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There are something approaching 6 billion people on this planet. Of those, none can say with absolute clarity and accuracy where we came from, what we're doing here, and what makes us so different from the millions upon millions of other forms of life that can be found all around us on this planet.
Of course, some people have what they believe to be the answer, be it religion, science, unproven or untested theory, or even complete nonchalance. We live our lives, and at some point often look for a reason as to why we're living them. For some greater purpose? As the love toys of some greater being? As chance in nature's great plan of selection? Or perhaps, as many would say, the ultimate of life is simply to enjoy it, and that's all we're here for.
Now there's a great thought indeed! That we are here simply to enjoy ourselves, and have the best life we can carve out for ourselves. Truly then, our capacity for joy, love and happiness is without boundaries. Unfortunately not. For if we are here to enjoy ourselves, why do so many of us fail so miserably in so simple a task? Hundreds of millions of people the world over are unhappy. Many to the point where the ultimate moments of their life are spent not enjoying life, but instead taking it away from themselves because they cannot bear to live with the burden of living.
It's tragedy enough that some people cannot survive the stresses life sets out, but if truly the meaning of life is to make yourself happy, then this becomes a tragedy of unparalleled misfortune. That so many can fail in the worst possible way is almost enough to invoke tears.
But with so many getting it so wrong, could it be that we live for a different purpose? Perhaps this tragedy comes about because we're trying to achieve happiness via the wrong methods. Selfish methods. Perhaps instead we should look to other ways to make ourselves enjoy life. Tell someone that the meaning of life is to enjoy it, and they'll start saving for a holiday in the Bahamas. Maybe instead they should be saving for something that will make someone else happier than it will make them. Maybe if everyone drops the notion of what is possibly a terribly deluded self-interest, we can be happier through helping eachother reach heights of elated well-being otherwise reserved for fables and fantasies.
Today, charities do moderately well, if that well, mainly because so comparatively few people help them, or donate to them. Imagine the difference that could be made if everyone had an interest in charity. Either through donations or volunteer work. The extra help would be worth tens of billions worldwide, enough to turn economies around, enough to turn wastelands into bustling cities, deserts into crop yielding farmland, and warscorched earth into playgrounds.
Millions of people would benefit from the aid, and would surely give thanks for it - thanks which would reach those who contributed, and being thanked by someone who's life you have turned around for the good will gratify any decent man far more than a brief trip to some far flung paradise.
Imagine how the world would benefit long-term. Western-class education for millions more people than who currently benefit from it, leading to more skilled individuals, leading to further invention and technological advance.
Perhaps this way is the only way for the world to move forward. At the moment, the world walks with two separate minded feet. One lumbering slowly forward, only as the second slips slowly backwards. Only through sacrifice can we find happiness. Only through dedicating ourselves to the rest of our fellow kind can we better understand the trials we face.
Only through loving, caring and contributing with the world can we reach the stars.
There are a lot of "maybe"'s up there, and of course, this solution doesn't answer the greater questions. Those questions to which there are no immediate answers. But surely it makes more sense! More sense than running yourself into the dirt to afford a holiday, a brief escape from the life you're leading. There is too much living involved in 50 weeks for 2 weeks to cure it. We need more. And by helping eachother, others help you. A united front leading to a greater people.
Of course, some people have what they believe to be the answer, be it religion, science, unproven or untested theory, or even complete nonchalance. We live our lives, and at some point often look for a reason as to why we're living them. For some greater purpose? As the love toys of some greater being? As chance in nature's great plan of selection? Or perhaps, as many would say, the ultimate of life is simply to enjoy it, and that's all we're here for.
Now there's a great thought indeed! That we are here simply to enjoy ourselves, and have the best life we can carve out for ourselves. Truly then, our capacity for joy, love and happiness is without boundaries. Unfortunately not. For if we are here to enjoy ourselves, why do so many of us fail so miserably in so simple a task? Hundreds of millions of people the world over are unhappy. Many to the point where the ultimate moments of their life are spent not enjoying life, but instead taking it away from themselves because they cannot bear to live with the burden of living.
