windmill hill graffiti on Flickr

Mance says:

Sounds like freedom to me!

As opposed to
"Queue for a possible job, wonder if the kids will ever have an education, wish you could afford some footwear, act as if your every word is being monitored, try to catch some news from anything but the state media, worry you'll never make old age, fear anarchic violence.
Repeat after me: I am free"

--
Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

Sam Judson says:

www.flickr.com/photos/knautia/424307039/
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

pshab says:

Thanks Sam. And this one too. www.flickr.com/photos/knautia/427385894/
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

dayyvester says:

An addition if I may add to the US version....

"go to work, PAY INTEREST, send your kids to school, PAY INTEREST,
follow fashion, PAY INTEREST, act normal, PAY INTEREST,
walk on the pavement, PAY INTEREST, watch TV, PAY INTEREST,
save for your old age, PAY INTEREST, obey the law, PAY INTEREST,
Repeat after me, I am dead and now my loved ones will PAY INTEREST."
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

eric gates [deleted] says:

These viewpoints are not mutually exclusive.

This is just one person ridiculing the free choice of another.

All of us ought to consider the pleasures of living our own lives without trying to be the pastor for someone with a different idea.

That's freedom.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

keith.burgun says:

lammmmme! Next time just spray-paint "I LACK PERSPECTIVE"
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

savingstrangers says:

agree with Mance 100%.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

CyberSteel says:

Exactly! I agree with Mance..however who said that is the only other option?
What about:
Work as every human being, send your kids to school or educate them at home if you want, follow fashion only if it conforms to your beliefs, act your definition of "normal" not others definition, dont watch TV because you know its just crap, have your family happily support you in your old age, and obey the law only if it justice.
That is freedom.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

thegeoman says:

I can see that some of you didn't get the pic.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Toh Gouttenoire says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Words, Palabras, Mots..., and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

CubicleNinjas says:

I think the point of this graffiti is: if freedom within my culture does exist wouldn't the people who had a whole world of unique possibilities take them?

The sad answer is an obvious no. We don't. We burrow into the corner of our cages and wish to adventure via proxy.

Great photo!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

conclusionsyllogism [deleted] says:

I've seen the little trendy, well dressed white kids in San Francisco spewing this same type of pablum onto the walls of mostly small businesses and homes and public transit. Trustafundians we call them. How do they really rebel? By not talking to their parents except when they need cash to buy pot or meth. Or post bail.

Graffiti: the most impotent for of rebellion.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

top5withabullet says:

True true.

Now all of you get back to work! (*crack of whip)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

aneeley212 says:

yes, we are free. but, i think the purpose of this message is to get people to realize that society can imprison our freedom of thought. he's talking about freedom of consciousness--not action.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

xMetalDetectorx says:

MANce is the MAN
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

bigelectricmouse says:

... right up until you need the assistance of the State.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

zionsnightcrawlr says:

nice remark Mance, but i think we miss the point here in that most people (almost saying All) dont live their lives to the utmost. its just repetition.

So, lets try more than just 2 perspectives here.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

ChrisGeee says:

Let's just say you're young and foolish and you don't really want a home in the suburbs, you don't want a 60" plasma, you don't want a Volvo, and your idea of 'making a difference' isn't flipping real estate. Gawd help ya.

The almighty buck guides almost everything the developed world's youth are directed to pursue. 'Reality' tells you that your life *should* turn into an episode of Survivor, clawing, lying and conniving your way to a larger net worth.

Save whales? Protect nature? Play your guitar? Read to old ladies? Walk dogs? Write poetry? Far from noble pursuits.

Apart from death, there are no inevitabilities.

Rage against the machine. Rock the boat.

Stay hungry. Stay foolish.

