I want to do what Chris Mccandless did...sort of

Cliffy6745

dunkman wrote:

polaris_x wrote:

dude ... do it ... anyone on here who tells you not to or thinks mccandless was an idiot - doesn't understand what chris was about ... they probably have a wife and kids and a house and all the things that "society" told them they should have ...

I do understand what he was about... selfishness.

He put his parents and his sister through untold mental anguish for a belief only he wanted to fulfill. The guy was an arrogant loser.

oh and by the way, i want a house, wife and kids because i do.. I want a family that i can love daily and a house I can see them grow up in... what i didnt fancy was causing my parents and my sisters to spend months worried about me because i decided it would be a good idea to go fucking mountain climbing in a pair of sandals. :thumbup:

This guy gets it.

dunkman

ms. wes c.addle wrote:

I believe that I read the same thing as the next, but yet I must have missed the part where the op said that he hated his family and wanted to abandon all that he cares for and go die on a frozen mountain...

Bunch of ignorant fucks here this monday morning.

There is nothing wrong to want to experience new things or not living life by the norms of society...

well the thread should be entitled "should i spend 3 months hitch-hiking across America?"

not entitling it to some guy who 99.4% of people only heard about on here because Ed did the fucking soundtrack

Ms. Wes C.addle

cdp1223 wrote:

Sounds like somebody's got a case of the Mondays.... :?

Someone stole my flair... Lol

Ms. Wes C.addle

Rygar wrote:

ms. wes c.addle wrote:

Why can't people understand that not everyone wants the boring, monotonous, inadequate life that so many others have chosen? A bit ignorant?

Some people get off on routine, security, safety, unfulfilling relationships... Damn those that long for better, right?

And with these two statements aren't you just as guilty of ignorance as the people you're arguing against?

Not when I can understand and relate to both sides... I think its called openminded.

cdp1223

ms. wes c.addle wrote:

cdp1223 wrote:

Sounds like somebody's got a case of the Mondays.... :?

Someone stole my flair... Lol

Man, from the sounds of it, that person is in for a WORLD OF HURT!

/backs slowly out of thread....

IwasBit10

ms. wes c.addle wrote:

Why can't people understand that not everyone wants the boring, monotonous, inadequate life that so many others have chosen? A bit ignorant?

Some people get off on routine, security, safety, unfulfilling relationships... Damn those that long for better, right?

I don't think not having a plan and disappearing from the world is not wise, nor do I feel that the op wishes to that extreme. Doing things that Chris did is just being unprepared and plain stupid now. I think everyone is viewing it from the "let's move to fucking Alaska and live in the wilderness with next to nothing." I believe its the journey along the way and the relationships established that the op might be looking for and the freedom in it all. Not a death wish.

I completely echo your sentiments. There is no "right" or "wrong" way to live, yet it definitely feels like there is when talking to certain people. Relationships and experiences shape people and are invaluable. The problem is, you can't plan for them. Even if you say, "Fuck it, I'm quitting my job, packing up and doing some travelling," well, you're still going to be planning. You're still going to have expectations or notions of where you want to go and why, and also hopes and desires that can be left unfulfilled once there. But I feel you're closer to reaching your goals going that direction than the "other" way.

I also think the McCandless comparison is a bit of stretch, which brings me to:

musicismylife78 wrote:

For me, being happy, would be great, but maybe more important is a story. how many people lived life to the fullest like chris did? How many people would hitchhike across america? I want to feel like, when I die, I wont have regrets.

How do you know if hitchhiking across America would remove all of your regrets? If that exact activity is a personal goal of yours, then I can understand. But if you're just searching for IT, how do you know this will be IT? Maybe your fulfillment lies elsewhere, maybe just around the corner from where you are now. I think the point is, is to never give-up your search for IT, and not necessarily let a book/movie/what someone else did influence you so greatly. You don't necessarily need to travel across the country for a great story to tell your grandkids...

dunkman

polaris_x wrote:

dunkman wrote:

I do understand what he was about... selfishness.

He put his parents and his sister through untold mental anguish for a belief only he wanted to fulfill. The guy was an arrogant loser.

oh and by the way, i want a house, wife and kids because i do.. I want a family that i can love daily and a house I can see them grow up in... what i didnt fancy was causing my parents and my sisters to spend months worried about me because i decided it would be a good idea to go fucking mountain climbing in a pair of sandals. :thumbup:

his sister understood what he was about ... he is selfish and an arrogant loser only in your eyes ... do you think that everyone who got to meet him think that way? ... i'm pretty sure not ...

he died because he got the wrong information from a field guide ... that is it ... who's to say where his life would be if he had gotten better information ... chance can play havoc in all our lives ... you can decide you want to goto a PJ show and die in a car crash ... are you selfish for wanting to go to a show and causing grief to your family?

you must have read a different book than me? His sister understood to a point, but she had no idea where he was and spent a lot of time attempting to contact him.

