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| Thread: What the Heck is Life? |  This thread is pages long: 1 2 · NEXT» |
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Mysia
Hired Hero
I am Insane, So Humor Me
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posted July 04, 2002 04:44 AM |
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What the Heck is Life?
What the Heck is Life??
Here is my fad of the week... Life!
In a normal human life we see the kid grow up, loved, cherished and nourished by his family. He spends his early years toddling around, his parents there for his every need. He spends his time playing, having fun and growing strong.
The child gets older and goes off to school to learn. There is the first question... Why do we teach? What is the point of this knowledge?
The answer: To Survive, to be able to live a good life among other educated human beings. A long time ago knowledge of plants and animals made it possible to live. An animal teaches her young to hunt, or what plants not to eat. They are taught to survive.
But now, when we are beyond this animal need for survival and have fancy cars, don’t hunt for food the same way, and are safe from animals. We also have sophisticated hospitals and health services; this makes the need to be strong not as important, but still very nice. If you were strong and were struck down by an illness, most likely you will survive, even without the extra help from a healer or doctor.
The child has things he likes doing, activities, hobbies for fun. Next question Why do we do things like playing, find hobbies for enjoyment?
The answer: Who knows? This drive to find comfort, enjoyment in something… Why? Is it another “Survival” question? Do we do things we enjoy to survive? I dunno…
Then there is love—The boy falls in love, he gets married and settles down. He is happy, lives comfortably and has children. Question 3: Why do we fall in love?
Answer: I have absolutely no idea… another “Survival” thingy?
The man’s children grow up, have kids of their own, and start the whole process over again. These questions about survival come up again and again. Here is the Ultimate one…
What is Survival? The answer: You cannot answer the question “What is Life?” if you don’t know the answer to the question “What is Survival?” Life is all about survival… that is what we do, we live… We survive! I think Survival is a better term for what I am talking about than Life, but it is your choice.
In this survival thing, we are born, reproduce, and die. There you go… the point of life in an animal format. The big thing we do in life is reproduce. That is the point of survival in my mind. We grow strong in childhood to bear strong children later, who have more children and stretch the population limits.
Then you have Why do we reproduce if that is the point of our life? Why do we just keep creating more and more and more, to what end? That is the reason I wrote this, is for people to figure thing out, so figure it out! I created this thread for people to muse over these facts and thoughts and to reach a conclusion that will help them Live (survive  ) better.
So, Happy Musings!
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I am not avoiding you... I am selectivly bypassing you.
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Sir_Elric
Responsible
Famous Hero
Having a bad hair day.
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posted July 04, 2002 09:22 AM |
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"All the world's indeeds a stage, and we are merely players, performs and portrayers, each anothers audience outside the gilded cage."
"Living in the limelight: the universal dream for those who wish to seem. Those who wish to be must put aside the alienation, get on with the fascination, the real relation, the underlying theme."
R-U-S-H
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Neverwinter Nights - "City of Melnibone"
Direct connect - ausnwn2.dyndns.org:5121
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celfious
Promising
Legendary Hero
From earth
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posted July 04, 2002 03:24 PM |
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I used to question that and god's existance alot. The fact is I'll never know anything until it's time. I can not think myself into an understanding of life's purpose or god.
I can say schooling is to raise the overall intellegence of society.
Love just is.. Every living creature has a desire to love.
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Mysia
Hired Hero
I am Insane, So Humor Me
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posted July 04, 2002 08:31 PM |
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Exactly, but you are looking at the question I asked in a sort of spiritual way... I am asking it from a stand point that there is/are no such God/gods. That would influence our lives in ways that would send this thoughtwave awry and then I would start asking "Is there a God or gods and what do they do to our lives, how do they influence us whether or not they are real?" I'm saving that for later.
I am looking at this question in a sort of primal, more animal way. Think about mosquitos, they are annoying, bothersome pests. They reproduce, and reproduce and annoy us and annoy us. But what is the point of their existence? Is it any more trivial than ours which has yet to be discovered?
