This is a hypothetical situation. Olaf The Innocent was convicted of a crime in 1990, when he was still young. Since then he lived in a Stockholm prison. Now he can be granted parole whenever he wishes.
Nevertheless, he has a comfortable room with a private shower cabin, good color TV with 15 channels, good food, library access, some video games. His knowledge about prison rape, gangs, etc. is limited to the films he saw about the horrible US prisons.
Should he just leave everything? Where will he stay in the cold Stockholm winter? Why should he work in a restarant?
Sweden is civilized. He wouldn’t be homeless if he does get out. But no one can really say if he “should”; if you haven’t ever been institutionalized for decades, you can’t know what it would do to your mental state.
I assume that there are no women in this prison. That’s a good motivator, assuming our Olaf is straight. If he’s not straight, the number of men is limited, which is an equally good motivator.
Olaf cannot come and go as he pleases. Have you ever been stuck somewhere? It sucks, just knowing that you can’t leave, even if you don’t really have anywhere to go. He does not have access to alcohol. He presumably has friends and family on the outside that he would like to see more often.
‘Where would he stay?’ Probably with some of those family or friends, at least until he can get back on his feet. He may have been taught a skill while he was in that cushy jail (after all, he was in there so they could turn him into a productive citizen), maybe he has a dream job that he can work towards.
Well, it depends. Does he have any qualifications, I dunno, a Phd in Maths, for instance.
Also, his sentence will finish at some point, so he can’t just say “no, I like it just fine here, I’m staying”.
To be absolutely honest, I believe that this Olaf guy is a metaphor for CC himself (given his other recent thread). I get that he feels imprisoned, but at some point he needs to carry his own weight.
CC, several people have jobs that aren’t their dream job, but the mere feeling of independence usually makes up for it. We all have to put up with stuff - just read the workplace griping thread in the BBQ Pit.
As I thought, you are talking about yourself. So, let me appeal to your logic. What is the worst thing (Jewish intelligencia-parents-wise) that could happen if you a. Get a job that makes you enough money to support yourself b. Move out and live by yourself or with a roommate?
I think that the satisfaction of emancipation might well override any dissatisfaction that you may feel in your job (assuming it is in the same line of work).
In the other thread, when suggested that you CAN follow a different kind of profession (or get qualified in a different field) you expressed utter disdain at “a blue collar job” . That is not useful either. Also, as I just said in my previous post, the pride of emancipation, of “making it by yourself” will probably make up for that dissatisfaction.
As I said in my previous post, go to the Workplace Griping thread and you will see people much worse off in their jobs than you. All a part of being a grown up.
Well good then, it seems you have quite a few things going for you then.
Make sure you pay your bills on time!!
Make sure you get proper meals (but hey you can also have your dessert before dinner if you like!!)
Being independent rocks!! Even if it comes with a shitload of problems!!! Everybody has a shitload of problems!! So do I!!! But I wouldn’t change it, no sir!!
Chin up CC, you can get plenty of good advice on this board.
In the other (now abandoned) thread, you mention that you have depression.
I’m not saying leaving the nest would “cure” it, but I’m confident it would give you a boost. In fact, I’m pretty certain you are locked in a self-perpetuating cycle of depression/ inertia etc etc.
Another thing: you mention two failed attempts at moving out. Do tell us a bit more about why (in your estimation) they failed. It will help people give you constructive advice.
Well, it was clear to me as soon as I started reading the OP of this thread that the “prisoner” was a metaphor for the OP’s actual life. (Not wanting for anything in a material sense, but not being/ not feeling able to change his circumstances non the less). In the other thread people were telling him to grow up and carry his own weight, and I believe he started this thread to make the point that he feels he can’t.
(You probably wanted the OP himself to reply to your question, so I apologize).
Well good then, it seems you have quite a few things going for you then.
you can also have your dessert before dinner if you like!!)