I can only go by his eventual outcome and what he did prior to that, so I think ultimately he was a selfish moron who pretty much killed himself... i'm sure he touched many many lives of the people he met on his travels... shame he didnt spend as much time reassuring his own family of his wellbeing, but instead spent his time ensuring the guy who he worked with picking potatoes knew he was a swell guy.

me going to a PJ show via car might take me a day or two.. the guy fucked off for months on end and never informed his family... not even comparable in the selfish stakes amigo. :thumbup:

Rygar

ms. wes c.addle wrote:

Rygar wrote:

ms. wes c.addle wrote:

Why can't people understand that not everyone wants the boring, monotonous, inadequate life that so many others have chosen? A bit ignorant?

Some people get off on routine, security, safety, unfulfilling relationships... Damn those that long for better, right?

And with these two statements aren't you just as guilty of ignorance as the people you're arguing against?

Not when I can understand and relate to both sides... I think its called openminded.

Your opinion of what other people want doesn't make it fact - that isn't open mindedness. As IwasBit10 says above, there is no right or wrong way to live life - if you don't like what other people think that is fine, but it doesn't make you any righter than they are.

Ms. Wes C.addle

IwasBit10 wrote:

ms. wes c.addle wrote:

Why can't people understand that not everyone wants the boring, monotonous, inadequate life that so many others have chosen? A bit ignorant?

Some people get off on routine, security, safety, unfulfilling relationships... Damn those that long for better, right?

I don't think not having a plan and disappearing from the world is not wise, nor do I feel that the op wishes to that extreme. Doing things that Chris did is just being unprepared and plain stupid now. I think everyone is viewing it from the "let's move to fucking Alaska and live in the wilderness with next to nothing." I believe its the journey along the way and the relationships established that the op might be looking for and the freedom in it all. Not a death wish.

I completely echo your sentiments. There is no "right" or "wrong" way to live, yet it definitely feels like there is when talking to certain people. Relationships and experiences shape people and are invaluable. The problem is, you can't plan for them. Even if you say, "Fuck it, I'm quitting my job, packing up and doing some travelling," well, you're still going to be planning. You're still going to have expectations or notions of where you want to go and why, and also hopes and desires that can be left unfulfilled once there. But I feel you're closer to reaching your goals going that direction than the "other" way.

I also think the McCandless comparison is a bit of stretch, which brings me to:

musicismylife78 wrote:

For me, being happy, would be great, but maybe more important is a story. how many people lived life to the fullest like chris did? How many people would hitchhike across america? I want to feel like, when I die, I wont have regrets.

How do you know if hitchhiking across America would remove all of your regrets? If that exact activity is a personal goal of yours, then I can understand. But if you're just searching for IT, how do you know this will be IT? Maybe your fulfillment lies elsewhere, maybe just around the corner from where you are now. I think the point is, is to never give-up your search for IT, and not necessarily let a book/movie/what someone else did influence you so greatly. You don't necessarily need to travel across the country for a great story to tell your grandkids...

Agreed... Completely. Us wisconsin people are fucking brilliant, yeah? Lol

JonnyPistachio

dunkman wrote:

polaris_x wrote:

dunkman wrote:

I do understand what he was about... selfishness.

He put his parents and his sister through untold mental anguish for a belief only he wanted to fulfill. The guy was an arrogant loser.

oh and by the way, i want a house, wife and kids because i do.. I want a family that i can love daily and a house I can see them grow up in... what i didnt fancy was causing my parents and my sisters to spend months worried about me because i decided it would be a good idea to go fucking mountain climbing in a pair of sandals. :thumbup:

his sister understood what he was about ... he is selfish and an arrogant loser only in your eyes ... do you think that everyone who got to meet him think that way? ... i'm pretty sure not ...

he died because he got the wrong information from a field guide ... that is it ... who's to say where his life would be if he had gotten better information ... chance can play havoc in all our lives ... you can decide you want to goto a PJ show and die in a car crash ... are you selfish for wanting to go to a show and causing grief to your family?

you must have read a different book than me? His sister understood to a point, but she had no idea where he was and spent a lot of time attempting to contact him.

