Reasons for living?

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

What are yours?

[Ele'ill]

What are yours?

A waitress fell in lust with an Italian man.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

What are yours?

The alternative is unappealing.

[Bad Grrrl Agro]

Suicide requires effort and I am increasingly lazy. I am scared of trying and failing again.

[Political_Chucky]

To produce sperm and release it into whatever will accept it.

[John "Eh" MacDonald]

Good wine, good food (though its a rarity), and good friends.

[black magick hustla]

to burn, so that darkness comes to light

i like hanging out

[Comrade Wolfie's Very Nearly Banned Adventures]

Golden Virgina Tobacco

[John "Eh" MacDonald]

Lack of sleep made me read that as Golden Vagina Tobacco.

[Sentinel]

I agree with NoXion; as an atheist I'm convinced this is what we have. So as there is no alternative, I better make the best of this life.

[Lord Testicles]

I have none and I think it's unhealthy to look for one.

[John "Eh" MacDonald]

I have none and I think it's unhealthy to look for one.

Why's that? Because if you loose that one thing it could send you into a horrible suicidal depression?

[Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk]

Hot sauce, whisky and music.

[Lord Testicles]

Why's that? Because if you loose that one thing it could send you into a horrible suicidal depression?

Yeah, or you might find out that there is no reason for living in the first place. But I think it's mosty harmful because you don't need a reason to live, you kind of do it without trying so why worry yourself about a question that you could spend an enite lifetime pondering about (What's the point of life? What's my reason for existing?) and never get a satisfactory answer when you could be down the pub with your mates enjoying life instead of trying to rationalise it.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Not so much that I'm asking about but rather what are the things that exist in your life that are valuable enough to you that you'll go through the misery of trying to make it everyday (finding and keeping employment, housing, food; being exploited and used, subject to disposal at anytime; having to work in the service of others while your own wants and needs go unmet, and continuing that for years as one of the best realistic scenarios; etc.) just to be able to experience them.

[Magón]

I got too much shit to do, and too little time to do it! And or course putting a bullet in my brain, or cutting my wrists just doesn't add to the time that I've got to do all the shit I want to do, so I avoid doing such things, or anything else that would cause me not to live and breathe anymore; unless I'm feeling dare devilish and do do something wild/crazy. I always come out on top in the end though when I do.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

I wouldn't be able to laugh at people like this (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2644646/posts?q=1&;page=351#352) if I offed myself:


I will have both the Rosary AND the the steel blade of a broad sword. The time is upon us to deal with our corrupt leaders in the most definite of terms.

I would have no remorse at cleaving such scoundrels straight through to the marrow. Such end is fitting to their kind, and one which they fully deserve.

The unflinching stroke of the Knight’s broad sword is the only true justice for these reprobate creatures.

Pray for their souls if you choose... I rather them dead, and the sooner the better.

Puts the Stalin-kiddies into perspective, dunnit? :lol:

[Bright Banana Beard]

I want to live through the revolution and die at the american gulag.

[the last donut of the night]

marijuana

[kitsune]

No reason, it's just something I'm doing at the moment.

What do I like about it? All the stuff I can do and feel and see and experience. Reading a book, cooking, petting the cat, shooting an arrow at a target, talking with friends, snuggling by a fireplace on a cold night, dancing, laughing, sitting in the sun at the beach, washing the dishes, giving a carrot to a horse, listening to music, feeling silk against my skin, smelling orange blossoms, skating, riding a bike, watching the squirrels chase each other around the yard, hearing bamboo clatter in the breeze while it rains... all kinds of things.

[gorillafuck]

I dunno, I'm just kinda here so I should try to use it and enjoy it.

[revolution inaction]

i've got no reason not to.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

The alternative is unappealing.


I agree with NoXion; as an atheist I'm convinced this is what we have. So as there is no alternative, I better make the best of this life.

As atheists we realize that the alternative to life is absence of life -- nothingness. It's a lack of consciousness. No pleasures, but also no pains.

So from that I would assume that life must be an overall positive (ie. benefits outweigh the detriments). Is that the case?

[Sentinel]

So from that I would assume that life must be an overall positive (ie. benefits outweigh the detriments). Is that the case?Not always, but this line of thinking opens for a more hedonistic worldview, which in turn can lead to more enjoyment.

[Pretty Flaco]

Just for kicks and giggles

[Tomhet]

Alternative sucks, I love life, I love having fun, I love myself, I loves loads of people, it's all good brah.

[Salyut]

I don't have a reason anymore.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

As atheists we realize that the alternative to life is absence of life -- nothingness. It's a lack of consciousness. No pleasures, but also no pains.

So from that I would assume that life must be an overall positive (ie. benefits outweigh the detriments). Is that the case?

From where I'm standing it looks that way.

Also, it's not necessarily all about me. What about my friends and family? If I were to stop living, I would be exchanging a lifetime of potential joy and friendship with a certain period of mourning, depending on how long it takes people to get over my passing. Why would I want to deliberately bring on that pain for others by ending my life prematurely?

As decisions go, it's quite irreversible. If my decision has negative consequences for others aside from the expected emotional repercussions, I won't be around to do anything about it. Knowing that, it strikes me as irresponsible to make such a decision.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

So you think one should continue on dwelling in misery because ending their existence may make others sad for a certain period?

And what if those others are just as miserable?

[black magick hustla]

shit even slaves had their parties and songs

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Many slaves committed suicide or risked murder to escape. A number of native people in Cuba committed suicide rather than become slaves of the Spanish colonists.

[Martin Blank]

You made it this far down the road, why turn back now? If you don't like what you're doing now, you can try trolling the shit out of everyone else around you for your own amusement.

