Speeding Down “Real World Way” — Are You Passenger or Driver?

Tuesday, December 25, 2007 at 12:01am by David Askaripour in Philosophy

The “Real World.” Doesn’t that sound familiar? It has a nice ring to it, right? This ubiquitous phrase — or better yet, realm of existence — has come to define an entire culture; most notably, our culture: Generations X and Y.

The “Real Word” this and that. Most often, we hear college students referring to this “Real Word.” A world that we mysteriously enter upon graduating college. As if we were living in some Unreal World during our four years of college. And maybe they were. It all depends on the student’s way of looking at the world. But it still begs the question: Was the college world any less real than this world? If so, then was it a Fake World?

The Seriousness of the “Real World”

When you graduate and get a job and and enter the workforce, is that when you enter “Real World”? You see, in the “Real World” we have to get a “Real Job.” In the “Real World” you have to dress a certain “Real Way.” In the “Real World” you have grow up and become serious — to take everything seriously.

It’s time to become an adult once and for all and, of course, to stop having fun. To let go of the child within you. To stop embracing the joyous and spontaneous sparks of life. But why, I ponder, can’t we be children anymore? Why must be take everything seriously?

It’s now time to take the WORLD seriously. Take GOD seriously. Take your HEALTH seriously. And if you’re to have FUN, take that seriously as well. Take it all seriously.

But is this “Real World” really that real after all? Is it a world where we are simply pretending that everything is okay? Maybe it’s a Fake World. Maybe it’s a world with a grossly distorted reality. An uneasy reality. A reality that goes counter to our natural playful, happy, and relaxed selves.

The Dream World

Freud says that all dreams, in one way or another, are wish-fulfillments. Meaning: all our dreams revolve around things that we want, that we wish for. Maybe it’s for an event to take place. Or to meet that certain boy / girl. Or maybe to have a certain status in life or become a certain person.

Ever go to bed at night and have an amazing dream of doing something that you’ve always wanted to do in life? Maybe it was to become an astronaut and go to the moon. Maybe it was to become a musician and tour the world. Or maybe to write poetry and novels. These dreams were so lucid that as you awoke you truly thought that you were that musician, astronaut, or that writer.

Then, as quickly as these wishes were fulfilled, they melted away and vanished into thin air. You were back in the “Real World” as Joe Smoe. You were back in that “Real World” that society demanded that you be a part of, even at the expense of your dreams, aspirations, and outright enjoying life.

What’s the Answer to this World Dilemma?

So what do you do? Do you say “screw it!” and proclaim that “I’m going to do whatever I want to do in My World?”

Well, first we need to consider the possibility that the world you were born out of is, in fact, “A Real World.” And that through arduously trying to live up to the expectations of society, you got lost in a world that suddenly didn’t seem so real after all. And you come to the alarming conclusion that you’ve been living in a “Fake World” where you aren’t happy. Where you are constantly struggling to remain a part of — climbing that social ladder. Aggressively ingratiating yourself in the eyes of that all mighty society.

You’re now looking at everything under the lens of a dream because, in your mind, everything that you REALLY want in this world is unattainable in the the “Real World.”

No wonder why you go to bed at night and wake up in a world with all your dreams fulfilled — a world where you are living your desires. Wouldn’t it be nice to stay in this Dream World? Most of us are living in a delusional world of thinking that we must be unhappy in order to maintain our standings in this “Real World.”

Because — oh no! — if we were really doing the things that we really wanted to be doing… we’d be looked at like children…ambition-less….as lunatics! So, let’s get this right: In the “Real World” we can’t do “REAL” things that “REALLY” make us happy. Ha, to go back to the college student who loathes at the notion of entering the “Real World.” Well, I’d loathe such a world as well. And, actually, knowing what the “Real World” is really comprised of, partying all day and having a blast at college seems like much more fun to me. But, in reality, we don’t stay in college forever and we must continue on in life.

The World of Losing Control

We say “Grow Up.” “Stop acting like a child.” “When are you going to be an adult?” Maybe growing up isn’t all that we make it out to be. Maybe, just maybe, holding onto your curious, playful, and carefree child-disposition is really a good thing. Maybe this so called “Real World” makes us rigid and stiff. Maybe we’re stuck in a world where we have absolutely lost control over our own lives. So brilliantly stuck that we don’t even know that we’re stuck and, seemingly, we think that we’re in control .

But the “Real” control and power has been forfeited by you a long…long… time ago when your world split in two: the “Real World” and “The World.” This splitting resulted in a radical power shift: on one end, society, taking the lion’s share and on the other side, you, usurped from the throne of your life… becoming a mere bystander.

Heading Down “Real World Way” — Buckle UP!

Society hijacked your position behind the steering wheel of life and shoved you over to the passenger’s seat to go along for the ride down “Real World Way.” And on this road you drove through endless lectures of people telling you how to look, behave, and present yourself to the world. You drove through a college that was picked out by your parents 10 years before you were born, when you were just a naughty glimmer in your father’s eyes. You drove through jobs and positions that your professors and elders meticulously placed you in, like ornaments on Christmas trees. You drove down Fashion Lane that told you what to wear to make you “cool” and what was in vogue or not. You drove down Hollywood Ave that taught you that you had to have millions in order to fit in and be accepted. You drove through libraries where “Authority Figures” shoved books down your throat and taught you that your curiosity and desire to come up with your own ideas/answers weren’t needed. And you stopped off at the church where you learned of a man who was almighty — the Master and Commander — who watches your every move and can condemn you to eternal damnation if you don’t adhere to his doctrine.

What Direction Are You Heading In?

You see “Real World Way” is a road that most people don’t even know that they are on, simply because they were never in the driver’s seat. Their entire lives they just coasted in cruise control and let society (i.e., bosses, peers, friends, parents, professors, and the media) do all the driving. And “Real World Way” is a one-way street. However, those who realized — who woke up after being awaken from all the speed bumps in the road — that they were going in the wrong direction decided to take drastic measures to turn around. And on “Real World Way” there is only one way to get off. And it’s dangerous. Those who dared to get off had to take back control, kick Society out of the driver’s seat (throw him on the street) and pull a complete 180 degree turn in the opposite direction, against traffic!! Will you be so bold? Will you dare to take control back and go down Your Way?

5 Comments

Leave a Comment

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail