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I originally began this post as a response to the 'Meaning of life' post in this forum, but i found myself flying off on so many tangents that i thought i'd better start a new topic. It's going to be one of those 'in-depth' posts i'm afraid.. but i'm happy if it all it does is give you something to read while you're eating your lunch... :o)
Giving something a name is like giving it a handle. It makes it very easy to pick up. Perhaps too easy.
This is something i've come to be reminded of again and again - In medicine for example. As soon as you label an illness, everyone thinks they have it. People don't come home from work 'cream-crackered' anymore... nowadays people come home from work with Hyper-Tension, Stress and all sorts of 'post-whatevers' and 'disorders'.
I think that the media plays a huge part in this (doesn't it always?). Instead of a situation where a person goes to a Doctor because they really have no idea what is wrong with them and wish to find out, you have a situation in which a person will read about an illness or see an item concerning it on TV, and then come to thinking "I think i have that". In effect, they are briefing themselves of the symptoms, and then slowly convincing themselves that they have the disease.
It's one of the things that bothers me most about our current state of evolution. Everyone is taught to need. In the 1940's quite the opposite message was sent out for obvious reasons. It was a case of 'Do what you can with what little you have'. Nowadays that little 'do' word seems redundant. The more 'advanced' we become the more there is to influence us. Technology advances... more media pops up... we 'do' less and less for ourselves, and 'need' more. I want I want I want.
'Death' shouldn't even have a word. As soon as it has a word, people start talking about it.. but the great thing is... no-one has a clue about what dying is actually like except those who have done it. Who, i feel i should point out.. are dead. The irony in that always amuses me - living people, who know nothing about death as yet (at least not from a subjective angle), spend their (or should i say 'our'...?) lives comparing 'Ooh ooh i got one! Me! Me! Me!' theories, when they may as well just wait 'n' see. That's my stance: Scratch 'n' sniff. Whilst it's understandable that humans are curious about all the in-tangables that keep us awake every other night, it is a pity really.
I mean, the very fact that I have written this is not going to wrench anyone's life around, but it doesn't matter. If it gave you something to laugh at with your coffee, then great. Good for you - that's probably the best reaction i could hope for. I mean, you enjoyed yourself, right?
That's what it's all about ladies and gentlemen. I mean there is a flipside to my above comments on the media, etc... if you are happy with it - great. Then you don't need to worry. There is no *one* generic goal for mankind. We are not all searching for 1 thing, which we must find in order for our lifes to have any meaning. The meaning is different for each person, and for some the meaning is that there is no meaning. As in - just do whatever you think you should as it comes along. Chances are if you set yourself one goal that you have to achieve, you may be dissapointed. In my opinion there is no 'meaning to life. Or if there has to be, it is just that - life. As in.. for gawd's sake just get on and do it!
Phewf... that's my philosophy quota for the year :o) Anyone else have anything to add...?
Giving something a name is like giving it a handle. It makes it very easy to pick up. Perhaps too easy.
This is something i've come to be reminded of again and again - In medicine for example. As soon as you label an illness, everyone thinks they have it. People don't come home from work 'cream-crackered' anymore... nowadays people come home from work with Hyper-Tension, Stress and all sorts of 'post-whatevers' and 'disorders'.
I think that the media plays a huge part in this (doesn't it always?). Instead of a situation where a person goes to a Doctor because they really have no idea what is wrong with them and wish to find out, you have a situation in which a person will read about an illness or see an item concerning it on TV, and then come to thinking "I think i have that". In effect, they are briefing themselves of the symptoms, and then slowly convincing themselves that they have the disease.
It's one of the things that bothers me most about our current state of evolution. Everyone is taught to need. In the 1940's quite the opposite message was sent out for obvious reasons. It was a case of 'Do what you can with what little you have'. Nowadays that little 'do' word seems redundant. The more 'advanced' we become the more there is to influence us. Technology advances... more media pops up... we 'do' less and less for ourselves, and 'need' more. I want I want I want.