(far, FAR too many cute little quotes in here) :)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Mutiny32 says:

So why did I do it? I could offer a million answers, all false. The truth is that I'm a bad person, but that's going to change, I'm going to change. This is the last of this sort of thing. I'm cleaning up and I'm moving on, going straight and choosing life. I'm looking forward to it already. I'm going to be just like you: the job, the family, the fucking big television, the washing machine, the car, the compact disc and electrical tin opener, good health, low cholesterol, dental insurance, mortgage, starter home, leisurewear, luggage, three-piece suite, DIY, game shows, junk food, children, walks in the park, nine to five, good at golf, washing the car, choice of sweaters, family Christmas, indexed pension, tax exemption, clearing the gutters, getting by, looking ahead, to the day you die.

-Trainspotting

Er, that's what it reminds me of. Love this picture though.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Romat says:

Everyone makes fun of the "consumer life" but no one has a better idea. "Rage against the machine?" who cares. Just don't do it in my neighborhood. "Live life to the utmost?" Just how does one do that? Even high-risk stuff gets tiresome after awhile.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

hatekillpuke says:

Sounds like a bunch of uptight old fuckers who're bitter because this described them too well. I kid, I kid!

Some of us are young and angry, and don't want what that sort of life (not yet, anyway). At least this person did something that might make people think, some kids would just smash your windows or set shit on fire.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

chinggybaby says:

aneeley212 says:

yes, we are free. but, i think the purpose of this message is to get people to realize that society can imprison our freedom of thought. he's talking about freedom of consciousness--not action.

------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
agreed... i think that it's pointing out how everything is normalized in society, with the existing belief system and values having moved into the realm of "common sense"... personally i think it's the media that perpetuates this as it is through media that such ways of life are perpetuated. but then again, theres a limit as to how much we can question notions of freedom since there has got to be some kinda social order.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

danbri says:

Hi Paul, spotted you on Reddit when I mouseovered this:

I Am Free. [pic] [pics] (flickr.com)
123 points posted 9 hours ago by ARS_ 178 comments

Nice pic but I don't care much for the sentiment. It's cartoon thinking that divides the world into supposedly-mindless-drones and 'snapped out of the matrix' counterculturalists.I'm with the 'Rebel Sell' book on this - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rebel_Sell - too much of this style of thinking is as fashion-driven and capitalistic as it comes. Just dressed up in a different style.

www.thismagazine.ca/issues/2002/11/rebelsell. php

"""What we see in films like American Beauty and Fight Club is not actually a critique of consumerism; it’s merely a restatement of the “critique of mass society” that has been around since the 1950s. The two are not the same. In fact, the critique of mass society has been one of the most powerful forces driving consumerism for more than 40 years. """

(I'd disagree re Fight Club being same film as American Beauty; I found it smarter but maybe I'm reading too much between the lines...)

The scribbles also owe something to en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Trainspotting#Renton

"""Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, Choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players, and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol and dental insurance. Choose fixed-interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisure wear and matching luggage. Choose a three piece suite on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on a Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked-up brats you have spawned to replace yourself. Choose your future. Choose life . . . But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life: I chose something else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who need reasons when you've got heroin?"""
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

ize_angel14 says:

yeah! i am free..
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Pengster says:

Nice one there - we are so overmeta.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

livingman13 says:

i think it is THE tragedy o our times that that is an idealistic lifestyle
it isunfathomable that we are all subject to such a life ideal and anyone who doesn't follow these rules or don't fit into our tight little circles operating in suburban white middle class. we pretend that nothing else happens and we are happy, fulfilled when living a lifestyle where we control as much as possible isnt living, it is being safe and until we all learn once again what it is to let go and actually go for it,not worry about what people will think, just find their passion and go for it
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

rushmc says:

Mance doesn't aim very high...
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

kamylyon says:

"Wake up, watch the sun rise, milk the cow(s) gather the eggs, weed the garden. I am free!"
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

HeroicLife says:

"There is a level of cowardice lower than that of the conformist: the fashionable non-conformist." - Ayn Rand
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

quadaudio says:

The elite's government FEARS you!!!!!!

