The meaning of life.
Posted by: Gianluigi Mazzorana on 19 March 2006
I must do it because i think i'm loosing touch with balance of things and human horizon is becoming a grey flat line.
Am i the only one to feel like this?
What's your meaning for the word "life"?
Posted on: 22 March 2006 by erik scothron
quote:
Originally posted by Rockingdoc:
quote:
Originally posted by Tarquin Maynard-Portly:
Children are the greatest gift.
M
Can I give you my teenagers?
Are they over 16 and female?
Posted on: 22 March 2006 by erik scothron
quote:
Originally posted by Nigel Cavendish:
The desire to have children is wholly selfish both from a genetic imperative and, probably a rationalisation of that, from a cultural imperative that having children is the right thing to do.
Hello Nigel,
Im not sure I agree with the selfish gene theory of Dawkins (if that is what you are refering to?)in fact I could post a convincing refutation. Not only are there many scientists who don't agree with dawkins there are many eminent biologists who don't either. Of course I dont believe in creationism either and this question 'is it evolution or creationism' as if it were one or the other or a mixture of both just muddies the water (IMO)
All the best,
Erik
Posted on: 22 March 2006 by erik scothron
quote:
Originally posted by rackkit:
quote:
Originally posted by erik scothron:
quote:
Originally posted by rackkit:
This thread's a waste of a life.
and your post a waste of space
Dry yer eyes.
Rackkit or Ricketts?
Posted on: 22 March 2006 by Nigel Cavendish
Eric
To return the pedantry, or at least to clarify, the terribleness of the extinction of the human race is to be viewed from the here and now, because as you rightly say if there is no human race there is no one to mourn - so what price reincarnation?
As to the genetic imperative: we are mammals, so why should we be exempt from the mammalian instinct to reproduce?
Exclude that, and we are left with the cultural selfishness which might be reason enough?
Posted on: 22 March 2006 by erik scothron
quote:
To return the pedantry, or at least to clarify, the terribleness of the extinction of the human race is to be viewed from the here and now, because as you rightly say if there is no human race there is no one to mourn - so what price reincarnation?
Good question Nigel, I guess we all have to come back as dogs, or pigs or slugs or worse...estate agents.
quote:
As to the genetic imperative: we are mammals, so why should we be exempt from the mammalian instinct to reproduce?
Another good question and too complicated for a quick answer. Conventional
quote:
wisdom is that we are not exempt from the instinct and I agree it is insticnt but not necessarily an evolutionary instinct as such.
quote:
Exclude that, and we are left with the cultural selfishness which might be reason enough?
This is certainly the case and in many poor cultures it is clearly demonstrated - families in the Philippines are huge for a variety of reasons not least because as their are no state pensions parents need a whole bunch of kids to look after them in old age, then those kids need a whole bunch to look after them and before you know it you have India and China and a poor limping planet that can not possibly sustain as all. Where will it all end?
Regards,
Erik
Posted on: 22 March 2006 by Earwicker
quote:
Originally posted by Tarquin Maynard-Portly:
EW
I take it you are not a parent, then ?
Correct.
I take it you are, and of course you did the right thing...
EW
Posted on: 22 March 2006 by Earwicker
TMP -
Read back the last few posts to yourself: YOU are very happy, because YOU have had some children, which YOU love, are rather sweet, and thus make YOU a "happy" man, and cement YOUR wonderful relationship etc etc...
Never mind the kid's opinion, we wouldn't want to sour the cream...
THEY are now condemnded to life; I don't know about you, but I do not thank my parents for condemning me to life. Not at all.
But still, they were young, I suppose they had itchy hormones und so weiter. Fair is fair.
EW
Posted on: 22 March 2006 by Earwicker
TMP,
You've read enough of my posts to know that I am a pessimist; I expect things to get worse because they usually do.
What's your point? That fact that I am a miserable twat makes thoughtless multiplication OK??
EW
Posted on: 22 March 2006 by rackkit
quote:
Originally posted by erik scothron:
quote:
Originally posted by rackkit:
quote:
Originally posted by erik scothron:
quote:
Originally posted by rackkit:
This thread's a waste of a life.
and your post a waste of space
Dry yer eyes.