I can only go by his eventual outcome and what he did prior to that, so I think ultimately he was a selfish moron who pretty much killed himself... i'm sure he touched many many lives of the people he met on his travels... shame he didnt spend as much time reassuring his own family of his wellbeing, but instead spent his time ensuring the guy who he worked with picking potatoes knew he was a swell guy.

me going to a PJ show via car might take me a day or two.. the guy fucked off for months on end and never informed his family... not even comparable in the selfish stakes amigo. :thumbup:

I dont know the whole story, but I assumed that Chris M. didnt really know that his sister was trying so hard to contact him. and if his whole priority was to escape from his parents for a period of time, then being in contact with his sister might have made him not feel "on his own" from the whole family and his life that was weighing him down.
I do diasgree with how Chris handled himself, but I can see how time might have got away from him. I mean, the guy didnt die on purpose for godsake, he intended on coming back at some point! calling him selfish is ridiculous in my opinion. he was young, and had he come back, maybe his parents wouldnt have railroaded him into tryinbg to live life 'their way', and appreciated his individuality.

yes, he made a big mistake and people around him suffered, but it was a mistake.

polaris_x

dunkman wrote:

you must have read a different book than me? His sister understood to a point, but she had no idea where he was and spent a lot of time attempting to contact him.

I can only go by his eventual outcome and what he did prior to that, so I think ultimately he was a selfish moron who pretty much killed himself... i'm sure he touched many many lives of the people he met on his travels... shame he didnt spend as much time reassuring his own family of his wellbeing, but instead spent his time ensuring the guy who he worked with picking potatoes knew he was a swell guy.

me going to a PJ show via car might take me a day or two.. the guy fucked off for months on end and never informed his family... not even comparable in the selfish stakes amigo. :thumbup:

i read the same book ... and this is what carine wrote upon the release of the movie ..

***
I am Chris' sister, Carine McCandless. I do not often read reviews or write replies, but Dana Stevens' headline caught my attention. Her statement that my father was "certainly no wife beater" is completely false, as is her assumption that Sean "unforgivably" made up this scene in the movie to try to soften the audiences view of my brother. I helped him write that scene, I lived it, it is truth. In fact, both Sean Penn in making the movie and Jon Krakauer in writing the book were incredibly thorough with their research. They remained honest, while also being admirably kind & respectful to our parents by not going further. There is something to be recognized for my parents willingness to have the story told, even if it was handled delicately. It is not necessary to go into more details, except to say that kind of childhood has an undeniable impact. Chris's triumph was to not let their unfortunate choices and negative behaviour, dishearten him and his desire for a beautiful life. Jon & Sean have done right by my brother. He was truly an amazing person. Everyone can benefit from the lessons that are available within this great book and inspirational movie about him. Thanks, Carine
**
loving someone is sometimes accepting them for who they are ... was chris supposed to go get a "normal" job just beause his parents said so? ... the guy have his life savings to oxfam - hardly the act of a selfish person ... the man surivived a winter in alaska - no moron could do that ...

IwasBit10

ms. wes c.addle wrote:

Agreed... Completely. Us wisconsin people are fucking brilliant, yeah? Lol

Damn straight! Although, I am originally a transplant, so I can't take all of the wisco. glory, but I guess the 5 years up here have paid off, haha.

eyedclaar

Some people will understand what Chris did and others will not. I do understand. Some people need safety and family, some do not. In my opinion, let your soul be your guide, not what you think others want of you, or expect of you, even your loved ones. Make yourself happy first. Selfish? I guess, but it's the only thing that makes sense to me. What's the worst that can happen? You die? That's gonna happen no matter what. Live while you can.

IwasBit10

eyedclaar wrote:

Some people will understand what Chris did and others will not. I do understand. Some people need safety and family, some do not. In my opinion, let your soul be your guide, not what you think others want of you, or expect of you, even your loved ones. Make yourself happy first. Selfish? I guess, but it's the only thing that makes sense to me. What's the worst that can happen? You die? That's gonna happen no matter what. Live while you can.

I agree with you. I believe it becomes selfish only when others are negatively impacted (like Chris' family). Otherwise, just gotta keep on livin.

dunkman

polaris_x wrote:

dunkman wrote:

you must have read a different book than me? His sister understood to a point, but she had no idea where he was and spent a lot of time attempting to contact him.

i read the same book ... and this is what carine wrote upon the release of the movie ..