Their fear is manifested in the laws they pass. Here is a law banning what MANY of the Founders wrote is a RIGHT of citizens when a government no longer represents them:

Section 2385. Advocating overthrow of Government

Whoever knowingly or willfully advocates, abets, advises, or
teaches the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of
overthrowing or destroying the government of the United States or
the government of any State, Territory, District or Possession
thereof, or the government of any political subdivision therein, by
force or violence, or by the assassination of any officer of any
such government; or
Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of any
such government, prints, publishes, edits, issues, circulates,
sells, distributes, or publicly displays any written or printed
matter advocating, advising, or teaching the duty, necessity,
desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying any
government in the United States by force or violence, or attempts
to do so; or
Whoever organizes or helps or attempts to organize any society,
group, or assembly of persons who teach, advocate, or encourage the
overthrow or destruction of any such government by force or
violence; or becomes or is a member of, or affiliates with, any
such society, group, or assembly of persons, knowing the purposes
thereof -
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than
twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by
the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five
years next following his conviction.
If two or more persons conspire to commit any offense named in
this section, each shall be fined under this title or imprisoned
not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for
employment by the United States or any department or agency
thereof, for the five years next following his conviction.
As used in this section, the terms ''organizes'' and
''organize'', with respect to any society, group, or assembly of
persons, include the recruiting of new members, the forming of new
units, and the regrouping or expansion of existing clubs, classes,
and other units of such society, group, or assembly of persons.

The federal government is allowing MILLIONS of illegals to invade our country who are causing immense economic harm to America's working poor. Corporate America is becoming increasingly more powerful and influential. Yet, according to the government of for and by the elites YOU, a citizen, have to accept whatever the government does with NO recourse other than voting...... and there is sufficient proof that shows to me voting is worthless since the entrenched power structure ensures that the emplaced elite class can not be removed.

Several Founders specifically wrote of the people's right to abolish a government when it no longer represents them.

We are forced to live under an elite's TYRANNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

hyramhank says:

i think quadaudio missed the part where it says "by force or violence". there are ways of going about overthrowing a government without the expressed use of force or violence, but that would require 300million or so people becoming united as one voice and peacefully redressing our grievances. Not just inder one voice that leads us into a predictable chaotic riot of ignorant behavior. and since we all know, as well as our government knows, that will never happen... they will continue to control us as they please.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Murple's Nemesis says:

The best example of "freeedom" within the context of the above
is a middle aged homeless man with 20 bucks in his pocket.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

bonez318ti says:

or..
"be different" and get a macbook or ipod.... along with everyone else.

the act of nonconformity is conformity in itself..
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

lifelessens says:

That actually doesn't sound to bad, do you know how much effort it is to make a change?
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

MaikoCarlo says:

I completely agree with Mance's perspective.

Many people would sacrifice anything to have our version of a "normal" life.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

recruz02 says:

Fulfill a dream. It is clear that the graffiti artist has no goals. Or if the artist does have goals, he is trapped in the life he lives unable to figure out how to get himself out of his "rat race". Hopefully the artist had the goal of "putting graffiti on a wall" because he certainly accomplished that.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

bigbenorr11 says:

Freedom is not something most people are born with. like most other things in life, freedom must be earned, not only as a society but also as individuals. This is why I work, I am willingly giving up my freedom for a certain amount of time in order to achieve a greater amount of freedom later. Or so I tell myself.

Also @HeroicLife
You mean people who read Ayn Rand?
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Tyler Gavett says:

@ mance

just because someone else has it worse doesn't make it right.

i could go off into a giant libertarian rant here, but ill spare everyone the bore. people just like restriction.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

hughwyeth says:

Wow man, that's like, totally deep.

