Originally written as an intro to the War of Attrition website when it first went online in January 1999.

What do I believe?

I believe that you will almost always be let down; If you are not, it is the exception, not the rule. I believe that people are generally bad, and if you are lucky enough to find a few truly good ones to associate with, it is the exception, not the rule.

I believe that I will often be disappointed and very seldom surprised; I would rather be sustainably negative and surprised once in a while than eternally positive and disappointed all time.

I believe that trying to live by any ambitious set of standards or strict code of ethics is a frustrating yet worthwhile exercise in futility, since fewer and fewer people each day seem to give a fuck about courtesy or respect.

I believe that modern society is purgatory; It isn’t some mysterious place on the way to Hell. We’re fucking there. Right now.

Look around; There’s a child-abusing priest in every neighborhood, depravity on every channel, atrocities on every front page, disease on every doorstep, government in every mailbox.

I believe that the days of carefree world-enjoyment are long gone. When I’m at home, I relax. When I walk out my door, I’m always quietly ready for war.

Everyone is out for themselves, everyone is out to belittle thy neighbor. I won’t be a target, and I’ll never be a victim; I will make a stark example out of any attempt at either.

To this lost-and-soft generation of counter-culture imposters:

Fuck you, and fuck all your friends that aren’t going to stick up for you when the real bell tolls. They never really liked you and neither do I.

(Remember: Roaring in the mirror does not make you a lion… ).