looking glass such as a bias media is, in the end, useless. War's cause is often based on difference, but is often the effect of political stance and nature.

The third section is Gossip. In everyday life, things of substantial philosophical thought are often never discussed for the point of the education of the mind. What people are concerned about in everyday life is, and will be forever, the status of the people around them. The reason being that when socializing, bringing up topics of interest and substantial content are either awkwardly brought up or have no relation to the life or interest of the person discussing with. For instance, a school shooting will capture more attention than the discussion of purposes in life. The difference is clear: philosophy is often inward. It is usually only as apparent as it is to the person who thinks the thought. Such thoughts have been considered by the person who wields them and are dealt with on an immediate basis. Gossip is fresh, new events are not known by anyone other than primary sources without gossip. The distribution of such has many causes, but all for the same purpose: Socializing.

The fourth and final section is Pleasure. Pleasure is divided into two aspects: Physical and mental. There are physical pleasures people seek to spend their lives on, pass time, or simply because it feels good. The two main forms of physical pleasure I have deducted from the rest are sex and sport. To put emphasis on those two is like all of the outline, not to say these are the only aspects, but simply to make a point. Such physical aspects are viewed by me to be temporary pleasures to simply have the purpose of wasting day to day time. Although such things do reward the physical carnal need, they remain empty in the sense of holding little virtue. If I may, I will bring to the table either Samuel Johnson's or Lord Chesterfield's (I cannot recall which) relevant quote:

"Sex: the pleasure is momentary, the position ridiculous, and the expense damnable."

Mental pleasures are simply time-consuming vacations. They temporarily remove us from the realities of our world and place us in positions where we can pretend to be something else, or watch someone else's better or more interesting life. If not for either reason, it is either to simply "have fun" or to give us topics to socialize with. This dips back into Gossip.

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To reflect on this subject, it is simply a mind thought process and phase I am contemplating and thinking about. I look at the current world and often lose hope for humanity when people care more that Ted Kennedy had a seizure, or that war continues in the Middle-East, or that people mindlessly watch movie after movie. More so than any other thing I've noticed, I've witnessed people I thought would be understanding and logical people use the lives of others as stepping stones and base their discussion on the humiliation and downfall of others just to have something to speak about so the people they talk to will think they know what they are talking about. People such as this that have the ability to be great friends and good people have turned savage when placed in competition because they feel threatened when they should be congratulatory if they do not receive their deserved position in the end. I lose faith in humanity when people are more concerned over a strip of land in the Middle-East than the people they put at the expense because of a point or principle. Perhaps they don't know that the people they put at jeopardy have dreams, thoughts, ideas, and feelings of their own, or maybe they don't want to.

This has caused me to struggle over a simple quote:

"There are two kinds of people to avoid like the plague: Philosophers and Politicians."

I ask myself what the difference is, I ask myself which I am, I ask myself which comes first, and then I realize the answer to the whole. A Philosopher contemplates the truths of life for the soul reason of the exploration of knowledge, a Politician seeks the answers that align most to their subjects and persuade them by promising to give those answers. I consider myself a Philosopher, and that philosophy and the education of the mind should always come first when deciding between an approach on a subject. I asked myself after contemplating: Why would one want to avoid a Philosopher? Philosophers often contemplate depressing topics, causing them to be depressed while they think about such matters, like this one. This often makes the people that hear them depressed and plagues the average person with these depressing thoughts that they have not developed their mind to prepare for. By not reaching the thought by themselves, some become melodramatic and even resort to suicide. However, I look at my ability to contemplate such ideas and feel content for just having the ability.

I suppose my concluding thought is that I don't intend to get people to stop "wasting" their lives by following such empty principles, I'm simply adding in the analysis, and acceptance, of what exists and why. The only thought that still perplexes me is why people can not think enough to consider how large and deep an effect they have on humanity and the Earth, but chose to dedicate their lives to selfish thoughts and views. It's not as much as they refuse to give, as much as that they don't realize the effect and size of a blow they can land by having such ignorant conclusions.

People will never realize the part they play in the world. They won't realize that their decisions and actions have a potentially large effect on the Earth and the power they have simply by existing is great. What makes me lose faith in humanity the most is that people use all they have not for the purpose of truth and knowledge, but for arrogance and bias quests and views.

I do not know if I want people to have the ability to know the effect they can hold. If people can have a great influence on the world, they can have an equal evil influence at the same time. What will become of this ignorant race of Humans? More importantly, will we at least realize the effect we've had before we all die?

-PlasmaDragon2000, Modern Day Philosopher