"Graffiti on public walls, get the taxpayer to remove it, don't get a job, get the taxpayer to pay for you,
repeat after me: i'm "free" "
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

holotone says:

@Mance: You're confusing "freedom" with "security" - The two are not at all related.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

City Eyes says:

I don't think a lot of people are getting this. It's not an attack on the idea that we have freedom in America, it's an attack on the methods in which the people that live here USE that freedom. Everyone is free to do what they want and make their own way, yet most people take the exact. same. path.

At least that's how I took it.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Tyrannosaurus Cal says:

What's freedom?
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Arcex says:

No offense Mance, but the list you made? With the exception of the last item, that's pretty much where we are in the States right now. Obviously there are people who have it worse, and even now I'm sure there are plenty who would love to be where we are right now, that doesn't make what the people in charge are doing to this country OK.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Mance says:

Wow Paul - a lot of new friends dropped by!
No where did I say what my aim was. Or that these things are the limit of our aspirations. My critique was, as
put it - comparing our relative security with the lack of it offered in less stable regimes and economies. I believe Maslow had it right when he suggested that Self-actualisation (which requires freedom?) is one of the last high order needs that come only when we have security and shelter.
Doesn't make what right? The statements in the photo to me suggest conformity, not repression. Of course we should rage against unjust laws, illegal wars and vacuous consumption, but don't forget the freedoms/security our inadequate society does offer us. And yes - be different. Why not!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Mance says:

Can't speak for the US of A - (this photo was taken in the 51st State - UK)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

ArghMonkey says:

Freedom is a myth ....

Its the same reason we look at security cameras and ask "Why is that camera there?" and get the same reply "For freedom" ...

The human race wont last much longer, good riddance.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

merflickr says:

The graffiti was an intelligent remark about the conscience of the average life of most people's lives, who definitely well defined as stuck and un-'free' as in the statement.

A straight forward comparison to the totally opposite & worst side of the scenario, using the least intelligent form of cynics, the irony factor i.e 'get a job' as opposed to 'wait in line for jobs' is just silly.

For most people who filters opinion such as this one and digested only the meaningful part of it, instead of blasting a straight-forward critique as an act of supposedly intelligence, i'd like to just personally think that he moderately meant i.e 'get a job you love'.

Graffiti makes people read & think -legal or not.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

peter.chang says:

This follows the same theme as Fight Club:

"God damn it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables; slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War's a spiritual war... our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact."
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

sfacets says:

What strikes me as odd is the 'artist' who is so obviously against consumerism still lives in the city. Free?
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

I.voice.my.opinion says:

I just finished an assignment and then beat off to some porn. I am free!

Until no one owns anything and we are on this land (earth) with what god gave us and allowed to do whatever we want to do we are not free.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Rakae says:

Freedom is a perspective to most.

Do you live in the dangerous world out side the cage or do you prefer the safety the cage provides?

I think like most things it is all about balance. Maybe one is better than the other who knows, but it is sure fun to think about.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

zothique23 says:

Methinks Mance doth protest too much. Way too much.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Funkmaster D says:

Everyone is free to do or not to do any of the stuff on that list, as long as they're willing to accept the consequences of their actions. But these things don't exist in a vacuum - while you are theoretically free to punch me in the mouth, I'm equally entitled not to be punched, which is why we have laws against assault. Working for money allows freedom to travel and purchase things, for example, while disobeying the law will result in penalties.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

松林Ｌ  says:

This is life..
face it.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

cobra21 says:

I'm not going to state my personal opinion here because it's been covered several times in different ways. I just wanted to say this is a favorite of mine simply because of the social commentary it has created. I'm glad to see people openly disagreeing and agreeing about what's being said. WE HAVE TO KEEP DOING THAT.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

msee says:

I am free - I've switched to Ubuntu Linux open-source OS and software!

Seriously though, isn't the pursuit of freedom as an ideal meaningless? It seems to me to be like having a desire to float freely - in a vacuum...
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Andrew Baron says:

...and try to get into outer space before we become extinct. Its natural to want to live forever. Forever free.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

dorkyknight87 says:

What if i love doing those things, nothing wrong with that!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

alpha_9772 says:

While I understand the concept of freedom- I don't truly understand what it is to be free.