We are like those insects, we feed off the blood of others, then reproduce and fill the world with more little humans. Is this the point of our existence is this the point of life?
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I am not avoiding you... I am selectivly bypassing you.
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Magikal_Trent9
Hired Hero
Detached from trinity
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posted July 04, 2002 08:44 PM |
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All I keep thinking is instinct, and the desire to survive.
Instinct as if there's no free will is evil, love take's us out of self centeredness
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I wont say it again
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Mysia
Hired Hero
I am Insane, So Humor Me
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posted July 04, 2002 08:51 PM |
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Think... you know what, people don't think anymore, we are mindless drones... We are imprisioned by our own technology and violence. We do not think anymore about what the point of our existence is... (don't worry, I will give up on this topic in a few days).
Think about it
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I am not avoiding you... I am selectivly bypassing you.
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celfious
Promising
Legendary Hero
From earth
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posted July 04, 2002 08:59 PM |
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Um, like trent said before.. live it up baby.
Worrying about tommorow only take's up the time that bring's it closer. In the mean time, find love, liesure, and create little one's
no offence anywhere out of this, no attack's or anything close!
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Kynes
Adventuring Hero
altruistic egoist
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posted July 05, 2002 12:22 AM |
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Well, if we want to have a reason for some single animal (like the mosquito) we must see that it is just part of a large system - the eco-system. So the mosquito is food for many birds, which may be food for some other animals. Human however seems to have broken out of that system, in a way. At least we are very different than all those we call animals.
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DarkManiac
Known Hero
of Hell
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posted July 05, 2002 12:25 AM |
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Quote:
A human is born tired and lives to rest.
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A villain's gotta do what a villain's gotta do.
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arachnid
Promising
Famous Hero
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posted July 05, 2002 01:03 AM |
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Quote:
At least we are very different than all those we call animals.
no we are not, the more we learn the more we find out how much we have in common and how similar we are. We just like to think we are different because we rule the world.
I mean just look at redsox for an example who would of thought a gibbon could be trained to type and post, its utterly amazing!
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Mysia
Hired Hero
I am Insane, So Humor Me
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posted July 05, 2002 01:08 AM |
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Exactly my point... We may have larger brains and technology, but we share the same instincts and need for survival... But what is this Survival thingy leading to. Do we have a point, some cosmic event that we are leading up to... I doubt it.
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I am not avoiding you... I am selectivly bypassing you.
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celfious
Promising
Legendary Hero
From earth
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posted July 05, 2002 01:57 AM |
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There are 2 debate's that never end.
Religion& politics. I know, neither have everything to do with the meaning of life but they have something in common.
No awnser
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Kynes
Adventuring Hero
altruistic egoist
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posted July 05, 2002 01:58 AM |
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Edited By: Kynes on 4 Jul 2002
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Quote:
no we are not, the more we learn the more we find out how much we have in common and how similar we are. We just like to think we are different because we rule the world.
Ok, we may have found out that we're more similar to animals than we thought, but I still think human is different. We may be able to find similarities to animals, but we can also find lots of differences. Think about human culture: we have invented and constructed, we have learned how life has evolved to the point it's in, we have had great philosofers... and the list goes on. The only other animals that are even comparable to human's mental level are some athropoid apes.
Thinking is the point where human differs from the others - the fact that we like to think we're different kinda proves it. No other animal ever thinks that way. The thought "are we different from animals?" includes an answer to itself.
The line of what is animal and what is something greater may be somewhat vague, and it depends on the point of view, but this is my opinion.
Quote:
Exactly my point... We may have larger brains and technology, but we share the same instincts and need for survival... But what is this Survival thingy leading to. Do we have a point, some cosmic event that we are leading up to... I doubt it.
