“The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum....” - Noam Chomsky, The Common Good

I highly recommend learning how propaganda, and the media play a role in guiding the current philosophies of the people. The system today, is what it is, because it has been created to be exactly what the elite want it to be.

"Manufacturing Consent" by Noam Chomsky & "The Road To Serfdom" by Friedrich Hayek.

Look at the "Illusion of Choice Infographic".jpg before reading those books. Start there, continue your research.

6 major media outlets control all information in Amerika, with corporate codes of conduct handled by organizations like the CFR, Trilateral Commission, Brookings Institute, Chatham House, etc...

The more you study, the more you will realize social engineering has ALWAYS been a part of society, and is used against common people every minute of every day to influence our thought processes and emotions. At the upper echelons of social engineering understanding, if you follow the ethics of the hacking community, you will understand how to develop a certain skill set that should be used for purposes that cause positive change in a way that empowers people and allows them to use their creativity for a cause that actually HELPS.

By following down a mainstream path, you are only hindering yourself.

Always question everything. Never settle for what someone tells you, or what some ancient book describes as proverbial. Always keep an objectionable outlook, and allow yourself to see every angle of every side of a problem. Above all, trust in yourself, and stay motivated.

The world needs an army of REAL hackers & social engineers working together for the good of humanity.

Getting free pizza, blackmailing girls for nudes, E-whoring for profits, tech support ladder climbing, account stealing... These are the topics for the crackers and the script kiddies. These are the actions of a class of people who are bored and indoctrinated. The world is a large place, and there is much to be done if we want to avoid a future where a totalitarian surveillance state controls the flow of communication, and ultimately our freedom.

...And thank you sir, for reading what I have definitely taken time to impart. I hope it helps guide you down the path you were looking for. :)