Artistic Idea Generation
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

marcin.smok says:

sad but true. This is the way of our existence, it's what modern society call freedom
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

ThreeDee912 says:

Well congrats, you have been Dugg!
digg.com/arts_culture/I_Am_Free
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

khouryp23 says:

I agree with the artist 100%. I just ask him/her to please not write it on the side of my house. Thanks in advance.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

inajeep says:

You are perfectly free to be unemployed, running on the street with scissors with your eyes shut while your kids are wandering the streets. Don't be surprised if your run over by a car and your kids are given to foster care. You are free to choose to fit in a society or not.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

sohailstyle says:

What about video games
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

quadaudio says:

The elites of every country tend to do well unless they are deposed or lose a war with another group of elites but even then the losing elite(s) will often continue living an opulent life style.

Hey!!!! The elite class of every country/religion/cult/any type of social organization lives well and works less by skimming from the labors of the common classes.

That is what Marx and Engels tried to tell us!!!!

Those two should have stopped there rather than trying to concoct a cure for those burdensome elites.

Maybe elite classes are inevitable.

It's just a shame elites are so ready to brainwash, then up to murdering masses of common folks so as to enable them to maintain the status quo that is so beneficial to the elites.

I admit that some groups of elites are kinder than others.

Sure can't compare American elites with the acts of Idi Amin, Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot, etc. etc. etc.

But, the USA's elite class HAS murdered common Americans to maintain the status quo. Just look in the history books. Even women and children have died at the hands of jack-booted thugs, representatives of the elite class, to ensure that wealth and power remained in the hands of the elites.

Please, my fellow citizens. All I wish is that you attempt to cast off the years of indoctrination, the brainwashing all of us undergo to convince us that the way things are is correct, proper... as it should be.

From schooling to the mass media to general culture...we are constantly bombarded that the present status quo is the only RIGHT way to handle things.

Educate yourselves!!! Don't let the self-centered greedy elite class do your thinking for you.

Don't let the Rush Limbaugh's of the world implant their propaganda. Those folks are merely shills for the elite class!!!

I remain convinced that the greatest threat to our freedoms is our own elite class; more of a threat than all foreign terrorists combined.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

uetakeru says:

"go to work (make others money), send your kids to school (and wonder if they will ever learn)
follow fashion (only on TV), act normal (pretend to act normal)
walk on the pavements (the gas cost is high ), watch T.V. (local channels only)
save for your old age (don't eat), obey the law (puppet show)
Repeat after me: I am free"
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Bryan Hughes says:

"elite class"!

Hilarious. What if you found your own success? Then what? Evil comes in all forms, rich AND poor. Try taking in some of the education you speak of. If you did, you'd know an argument is nothing without some sort of qualifying remark. Nice buzzword, by the way.

The original photo is ridiculous. Those are choices not forced upon anyone. I live my life as I imagined I would as a kid through hard work and self-education. I live as I want to, every day. Yes that is freedom.

It is sad that the kid on windmill hill hasn't found any calling in life other than to whine with paint on another's property.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

cc100js says:

I get that the person who painted the graffiti thinks that these things are a sign of people with freedom choosing not to exercise that freedom, but I think the artist is missing a critical point: maybe so many people choose the same thing because it makes sense.

"go to work"... The alternative is to do all your gathering and construction of things for yourself. The trade of goods and services is a pretty basic part of society and lets people like you and me do one job (hopefully something we really enjoy) but still get the food we need and the shelter we need because someone else has made it their job to provide those.

"send your kids to school" ... I value my education. I'm glad my mom sent her kids to school.

I could continue on, but the point should be obvious. There are inevitably those things that will have greater value. If there is anything about us that unites us--anything at all that makes us human beings and not just completely disparate entities--then inevitably there will be common ways in which the value of things sorts itself out to us. To suggest that freedom requires specifically not doing what other people are doing is to really advocate for a valueless world. And if you've ever felt the pain of hunger, sadness over someone lost, or the chill of a cold night, you know that there are things common to us as human beings that have value.

