Something Bothering you?/Daily Doldrums

[Haruka]

I have good reasons to fear death: I was very close to that few years ago and I must thank my parents' stubborness to have avoided it.

[OCG]

Ouch, that must have been horrible

[Dart]

People who say living forever would be boring need to STFU. If it would be possible to live forever and still be able to do everyday activity and not feel pain, I would definitely NOT be bored...

I think "bored" would be the wrong word to use. To a very sensitive and sentimental person like myself, physical immortality means never growing old with your friends and always watching as every friend and everything in the universe changes and leaves you behind. You would never be able to stay married without knowing that your significant other would die and leave you behind forever. Any child and grandchild you have will all grow and pass you until before you realize your at the top of a giant family tree looking at the latest roots. and while that seems novel at first, after a while acknowledging your lineage in the family would make you feel like nothing more than a monster, a creature that can only watch as anything it loves fades to black.

At least that's how I see un-ageing, I'm sure other people with different personalities/pasts see it in other ways.

[Serza5]

That scenario would only apply to situations in which you so happen to be the only immortal being. I'm sure that OCG and Co are talking about a scenario in which everyone can be immortal, be it through drugs or other means.

[Dart]

Oh, I guess if in a contained group that would be cool, but if it were a public thing that would ultimately lead to population issues (which can be rather uncool)

[Serza5]

That reminds me of a book I read which took place in a world where people invented an immortal drug which lead to having enforce a law that if you wanted to have kids it'd require you and your partner to kill themselves to save space on the planet.

[technology4617]

I, personally, think of it as an unfortunate, but necessary, part of life.

[sonicbrawler182]

If people were immortal, I think memories would lose much of their value for many people. We'd also take death for granted - plus, being able to grow old and die is nice - if we were not limited by old age, we would only die more painful deaths, with no truly peaceful option.

[Adsolution]

Of course there could be a peaceful option. Jumping off a cliff is peaceful and painless, so is lethal injection. The only difference would be that you aren't forced to end your life for no other reason than you've reached the end, one you never even agreed to in the first place.

I also doubt that death would be taken for granted any more than it is now, because where one could make the argument that as long as you avoid accidents you'll be able to live forever, that also means that accidents are the only thing preventing you from living forever, therefore providing more initiative to avoid them.

As for overpopulation, that's an obvious as day, square-one problem, but if we're able to colonise on other planets, that, the only real practical issue, will be nonexistent.

[Earth Gwee]

I'm having a bit of an internal struggle tonight. It probably seems juvenile and silly, but I need to get this out.
I wanted to spend a little money on some pizza for dinner. I proposed the idea to my sister, but she brought up that I had expressed worry about my finances in recent days (mostly because I haven't made any money on commissions lately and I've had to pay small bills) and reminds me that we have plenty to eat in the house. I understand we have enough to eat, but I don't understand how it's suddenly wrong that I want to treat myself to something different than what we have. I reluctantly decided to go with what she said had what was already there. I guess my main struggle is that I shouldn't care what my sister thinks about how I spend my own money and yet I gave up doing what I wanted because I didn't want her to see me as a hypocrite. For a long time I've gone along with what my sister suggests if I decide to do something even if it's no less wrong. I broke down crying while I made my alternative dinner, thinking of those times where I go along with my sisters suggestions, thinking that my choices don't matter. I know what led up to my crying is really stupid, 'cuz ya know, it's just pizza. What's the big deal, right? But what upsets me is that when my sister brings something around on me, something I'd said that would logically negate my current personal choice, I feel like that choice is not my own anymore. I don't want to care what she thinks, but I do anyway because I feel like she thinks my personal choices are not valid. Like, seriously! I know I said I was worried about my finances! I shouldn't feel like treating myself once in a while to make myself feel better is wrong.

EDIT: My sister has since apologized and recognizes that what I do with my money is my business.

