what's the sense of life ?
N. N.
hello
(Sorry if posted twice, but server reported an error the first time)
I hope this NG could eventually used for something serious.
this is no advertisement, these are just my questions on life.
And here they are:
what is the sense of life ?
is it the fun you can have sometimes, or even often ?
is it because you're satisfied by helping other people, or
making other people laughing ? is it because you're needed ?
why is life so boring to me ?
how can I enjoy life, when the moments of madness are much more than
the moments of happiness ? shouldn't it be at least balanced ?
is something wrong with my life, is it lack of sex, lack of friends,
the fact that nobody seems to have the same problem ?
am i simply crazy or weird ?
or isit too much time that I have to have such thougts ?
am I expecting too much from life ? would it be better to accept the
situation as it is and get happy ?
I'm like a machine that does it's job so nobody has to worry about.
I can see me sitting here in 20 years with still the same problem.
I'm feel like I am just a wheel in a big machine - Not even that.
I'm just a worm in a big pile of other worms, where each one tries
to get up to the surface. I'm so damned normal nobody notices me.
One day it will be all over and I'll ask me why have I been here ?
I could have children, but what will I say if they ask me these
questions ?
does life mean to live in a mini-world like internet, chess, pc-games,
tv, beeing a football-fan or workaholic and to bypass so called
real-life ? is that it ? (if you really think so, read Sherry Turkle)
if a depression is permanent, it cannot be called a depression
anymore.
I would like to get a life, but I dont know how to get one.
I dont believe in god, nor do I believe in scientology and others, so
please dont reply from that corner.
i hope this doesn't sound too pessimistic, but I'm curious about
possible answers.
thanks you for reading this, comments appreciated,
no flames please, no spam please, save your time and mine
Michael Hernandez
In article <5l8530$a...@horatius.ccn.net>, newsserver wrote:
> hello
Hello to you...
> I hope this NG could eventually used for something serious.
Well, I try to be a little serious...I don't consider a.l.s. a frivolous
place, but one where both serious discussion and friendly companionship
can be found...
> this is no advertisement, these are just my questions on life.
>
> And here they are:
>
> what is the sense of life ?
>
> is it the fun you can have sometimes, or even often ?
> is it because you're satisfied by helping other people, or
> making other people laughing ? is it because you're needed ?
That is a question no one can answer for you. I personally find meaning in
life from what I do for other people. It's important to have fun in your
life. But I find it more important (for myself, at least) to try to make
the world around a better place, even if only in small ways, such as
helping others out when you can. But everyone has to figure out for
themselves what makes their life meaningful. No one can really tell you
that.
> why is life so boring to me ?
Again, hard to answer. Sometimes life is interesting to me, but most of
the time it is rather boring. I don't know why, either.
> how can I enjoy life, when the moments of madness are much more than
> the moments of happiness ? shouldn't it be at least balanced ?
Ideally, it should. But what works ideally in the world? As long as they
balanced enough for you to make it, then you're okay. I don't have a
balance of madness/happiness in my life, but there are enough happy
moments for me to keep sme kind of faith and keep going...
> is something wrong with my life, is it lack of sex, lack of friends,
> the fact that nobody seems to have the same problem ?
There is quite likely nothing wrong with your life. And as the existence
of a.l.s. and the beliefs of many of its regulars prove, you aren't the
only person who has these concerns. Most people do to some extent, they
just can't talk about them openly without being labeled by idiots.
> am i simply crazy or weird ?
Crazy? Probably not. As for weird, who is normal enough to call anyone
else weird? No one, IMNSHO. What the hell is "normal" anyway? I refuse to
accept the theory that there is one universal "normal" standard, and that
I am a bad or faulty person if I don't meet that standard. I also refuse
to accept the idea that any one person or group of people is qualified to
set such a standard on everyone in the world.
> or isit too much time that I have to have such thougts ?
Having a lot of time to think isn't always a bad thing. Most people don't
think enough about these things, or anything at all, for that matter.
Having time to think, and more importantly, the willingness to do so, is
why you are perceptive enough to ask these questions in the first place.
> am I expecting too much from life ?
Possibly. I think most people do. I know I do, but I keep on doing it. I
have rather high standards, though. But isn't it better to have high
standards and demand better from life and the world around us?
> would it be better to accept the situation as it is and get happy ?
Accept your situation? Only if you're content with it. "Get happy"? How
does one do that, exactly? Is it like flipping a light switch---one minute
you're sad, and then you're happy? Of course not. Don't keep living a life
you're not truly content with, but don't waste your time and energy trying
to live an ideal "happy" life to please anyone else, either.
> if a depression is permanent, it cannot be called a depression
> anymore.
