"no one says they want to be a junkie when they grow up"...and your right.

Options. Our visible world is predicated on this fantasy. American prides itself on this fantastical concept. It’s even infected our burger joints… “Have it your way”. Well, let me shed some light on this overrated and under scrutinized concept. It’s utter bullshit. I know my words seem a bit…caustic, but I have reason. Free will is based on the concept of choice, being able to choose between two “things”, either tangible or conceptual. The assumption is that both of these “things” are equally attainable. In other words, no matter which one is ultimately chosen, once the choice is made, the likelihood of acquiring it is the same. We make this assumption for good reason. We go to said burger joint, and they ask us “Onion rings or fries?” Simple enough question, and in turn, a simplistic response follows. There is little to no consequence in the choice, for the exception of the inevitable doubt of how the item not chosen would taste with that greasy burger. The only effort involved is saying your choice, and they are equally as easy to say, I mean onion rings is two words, as opposed to fries, which is one, but damn, no one cares. Now, let’s say if you chose fries, you would have to give up a finger in order to get them. Any finger of your choosing, but a digit nonetheless. The choice is still there, your free will seemingly intact. But let’s be honest. One choice is so damn unattractive; it might as well not even exist. You could give up the finger, and paw over your fries you 4 fingers and a fresh nub, but who would want to? It is no longer a feasible option. I’m over technicalities, so I don’t want to hear it. You have one choice: those onion rings. Now, this isn’t a problem per se, but it needs to be acknowledged. As long as we have this romanticized view of free will, we cannot see the situation for what it is, and interact with it realistically. My point: we often look at certain individuals in our society, the poor, drug-addicts, and state that they chose this life for themselves, so why help? And it's never that simple big homie.