[Dart]

It's nice to hear that she apologized, as for your feelings I'd say its only natural to feel a bit broken, or even cry (I know I have) when someone continually pushes against your opinions and choices. The only thing that I can recommend is to not keep your feelings locked up when situations like this arise, because overtime all those negative feelings will both mentally and physically take a toll on you.
(I know this post isn't that good but if I say it once I'll say it a million times, I'm no good at words but I understand people feelings)

[Dark Lum Lord]

As cliche as this come off as, I've recently felt quite disgusted, disillusioned, etc., towards humanity in general. I could go in depth, if anyone would like, but as of now I'll summarize since I'm tired (Read: lazy, went to bed at 4:40). But on top of this misanthropy is a coat of very political, perhaps bordering paranoid slew of reasons. Personally, I've lost my faith in humanity at this point - clearly the majority is not quite the brightest of the bunch, if many of us are entirely fine with the idea of putting (mostly) old white dudes at the top of the chain, allowing them to freely govern and manipulate us as they please. This land is not free, equal rights is a seducitve lie slowly coming into the picture as most people protest with their progressive ideas, though it is the corruption of government that holds us back. We have the right to overthrow a corrupt government, and government itself is a concept that should be made by, for, and run by the people, i.e. the masses. Not a league of selfish billionaires fucking us over to make their party look better in the eyes of the general population, or to gain another form of profit (ex. money itself, power).

I feel like many are waking up, though our words, our ideas, are stifled into the background while the government focuses solely on distracting us with trivial issues and the media so they can further progress in their cheating in the their game of chess. It's come that we have some major changes, or overthrow to do so. It was never about the people, we masses are only their asses, they promise us jobs, money, lower costs, but in reality they only wipe their extra dollars on us as they hog the rest of the money instead of focusing on the skyrocketing debt.

So be it, little do they realize that in the end they're only further destroying the economy, the dollar bill only lowering. And in the end, they'll have what they deserve. But adding on to this, I'm also disappointed by the ignorance of many. It seems our mob mentality has directly come from our ancestory; just like other creatures, the majority will not tolerate an indiviudal too different from the pack. So quick to judge the cover. Anyways, I've probably more but I've forgotten by now. Well fuck me gently with a chainsaw, I seem so paranoid.

[Adsolution]

You're not paranoid at all, because that's exactly right. The thing is, as obvious as it may be, the industrial revolution, the beginning of the source of most of the problems that we're currently facing, only began just over a hundred years ago. And the concept of a government and a free country in Western society, only about 250. The Founding Fathers had an incredibly amazing idea for their time, and in most ways, it was a vast improvement upon monarchy. People of any class were free to speak their minds, and any poor man could become a leader if they worked hard enough, the system wasn't bound by blood. It was an amazing idea, but not a flawless one, which is evident by how much the population, economy and interconnectivity has expanded over the last century.

We have the right to overthrow a corrupt government,

Really, you have the right to do anything, if in your view it is right. But as a community that works together, be aware of who you might be hurting when you do so. Everyone will be happier that way. (This isn't directed at you in particular.)

and government itself is a concept that should be made by, for, and run by the people, i.e. the masses. Not a league of selfish billionaires fucking us over to make their party look better in the eyes of the general population, or to gain another form of profit (ex. money itself, power).

What you're describing is Anarchy, a growing ideal among dissatisfied people, it means your civilisation is built upon nothing but common sense with no one in front. While this sounds ideal, I think you can immediately understand why this is an extremely scary concept. It's virtually impossible to organise, there isn't any direction, and I can almost guarantee that at one point or another, someone will attempt to rise to some kind of a power. Great leaders bring us some of our best times, and poor ones bring us into some of our worst. No leader means that nothing is certain, nothing at all. I enjoy my life as it is now, because I've started it, and the only thing that could possibly fuck it up is a nuclear war of some kind, something we're capable of having now, something that affects the entire planet, which has never been seen before in history. Having mad men way in over their head in charge is the problem with the current system, along with currency - our planet and all potential dangers would be saved if we simply erased the concept of money/dept, but what would that mean for society? Seeing as the only body with 15 trillion would be the population, the entire country is going to have to work harder and with lower pay to fix what's been done.

It was never about the people, we masses are only their asses, they promise us jobs, money, lower costs, but in reality they only wipe their extra dollars on us as they hog the rest of the money instead of focusing on the skyrocketing debt.

