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[Already Torn]

The way it's written out makes it basically impossible to get to the end. Not interested.

Also, I'd be pissed if I stayed in the Amazon for that long and died before I got the chance to play Bloodborne and the new Pokemon games.

 

[TissueBox]

Awesome read..!! Chase your dreams people!!

(Time for some world-adventure pizza...)

 

[ScatheZombie]

A lot of you are reading this comic on a very shallow level. Just because this guy decided to become a nomad does not mean that the point is that everyone should do the same thing. It's about being willing to take risks, not constantly waiting for the right time to be happy.

That's absolutely true. The problem is that most of these type of things, these stories about people flinging themselves headlong into complete danger, are championing the wrong type of risks. Patrick took a lot of really, really bad risks. Most of them worked out, but one eventually didn't in the worst way possible.

There's a difference between taking calculated risks that might help you in life, taking 'good risks', and just being a thrill-seeking dumbass. Taking a risk by applying for that big job you think you might be unqualified for. Taking a risk by asking out that girl/guy you've had a crush on for awhile. Taking a risk by moving to a new city where your job prospects are much, much better.

Those are the kind of risks people should be taking, or at least considering. Those are the real life risks that most people agonize over every day. Those are the risks that will potentially change your life forever and possibly for the better.

That's not at all what this comic, and most like it, actually say though. They're always about leaping out of the airplane without a parachute and hoping you make it to the ground OK.

 

[kess]

Hey YOUNG PEOPLE your life sucks

Everybody else is already dead

 

[Zakalwe]

The "how" of his death is kind of important because it fits with his risk-taking when you look past the message. He took risks on his debt. He hitch-hiked and caught the brunt of that risk with being robbed, hospitalised, heartbroken, arrested, and deported. With his dying breath, he took a final risk by flying a plane and getting another person killed on the way down. He took risks on his family, by leaving his child fatherless. Also, using a William S Burroughs quote is apt cause WSB took plenty of risks and got another person killed (by shooting her in the head while playing William Tell). You're focused on the message as a generalised thing, other people are focusing on the person, so that's where your conflict is with some posters here.

It's not important at all because the stories message is self contained within the comic. The entire point is "live your life the way you want before it's too late and you regret it".

There rest is utterly inconsequential, unless you're trying to rip the relevance of the comic's message apart for whatever reason.

 

[Violet_0]

going outside, with no wifi would be like a death sentence for the average Gaffer

 

[flkraven]

It's not important at all because the stories message is self contained within the comic. The entire point is "live your life the way you want before it's too late and you regret it".

There rest is utterly inconsequential, unless you're trying to rip the relevance of the comic's message apart for whatever reason.

Don't you understand why some of the context might be relevant? If the comic's message is "live your life the way you want before it's too late", isn't it important to know that a primary factor in it being "too late" and him dying is because of the very way he chose to "live life"

 

[Violet_0]

another thought, tho - how long does it take before you get bored of cruising along the Amazonas? While, yes, it's nice to see and live in nature for a time, after a while the surroundings all must be starting to blur together and you'd grow tired of trees and mosquitos and solitude, I'd imagine

 

[Joyful]

why would anyone want to go to a deadly rainforest

 

[DeathoftheEndless]

Another troubled soul found enlightenment travelling the world. If only us screen-addicted plebes just followed them into the light.

 

[Tigress]

So he was piloting the plane? Was he licensed to do that? Doing fucking Barrell rolls and shit. Definitely seems like an unnecessary risk taker, that's why he died, sadly.

Not just doing barrel rolls. But I bet he was doing so in a plane that was not certified or designed for that abuse (seeing as he was pretty good on acting on his impulses I'd be surprised if this wasn't the case). Most planes not designed to do stunts that is horrible on and the airframe and engine aren't designed to take that stress. Dollars to donuts it was just some regular single engine and the reason the engine failed was lack of oil or fuel getting to it due to doing barrel rolls and such. And doing them close to the ground so you have no leeway to try to fix it when something happens.

Those are the kind of manuvers best left to people who spend the time to work up to doing them and learning enough about planes to realize what kind you need to do that and even what each type of plane is qualified to do.

 

[Razorskin]

going outside, with no wifi would be like a death sentence for the average Gaffer

Nah, they still have data on their phones.

 

[RotBot]

Not just doing barrel rolls. But I bet he was doing so in a plane that was not certified or designed for that abuse (seeing as he was pretty good on acting on his impulses I'd be surprised if this wasn't the case). Most planes not designed to do stunts that is horrible on and the airframe and engine aren't designed to take that stress. Dollars to donuts it was just some regular single engine and the reason the engine failed was lack of oil or fuel getting to it due to doing barrel rolls and such. And doing them close to the ground so you have no leeway to try to fix it when something happens.