Exactly. So who has the wherewithal to separate the "okay" people from the
people who supposedly aren't okay? I personally think the whole
psychiatry/psychology industry is a load of bunk-spewing con men and
women. There is nothing wrong with someone just because they're not
conforming to an idealized picture of what a human being is. That's why I
have a button on my backpack that says "Dysfunctional and proud". I am
fucked up, at least according to those who claim to have the answers. But
I feel okay. Isn't that what counts? If I'm happy (or at least content)
with my life, then leave me alone. And if I'm not content, then let me
find the answers that make me content for myself, which is my right as an
adult and as a human being.
> I would like to get a life, but I dont know how to get one.
"get a life"? I hate that expression. People tell other people to "get a
life" because they think the other person's life is so meaningless
compared to their own supposedly wonderful and fulfilled experience. What
bullshit that is. Everyone *has* a life. They just have *different* lives,
and regardless of what the so-called majority may tell you, there *is* no
"real" life that is better than all the others. Don't worry so much about
trying to "get a life" and just live the one you have, you'll be a lot
happier. I learned that the hard way.
> I dont believe in god, nor do I believe in scientology and others, so
> please dont reply from that corner.
No one on a.l.s. is likely to, believe me. :)
> i hope this doesn't sound too pessimistic, but I'm curious about
> possible answers.
There is no such thing as "too pessimistic" for a.l.s.
> thanks you for reading this, comments appreciated,
> no flames please, no spam please, save your time and mine
Why would anyone flame you? Such questions are what a.l.s. is all about.
Thanks for stopping by, hope you stay awhile...
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BiNKy
In article <5l8530$a...@horatius.ccn.net>,
dont...@me.com (N. N.) wrote:
>hello
Hi from BiNKs...
>(Sorry if posted twice, but server reported an error the first time)
Once only this end.
>I hope this NG could eventually used for something serious.
>this is no advertisement, these are just my questions on life.
>
>And here they are:
>
>what is the sense of life ?
No overall sense or purpose, just changing objectives, or being stuck where
you'd sooner not be.
>is it the fun you can have sometimes, or even often ?
>is it because you're satisfied by helping other people, or
>making other people laughing ? is it because you're needed ?
All these things contribute to some sense of self value. That's not to say
things are consistently that way, we're all subject to inexplicable mood
swings, altruism is fine, but hard to live up to.
>why is life so boring to me ?
No easy answer, I ask myself that same question frequently. Maybe you feel
unable to deal with life on "it's terms" and/or feel low self-worth I don't
know. I would guess you're not so much disenchanted with life so much as
the crap people hurl in your direction relentlessly, it doesn't go away,
people en masse suck, it's just the way it's turned out...
>how can I enjoy life, when the moments of madness are much more than
>the moments of happiness ? shouldn't it be at least balanced ?
If only..
>is something wrong with my life, is it lack of sex, lack of friends,
>the fact that nobody seems to have the same problem ?
>am i simply crazy or weird ?
>or isit too much time that I have to have such thougts ?
>am I expecting too much from life ? would it be better to accept the
>situation as it is and get happy ?
You arrived at your present evaluation of life by virtue of the experiences
that got you here, it's not a *decision* anyone makes at any point in
their lives, it's the sum total of what's gone before. I don't understand
this "get happy" concept - is that like "act as if?" It's a pointless
exercise to aspire to some ideal that doesn't fit - too short, too fat, too
undersexed, too whatever... it's all meaningless. You're you, but feel
"lesser than". Comparisons are odious. A degree of acceptance of one's
shortcomings is a good starting point, we're all cracked vessels...
>I'm like a machine that does it's job so nobody has to worry about.
>I can see me sitting here in 20 years with still the same problem.
>I'm feel like I am just a wheel in a big machine - Not even that.
>I'm just a worm in a big pile of other worms, where each one tries
>to get up to the surface. I'm so damned normal nobody notices me.
>One day it will be all over and I'll ask me why have I been here ?
I guess we all invent our own life support structures in an effort to
cope/maintain/ "get on in life" / *succeed* <insert whatever> but it's
tempered by one's own commitment to actually believing in it.
Take me. I drink (quite a lot) in an effort to artificially alter the life
I perceive - it doesn't work and I don't advocate it, in fact I'd go as far
as to say it makes things worse. I've done this with (various) intoxicants
in my life, each failing to deliver ultimately.
>I could have children, but what will I say if they ask me these
>questions ?
>
>does life mean to live in a mini-world like internet, chess, pc-games,
>tv, beeing a football-fan or workaholic and to bypass so called
>real-life ? is that it ? (if you really think so, read Sherry Turkle)
>
>if a depression is permanent, it cannot be called a depression
>anymore.
>
>I would like to get a life, but I dont know how to get one.
It's the one you've got,it's just more flexible than you allow it to be
for now...
>I dont believe in god, nor do I believe in scientology and others, so
>please dont reply from that corner.