To attempt to be fair, every new president who takes over has to deal with the other's mess, and it's an extraordinarily difficult job. Slowing and then reversing the debt issue could result in people seeing the US as a target, and even if done so successfully, it would take a ridiculous amount of time. The slightest change in one direction can piss another country's leaders off, and the slightest change in another can piss the home country's population off. The simplest answer would be for everybody to just get along, but seeing as that currently isn't the case, any decisive change, given how complex our system is, will likely cause an unfathomably complicated chain reaction with hardly results hardly their control.

But adding on to this, I'm also disappointed by the ignorance of many.

Well, what are you going to do to fix it? You can say that you're different, and through that you can even become an influence, but practically speaking, unless you're running for office or starting up a revolt group, you're probably having no effect on the way the world works. With that in mind, it's not really that wrong for most people to not want to think about it.

Denying that there's anything wrong in the first place is obviously just incorrect, but remember that a lot of music focuses on this sort of thing. Some of the most popular number-one rock hits of recent years like Viva La Vida and Uprising are about exactly this, so denial in most cases is a subconsciously assumed guise which helps those who don't have the will to fix the problem focus on excelling what they are good at.

It seems our mob mentality has directly come from our ancestory; just like other creatures, the majority will not tolerate an indiviudal too different from the pack. So quick to judge the cover. Anyways, I've probably more but I've forgotten by now. Well fuck me gently with a chainsaw, I seem so paranoid.

While a lot of it is our upbringing, it's all rooted in genetics. Animals naturally have an aversion to the unknown because it might be unsafe, and technically speaking, the safest way for you to live is the most 'normal' way. We can always be more open than we currently are, but given that with our current makeup we can never be truly fearless and open, conformism will always exist in one way or another, and as such, modern non-conformists will complain.

[Dart]

I'd say your not the only one worried about this stuff, and while what you say is 100% true, you could say its up to us to stand up for our beliefs and kick those trope heavy politicians out of office and claim their seats in the name of whats truly right for everyone, and not for just the fellow politicians and upper class dudes.

This land is not free, equal rights is a seductive lie slowly coming into the picture as most people protest with their progressive ideas, though it is the corruption of government that holds us back.

well, them and the media anyway. keep in mind that these are the same people that still haven't passed a equal gender wage law when it should have been done soon after WWII when female workers began becoming more of a mainstream in society, so again, 100% right about what you say here.

As for why I address the media, keep in mind that its singers, actors, and other assorted celebrities and stuff that endorsed a sort of moral code that they think society should live by. This means that X supports one thing (for example, using the word "bitch" to describe people, whoever they might be) and Y will supports it, then the next thing you know everyone is calling their mom, wife, and brother a bitch. These memes can apply to just about anything including politics, and currently today's messages and memes from the media don't do anything that would positively stimulate peoples' minds in both a general and political way.

[Adsolution]

well, them and the media anyway. keep in mind that these are the same people that still haven't passed a equal gender wage law when it should have been done soon after WWII when female workers began becoming more of a mainstream in society, so again, 100% right about what you say here.

Remember, grey areas are grey for a reason. Maybe accepting gays or female office workers back then was somewhere along the same line as accepting bestiality or child pornography now - a lot of people are revolted at the concept of those, but their reasons for it are usually convoluted or shallow straw men. Different time, different culture. Not that this is a permanent excuse, as the practical answer, whatever it is, becomes clearer and clearer as time goes on.

As for why I address the media, keep in mind that its singers, actors, and other assorted celebrities and stuff that endorsed a sort of moral code that they think society should live by. This means that X supports one thing (for example, using the word "bitch" to describe people, whoever they might be) and Y will supports it, then the next thing you know everyone is calling their mom, wife, and brother a bitch. These memes can apply to just about anything including politics, and currently today's messages and memes from the media don't do anything that would positively stimulate peoples' minds in both a general and political way.

Which isn't necessarily a terrible thing in all respects, and I'd cite the media as probably one of the things we have to worry about the least.