It's tragedy enough that some people cannot survive the stresses life sets out, but if truly the meaning of life is to make yourself happy, then this becomes a tragedy of unparalleled misfortune. That so many can fail in the worst possible way is almost enough to invoke tears.
But with so many getting it so wrong, could it be that we live for a different purpose? Perhaps this tragedy comes about because we're trying to achieve happiness via the wrong methods. Selfish methods. Perhaps instead we should look to other ways to make ourselves enjoy life. Tell someone that the meaning of life is to enjoy it, and they'll start saving for a holiday in the Bahamas. Maybe instead they should be saving for something that will make someone else happier than it will make them. Maybe if everyone drops the notion of what is possibly a terribly deluded self-interest, we can be happier through helping eachother reach heights of elated well-being otherwise reserved for fables and fantasies.
Today, charities do moderately well, if that well, mainly because so comparatively few people help them, or donate to them. Imagine the difference that could be made if everyone had an interest in charity. Either through donations or volunteer work. The extra help would be worth tens of billions worldwide, enough to turn economies around, enough to turn wastelands into bustling cities, deserts into crop yielding farmland, and warscorched earth into playgrounds.
Millions of people would benefit from the aid, and would surely give thanks for it - thanks which would reach those who contributed, and being thanked by someone who's life you have turned around for the good will gratify any decent man far more than a brief trip to some far flung paradise.
Imagine how the world would benefit long-term. Western-class education for millions more people than who currently benefit from it, leading to more skilled individuals, leading to further invention and technological advance.
Perhaps this way is the only way for the world to move forward. At the moment, the world walks with two separate minded feet. One lumbering slowly forward, only as the second slips slowly backwards. Only through sacrifice can we find happiness. Only through dedicating ourselves to the rest of our fellow kind can we better understand the trials we face.
Only through loving, caring and contributing with the world can we reach the stars.
There are a lot of "maybe"'s up there, and of course, this solution doesn't answer the greater questions. Those questions to which there are no immediate answers. But surely it makes more sense! More sense than running yourself into the dirt to afford a holiday, a brief escape from the life you're leading. There is too much living involved in 50 weeks for 2 weeks to cure it. We need more. And by helping eachother, others help you. A united front leading to a greater people.
Page:
Rosalind wrote:
> You need me :D
>
> I would make your lunch for you every day and have dinner on the table
> when you came home at night
>
> (yer right)
--
Naked Lunch?
> You need me :D
>
> I would make your lunch for you every day and have dinner on the table
> when you came home at night
>
> (yer right)
--
Naked Lunch?
Arwen Undomiel wrote:
> I'm sorry but i cant beleive people would think we have been put on
> this world to just enjoy life and have fun.... that is stupid. I
> agree with Rosalind and Pandemonium, how do you know what happiness
> is, if you havn't experienced unhappiness? and life does include pain,
> joy, love, sadness, happiness etc etc, even if you dont want it to.
I never said any of these didn't exist. I merely pointed out that many are an uneccessary burden.
> You're saying that when someone dies, a close member of the family,
> friend or loved one, you would just say "oh well, life goes on,
> lets have a party"? and be happy? I dont think so, you need to
> mourn an cry... well at least I would hope you need to mourn and
> cry.
I said nothing of the sort, I think you have grossly mistaken me. I never said "do not grieve loved ones" or "family doesn't matter" and this point completely contradicts your previous one anyway. After a loved one dies, people are upset. Yet you say that you need to suffer before you can feel joy. Tell me how you feel joy for someone you love after they're dead. You don't. You love them first, they die after. Grief follows loss.
> I dont understand why you are saying this either as it's blatently not
> true even from your own experience in life..... you are depressed,
> angry a lot of the time, never have (what I class as) real fun with
> friends etc etc...
I'm not saying what you think I'm saying, that much is quite evident.
