Is it possible to willfully escape your upbringing?

[Rob]

Or does money form our upbringing shape our prejudices, our philosophies, and our predilections?

[DAB]

Originally Posted by Dixievet

Or does money form our upbringing shape our prejudices, our philosophies, and our predilections?

That's a lot if big words for a Friday.

We have free will, we choose our own path. Some who are lazy choose the easy path.

[repo]

Or lack of money, and the answer is yes, but it takes time and concentrated effort after admitting it quite possibly was a dysfunctional upbringing.

[Yerf Dog]

Anything's possible. At least that's what my Dad always says.

[DAB]

Originally Posted by repo

Or lack of money, and the answer is yes, but it takes time and concentrated effort after admitting it quite possibly was a dysfunctional upbringing.

[onedef92]

What a question! Of course it's possible. A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

[Entropy]

I think it's possible, but like repo said, one has to be conscience of the issues at hand.

That usually requires a second or third party to make one aware of such issues.

I think it is possible through sheer force of will to overcome any issues, but it can be difficult.

[Cybercowboy]

Originally Posted by repo

Or lack of money, and the answer is yes, but it takes time and concentrated effort after admitting it quite possibly was a dysfunctional upbringing.

By today's standards we were very poor growing up, but by the standards of the 60's and 70's we were pretty normal. It was a big deal when our family went out to eat. Most of my toys were either home-made or modified from their original purpose, exception being a ball glove, bat, and various balls. I remember going to my grandfather's to ask him to make me stilts. A friend of mine got a pair from K-Mart and it never even dawned on me to ask for them to be purchased. Gramps made me some stilts (I helped) out of wood and they were a hit. Even the kid that had K-Mart stilts wanted a pair.

We'd build tree forts with wood we found in scrap piles, play endless games outside, jump ramps with our bikes (yeah, we all had bikes but they weren't anything fancy), etc. A modern kid would go nuts I think. No organized soccer. No soccer at all actually. No video games until the late 70's. No cell phones. No texting.

[lspencer534]

It's entirely possible; I'm a case in point. But, it does come with its baggage...such as being resented (and sometime rejected) by your family and long-time friends, learning to live with your choice to abandon certain people and customs, etc. In my case it was made easier by a certain satisfaction that payback gave to me. Actually I think that in such circumstances we can all benefit from such payback and that it's somehow healthy.

[LATB]

Originally Posted by Dixievet

Is it possible to willfully escape your upbringing?

yes

[Joecooool]

Well, my dad is so entrenched in the GOP, he was invited to the last four republican presidential inaugurations.

The kid I just put in the USAF is also a hard righter.

So in my instance I'd definitely say yes.

[Entropy]

Originally Posted by Joecooool

Well, my dad is so entrenched in the GOP, he was invited to the last four republican presidential inaugurations.

The kid I just put in the USAF is also a hard righter.

So in my instance I'd definitely say yes.

It's funny how that works.

My dad is blue dog union to the core.

I'm a pretty hardcore libertarian.

It's a good thing we can talk about sports, guns and scouts.

[LATB]

Originally Posted by Joecooool

Well, my dad is so entrenched in the GOP, he was invited to the last four republican presidential inaugurations.

The kid I just put in the USAF is also a hard righter.

So in my instance I'd definitely say yes.

sounds like intelligence skipped a generation.

[NB2K]

Of course. People do it all the time, for better or worse.

[dclafleur]

Yes, both me and my wife lead lives that are really different than our upbringing. It took hard work but knowing the way I was raised was not the only way to live was enough inspiration.

[prospero63]

Nope, it's not. No one ever rises above their upbringing.

[vetteman9368]

Originally Posted by LarsAtTheBeach

sounds like intelligence skipped a generation.

[Sea Six]

Originally Posted by LarsAtTheBeach

sounds like intelligence skipped a generation.

Joe definitely got that liberal gene.

I think that part of the explanation lies in the fact that children, in their teens, naturally tend to rebel against their parents. Sometimes that shows in the political differences.

Joes Dad - conservative
Joe - liberal progressive
Joe's son - conservative

[Rob]

People aren't blank slates, but everyone has free will.

Our upbringing gives us our starting point, but it is ultimately our decision who we will be and how we will live. If you never come into contact with a different way of life you will not know any different, but our world is so interconnected now that it is virtually impossible not to.

We have more power to shape ourselves than ever before.

[Uncle Pervey]

Originally Posted by Entropy

It's funny how that works.

My dad is blue dog union to the core.

I'm a pretty hardcore libertarian.

It's a good thing we can talk about sports, guns and scouts.

Sounds like my folks, blue dog union democrats to the core. They were both representatives to the Democratic National Convention that nominated Adlai Stevenson for President in 1956. My Dad passed away 40 years ago but my Mother is still that way.
I like you am a hardcore libertarian. I did get some good from my upbringing, a freedom from the bigotry that most Southerners of my generation were raised under and the belief that everyone has the right to choose their own path in life.