'Death' shouldn't even have a word. As soon as it has a word, people start talking about it.. but the great thing is... no-one has a clue about what dying is actually like except those who have done it. Who, i feel i should point out.. are dead. The irony in that always amuses me - living people, who know nothing about death as yet (at least not from a subjective angle), spend their (or should i say 'our'...?) lives comparing 'Ooh ooh i got one! Me! Me! Me!' theories, when they may as well just wait 'n' see. That's my stance: Scratch 'n' sniff. Whilst it's understandable that humans are curious about all the in-tangables that keep us awake every other night, it is a pity really.
I mean, the very fact that I have written this is not going to wrench anyone's life around, but it doesn't matter. If it gave you something to laugh at with your coffee, then great. Good for you - that's probably the best reaction i could hope for. I mean, you enjoyed yourself, right?
That's what it's all about ladies and gentlemen. I mean there is a flipside to my above comments on the media, etc... if you are happy with it - great. Then you don't need to worry. There is no *one* generic goal for mankind. We are not all searching for 1 thing, which we must find in order for our lifes to have any meaning. The meaning is different for each person, and for some the meaning is that there is no meaning. As in - just do whatever you think you should as it comes along. Chances are if you set yourself one goal that you have to achieve, you may be dissapointed. In my opinion there is no 'meaning to life. Or if there has to be, it is just that - life. As in.. for gawd's sake just get on and do it!
Phewf... that's my philosophy quota for the year :o) Anyone else have anything to add...?
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VenomByte wrote:
> The meaning of life, is to find out the meaning of life.
If that's your view.. fair enough.. but when you get to nigh on clog poppin' time... you might be a little dis-heartened as you still haven't found that one meaning. My point was that if you look for one specific thing.. chances are you'll never find it. Don't go searching for a meaning, and chances are you'll find thousands of little things that make it worthwhile. It's like at Christmas time.. if you convince yourself someone's gonna buy you that great big shiny whatever-it-is, when you rip off the paper and shock! horror! - they have actually bought you a trouser press.. you are going to be dissapointed. If you don't presume anything you won't be dissapointed. So i'd say don't presume there is a meaning, and just wing it. Then chances are you'll have at least had laugh, free from all that 'what is it all for?' stressing... and that should be what it is about. Enjoying it.
> The meaning of life, is to find out the meaning of life.
If that's your view.. fair enough.. but when you get to nigh on clog poppin' time... you might be a little dis-heartened as you still haven't found that one meaning. My point was that if you look for one specific thing.. chances are you'll never find it. Don't go searching for a meaning, and chances are you'll find thousands of little things that make it worthwhile. It's like at Christmas time.. if you convince yourself someone's gonna buy you that great big shiny whatever-it-is, when you rip off the paper and shock! horror! - they have actually bought you a trouser press.. you are going to be dissapointed. If you don't presume anything you won't be dissapointed. So i'd say don't presume there is a meaning, and just wing it. Then chances are you'll have at least had laugh, free from all that 'what is it all for?' stressing... and that should be what it is about. Enjoying it.
If everyone prescribed to Ritalin, we'd all be happy.
The meaning of life, is to find out the meaning of life.
Illnesses are given names so people can easily complain that they have them.
Definately.
You raised some top points, but I can't follow that with anything but repeated sentiments.
Or Bill Hicks.
You raised some top points, but I can't follow that with anything but repeated sentiments.
Or Bill Hicks.
Lunchbox wrote:
> I origionally began this post as a response to the 'Meaning of life'
V
V
V
V
Phewf... that's my philosophy quota for
> the year :o) Anyone else have anything to add...?
*what he said*
But with fart jokes
> I origionally began this post as a response to the 'Meaning of life'
V
V
V
V
Phewf... that's my philosophy quota for
> the year :o) Anyone else have anything to add...?
*what he said*
But with fart jokes
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