on punk and the weariness of idealism with age.

I've been trying to decide whether humans are inherently selfish or if that's learned behavior.

I haven't found an answer.

what I think I can say is that time and age changes everything for each individual, and that there is no perfect point along life's arc that one can point to)without a heavy bespectacled tint(and say:

[XX] is the perfect age where fresh ideas and learned ability intersect.

instead, I think it's reasonable to say that)and there are exceptions to everything(fresh ideas are often weighted toward youth, while ability tends to come with age.

linger on this question: how many grand hopes and dreams can you think of that were ground down by time, age, and the ruthless machinations of capitalism? outside of our own, we all have the friends we were so sure were going to "make it" when we were young, who were instead waylaid by life or death.

"Siri, play 'The Kids Aren't Alright' by The Offspring."

yes, that's a radio hit from a pop-punk band (which is rather antithetical), but this concept is perhaps most pronounced in the somewhat tragic trajectory of just about any idealistic punk band.

example: some kids look around at the world, think "this is fucked up," then decide to broadcast that observation through music.

from there (for those who "make it") the paths of fate diverge in two common directions:

(Exhibit A: NOFX) mainstream success gives way to a decadent capitalistic lifestyle that betrays early ideals.

"Siri, play 'Rock For Sustainable Capitalism' by Propagandhi."

(Exhibit B: Propagandhi) despite the musical middle-finger above, with age and each release, there is a visible taming of their fury over time.

the result for both:
even for those who "make it," life wears idealism to the bone.

but, must that forever be the case?