> It would be brilliant if we could just enjoy ourselves all the time...
> that would be brilliant, but it will NEVER happen and could never
> happen, what will the situation of probably WW3 arrising and just not
> enough peace in the world full stop.
Again you misunderstand. I said myself that just enjoying life isn't the right way. It has to be achieved in the correct manner. If you save a million lives, these people will not war against you in their lifetimes.
> Ok so next year we wont go on holiday and the money you would spend on
> a holiday, you give it to someone else in need to see if your theory
> works... If it will make you happy and the person/thing you are
> giving it to will be happy... I dont think you can or will do that
> for the mear fact that it is your money you worked hard for and you
> would deserve to go on a relaxing holiday, rather than give it to
> someone you dont know and you probably wouldnt see the benefits of why
> you gave them the money.
As I say, for the thing to work, there has to be millions of people the world over giving, instead of just performing the "take, take, take" way of life that we live now. I'll go on a holiday, but only because I know my words will never reach a large enough audience for the difference to be made, and even if it did, such words fall largely on deaf ears. And why? Because we are a selfish people, and largely want out of life as much as we can take.
> If you are a selfish person, I dont think you could ever change.... So
> I dont think that if there was a rich person and they were really
> selfish and only cared about themselves and you had a wor with them
> and told them to give all their spare riches to a poor country or
> something, I dont think they would do that. Even if you showed them
> pictures of the country and educated them to understand what the money
> would do for them... I still dont think they would give them any
> money.
If people cannot change, I grieve for humanity. But they can. People change. People change all the time. Things happen that make you change the way you think, the way you act, the very way you conduct your life. If people could not change, I would want no part of this world.
> It's like murderers... It is proven that murderers have a different
> brain layout to non murderers. This is reapeted murderers, or just
> one time murderers. The front of their brian is (i think this is
> right) more developed than a non murderer. So in this case, you could
> not teach them to stop murdering as it is in the head already. So
> this will case pain and suffering to someone one day, unless the
> murderer is locked up forever, or killed themselves.
I think you're referring to violent traits. It's proven that some people are predisposed to being largely more violent. But that's genetic, not mental. They can be violent as you like, and still have the heart to pass a few coins in the direction of someone in genuine need. Genetic makeup is not a personality.
> I think everyone has a selfish streak in them sometimes, and I mean
> this could be giving a crisp to their kid orsomething, ranging to a
> billionaire not giving £100,000 to charity or somthing. I know
> if I had the money I would give it to one chairity inparticular, and
> that would be the born free foundation. But how to people choose who
> to donate to? I'm choosing born free as I love animals and do not
> want them to suffer or be caged up and treated nasty. I wouldn't give
> it to (for example) Ethiopia, because I know that oxfam ect etc are
> there for that and red nose day etc etc.
This is what it's all about though. Choices. At the moment, the vast majority of people with the choice available choose to live life for themselves, or themselves and a select few others who are deemed worthy of inclusion (see Goatboys note below). How do you choose who you protect, and who is to protect you? It's the same sort of choice, and it's made on a daily basis. Whatever takes your heart.
For some people, they only have heart enough for themselves. But they can change. So can I. So can you. So can George Bush and Saddam Hussein and anyone else willing to make the effort.
I think you totally misunderstood what I was trying to say. Which is nothing new.
> I'm sorry but i cant beleive people would think we have been put on
> this world to just enjoy life and have fun.... that is stupid. I
> agree with Rosalind and Pandemonium, how do you know what happiness
> is, if you havn't experienced unhappiness? and life does include pain,
> joy, love, sadness, happiness etc etc, even if you dont want it to.
I never said any of these didn't exist. I merely pointed out that many are an uneccessary burden.
> You're saying that when someone dies, a close member of the family,
> friend or loved one, you would just say "oh well, life goes on,
> lets have a party"? and be happy? I dont think so, you need to
> mourn an cry... well at least I would hope you need to mourn and
> cry.