***
I am Chris' sister, Carine McCandless. I do not often read reviews or write replies, but Dana Stevens' headline caught my attention. Her statement that my father was "certainly no wife beater" is completely false, as is her assumption that Sean "unforgivably" made up this scene in the movie to try to soften the audiences view of my brother. I helped him write that scene, I lived it, it is truth. In fact, both Sean Penn in making the movie and Jon Krakauer in writing the book were incredibly thorough with their research. They remained honest, while also being admirably kind & respectful to our parents by not going further. There is something to be recognized for my parents willingness to have the story told, even if it was handled delicately. It is not necessary to go into more details, except to say that kind of childhood has an undeniable impact. Chris's triumph was to not let their unfortunate choices and negative behaviour, dishearten him and his desire for a beautiful life. Jon & Sean have done right by my brother. He was truly an amazing person. Everyone can benefit from the lessons that are available within this great book and inspirational movie about him. Thanks, Carine

that's great. but it doesnt tell us anything about how he made no attempt to contact his sister. Which is what I said was one of his selfish acts. He grew up in a shitty home? Don't lots of people? So he decided to go and do it on his own... good for him. I presume he was also aware his sister grew up in that same shitty home? Perhaps he might have taken some time out of his busy schedule to contact her? Make sure she was dealing with things ok?

polaris_x

dunkman wrote:

that's great. but it doesnt tell us anything about how he made no attempt to contact his sister. Which is what I said was one of his selfish acts. He grew up in a shitty home? Don't lots of people? So he decided to go and do it on his own... good for him. I presume he was also aware his sister grew up in that same shitty home? Perhaps he might have taken some time out of his busy schedule to contact her? Make sure she was dealing with things ok?

it tells us that she believed he was an amazing person who lived a beautiful life ... if she can see that - why can't you?

what your expectations are of the situation is just that - yours ... you have to remember - this was before everyone had iphones and email ... maybe he should have contacted her - we can all look at all the details and judge but at the end of the day ... this was about a person who realized that life to him wasn't what many wanted for him ... there are many who subscribe to that theory and in most cases we don't call them selfish arrogant morons ... simply because the people who love them have accepted them for who they are ...

Jason P

If you are serious, before jumping off the deep end I recommend spending several (like over 15) weekends roughing it and doing some week-long trips. Traveling seems simple but experience trumps everything. You need to learn basic survival skills because nature rarely gives you a second chance.

dunkman

JonnyPistachio wrote:

I dont know the whole story, but I assumed that Chris M. didnt really know that his sister was trying so hard to contact him. and if his whole priority was to escape from his parents for a period of time, then being in contact with his sister might have made him not feel "on his own" from the whole family and his life that was weighing him down.

we can guess and assume all day and night... but we'll never know. The only man who did know died alone and emaciated in a abandoned metal bus.

now, i'm not a genius, but that doesnt sound too clever to me. Also his story is really a non-story. Guy gets mad at parents and world, guy gives away money, guy abandons car & burns ID, guy does lots of menial work cos its show his middle class upbringing is worthless when pitted against the 'common' man, guy eats raw plants in Alaska, guy dies.

I'd rather do something worthwhile like this guy
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tay ... 522019.stm

dunkman

polaris_x wrote:

dunkman wrote:

that's great. but it doesnt tell us anything about how he made no attempt to contact his sister. Which is what I said was one of his selfish acts. He grew up in a shitty home? Don't lots of people? So he decided to go and do it on his own... good for him. I presume he was also aware his sister grew up in that same shitty home? Perhaps he might have taken some time out of his busy schedule to contact her? Make sure she was dealing with things ok?

it tells us that she believed he was an amazing person who lived a beautiful life ... if she can see that - why can't you?

I think Hunter S Thomson was an amazing person who lived a beautiful life... he still died by selfishly committing suicide...

my point is that I believe he was a selfish person for disregarding the thoughts of others who cared and loved for him... i also think he was a moron for dying needlessly.

its my opinion, why try and change it?

the wolf

ms. wes c.addle wrote:

Why can't people understand that not everyone wants the boring, monotonous, inadequate life that so many others have chosen? A bit ignorant?

Some people get off on routine, security, safety, unfulfilling relationships... Damn those that long for better, right?

Is it not a bit ignorant to assume that what others have chosen is not boring, monotonous, or inadequate to those that have chosen it?

I think assuming that is just as "ignorant" as me saying, that anyone who does what the op is speaking of is dumb for doing that. which btw , I never said.

routine just means responsible for the most part. who don't want some sort of security ?
Unfulfilling relationships ??? really ? Yeah, my relationship with my mother and sis and her husband and my nephews was/is soooooooooo unfulfiling. :roll:
and that's my point, had I taken off to ... fucking where the fuck ever in my early 20's , i would not have what i have now in these VERY fulfilling relationships. So i would have missed things for having done that.

to each their own, it's just not for me. But that does not make me any less "fulfilled" as a person then someone who backpacks across the country.