[switchlanez]

This is basically a question of traditional rites of passage and defining new ones where they didn't previously exist. When I was born, my dad was the typical young Asian smoker/drinker who felt "invincible," leaving my mom to take care of me as he traveled the world with the Navy for a few years doing god knows what. He grew up in the rock and roll generation, probably didn't know wtf he was doing, so he had to redefine his rites while still maintaining some Asian traditions. Like him, I worked hard to get to where I'm at. I'm a first-born and first in my family to grow up in America. I was left on my own to figure out many things in life. Guess that's how my parents coped with culture shock. Throughout schooling I've found freedoms and even more now in the work-life balance. I can sense that supposed "invincible" feeling - with great power comes great responsibility (more ways to F* things up).


How far have you taken your freedom? Have you gone against your customs to breakthrough to a new lifestyle and what influenced you? Did you suffer any consequences (with the law perhaps)? (If you don't want to disclose personal specifics, be abstract.)

[watcher]

how do you define your exercise of freedom? how do you measure the distance to which you've taken your freedom? what if i genuinely liked tradition? am i any less free?

[7thprincess]

stoopid ass watcher ruined this thread...

Well I got a little taste of "freedom" during my first year of college. I loved it and enjoyed. And I kinda abused it and in the end it kinda john teshed me over...???? But I don't regret it. Learned a HELLA lot from it.

And on tradition..love my culture and heritage....but on certain things...um no.

[coreancc]

^ Yeah, well, I miss watcher.

[Laxntiga]

Freedom? It came during middle school. My eyes were awakened, mary changed my life. I say for the better. I'm much more relaxed and chilled out. I dont go around guns blazing and starting drama with the Korean blood that runs in me.

Second biggest freedom came when I got to go to College..... 2 hours a day of classes, 1 hour of hw. 24 hours........ i have 21 hours to do whatever the F i want??? mannnn. No parents, no one telling me what to do, no one telling me how to do things, it was scary at first, but I got over it.

I can't go back and live in the same house with the rents.... their house rules suck.

[donporkuloin]

I've been free since I was 17 I guess. My dad really didn't care about what I did. He was doing his thing, and I was doing my thing. When I became a legal adult I've just been unstable and bouncing around in life. For a while it didn't phase me, but now I'm getting to that point to where I want stability in my life. I wanna do college, get my own place, and have a long term job, and get into a career.. etc.

[HSuke]

The first thing I did with my freedom was stop going to church and starting reading Nietzsche.

[coreancc]

The first thing I did with my freedom was stop going to church and starting reading Nietzsche.

Let's just hope your mind holds up better to his philosophies than did his.

[Pogichinoy]

How far have you taken your freedom? Have you gone against your customs to breakthrough to a new lifestyle and what influenced you? Did you suffer any consequences (with the law perhaps)? (If you don't want to disclose personal specifics, be abstract.)

I've taken my freedom pretty damn far from what traditional Asian kids can have.

Yup, I wanted a different lifestyle, or perhaps a lifestyle, and my dream of such a lifestyle as well as other lifestyles that I've seen, influenced me.

Yes, sure did. I learnt my lessons but sometimes everyone needs these learning experiences, to experience life, and understand their mistakes. Our parents can't shelter us forever.

[SeX1eStAsaBa]

When I was younger I had taken my freedom anywhere. I did whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. Now I sit on my computer most of the day researching on stuff that interests me.

I did break a lot of my customs cause I was hanging out with a wrong crowd. My consequences??? I moved to the suburbs....in the middle of nowhere >___<. I'm trying to live it as much as I can though.

[mikomi]

What is your definition of freedom?

I grew up locked in a room most of my childhood. If I wasn't attending school, there was absolutely no reason to leave the house, and I HATED my parents for good reasons that I will not rant about here, so I never left my room. So, I think what you feel is 'freedom' is not what I think. For me, freedom is the choice to make your own decisions, to find what's right vs. wrong by trial and error your own way, to stand up and say NO if you don't agree with the rules and laws. Freedom is the strength of mind which no one can take away, because it's not a tangible item that directly affects where your physical body is, or anything physically tangible. To me, 'not free' is when you have places like North Korea where you are denied the resources to learn about the world and make your own judgements, when you are not allowed to have your own opinion unless it's exactly what the government wants you to think.

Being able to go out when you want and do what you want isnt really freedom...but to indulge you in your question, I did break traditions. My father's side is very, very conservative and here I am, listening to heavy metal music, tattoos, reddish brown hair in a mini skirt and boots driving a manual sports car occasionally go to strip clubs and go to Vegas without telling the 'adults' and drinking almost everyday. They hate me, lol. It's okay, I hate them back but really, you can't hate someone you don't have feelings for so I'm okay with that too.

I'm also very ideallistic so you may see flaws in my logic, but it's MY logic and I like it the way it is. <~~ that's freedom

[derrek]

Climbing trees, picking flowers, looking for fruit;
Throwing pellets, playing knucklebones;
Running round sandy hollows, building stone pagodas;
Chasing dragonflies and catching locusts;
Worshipping the sky and visiting Bodhisattvas;
Tearing off creepers and weaving straw hats;
Catching fleas then popping them with their teeth and fingers;
Grooming their coats and sharpening their nails;
Beating, scratching, pushing, squashing, tearing and tugging;
Playing all over the place under the pine trees;
Washing themselves beside the green stream.

[tinasarangg]

The first thing I did with my freedom was stop going to church and starting reading Nietzsche.

oh boy. Nietzsche is the man.


Erms...in terms of freedom...I don't feel "free" because my parents still regulate a big portion of my life...

[coreancc]

Erms...in terms of freedom...I don't feel "free" because my parents still regulate a big portion of my life...

Are you ok with this?

[JDM6]

Climbing trees, picking flowers, looking for fruit;
Throwing pellets, playing knucklebones;
Running round sandy hollows, building stone pagodas;
Chasing dragonflies and catching locusts;
Worshipping the sky and visiting Bodhisattvas;
Tearing off creepers and weaving straw hats;
Catching fleas then popping them with their teeth and fingers;
Grooming their coats and sharpening their nails;
Beating, scratching, pushing, squashing, tearing and tugging;
Playing all over the place under the pine trees;
Washing themselves beside the green stream.

Life of a monkey?

I did what I want, when I want, where I want. I had absolutly no restriction. However, it did got me in trouble with the law because of my own recklessness. Let's just say I learned a very valuable lesson and I will never ever do it again.
Because of my ordeal, I think of the consequences before I do anything else.

[nanis_alldaway]

Being able to go out when you want and do what you want isnt really freedom...

I agree with "mikomi"
If doing what you want means freedom to you then you're just a brat! I was able to do what i wanted and make my own decisions but i still didn't feel "freedom". Its the justice you make in your own life that gives you that sense of self. If i was at a car dealership by myself, i would be battling between a VW Jetta and a Mini Cooper. But if i was to go with "adults" i would have a Toyota and Nissan to pick from. Lame!!!
I suppose other people making decisions for you doesnt mean you are not "free" it just means you have people that care about you...... Um... did i just fall out of this forum???

[HSuke]

Let's just hope your mind holds up better to his philosophies than did his.

Yup. I ended up not liking either of them very much. Nietzsche was too extreme, but he was like a well-needed cold shower.

[coreancc]

Yup. I ended up not liking either of them very much. Nietzsche was too extreme, but he was like a well-needed cold shower.

Yeah, like superficiality-detox, lol. Gah, I hate those kind of churches.