The last point worth making is that ultimately the only real freedom is that which comes from within and allows you to make your choices without fear that your choice will somehow make you less free to make your next choice. We carry forth no action without a choice on our parts, no matter how stacked the odds. It is always a choice. We are all "free."
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

adam.timol says:

The German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer said, as Einstein paraphrased it, that “a human can very well do what he wants, but cannot will what he wants.”

www.nytimes.com/2007/01/02/science/02free.htm l?ei=5090&am...
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

adam.timol says:

p.s. Though I DO like the photo. The font that the person has written in is some how lyrical and the placement of the text against the non-intentionally occurring color field of light blue on white on what I presume to be a billboard, draws in the eye. Yes, top marks for aesthetic charm!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

scotchegg says:

of course your free.

I really do not get all this rubbish when people knock England, they are not after freedom, but after a free ride. You do not have to go to work, watch TV have kids or follow fashion?! You can instead do what ever you like and try to make a living off it. You will likely fail and be as wealthy as people in the 3rd world trying the same thing, so instead of moaning realise the great opportunity your given if you "play the game" in this country.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Iain Claridge says:

yawn - "Work, Buy, Consume, Die" used far fewer words and had more impact than this piece of dull, cliched, "heard it all before" pseudo-rebel clap trap.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

custardmonkeys says:

enjoyed the read... I love that we can discuss freedom, I just listened to a podcast from the bbc about a 13 yr old nun who just uttered the words "free Tibet" and spent over 20 yrs in prison being tortured... I value my freedom of speech although I know we do not live in a utopian country - I don't think anyone is that naive. There is always something to fight for and change. Agreed with Mance and CyberSteel - nicely put.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Brian O'Mahony says:

Cool!

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called One Hundred Thousand Club (100,000 Photostream Views), and we'd love to have this added to the group!

...and please feel free to join the group and add some of you best or favourite shots. Thanx.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

A_Porcupine says:

I saw this, really made me stop in my tracks, i like seeing graffiti that is actully different :)

quite alot of banksy (cant spell :S) work in bristol :)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

RuneJensen says:

Well.. At least you are free enough to write this, but of course not on someone else's building!! We do all live in freedom. Just be glad you aren't in China!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Tyler Gavett says:

@ mance

i dont mean one specific thing or something from this. i just mean anything. i agree with your points though.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Zayne S Halsall says:

Didn't really read all the comments, as I've read it all before. But did any of you jaded cynics, naive wannabees or newborn rebels consider that all the artist and/or photographer wished for was to get people thinking and talking?

If that is the case, mission accomplished, wouldn't you say?

-zsh
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Treceges says:

one of the best i've ever read
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

h.udson says:

Neat photo and good commentary.

I think a lot of people and quite possibly the artist are confusing freedom with a desire.

Certainly, everyone in Western society is free to wake up in the morning and decide that they are going to be a subsistence farmer. Almost no one does.

So the lament often labeled as a lack of freedom, really isn't. I think it's more of a feeling of I'm not getting my due in self expression/attention --aka, hey I'm special!!--. This frustration manifests and gets labeled as a lack of freedom. "The reason why I don't feel special, is because I lack freedom!"

I think that most if not all humans are inherently lazy.. as in people will try and take the easiest path to their goal. If your goal is to feel special, the easiest way to that end is to purchase something that will denote how special you are to everyone else. The only snag is that everyone else is doing that.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Regtools says:

I tried to stick it to the man in my own small way by not walking on the pavement.