Those are the kind of manuvers best left to people who spend the time to work up to doing them and learning enough about planes to realize what kind you need to do that and even what each type of plane is qualified to do.

The plane actually was certified for aerobatics.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Champion_Citabria
http://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/NTSB.Aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20160903X32500&key=1

 

[Zakalwe]

Double post

 

[moggio]

another thought, tho - how long does it take before you get bored of cruising along the Amazonas? While, yes, it's nice to see and live in nature for a time, after a while the surroundings all must be starting to blur together and you'd grow tired of trees and mosquitos and solitude, I'd imagine

Watching Fitzcarraldo was enough to put me off the idea tbh

 

[Zakalwe]

Don't you understand why some of the context might be relevant? If the comic's message is "live your life the way you want before it's too late", isn't it important to know that a primary factor in it being "too late" and him dying is because of the very way he chose to "live life"

No, because it isn't. The message itself is self contained within the comic. It doesn't even need to be real, it could be an entirely fictional story and work to the same end.

The entire point of making this comic is to spread the message of it, the story chosen is just a delivery system for that message.

 

[Messofanego]

That Shia Labeouf video from last year does a far better job of getting the message of "Follow Your Dreams" across.

Don't forget the Japanese fisherman!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxGRhd_iWuE

 

[flkraven]

No, because it isn't. The message itself is self contained within the comic. It doesn't even need to be real, it could be an entirely fictional story and work to the same end.

The entire point of making this comic is to spread the message of it, the story chosen is just a delivery system for that message.

But a message in itself isn't free of consequence just because you decide it's a message. You can't live life without consequence but somehow ignore possible negative consequences. Sure he was happy when he was robbed and deported, but is he happy that he is dead?

 

[Messofanego]

It's not important at all because the stories message is self contained within the comic. The entire point is "live your life the way you want before it's too late and you regret it".

There rest is utterly inconsequential, unless you're trying to rip the relevance of the comic's message apart for whatever reason.

If the entire point was just that, no one would criticise this comic and rip it apart. It's how you frame that message that also matters.

 

[Zen_Arcade]

Or maybe the message is that you should follow your dreams and do what you wanna do instead of doing something that others expect you to do.

The problem is that what a lot of people want is something that exists within society, which can be extremely hard to get considering the current climate.

Literally anyone can be a nomad. It's the easiest dream to accomplish. He went what, $1200 in debt? People who have a dream of college education that leads to a fulfilling job would kill for a level of debt that low.

 

[Lulubop]

I was messing around with a girl during the beginning of the Summer, who was about to take a year off of work and travel the world. She figured 30 was the perfect age to do it, would love to do the same when I get there.

 

[Zakalwe]

But a message in itself isn't free of consequence just because you decide it's a message. You can't live life without consequence but somehow ignore possible negative consequences. Sure he was happy when he was robbed and deported, but is he happy that he is dead?

Life is risk whatever you do.

If the thing that will make you happy is free climbing mountains, then of course you're going to run a very high risk of death. That doesn't mean you shouldn't pursue your dreams.

If the entire point was just that, no one would criticise this comic and rip it apart. It's how you frame that message that also matters.

The framing is fine, the exterior elements of the story have nothing to do with the framing. The framing is the comic, and the message is self-contained within the comic.

You can ignore the details of how the guy dies and the comic works as intended. A simple, positive message. If you want to tear this particular comic apart, though, you can use the details of the guy's death and do that.

 

[moggio]

The framing is fine, the exterior elements of the story have You can ignore the details of how the guy dies and the comic works as intended. A simple, positive message. If you want to tear this particular comic apart, though, you can use the details of the guy's death and do that.

Even if you ignore the guy recklessly killing himself and his friend, it still fails as a comic and as a positive message.

 

[Moofers]

Perfect reply.

Op, I say to each their own. Dude wasn't happy so he went out and found happiness on new terms. Good for him. That road isn't for everyone though. And there's no shame in a life where you go to a job most days and have a home life and/or social life with friends. We find comfort and joy where we can and for some people, its as simple as financial stability and a modest home.

 

[Zakalwe]

Even if you ignore the guy recklessly killing himself and his friend, it still fails as a comic and as a positive message.

How so?