We may find similarities to animals and we have things in common with then, but we're still different. If we ask the question and conclude that we indeed are similar, then we can next ask if we are different from trees or soil or anything. We humans have already found out that all matter is constructed of atoms, so I guess the answer to those questions would be the same. But that's just absurd.
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Mysia
Hired Hero
I am Insane, So Humor Me
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posted July 05, 2002 02:47 AM |
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If you include a god into this mix, you could say that the earth was created for us, the animals would be there to keep our enviorment steady and for fodder. But that doesn't make sense. Why? (then there is my idea that a powerful entity controlling our lives, or at least reaching every once and a while is creepy and unbelievable.
Then the reason that we are the more intelligent, "thinking" creatures of this world is weird, why are we set apart from all other life forms?
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I am not avoiding you... I am selectivly bypassing you.
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Snogard
Known Hero
customised
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posted July 05, 2002 02:48 AM |
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Quote:
But what is this Survival thingy leading to. Do we have a point, some cosmic event that we are leading up to... I doubt it.
If you really doubt it, then i suppose life (or the meaning of life) is what you want it to be.
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Seize The Day.
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Kynes
Adventuring Hero
altruistic egoist
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posted July 05, 2002 03:44 AM |
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Quote:
Then the reason that we are the more intelligent, "thinking" creatures of this world is weird, why are we set apart from all other life forms?
Eh... I don't really know what you mean. Anyway, yes, I do think ( ) thinking sets us apart from other animals.
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nidhgrin
Honorable
Famous Hero
baking cookies from stardust
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posted July 05, 2002 11:52 AM |
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The way I see it, humans differ from animals in two ways only. The ability to reason and think in an abstract way, and secondly compassion.
We are able to think at a very abstract level, that's what allowed speech (though some mammals are capable of communicating on a high level as well: apes, dolphins, bats) to develop resulting in a very complex (not explicitly better than in nature) social system. We do have impressive cultural structures, unexistant in nature besides the human society, that's true. But, the making of tools is not solely a human thing, many animals use some kind of tools. And if you really think of it, an egyptian vulture using a rock to open the shell of an egg in order to eat it isn't that much different than building a rocket and sending it out to move a sattelite into orbit. They serve their purpose, and do well. Or fail and are improved or changed.
Many people think about the above part and think that's it, these are the points where we differ from animals. We're superintelligent, make great tools, construct huge buildings, speak, ... All of that may be (partially) true, but THE most important thing in what we differ in is the ability to feel compassion. Apart from the above mentioned three mammals perhaps, no other animal can feel this emotion other than humans. Maybe as a cause of our ability to look at things in an abstract way, we can (try) to imagine how someone else feels or would feel in a certain situation. This powerful and wonderful emotion is what really separates us from 'the beasts'. It's what gives us the sense of good and wrong. Our conscience is connected to it. It makes us laugh when someone else is laughing, it makes us cry when someone we love is in pain. People neglecting this emotion are not much more than animals. They're just animals with tools, dangerous tools sometimes.
Why do we teach? What is the importance of knowledge? Humans are one of the weakest animal types in the world. No fur against cold, no fangs or claws to defend ourselves, no wings, gills, not fast runners. Easy prey indeed. The reason we survived was our intelligence. We created tools and learned ways to outbest our predators and eventually knowledge turned the roles around. Humans ruled over all animals. If we wouldn't preciously collect, store, preserve and pass on knowledge, we would quickly fall back into the stone age I think.
Why do we play? I think this is a remnant of our ancient hunting instincts, sports are too by the way. When you see young cats or dogs play around incessably it's very similar to what human kids do. Dogs keep playing all their life, cats well..., play much much less when they grow up. Many humans keep playing all their lives too, why? I think that cats for example have the possibility to fullfil their hunting urges in gardens, parks, whatever near their home. Dogs and humans do not have that opportunity, they need to find an outlet somewhere else to be able to satisfy the urge to hunt. Some people sport a lot, some people play games, some people do other hunting related things. I think everyone needs to play in some way.
