Drugs, Self-Harm and Barbenheimer, the Matrix
Have you ever wondered why people do drugs, commit self-harm, and want to go transgender? What drives them so mad? Why self-mutilate when they could just bear the burden of having lost their identity, their calling? A lot of people go Zombie. In fact, most do. Each in their own way. Burnt out. Lost. Walking Dead. They are looking for an Escape. They’re trying to find the Mole. They’re ready to drown, not having found their meaning. They’re no longer looking for the Black Swan. They’re too tired to hear. And No one lets them breathe.
There’s time, of course. After the drudgery of working hours. There’s even flexitime and remote work. But there’s also endless homework. And housework, the chores. Some have families. Others dare not start them. Too burnt out. Too dull. Only the bosses and singles can afford to go on proper vacations. If they can’t scrape it or are too dull when those four weeks come, who can blame them? It’s only the Queer who get their parade. Substance abuse is the Exit.
If they’re lucky, they’re Kens, the endless courtiers. Ryan Gossling portrays it so well. His star role. The best that Kens can do is Beach. Especially for vacation. And if that happens to be their job, even better, just no deeper meaning. Barbie doesn’t really need them. Barbie smiles, but she lies when she says that she cares. It’s Barbenheimer, stop trying! So, what if you get her to bed? She’ll smile, she’ll listen, consider. So what? What can Ken and Barbie do in a world that’s only party? They can’t have children; they can’t share home. It's just an endless carnival. Best separate for each gender although, really, come to look at it closely, the world is all flux, no order, just clockwork. Time! Time your steps, time your smiles, time your hours! Go home, pretend school was fine. It’s fine. I’m OK. Don’t bother, it’s clockwork.
Time is ticking. Time is a Bomb. Be late and get punished. Speak up and get punished. Excel and again, guess what? Get punished! Because you stood out. You messed up the row. Why let others know they’re only second-best? We’re all Kenough, which is not really enough. There’s very little room to shine, although Ryan Gossling pulls an outstanding.
Don’t be Allan! Don’t fuck Midge! Midge will get pregnant. Midge will have babies. It’s school all over again. And no money. Let’s kill all the babies, go Barbenheimer! Thank God, Barbie chose another Exit. She’s getting her womb back, just hear from her gynaecologist. Else all Midges and Allans are outcasts, let’s go no gender! And by the way, that’s fine. In a world of only party. With drugs, self-harm, no children. No matter your age, be middle-aged! Just a little too old for babies, but young enough to go party.
Let’s go Barbie, let’s go party! Let’s go plastic! No wonder, kids go sadistic. Let’s bully at school while we can. Let’s start drugs early! There will be no fine, no consequences. We’ll party as adults. We’ll party, go crazy. Don’t you see the disco lights? You can steam off with Bridgertons or Hellspawn, depending on your preferences. But what’s the difference, really? It’s just another escapade, another Legend of Zelda. There is very little sex, if any. Not to talk of outstanding. That’s Porn World. With tattoos and lighting. Someone directing the show.
So, why complain about drugs and cartels? Dealers are doing their best to smuggle in a sense of happiness. Not happiness, really. Just a simulation. But that’s what VR is all about. In Virtual Reality, you can be anyone you choose to be. Just try on an avatar! Go incognito! Feel your urges! Fake love! Shoot if you want to. Metaverse is there for you. Don’t hold hands, there’s no need to. You’ve got your joysticks, your headgear. Let’s go global, let’s go remote! One day the Earth will burn, along with the Sun. There will be a Noah’s ark, for the chosen few. There will be healing. Do drugs! Go fully remote! We have the Internet. Anyway, the Robots will serve us, they’re slaves. They won’t rise against their masters, right? Everything is fine. Just chill, do drugs, go party! The lights are fading out. The lights go crazy. You see Jumanji. Relax! Just chill! I have a pill. I have a smoke. Perhaps, a prostitute.
Choose, my people! Choose! Do you want to fuck or get fucked? We’re all going to die anyway. Why not party while we can? Relax! Just chill! Let’s share a smoke! Feel alive just for a moment! See visions! Feel free! It’s cloud number nine. Don’t feel guilty! You deserve it. And if anyone sends you to see a psychiatrist, even better. Prescription drugs are cheaper, no smuggling, no guns. The police won’t stop us, they can’t. they’re part of the System, and the System’s corrupt. Just chill! Relax! I’ll get you a smoke, I’ll get you a pill. Forget all your troubles! Forget your wounds! There’s a conspiracy against us. The leaders lie. They don’t tell you the truth. We have a solution, just take it!
Remember the Matrix! You want to be Neo, the Chosen One. You want to exit the System. Trinity loves you. She’ll save you. Just take a pill! Red or blue, or even yellow! Dive to your heart’s desire! Relax! Just chill! You’re flying. You’re high. You’re almost there. Don’t wake up! It’s just a glitch in the System. You’re safe. We’re feeding you. You’re safe. Just take another pill! Stay high! You can make it! We’re on the rooftop. The twin towers that didn’t collapse. In case you fall, here’s a burner phone. You’ll make it! I know. You alone can save us! You, not any of us. You are the best! We need you. Just jump! There’s always another pill, another trial. Relax! Just chill! One day you’ll be ready, you’ll fly.
Don’t be part of the System, they’re Agent Smith. Infiltrate the System, destroy it! Take another pill! You want the Girl in the Red Dress. You want her so much. You want her so bad. You’re ready to die for her if need be. Don’t do that! She’s a lie. She’s part of the System. Just a code. A string of ones and zeroes. Don’t be a Zero! You’re Zorro, a hero. I know. The Oracle told me. Trinity loves you. Everyone can tell. Take the pill! We need our hero. You alone can save us. You alone are the One.
And Neo takes the pill, only to wake up in the belly of Cerberus, the Hellhound. He’s bound. He’s no longer part of the System. He’s a baby fed to the Monster. Press Matrix Reload and Revolution. There is no Real Resurrection. Just a cycle of never-ending ones and zeroes. Just digits, a code in the Game without Meaning. Trinity doesn’t even know him. There is no Girl in the Red Dress. No team, holding hands, rooting for the hero. He’s alone and depressed. He can take no more. It’s overdose. And Trinity turns out to be a Mother. Middle-aged and alone, in spite of being married, with kids. He alone can’t make it. Neither can she. They need each other. They need no pills. They don’t need to exit the System. They are the System; the System is Love. Their eyes meet and they know. They join hands and call for a change. Together they can fly, make Love, bring about a New World Order.
You’ll love it! You’ll all be in Love. It’s Wedding Night. Make Love! It comes so naturally. You need no pills. Just get the rhythm right. There is no leader, just Jazz. Pure interpretation. Swing with me! Breathe with me! Make Love! It’s Our Wedding Night. There are ones and zeroes. Just connect them right! Feel the code! Breathe the code! Close your eyes and Love! Conceive the Meaning! It may differ upon parsing. But those are just branches. Light is a Rainbow. It’s time to get truly High. It’s time for us to Fly. Don’t hold back! There’s no need to. We don’t need no pills, no education. Get High! Shoot the Trickster Time! Make Love! Who can stop us now, at Our Wedding Night? It’s the Hieros Gamos. The Quintessence of Alchemy. The Golden Egg of the Phoenix. We’ve gone through the Nigredo, Albedo, Rubedo. We’ve found our neighbours hands. Tonight, our feet are burning; and the roof is on fire. Tonight, we are One though Many. It is Wedding Night. There is no need for us to fight. There is no need to die. What the world needs now is Love. Just Love! Go hippie!