The hypocrisy of me, or I'm becoming like them

[Gungalley]

Firstly, I don't know if this suits better here or in the Personal help forum. And this has nothing to do with the recent hypocrisy of atheists and religious people threads. I'm not trolling, so don't get this thread locked.

That said, I've always talked about helping the poor, the needy and the disadvantaged. I've always believed in donating some money, or volunteering some of your free time to aid and charity organisations. In fact, one day, I'd like to go to Africa to help out.

Also, I've always disliked shallow conversations about celebrity gossips and rubbish like that. What I enjoy is deep talk on, maybe social issues, or economic policies, maybe science. I don't want to talk about such stuff ALL the time, but there is really very little people who talk about such stuff wtih me. I dislike materialism and shallowness in people, especially in the apathetic youth of my generation. (I'm 20)

But now that my summer vacation is almost ending, I realised that I did zero volunteer work during my holidays. I spent my time working on and off, sleeping, working out, playing games, hanging out and boozing. And as of late, I seem to have gotten more materialistic. I shop more, spend money on expensive clothing etc... In essence, I seem to be becoming people that I dislike.

Whats going on here? Perhaps I am just becoming normal. Perhaps I am automatically correcting the deviation from society's mean. Is this bad? I don't want to become the stereotypical professional who has no soul and feels lonely and empty.

[jman47]

I think you just need some time to step back and think. if you dont like the way your starting to lean, actively change it, by force if you must.

as for being lonely, that is something you will feel very often in you decide NOT to adhere to the path society sets in front of you. i know this, being a conservative leaning lutheran in california, the land of liberalism. even moreso since i go to college, which is filled with almost exclusivly liberals.

but you will find a few people who share your values, and you will form much closer relationships with them in the long run rather than if you were 'everybodys friend' so you wont be lonely forever.

are there any volunteer groups at the school you will be going to? if so, join them! also make friends who also hate shallow people, and who are deep. youll know them when you meet them

best of luck!

[Thompson45cal.]

I think just the fact your questioning yourself in these areas, shows you to be a man of quality.
I've had the same feelings as yourself in regard to those less fortunate then myself for most of my life. My feeling would be, continue to follow your heart in these matters and you'll become what your supposed to become, a quality human.

[Yorkshireman]

But now that my summer vacation is almost ending, I realised that I did zero volunteer work during my holidays. I spent my time working on and off, sleeping, working out, playing games, hanging out and boozing. And as of late, I seem to have gotten more materialistic. I shop more, spend money on expensive clothing etc... In essence, I seem to be becoming people that I dislike.

Your just being young. It's a long life, everybody should let loose and enjoy themselves, it's natural. You've still got plenty of time to commit yourself to more altruistic endeavours as you grow older and more settled.