>
>i hope this doesn't sound too pessimistic, but I'm curious about
>possible answers.
>
>thanks you for reading this, comments appreciated,
>no flames please, no spam please, save your time and mine
You've arrived at the right destination. There's not necessarily any
solutions to make you feel better, what there is however, is like-minded
people who understand and that's better than feeling totally alone with it.
I lost the plot somewhere back then, suffice it to say: Life Sucks,
e-mail in header ch...@cpres.demon.co.uk if you want to chat.
--
BiNKy
Bill
In article <5l8530$a...@horatius.ccn.net>, dont...@me.com (N. N.)
wrote:
<snip>
>what is the sense of life ?
Life is random. Humans being blessed (or is it cursed) with self
awareness always seem to be searching for some sort of underlying
plan, pattern or purpose, but I have seen little real evidence of one.
>is it the fun you can have sometimes, or even often ?
>is it because you're satisfied by helping other people, or
>making other people laughing ? is it because you're needed ?
All can give you a sense of fulfillment, but each has its own
pitfalls. Being needed in particular can be a trap if the other
person's dependence on you is too great. Fun should not be underrated
though, its one of the things that make life worthwhile.
>why is life so boring to me ?
>
>how can I enjoy life, when the moments of madness are much more than
>the moments of happiness ? shouldn't it be at least balanced ?
I suspect that the madness is more or less equally balanced by periods
of calm. The madness is just easier to perceive, and harder to deal
with. I'm just happy when my life isn't a total shit-circus.
>is something wrong with my life, is it lack of sex, lack of friends,
>the fact that nobody seems to have the same problem ?
>am i simply crazy or weird ?
If you are then there are a bunch of us loonies out here! I think
most, if not all, people feel this way at one time or another, its
just not something that is usually discussed.
Friends are important. You can be happy, or at least believe yourself
to be, without them but being a part of a group is much more
satisfying, at least for me. We are social creatures after all.
>or isit too much time that I have to have such thougts ?
>am I expecting too much from life ? would it be better to accept the
>situation as it is and get happy ?
Life, like shit, just happens. About all we can reasonably expect
from it is that ours will continue until we die. It would probably be
less stressful to accept things as they are and move on from that
point, but there is the danger of complacency. If you accept a
situation that you find intolerable without trying to change it then
you have done yourself a disservice.
How exactly does one "get happy"? Is there some sort of incantation
or post hypnotic suggestion? Or do you just fool yourself into
believing that you're happy regardless of the situation? Much better
to go through life with your eyes open and truly enjoy the good parts.
>I'm like a machine that does it's job so nobody has to worry about.
>I can see me sitting here in 20 years with still the same problem.
>I'm feel like I am just a wheel in a big machine Not even that.
>I'm just a worm in a big pile of other worms, where each one tries
>to get up to the surface. I'm so damned normal nobody notices me.
>One day it will be all over and I'll ask me why have I been here ?
Because two humans had unprotected sexual intercourse approximately
nine months before your birth.
>does life mean to live in a mini-world like internet, chess, pc-games,
>tv, beeing a football-fan or workaholic and to bypass so called
>real-life ? is that it ? (if you really think so, read Sherry Turkle)
There is nothing wrong with a little escapism to help you relieve the
stress and tension of the real world. Recreation and relaxation are
just as important to life as eating and sleeping, and essential if you
want to stay sane (like I know what that word really means : ) ). If
you enjoy surfing the net after work or spending an afternoon watching
football do it, and don't feel guilty about it. The danger lies in
shutting yourself off in a little world of your own creation and
excluding everything else (been there, done that, NOT recommended)
>if a depression is permanent, it cannot be called a depression
>anymore.
>
>I would like to get a life, but I dont know how to get one.
I've been trying to exchange mine, but customer service doesn't return
my calls.
>
>I dont believe in god, nor do I believe in scientology and others, so
>please dont reply from that corner.
>
>i hope this doesn't sound too pessimistic, but I'm curious about
>possible answers.
I think it would be hard to find something too pessimistic for ALS.
Bill
Out of the shadows
Email? undo the NOT
Frederick
There apparently is no "objective" sense or meaning in the reductionist
manner. In the emergent manner, the experience of community can provide
the "objective" sense or meaning. Family, job, tribe, religion can all
provide community. It takes about 30 steady days of practice of the
community and community activities to nourish the models
in your head to "buy into" the reality of the community and
it's emergent meaning.
Our brains are built hoky, we have to cater to that.
You are not really fooling yourself. But you do have to fake it
until you make it.
Respectfully yours, in faith and the human condition,
--
f. martin mcneill programmer, owner
f u z z y s y s t e m s e n g i n e e r i n g
12223 Wilsey Way, Poway, CA 92064
Tel. # : (619) 748-7384 Web : http://www.fuzzysys.com