Star in a Movie AND Ruin Your Life

Noise Monkey · Post by **Noise Monkey** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 10:20 am

Apparently, they don't put in the contract that you may be alienating yourself from your entire culture when they sign you to these things.

Yeahduff · Post by **Yeahduff** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 10:25 am

Good book.

So long as I'm ruining my life, I guess I may as well be in a movie.

Jackhass · Post by **Jackhass** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 1:04 pm

Well...

...I'm not sure getting an expense paid relocation out of Afghanistan is what I'd call life ruining. Exactly the opposite actually.

Noise Monkey · Post by **Noise Monkey** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 1:13 pm

more the "everyone I know now thinks I need to be stoned and I have to run from them, even the people I really liked"...

KWill · Post by **KWill** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 1:15 pm

Jackhass wrote:Well...

...I'm not sure getting an expense paid relocation out of Afghanistan is what I'd call life ruining. Exactly the opposite actually.

Depends on how attached to the land of your ancestors you are.

Jackhass · Post by **Jackhass** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 1:19 pm

KWill wrote:
Jackhass wrote:Well...

...I'm not sure getting an expense paid relocation out of Afghanistan is what I'd call life ruining. Exactly the opposite actually.
Depends on how attached to the land of your ancestors you are.

True, between the smoking piles of rubble, opium fields and constant threat of death I can see how you'd get attached to the place.

KWill · Post by **KWill** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 1:28 pm

Jackhass wrote:True, between the smoking piles of rubble, opium fields and constant threat of death I can see how you'd get attached to the place.

Hey, my grandfather fled West twice in his lifetime. But I live in what used to be East Germany now and some people stayed for other reasons than that travel was nigh impossible. People can be very attached to where they always lived and it sometimes hurts to leave memories behind.

Yeahduff · Post by **Yeahduff** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 1:28 pm

Yeah, I'm doubting any particular attachment to Afghanistan in its current state.

My guess, though, is they're trying to buy a ticket out of this. Dont think this one's gonna be making it over to the movie houses over there. Either way, I sympathize with the kid.

Yeahduff · Post by **Yeahduff** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 1:30 pm

Eat Germany =/= Afghanistan

Jackhass · Post by **Jackhass** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 1:37 pm

KWill wrote:
Jackhass wrote:True, between the smoking piles of rubble, opium fields and constant threat of death I can see how you'd get attached to the place.
Hey, my grandfather fled West twice in his lifetime. But I live in what used to be East Germany now and some people stayed for other reasons than that travel was nigh impossible. People can be very attached to where they always lived and it sometimes hurts to leave memories behind.

Yes I realize that. Still...my point is once they get over it, they'll probably have better lives not living in what's literally the shittiest country to live in on the planet.

KWill · Post by **KWill** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 1:40 pm

yeahduff wrote:Eat Germany =/= Afghanistan

Of course not. But I know from experience that not everyone finds the same things intolerable. I continuously run into people that say "It wasn't so bad." I'll imagine there'll be less in Afghanistan, but I'm sure you'd be able to find some.

All I'm saying is that despite the apparent incentives to leave, some people may still consider being forced to leave their former lives behind (not just the ruins and rubble, but also friends and family) as life ruining.

KWill · Post by **KWill** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 1:42 pm

Jackhass wrote:Yes I realize that. Still...my point is once they get over it, they'll probably have better lives not living in what's literally the shittiest country to live in on the planet.

Oh, definitely. I know I'd choose the UAE over Afghanistan any day. That's just primarily due to me having no attachments to either and being able feel at home almost anywhere though.

MixedMyth · Post by **MixedMyth** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 2:05 pm

Often times, home is home no matter what condition it is in. People often realize that about themselves and their own land, but somehow have trouble applying it to people from other countries, saying "why would you miss that terrible place?" It's very strange.

McDuffies · Post by **McDuffies** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 7:16 pm

I have a whole lot of immigrant friends (including my sister), what with living in the country I do. Everyone wants to emigrate here.
Everyone loves their native country, perhaps not realising it until they leave it and start missing it, it's not just social situation and good living that you may be attached to. Rather, native language, mentality, national customs, cuisine, culture, they are all things that are engraved into you so you can't stop loving your country or being a part of it even if you tried.
Mostly, you never know how it feels like living somewhere where noone speaks your language, or knows things that are part of common culture for you, or even act in the manner you do. Immigrant often can't help feeling like they've left a big part of themselves in homeland. It's not exageration to say that they feel like plant without it's roots.

However, it seems like desire to live a decent life is stronger, since people still flee their countries and not many of them ever return permanently.

Phact0rri · Post by **Phact0rri** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 7:44 pm

mcDuffies wrote:I have a whole lot of immigrant friends (including my sister), what with living in the country I do. Everyone wants to emigrate here.
Everyone loves their native country, perhaps not realising it until they leave it and start missing it, it's not just social situation and good living that you may be attached to. Rather, native language, mentality, national customs, cuisine, culture, they are all things that are engraved into you so you can't stop loving your country or being a part of it even if you tried.
Mostly, you never know how it feels like living somewhere where noone speaks your language, or knows things that are part of common culture for you, or even act in the manner you do. Immigrant often can't help feeling like they've left a big part of themselves in homeland. It's not exageration to say that they feel like plant without it's roots.
However, it seems like desire to live a decent life is stronger, since people still flee their countries and not many of them ever return permanently.

well said MCD.

MixedMyth · Post by **MixedMyth** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:43 pm

Yeah, exactly. And then to look back at this country you came from, which you called home and feel is a part of you, and realize that IT is looking back at YOU...and not in a good way...well, that would be quite a blow.

KWill · Post by **KWill** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:24 am

phact0rri wrote: well said MCD.

I concur.

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 8:22 am

And, Afghanistan is -not- the worst place in the world to live. I have a cousin in the military who has assisted in rebuilding schools and hospitals and getting power to cities there. It's not all a sandpit. They actually have roads and indoor plumbing and roofs and stuff.

Yeahduff · Post by **Yeahduff** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 9:16 am

Well, it's definitely top twenty, maybe top ten. The Taliban falling definitely helped, but it's nowhere anyone wants to be.

Dr Legostar · Post by **Dr Legostar** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 9:24 am

rkolter wrote:And, Afghanistan is -not- the worst place in the world to live. I have a cousin in the military who has assisted in rebuilding schools and hospitals and getting power to cities there. It's not all a sandpit. They actually have roads and indoor plumbing and roofs and stuff.

the worst place in the world to live, Newark New Jersey Airport. As Cookie/Mo... that is if you can find her.