 

[UncleSporky]

But a message in itself isn't free of consequence just because you decide it's a message. You can't live life without consequence but somehow ignore possible negative consequences. Sure he was happy when he was robbed and deported, but is he happy that he is dead?

Someone goes back in time and shows him this comic about himself...

Does he go "wait, fuck dude, it takes me 2 years just to get to the Amazon? Fuck that, I'll save up and take a plane. Preferably one not doing stunts."

Does he go "sounds cool, I'll do everything and just never get into flying planes?"

Or maybe he'll go "well I don't like the sound of those hardships, and that's not a happy ending either. Maybe I'll just appreciate what I've got instead."

 

[Sniper McBlaze]

A whole lot of bitching from some of you here. I respect the dude for doing what he dreamed of. Doesn't matter what that dream is.

 

[gutter_trash]

that guy full of fear looking at the clock growing old playing it safe with no adventure.... that's me

protip: do your adventuring during your youthfull 20s before settling down, life gets boring as fuck once you get a steady job and get a mortgage

I have regrets, and my procrastination mixed with fears fucked from adventuring

 

[bomma_man]

Sounds like a miserable experience tbh

 

[Zen_Arcade]

How so?

The problem is that what a lot of people want is something that exists within society, which can be extremely hard to get considering the current climate.

Literally anyone can be a nomad. It's the easiest dream to accomplish. He went what, $1200 in debt? People who have a dream of college education that leads to a fulfilling job would kill for a level of debt that low.

His dream is so removed from the dreams of many people reading that it's not helpful advice. In getting his dream he had to deal with almost zero of the same complications as someone who has a dream that revolves around society in some way.

 

[Zakalwe]

His dream is so removed from the dreams of many people reading that it's not helpful advice. In getting his dream he had to deal with almost zero of the same complications as someone who has a dream that revolves around society in some way.

"His" dream isn't the point.

The point is follow "your" dream.

This is just an example.

 

[moggio]

"His" dream isn't the point.

The point is follow "your" dream.

This is just an example.

Could have done that in one frame and saved us all a long story about some selfish dickhead who killed his friend in a plane crash.

 

[border]

This guy did some incredibly risky and dangerous and outright stuff -- and it sorta worked out. You should follow his example!

The fact that he died only mildly undercuts the premise of the comic, which seems to be that you should try to hastily live out your dreams without any common sense or plan, no matter how vague or overly romanticized your dreams are. It's a relatively dumb and dangerous message, even if this guy had survived his airplane hijinks.

 

[Foffy]

This is great for you and anyone who wants the same thing.

The comic about Patrick is flawed in the same way many such inspirational stories are flawed, that being the simplistic underlying assumption about the inherent superiority of the nomadic or counterculture life to the mainstream and "typical".

The problem is that the flaws common to these inspirational accounts distract everyone from the more relevant message, which is that the most mainstream lifestyle is the most marketed, promoted, and unexamined. This one-size-fits-all package ends up leaving a lot of people unhappy and feeling trapped, but unable to do anything about it because they are products of the perspective and surrounding culture they were born into by accident of birth. And really it's to be expected that people who rebel against this, maybe to the point of unwisely - yet sincerely - flinging themselves to an opposite extreme will see themselves in heroic terms and the conventional society they are rejecting in a mostly negative light.

Dingdinding. My homie, you hit it.

Examine one's life and really see if one is truly sincere and with it. For far too many, they only live for things for hollow reasons. For example, how many people find happiness in "things", in acquisition, in the future? For these people, happiness is always something down the road, and today, right now, is some placeholder to that. These people are perhaps the only people I could ever call failures at life, for they live for an elsewhere.

This probably would have been a better video to get the same message, as it actually deals with the themes pointed at in the comic directly with none of the rebellious attitude the comic had.

 

[biggersmaller]

Poverty tourism is weird. People don't live on $300 to "feel alive" and write pretentious blogs about how enlightening it is to intentionally be a bum.

If this guy's parents behaved this way he would never had been born and never had the opportunity to kill people flying like an idiot.

That said, Into the Wild was a great film and the soundtrack was playing in my head as I read.

 

[Zakalwe]

This guy did some incredibly risky and dangerous and outright stuff -- and it sorta worked out. You should follow his example!

The fact that he died only mildly undercuts the premise of the comic, which seems to be that you should try to hastily live out your dreams without any common sense or plan, no matter how vague or overly romanticized your dreams are. It's a relatively dumb and dangerous message, even if this guy had survived his airplane hijinks.

Na, it's only that if you decide you don't like the comic and want to devalue it. That's not what the message is.

Could have done that in one frame and saved us all a long story about some selfish dickhead who killed his friend in a plane crash.

His friend could have been the one who wanted to do it.

 

[Zen_Arcade]

"His" dream isn't the point.

The point is follow "your" dream.

This is just an example.

Yes, but following my dream involves many things out of my control, which could lead to me not accomplishing my dream because of general society, which could lead to me being in a situation where I can't live comfortably for various reasons.

What if your dream involves needing a huge sum of money that you can't get? What if you try to follow your dream and fail? What if that failure leads to a situation where you can't feed your family, or yourself anymore? What if your failing at your dream leads to you not being able to pay rent, and having to find a job you hate again?

It's a nice thought, but also a pretty simple one that doesn't address the complexities of the general human dream.

His dream was literally to be homeless for a while. It's not hard to accomplish. A lot of people involuntarily live his dream every day. The only reason it's remotely inspirational is because he succeeded. But what he succeeded in doesn't encompass the average persons worries when chasing their dreams, so the comic ends up feeling hollow to anyone who has to deal with those complexities in order to follow their dream.

 

[Zakalwe]

Yes, but following my dream involves many things out of my control, which could lead to me not accomplishing my dream because of general society, which could lead to me being in a situation where I can't live comfortably for various reasons.

What if your dream involves needing a huge sum of money that you can't get? What if you try to follow your dream and fail? What if that failure leads to a situation where you can't feed your family, or yourself anymore? What if your failing at your dream leads to you not being able to pay rent, and having to find a job you hate again?

It's a nice thought, but also a pretty simple one that doesn't address the complexities of the general human dream.

His dream was literally to be homeless for a while. It's not hard to accomplish. A lot of people involuntarily live his dream every day. The only reason it's remotely inspirational is because he succeeded. But what he succeeded in doesn't encompass the average persons worries when chasing their dreams, so the comic ends up feeling hollow to anyone who has to deal with those complexities in order to follow their dream.

That wasn't his dream, his dream was to go to the Amazon and he did that while having the kind of experiences he wanted to along the way.

Life is risk. I'd rather take risks than live a life that made me unhappy.

 

[Messofanego]

"His" dream isn't the point.

The point is follow "your" dream.

This is just an example.

Then why give us a long-winded personal journey that is only about you that doesn't take others' dreams into account, if you're going for a more generalist motivational thing? People might not relate or take much good from his own journey, so it fails for them as a motivational inspiring message.

 

[Zen_Arcade]

That wasn't his dream, his dream was to go to the Amazon and he did that while having the kind of experiences he wanted to along the way.

Life is risk. I'd rather take risks than live a life that made me unhappy.

What his dream boiled down to was being a nomad. Which is easy as shit. With the money I have right now I could probably be a nomad and walk the earth for years. I'm glad he lived his dream and everything, but his dream was so wildly removed from the average persons dream that the advice ends up being useless.

It's very easy to say you'd rather take risks if you have nothing you consider serious obligations. Personally, my dreams conflict with things I feel obligated to do and I won't be able to accomplish that dream until those obligations end.

 

[Zakalwe]

Then why give us a long-winded personal journey that is only about you that doesn't take others' dreams into account, if you're going for a more generalist motivational thing? People might not relate or take much good from his own journey, so it fails for them as a motivational inspiring message.

This is a very simple concept.

A story is told, the story has a message. You read the story and you get given the message.

Ever read a fable? The message is general, you could simply just write the fable down as a sentence, but stories have always been an effective way to deliver messages like this. They remain with you longer if the story itself resonates too.

Again, I'm not saying the comic itself is great in quality, but it's very clear what it's doing.

What his dream boiled down to was being a nomad. Which is easy as shit. With the money I have right now I could probably be a nomad and walk the earth for years. I'm glad he lived his dream and everything, but his dream was so wildly removed from the average persons dream that the advice ends up being useless.

It's very easy to say you'd rather take risks if you have nothing you consider serious obligations. Personally, my dreams conflict with things I feel obligated to do and I won't be able to accomplish that dream until those obligations end.

No, his dream was to visit the Amazon. And, again, "his" dream specifically is utterly irrelevant to the overall message. It's about "your" dream.

I took a risk and I have obligations. I quit my job and retrained as a web developer. It was an incredibly tough eight months, in which I was hospitalised due to the lifestyle I was forced to take up aggravating a long term health condition, and I went through some horrible situations with some "friends" (see my thread history if you care to), but it was absolutely worth it as I'm now a freelancer making great money doing something I love.

Ive taken risks like this before and not had them work out, but that's life. I'd rather take these risks and say I tried than not.