[Dart]

well, them and the media anyway. keep in mind that these are the same people that still haven't passed a equal gender wage law when it should have been done soon after WWII when female workers began becoming more of a mainstream in society, so again, 100% right about what you say here.

Remember, grey areas are grey for a reason. Maybe accepting gays or female office workers back then was somewhere along the same line as accepting bestiality or child pornography now - a lot of people are revolted at the concept of those, but their reasons for it are usually convoluted or shallow straw men. Different time, different culture. Not that this is a permanent excuse, as the practical answer, whatever it is, becomes clearer and clearer as time goes on.

As for why I address the media, keep in mind that its singers, actors, and other assorted celebrities and stuff that endorsed a sort of moral code that they think society should live by. This means that X supports one thing (for example, using the word "bitch" to describe people, whoever they might be) and Y will supports it, then the next thing you know everyone is calling their mom, wife, and brother a bitch. These memes can apply to just about anything including politics, and currently today's messages and memes from the media don't do anything that would positively stimulate peoples' minds in both a general and political way.

Which isn't necessarily a terrible thing in all respects, and I'd cite the media as probably one of the things we have to worry about the least.

I guess it really just depends on if you look at the glass as half full or half empty in that situation.

[iHeckler9]

My parents are morons.

I have a busy day on July 19th: Not only am I going to see MLII for a DevMeet in London at 12, but I'm also going to a Rick Astley concert at 6. I thought this would be simple enough: Drive to London with my parents (who expressed interest in seeing the London Eye), spend the day with MLII until 4 and then drive home to get rickrolled live.

My parents don't see it this way.

They expect me to spend money and get the train there with them, and then get the train back by myself.

No chance.

[Cairnie]

In the same vein as Earthgwee regarding ordering food, I've kinda had the same thing but instead I cook some Indian cuisine and the next thing I know my parents order a takeaway of Indian cuisine which is SO much nicer. I mean don't get me wrong, what I did cook came out alright and I like to try and be frugal with my meals but it does bum me when they do that, at the best I eat the poppadoms they get for free and they don't eat. They *could* have portions of mine but nah, my dad certainly doesn't share any of my vegetarian meals with me and my mother does but not often.

On the upside I've got enough of this curry to feed myself for weeks as I always freeze my meals.

Hmm wasn't there like an opposite thread to this like a "something exciting you" or something? I've actually got a LOT of positives to just pour out.

[Serza5]

Well here I am again- and currently in a state of "I feel like nothing more than a person that's there rather than someone people want to be with".

Although that's probably an exaggeration, but more to the point; i've been having moments of loneliness because 1. I suck ass at starting conversations with people and 2. recently there's been a couple of "friends" who seem so un-interested with me that all I am is for someone to dumb links of funny pictures to, or again just some person that's there. It's gotten me to the point where I feel selfish and whiny because I don't do anything to fix it besides calling it out.

Of all the years i've been on the internet i've always said that it's helped me opened up to be more social but where I stand now I feel like there's been a dip in that, or that i've exaggerated that statement back then. I have never been one to start convos, and I often find it difficult to keep track of any on-going ones if it either moves onto a topic i'm not too knowledgeable about or I can't really add anything beyond "yeah" or "great" or something along similar lines.

It's at this point in the writing that I start getting that selfish feeling behind this situation, because i'm aware that people are willing to talk to me and try to talk to me. This should be something where i'd have it brushed off by now but it's been on my chest for a while mostly because it hasn't exactly been "fixed" yet, a certain something happening along these lines is what even triggered me into writing this here.

Not that i'm sure how much more I want to write, but this is all I can think of so i'll stop there.

[sonicbrawler182]

It sounds like you're having a similar problem to what I tend to have.

How I deal with it is:
-Sometimes, I'm able to just go along with being pretty passive, and I won't be bothered.
-I accept that I don't have to talk to even my greatest friends really regularly. If we can't find something to talk about or we're too busy, that's fine, we just do our own thing.
-If I'm feeling particularly lonely, I'll just start a conversation with someone and usually end up talking about really outlandish things, which helps to break the ice.

I don't know if doing things like this will help you in your case, but I hope it does.