As for the alternative: been there, done that. Death itself may be painless, but getting there is painful, right up until your brain shuts down. You don't want that to be your last experience if you can help it.

Besides, who will I trade pr0n jokes with over IM? :D

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

So you think one should continue on dwelling in misery because ending their existence may make others sad for a certain period?

And what if those others are just as miserable?

Who said I was miserable? Sure, there are some seriously sucky aspects to being alive at the turn of the third millennium, but things could be a hell of a lot worse (for example, I could have been born a peasant in Dark Ages), and things will not be improved by becoming an hero or descending into a pit of despond and ennui. Far better to spend my energies fixing the things I feel I can fix, no matter how small, and gritting my teeth and pointing out the injustice to other people for the things I can't.

As for my friends and family, whatever the state of their current situation, why should I darken their blue skies or pile misery upon misery with my own hasty demise?

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

I'm not saying you are miserable. I was posing a hypothetical question.

[Sentinel]

Argh I suck at this, but I feel I have to say something. NHIA, I've been really down from time to time myself as well, as I've probably told you before. Right now I'm feeling better but my mood is still rather unstable. But when I do get depressed or anxious, I remember that it does get better eventually if I only take it one day at the time.

Try to temporarily think less about the big picture and more about your immediate wellbeing. I know that we aren't people like that but sometimes one has to compromise -- for the sake of the big picture. And get help, by which I primarily mean a proper psychological evaluation.

Cling to that, and in the meanwhile try all different measures -- if you for example dislike the medication alternative, I certainly don't blame you if so -- just try drinking water, working out, eating better etc. Sooner or later it'll turn.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

I'm not saying you are miserable. I was posing a hypothetical question.

Well in that case, if one is alive but miserable then there is the possibility of one's life becoming not-miserable. No chance of that if one ends it all.

[Quail]

One of my main reasons for living is the fear of missing out on something. Even if I'm unhappy now, what if something really awesome is going to happen next week/month/year? I also don't really like the idea of not existing (which is totally irrational, since when I'm dead I won't feel anything at all, so why should I care?), which is probably the main thing that made me go to A&E the couple of times I needed to, tbh.

I wouldn't want to cause other people pain by dying either. I wouldn't want my parents to lose a daughter, brother to lose a sister, friends to lose a friend, etc., but also I could never let my son grow up without a mother. I also want to see him grow up and stuff :)

From a less morbid perspective, there are loads of things I enjoy and I don't feel as though I've done anywhere near everything I want to yet. I'd like to feel vaguely fulfilled before I die.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Well in that case, if one is alive but miserable then there is the possibility of one's life becoming not-miserable. No chance of that if one ends it all.

Death would give you a 100% chance of ending your misery.

[the last donut of the night]

From where I'm standing it looks that way.

Also, it's not necessarily all about me. What about my friends and family? If I were to stop living, I would be exchanging a lifetime of potential joy and friendship with a certain period of mourning, depending on how long it takes people to get over my passing. Why would I want to deliberately bring on that pain for others by ending my life prematurely?

As decisions go, it's quite irreversible. If my decision has negative consequences for others aside from the expected emotional repercussions, I won't be around to do anything about it. Knowing that, it strikes me as irresponsible to make such a decision.

(no sarcasm here.)

noxion, your deeply pragmatic look at things comforts me

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Death would give you a 100% chance of ending your misery.

But also a 100% chance of closing off all other opportunities. The only situations in which suicide seems to me to be a logical option are the ones where I'm going to soon die horribly anyway.

[REVLEFT'S BIEGGST MATSER TROL]

Aw come on, this thread is morbid.

Yes we all can feel sad from time to time, but life is worth living, to me, there are so many worthwhile things in it. I don't really think you can "argue" over this, since its all based on emotions, but I really think it is and hopefully you all can remember some time where you thought the same :)

[NoOneIsIllegal]

- To bring about the revolution, just to betray it.
- To create beautiful music, just to destroy it.
- To make sweet love, just to stick it in the butt.
- To join forums, just to troll.
- Make total destroy

[bcbm]

i like to look around at the trees and hear water rushing and see stars in the sky and admire the work of my ancestors and laugh with friends and read and ride my bike and drink until i fall over and cook a delicious meal. hell, laying in bed half awake just daydreaming in the morning is reason enough.

like i said to you before, its better to focus on the little things that are enjoyable rather than whatever misery you must endure to sustain them and of course the possibility of change. we're young, there is a lot ahead of us, i think its worth sticking around to see what it is.

even if it is just crying over a bar, drunk, listening to a jukebox.

or the collapse of global civilization and subsequent horror.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

There are obviously a lot of things that are enjoyable to a lot of people. My question is whether or not they amount to more than the things that make you suffer.

And for a lot of people it's not possible to do the things they enjoy, 'cause their lives are consumed with doing horrible shit they hate just to make it to the next day.

I'm not actually making any judgments here. I'm honestly just asking you all what makes you go on. I'm interested in knowing.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Aw come on, this thread is morbid.

Yes we all can feel sad from time to time, but life is worth living, to me, there are so many worthwhile things in it. I don't really think you can "argue" over this, since its all based on emotions, but I really think it is and hopefully you all can remember some time where you thought the same :)

Yea, it usually ends up "emotional." But I'm trying to discuss it on a rational basis.

[bcbm]

i guess i dont think it really matters all that much if the good outweighs the bad and its a pretty subjective judgment really

[ZeroNowhere]

I'll cease to find the point in living
Only if I cease to dream.

- Psychotic Waltz.


There are obviously a lot of things that are enjoyable to a lot of people. My question is whether or not they amount to more than the things that make you suffer."Their orientation to the object is the manifestation of the human reality, it is human activity and human suffering, for suffering, humanly considered, is a kind of self-enjoyment of man."