I am now writing this from hospital in traction. Cheers mate.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

cheese and pancakes says:

get a load of all the pretentious bullshit commentry on this one picture of someone's stupid little graffiti slogan. whoop de doo. freedomlolz.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

blauwald says:

"act as if your every word is being monitored, try to catch some news from anything but the state media"
Am I the only one to whom these two phrases leave a bitter aftertaste?
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

Michael Nottebrock says:

"Repeat after me ... I am free" incidentally happens to be a David Icke quote, from the time well after he went completely nuts.
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

techsyslonghorn2 says:

could be worse... could be raining.... -Igor "Young Frankenstein"
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

cheesefood75 says:

I'm very happy that following a lifestyle of education and work will allow me a life where I can relax, travel, enjoy my family and not have to work.
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

Sean Reichle says:

The 'artist' describes one course people take in their lives... there are many... we all get to choose which one will work for us. The reason you know this one is because it is the "fool proof plan". You can almost just do this and have a life which is better then most of the world.
Unless you know how to become wealthy, and there are many roads that lead there... but for that... you need need to know what your options are... and you have options...because you are free.

It is a great photo. It is a reminder that for some, the world is still small and people only see what they are ready to see.
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

gruncho: says:

i' m freeeee!
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

beccabum. says:

i love this.
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

Tacoma Art Museum says:

Hi, I’m an admin for a group called Tacoma Art Museum. This month we're collecting images of the written word, and we’d love to have your photo added to the group.

See the July photo call for details on tagging.
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

The one, the only says:

it reminds me of the saying: "you're unique, just like everybody". catch 22 it's called, i think
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

In_the_spotlight says:

I think the artist is just stating how he/she feels that they r expected to be or are forced to conform to this kind of "normal".

It's their idea of normal, but I think they mean that people are often trapped by society and don't have the freedoms they desire, that they r forced to be what others think they should be.

I don't think it was meant as an attack on people who r this kind of "normal", just as a reminder of societies constrictions on people.
Posted 16 months ago. ( permalink )

blackbl0c says:

Most of you are a load of tools. If Tyler Durden was here he'd kick your asses.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

dadoqueiroz says:

f*** normal. "normal" is a safe to way to call yourself dull and gutless. unless, of course, you have people depending on you to the point of starvation. i like this photo very very much
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

nmfcm [deleted] says:

The line "Go To Work" is not meant to be taken literal. It is meant that you work to simply get money. It is saying that many do not do what they love to make money, that they are simply conforming to something that will give them money. I do not consider working on films as actual "work" because I love every moment of it. Even the painful ones. Whoever wrote this is smarter then you may think. They know that not everyone will understand it and the proof is stated above. I do not mean that offensivly but many people are taking this WAY too literal for their own good. This artist got everyone thinking and has captured the attention of hundreds. Isn't that what many of us strive to do? Create something so powerful that in latches onto its viewers and creates such discussions that emotions from all angles are shown?
Many people will call me naive since I'm only 14, but I believe that this artists point was not to actually speak about freedom it's self but to speak about how we are changing the view on freedom as well. I asked one of my classmates what freedom was and their answer was "freedom of speech". We do not really have freedom of speech. I was almost thrown out of my old school for questioning the bible at certain points. This artist has made us all think, which in my opinion is the best compliment a artist could ever receive.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

madvilliany says:

a lot of contreversy
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

evrzzzz says:

Give up everything, goto Africa, NO BANK INTEREST, NO companies trying to sell me things, NO TV, NO consumerism. I am free and I am starving. Will you give me a handout?
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

Toh Gouttenoire says:

Just Do it...
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

matuszewski.michael says:

I do in fact like this piece because it is very contreversial. I think what this artist is trying to provoke in his perspective that we are slaves to the society which mass media tries to determine pleasure based on a consumer economy. But it is those same material objects and discrimination towards people who choose not to follow everyone else that causes us to conform. So i turn i think he has a valid point but overall most people choose the most relaxed lifestyle they can without annoyances. . . . . Personally I think that religion causes people to hide behind there values and respect them to much to do so otherwise. If a person has morals than they are going to choose those over freedom.
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

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windmill hill graffiti

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