Rackkit or Ricketts?
As clear as mud. erik.
Posted on: 22 March 2006 by erik scothron
As clear as mud. erik.[/QUOTE]
A forum in-joke, don't worry about it.
Anyway despite your view that this thread is a waste of life I note you are still here reading it. I look forward to reading a positive contribution from you.
All the best,
Erik
Posted on: 22 March 2006 by Earwicker
quote:
Originally posted by Tarquin Maynard-Portly:
Even so,I constantly surprise myself with how much I enjoy life.
Yeah, you see that's where we differ...
Posted on: 22 March 2006 by Mick P
Eaewicker
If you want to be a depressed and miserable person, you will lead a dull and wasted life. That is a pity because we only live once and you will have blown it.
You can be happy if you want, just do something to test your brain or occupy your mind.
Do some voluntary work and help those less fortunate than yourself.
Just change your attitude, it's easy. If I can be happy so can you.
Regards
Mick
Posted on: 22 March 2006 by P
and then you die and realise
P
Posted on: 22 March 2006 by Earwicker
quote:
Originally posted by Mick Parry:
If I can be happy so can you.
Hmm, so you say...
Posted on: 22 March 2006 by Don Atkinson
Earwicker,
I walked across the Clifton Suspension Bridge today, just outside Bristol.
I recon about 500 ft to the Avon below and not much more than 10 seconds.
OTOH, the Samaritams had put their phone number at each end of the bridge, next to best launch points....
Personally, I would follow Mick's advice. Why not use your next post to tell us about the three "nicest" things you either did today or saw somebody else do? Just tell us in a nice, positive way
Cheers
Don
Posted on: 22 March 2006 by Gianluigi Mazzorana
I think that i can take EW the way he is.
I mean that he has his point of wiev.
Telling someone that life is wonderful has no sense.
The best gift is to let him be the way he is and that makes an happy guy.
This is what my friends do for me.
Posted on: 22 March 2006 by Earwicker
quote:
Originally posted by Don Atkinson:
Earwicker,
I walked across the Clifton Suspension Bridge today, just outside Bristol.
I recon about 500 ft to the Avon below and not much more than 10 seconds.
I exhibit what is known in the trade as "suicidal ideation"; I am now on anti-depressant No. 3 and I STILL want to die; my "spirit" died a long time ago, but my body is hard to kill...
quote:
Why not use your next post to tell us about the three "nicest" things you either did today or saw somebody else do? Just tell us in a nice, positive way
Errrm... I'll have to get back to you on that one
EW
Posted on: 22 March 2006 by erik scothron
quote:
Originally posted by Tarquin Maynard-Portly:
quote:
Originally posted by Earwicker:
TMP -
Read back the last few posts to yourself: YOU are very happy, because YOU have had some children, which YOU love, are rather sweet, and thus make YOU a "happy" man, and cement YOUR wonderful relationship etc etc...
EW
I've read back my last few posts. I said that my children are my greatest joy - that does not mean to say I'm happy.
Last week I was at the funeral of my first love: I am unsure if I'll have a job in six months time, my mortgage is 5.9 times my basic salary: because of my history I could be mobilised and sent to Afghanistan / Iraq, my domestic life is hardly a source of joy; my fitness level is lower than it has been for a year; I had an Internet stalker who was making me feel ill; my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer last year ( now cleared up - bless the NHS ) and I have to hide any music purchases I make. I am also drinking more than I ever have done which is worrying. There are more personal things which I'll not get into here
Even so,I constantly surprise myself with how much I enjoy life.
M
Mike,
I'm sorry to hear all of this. I hope things get better.
All the best,
Erik
Posted on: 22 March 2006 by erik scothron
quote:
Errrm... I'll have to get back to you on that one
EW
EW,
I hope you do. Endogenous(?)depression must be truly awful and I know there is little anyone can say that helps. I wish you well. I am sure we all do. You make a valuable contribution on this forum.
All the best,
Erik