I said nothing of the sort, I think you have grossly mistaken me. I never said "do not grieve loved ones" or "family doesn't matter" and this point completely contradicts your previous one anyway. After a loved one dies, people are upset. Yet you say that you need to suffer before you can feel joy. Tell me how you feel joy for someone you love after they're dead. You don't. You love them first, they die after. Grief follows loss.
> I dont understand why you are saying this either as it's blatently not
> true even from your own experience in life..... you are depressed,
> angry a lot of the time, never have (what I class as) real fun with
> friends etc etc...
I'm not saying what you think I'm saying, that much is quite evident.
> It would be brilliant if we could just enjoy ourselves all the time...
> that would be brilliant, but it will NEVER happen and could never
> happen, what will the situation of probably WW3 arrising and just not
> enough peace in the world full stop.
Again you misunderstand. I said myself that just enjoying life isn't the right way. It has to be achieved in the correct manner. If you save a million lives, these people will not war against you in their lifetimes.
> Ok so next year we wont go on holiday and the money you would spend on
> a holiday, you give it to someone else in need to see if your theory
> works... If it will make you happy and the person/thing you are
> giving it to will be happy... I dont think you can or will do that
> for the mear fact that it is your money you worked hard for and you
> would deserve to go on a relaxing holiday, rather than give it to
> someone you dont know and you probably wouldnt see the benefits of why
> you gave them the money.
As I say, for the thing to work, there has to be millions of people the world over giving, instead of just performing the "take, take, take" way of life that we live now. I'll go on a holiday, but only because I know my words will never reach a large enough audience for the difference to be made, and even if it did, such words fall largely on deaf ears. And why? Because we are a selfish people, and largely want out of life as much as we can take.
> If you are a selfish person, I dont think you could ever change.... So
> I dont think that if there was a rich person and they were really
> selfish and only cared about themselves and you had a wor with them
> and told them to give all their spare riches to a poor country or
> something, I dont think they would do that. Even if you showed them
> pictures of the country and educated them to understand what the money
> would do for them... I still dont think they would give them any
> money.
If people cannot change, I grieve for humanity. But they can. People change. People change all the time. Things happen that make you change the way you think, the way you act, the very way you conduct your life. If people could not change, I would want no part of this world.
> It's like murderers... It is proven that murderers have a different
> brain layout to non murderers. This is reapeted murderers, or just
> one time murderers. The front of their brian is (i think this is
> right) more developed than a non murderer. So in this case, you could
> not teach them to stop murdering as it is in the head already. So
> this will case pain and suffering to someone one day, unless the
> murderer is locked up forever, or killed themselves.
I think you're referring to violent traits. It's proven that some people are predisposed to being largely more violent. But that's genetic, not mental. They can be violent as you like, and still have the heart to pass a few coins in the direction of someone in genuine need. Genetic makeup is not a personality.
> I think everyone has a selfish streak in them sometimes, and I mean
> this could be giving a crisp to their kid orsomething, ranging to a
> billionaire not giving £100,000 to charity or somthing. I know
> if I had the money I would give it to one chairity inparticular, and
> that would be the born free foundation. But how to people choose who
> to donate to? I'm choosing born free as I love animals and do not
> want them to suffer or be caged up and treated nasty. I wouldn't give
> it to (for example) Ethiopia, because I know that oxfam ect etc are
> there for that and red nose day etc etc.
This is what it's all about though. Choices. At the moment, the vast majority of people with the choice available choose to live life for themselves, or themselves and a select few others who are deemed worthy of inclusion (see Goatboys note below). How do you choose who you protect, and who is to protect you? It's the same sort of choice, and it's made on a daily basis. Whatever takes your heart.
For some people, they only have heart enough for themselves. But they can change. So can I. So can you. So can George Bush and Saddam Hussein and anyone else willing to make the effort.
I think you totally misunderstood what I was trying to say. Which is nothing new.
You need me :D
I would make your lunch for you every day and have dinner on the table when you came home at night
(yer right)
I would make your lunch for you every day and have dinner on the table when you came home at night
(yer right)
cookie monster wrote:
> Cant you run out to a shop?