 

[Pedrito]

Poverty tourism is weird. People don't live on $300 to "feel alive" and write pretentious blogs about how enlightening it is to intentionally be a bum.

If this guy's parents behaved this way he would never had been born and never had the opportunity to kill people flying like an idiot.

That said, Into the Wild was a great film and the soundtrack was playing in my head as I read.

And usually, people don't travel on the cheap to "feel alive" and write pretentious blogs either. They do it to be able to travel longer.

 

[Zen_Arcade]

This is a very simple concept.

A story is told, the story has a message. You read the story and you get given the message.

Ever read a fable? The message is general, you could simply just write the fable down as a sentence, but stories have always been an effective way to deliver messages like this. They remain with you longer if the story itself resonates too.

Again, I'm not saying the comic itself is great in quality, but it's very clear what it's doing.

Typically a fable tells a story so general that anyone can take inspiration from it. This comic fails at that because the fable he's telling is so removed from what people would have to do to live their dreams that the message is lost.

 

[Zakalwe]

Typically a fable tells a story so general that anyone can take inspiration from it. This comic fails at that because the fable he's telling is so removed from what people would have to do to live their dreams that the message is lost.

Anyone can take inspiration from this. His specific story isn't important, the message is.

It bothers you because you're staring too much at his specific story and, for whatever reason, this idea of shirking responsibility and running around like a bum offends you.

The story itself is a perfect medium for the delivery of the message, and the message is a positive one.

 

[border]

Na, it's only that if you decide you don't like the comic and want to devalue it. That's not what the message is.

"Follow your dream" is a pretty broad, useless platitude to get from a comic strip that clearly goes out of its way to espouse perspectives on other issues and values besides the importance of dream-chasing.

If that's all you get out of it, then you're doing an incredibly superficial surface-level interpretation. It'd be like watching Citizen Kane and concluding that the message was "Do the best you can".

 

[Valjean Lafitte]

What an uplifting comic to have inspired such soul-crushing responses! If NeoGAF was trying to set a record for how cynical and close minded it could be, it suceeded. It's threads like these that make me wonder why I even come here anymore.

 

[Zen_Arcade]

Anyone can take inspiration from this. His specific story isn't important, the message is.

It bothers you because you're staring too much at his specific story and, for whatever reason, this idea of shirking responsibility and running around like a bum offends you.

The story itself is a perfect medium for the delivery of the message, and the message is a positive one.

This is a very simple concept.

A story is told, the story has a message. You read the story and you get given the message.

Ever read a fable? The message is general, you could simply just write the fable down as a sentence, but stories have always been an effective way to deliver messages like this. They remain with you longer if the story itself resonates too.

Again, I'm not saying the comic itself is great in quality, but it's very clear what it's doing.



No, his dream was to visit the Amazon. And, again, "his" dream specifically is utterly irrelevant to the overall message. It's about "your" dream.

I took a risk and I have obligations. I quit my job and retrained as a web developer. It was an incredibly tough eight months, in which I was hospitalised due to the lifestyle I was forced to take up aggravating a long term health condition, and I went through some horrible situations with some "friends" (see my thread history if you care to), but it was absolutely worth it as I'm now a freelancer making great money doing something I love.

Ive taken risks like this before and not had them work out, but that's life. I'd rather take these risks and say I tried than not.

Again, you proving that you can succeed by taking risks isn't applicable to everyone. What if one of my dreams is to move out of the country, but in doing so would result in me leaving a sick relative that I feel obligated to take care of?

That's kind of my point here. You can't really make a generalized "Follow your dream" story because everyone's situation is so different that it's bound to ring hollow for a lot of people. Doubly so when your dream is essentially the exact opposite of what most people dream of doing, like this comic is portraying.

 

[Zakalwe]

"Follow your dream" is a pretty broad, useless platitude to get from a comic strip that clearly goes out of its way to espouse perspectives on other issues and values besides the importance of dream-chasing.

If that's all you get out of it, then you're doing an incredibly superficial surface-level interpretation. It'd be like watching Citizen Kane and concluding that the message was "Do the best you can".

That's the overall message, I didn't say there wasn't more to it.

 

[Joyful]

What an uplifting comic to have inspired such soul-crushing responses! If NeoGAF was trying to set a record for how cynical and close minded it could be, it suceeded. It's threads like these that make me wonder why I even come here anymore.

its pretentious sorry

 

[soco]

Also, "follow your dreams", while not even remotely new, has lead to insane debt and useless college degrees for many people.