Why do we fall in love? I have completely no idea about this one. I think it's one of the most beautiful things life has to offer. Can make you feal heavenly, and can make you feel miserably as hell. Some scientists say it's only chemicals but I find that very hard to believe. Loving someone that much that you get the feeling you would want to eat her to be as close as possible, the light-headedness, butterflies in stomach... And on the other hand feeling so much pain when a loved one dies or a relationship ends, sometimes like a part of your heart has been ripped out. Only chemicals? Maybe, but than they must be a hell of a powerful kind of chemicals.
Reproduction, this is what makes us immortal as humans. I was raised as a roman catholic but I met buddhism 4 years ago. I didn't take over all of the ideas but it did change my view on things a lot. When your body dies, you are physically gone, true. But in the memories of people you knew, you are still very much alive as long as they remember you. Additionaly, your ideas, your knowledge and wisdom, your social skills are (not fully) taken over by friends, family, and most of all your children. All the things you learn become part of your identity. As you communicate with others, they adopt little parts of your identity they like. The closer someone is to you, the more of your ideas and thoughts they will make of their own. We live on in these people (this is my way of seeing reincarnation). Our kids later will carry us with them after our deaths. When they eventually pass on, their kids will still somehow carry a bit of you in them. In the end every human on the planet will be slightly influenced by your existance. Looking at it in that way, I try to do as much good as possible. I try to be as helpful as I can. I try to learn people things of which I think they may be useful (when those people are open for listening). When you harm others, you harm the whole human race in fact, and actually you're even harming yourself. When you continue to walk on this path you can see that everything is connected. Humans, animals, nature, the earth itself. They cannot exist without each other. Respect them, feel compassion for them and before all think before you act. This is my meaning in life, this is what god is for me. The way in which everything is connected. The way in which everything is so different and yet so alike.
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~Vegetables don't spam~
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Milena
Responsible
Supreme Hero
in supreme disgrace
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posted July 05, 2002 01:01 PM |
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What life is?
A tremendous chain of pain and comfort... just exploring until you get tired.
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Mysia
Hired Hero
I am Insane, So Humor Me
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posted August 09, 2002 05:48 AM |
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It seems my thread has sunk in the past month that I have been gone. And pop-up ads!! ACK! They finally have appeared. Yesterday I pulled up this paper I had written on a long time ago and found something of intrest. So, read this and tell me what you think a crazy persons thinking...
"People ask, What is Life?
They should really be asking,
What is Happiness,
Life Sucks, Life is Hell,
But it is Happiness that makes life bearable,
If there wasn't Happiness we would be like sinners in Hell, tortured,
So, What is Happiness?"
as I said, this is an old scrap of thought that I don't really remember writing (but it is my work, not someone elses!)
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I am not avoiding you... I am selectivly bypassing you.
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Aculias
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
Pretty Boy Angel Sacraficer
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posted August 09, 2002 06:17 AM |
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Quote:
A tremendous chain of pain and comfort... just exploring until you get tired.
One of these days I am just waiting for you to say somethang positive at least one time instead of all this negativity.
Try it I think we all would enjoy some friendly positive reply then all these negative replies..
On topic life is what you want it to be.
Thy decisions you make reflect on how your life will become.
You make your own choices to how to live your life so basically you are chosen your path before it even happens.
There are surprises that can change thy way your life have become.
Thats why you should live your life to thy fullest, & especially before you get too old.
Go out & have fun so you wont regret not doing anythang fun while you were young.
COme on Milena school is more important then alot because it evolves you to a success.
Guys love a smart mind & believe me there are guys out there that would rather fall in love with a persons personality then looks & money etc.
Finding a perfect combo is impossible because we are all human & not perfect.
Thinking life is pain & misery is your problem but a problem that can be fixed.
Trust me school will do it for you & Patience is thy key to life.
If you got no patience for life then it leads to depression & misery.
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Dreaming of a Better World
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