--
Nah, there are no shops near where I work. It's in the sticks, nearest shop is about 10 mins drive.
> Cant you run out to a shop?
--
Nah, there are no shops near where I work. It's in the sticks, nearest shop is about 10 mins drive.
Goatboy wrote:
> I'm confused and got no sammiches
hehe
story of my life :D
> I'm confused and got no sammiches
hehe
story of my life :D
Insane Bartender wrote:
> The door possibly swings both ways to an extent. But it is the loss of
> the greatest happiness that invokes the greatest pain.
I agree. In order to feel great sadness you have to have felt happiness, and in order to feel great happiness you have to have had great sadness. In this way our feelings become more intense the more of them we experience.
I know that I appreciate each day that I don't feel depressed, sad, guilty, sorry, etc. more because there have been days when I have experienced thoses feelings. so the days when I don't are even more wonderful.
Its similar (but much less mundane) to how I often think to myself, I don't have to take an exam today. If I had never had to take an exam I wouldn't feel this way.
Of course it works both ways, and every time you find happiness you risk great loss. But if you let that worry you you would never risk your contentment to achive a greater happiness. For example would you ever risk falling in love for fear of that person hurting you?
> The door possibly swings both ways to an extent. But it is the loss of
> the greatest happiness that invokes the greatest pain.
I agree. In order to feel great sadness you have to have felt happiness, and in order to feel great happiness you have to have had great sadness. In this way our feelings become more intense the more of them we experience.
I know that I appreciate each day that I don't feel depressed, sad, guilty, sorry, etc. more because there have been days when I have experienced thoses feelings. so the days when I don't are even more wonderful.
Its similar (but much less mundane) to how I often think to myself, I don't have to take an exam today. If I had never had to take an exam I wouldn't feel this way.
Of course it works both ways, and every time you find happiness you risk great loss. But if you let that worry you you would never risk your contentment to achive a greater happiness. For example would you ever risk falling in love for fear of that person hurting you?
Goatboy wrote:
> Unless you're Hev and criticising IB, in which case I'm going to butt
> out because two people together have some interest in how the other
> behaves.
>
> *scratches head*
>
> I'm confused and got no sammiches
Cant you run out to a shop?
> Unless you're Hev and criticising IB, in which case I'm going to butt
> out because two people together have some interest in how the other
> behaves.
>
> *scratches head*
>
> I'm confused and got no sammiches
Cant you run out to a shop?
Unless you're Hev and criticising IB, in which case I'm going to butt out because two people together have some interest in how the other behaves.
*scratches head*
I'm confused and got no sammiches
*scratches head*
I'm confused and got no sammiches
You see Arwen, yet again you're deciding that the way somebody views their world is wrong, according to your values and principles.
Honestly, I get so sick of arrogant bipeds that want to tell everyone else they shouldn't think the way they do.
*shakes head*
Sick of it man...sick of it
Honestly, I get so sick of arrogant bipeds that want to tell everyone else they shouldn't think the way they do.
*shakes head*
Sick of it man...sick of it
Rosalind wrote:
> How can you really know what happiness is unless you have been sad.
>
> I didn't know that I could see the world in such vivid colours until I
> saw it in black.
>
> Umm I don't mean that to be so cryptic.
Think about it.
You experience love before you feel heartbreak.
You can't feel disappointment until you are given expectation.
etc.
The door possibly swings both ways to an extent. But it is the loss of the greatest happiness that invokes the greatest pain.
> How can you really know what happiness is unless you have been sad.
>
> I didn't know that I could see the world in such vivid colours until I
> saw it in black.
>
> Umm I don't mean that to be so cryptic.
Think about it.
You experience love before you feel heartbreak.
You can't feel disappointment until you are given expectation.
etc.
The door possibly swings both ways to an extent. But it is the loss of the greatest happiness that invokes the greatest pain.
Page: