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"So what did you do today?"

You know the score. Wake up, go to work/school. Talk about games/tv shows/movies and then went home, played a game/read a book and went to bed.
That used to be me as well, until I started taking an interest in the world around me. Getting involved in protest, civil disobedience, writing to MPs, trying to do something to change what I percieve to be an unjust, corrupt, inherently stupid society.
I've had endless arguments on here with people about war/politics/life and then it hit me.

I realised that there was no point discussing how to change life with people over the internet. Especially arguing moralistic issues with people that do nothing except write messages and preen like self-satisfied peacocks.

And I was just as bad.
I've raged against stupidity/television/illiteracy amongst young users with txt speak/general monginess of most people/lack of interest in the world.
And I went home to read/play video games and that was about it.
Come to work, post crap here about why the world sucks, smoke and tell rubbish jokes.
And then it hit me.
Despite my words here, despite arguing with Bell etc about how to change this planet, despite writing to try and affect change around me, trying to bring immoral and unjust situations to people's attentions, I still come to work, drink my coffee, smoke and stare out of the window.
And then it hit me.
I wasn't actually doing anything to change my world.

So I did. I carefully considered everything around me. My values, what I percieved as an idiot morass of people not interested in anything except their own homes. People stupid enough to read The Daily Mail and actually believe the hateful scaremongering they read inside. People stupid enough to think immigration is actually an issue instead of a smokescreen designed to keep you frightened and locked inside watching Eastenders.

I reached a point in my life, a convergence of emotions that forced me to re-evaluate my life. How I see things, what I believe in, how I feel about the things around me.
And it didn't sit well with me.
Despite my passion, despite my morals, despite my beliefs, I come to a nice boring job, create marketing presentations and sell stuff.
I sell things people don't need to make more money for people to spend on themselves.
That is not the way I wish to live my life, I cannot allow myself to wallow in self-important comfortableness, surrounded with nice shiny things and pontificate about the world around me.

It didn't feel right, I couldn't balance being aware of things wrong around me, yet continue to pursue my nice comfortable life and, ultimately, do nothing to affect change.

So what did I do yesterday?
I quit my job.
Handed my notice in and made choices that will make me feel like a better person.
I quit my boring, stupid marketing job and I'm going to teacher-training college to teach English.
I can't just sit by and watch this world deteriorate into a mindless scrum of tv-obsessed me-monkeys that think Shakespeare is "crap innit", think txt speak is acceptable, have no idea who Keats is, are unaware of the power of words and language.

I want to try, even if just one kid, to get them to realise they have entire worlds of imagination and passion inside them if they want to access it.
I want to get across to people that life is more than television/mortgages/soap operas/pop idol/heat magazine/tony blair.

I may fall on my ass, I may get tired of trying to do something positive but goddamnit, at least I'm going to try to do something.
I don't want a job where I sell useless products to people, I dont want a job that doesn't challenge me in any aspect whatsoever.
I don't want to argue morals with people that are unwilling to put their thoughts into action.

I've quit my nice job after 3 and a half years and, instead, I'm going to be a teacher.
Today is one of the most frightning/exciting days I can remember.
4 weeks left of meaningless work, then 2 years+ of learning/exams before I can tell myself that, finally, I'm doing more than trying to convince other people that there is more out there.

May be the best thing I've ever done, may be the biggest mistake I've ever made.
I'll let you know when I come out the other side. But one thing I do know?
I've had enough of sitting on my ass preaching about trying to change the world instead of actually getting out there and doing it.

There it is.

I wouldn't suggest that. In fact you've just got yourself a whole new market in fellow students. But with nothing but getting up, drinking coffee, going to work, playing games, getting laid, hedonism can be a bit unfulfilling at times. Just my experience.

And you still have to come on here and talk to me about Robert Rankin and Tool.

That's what I'm aiming for.
Can't give up skirt-chasing for righteousness just yet.

I find that a healthy balance between hedonism and changing the world is the best option.

Good for you Goaty.

It is good to see that there are people who put their money where their mouth is. You have a... strong personality and that can inspire people.

Teaching is a hard job. I know a few teachers, most of whom are burnt out and don't like it. But they just went into teaching because they couldn't think of anything else to do. You're not. You're trying to change things.

It is now a long long time ago, but I had a lecturer who was inspirational. He really made a difference to my life. I still remember him and his influence. Long live Sir Fraser.

If you can be like that, make some kids better people then it will be worth while. It is a big sacrifice.

I maybe wrong, but I think it might be a sign that you've realised that hedonism isn't fulfilling. It can be fun, but not really fulfilling. When you have something that you believe in and fight for then you feel something that I can't quite describe. Maybe it's just me getting nostalgic.

Still Goaty, good for you. I await your changed world.

I'm with Blue Arrow and I'm on £15 an hour and have been for 2 years.

OK, so I started on a lowly £6 an hour, but anyone with a single talented bone in their body should be able to work their way up to a respectable income in no time.

Are you going to do a PGCE? At a University?

I got made permanent and the security is good. The added responsibility and inevitable pressure isn't.

I'm on the verge of murdering someone.

Temping with good money??
What agency are you with, because the ones I used were worse than Nike.

I've been temping for 3 and a half years myself. Little in the way of job security, but you can't argue with the pay.