Does the meaninglessness of life bother you?

[Ambivalent1]

I don't know why anyone pursues anything besides pleasure. Pursuing careers and status, raising kids, religion (where the goal is to live forever doing what all day exactly?) is just wasteful energy. Why should anyone bother to do anything above the bare minimum?

 

[Hollowman]

Yes, it's all absurd pointlessness.

 

[Ambivalent1]

Yes, it's all absurd pointlessness.

So glad I discovered the true meaning of life before diving into life like all the suckers out there. "I want to get rich." "I want to have a legacy through my children." "I want to change society by being an activist." "I want to have a relationship with God, even though I had to be told by other people he exists, so I can live forever." Silly stuff

 

[vitbar]

At its simplest for the same reason as pursuing pleasure. They find it rewarding.

 

[90starve]

life is completely meaningless IMO. i don't think that we have any purpose here as individuals, other than to procreate and die - just as animals do.

 

[Ambivalent1]

At its simplest for the same reason as pursuing pleasure. They find it rewarding.

Their brain chemicals are lying to them. The reward feeling is temporary. They will never feel complete. It's unattainable. Little hamsters running in circles.

 

[アホペンギン]

Yes, i agree. If humanity didn't exist then nothing would change (my opinion) this shows how pointless existence is. The only thing worth pursuing is entertainment and pleasure. I dont understand why people have certain life goals drilled inside of them from a young age (having kids, traveling the world or making lots of money.) there is really no point in anything at all. If they didnt choose to achieve their goals the world wouldn't have been any different. It would only be different for them. Besides, they're just one person out of billions of others.

 

[Ambivalent1]

Yes, i agree. If humanity didn't exist then nothing would change (my opinion) this shows how pointless existence is. The only thing worth pursuing is entertainment and pleasure. I dont understand why people have certain life goals drilled inside of them from a young age (having kids, traveling the world or making lots of money.) there is really no point in anything at all. If they didnt choose to achieve their goals the world wouldn't have been any different. It would only be different for them. Besides, they're just one person out of billions of others.

Goals are stupid. This is true enlightenment.

 

[vitbar]

Their brain chemicals are lying to them. The reward feeling is temporary. They will never feel complete. It's unattainable. Little hamsters running in circles.

It's often the same reward systems and brain chemicals from pleasurable activities.

 

[AllFoxedOut]

not really. I just haven't found the meaning yet and don't think I ever will

 

[Ambivalent1]

not really. I just haven't found the meaning yet and don't think I ever will

The meaning is to exist. But our complex brains are not satisfied with this answer and complicate things causing us suffering.

 

[josephk]

Yes it bothers me because it's not just meaningless it's unenjoyable as well.

 

[Ambivalent1]

Yes it bothers me because it's not just meaningless it's unenjoyable as well.

It's like pushing a boulder up a hill neverendingly.

 

[pthnrdnojvsc]

Their brain chemicals are lying to them. The reward feeling is temporary. They will never feel complete. It's unattainable. Little hamsters running in circles.

The pleasure is fleeting and temporary. pain or suffering can be unimaginably horrible , constant and never ending.

For example let's say they put u in an empty room . And they have a song u like on constant repeat. How long before that song becomes unbearable torture? Or just nothing no sound nothing to do just lay there day after day how long before that gets so boring u are in torture, a day a year ?

 

[TheSpookyNameGuy]

I wish i had a grand purpose when i arrived here, as much as i think life shouldn't exist, i can't help that I'm here now.

It's pointless, i don't want kids or a family, i dont want a career, i dont want anything.

People say that its great that life has no meaning but i disagree, im not one of those people that can just live and enjoy it, nothing has ever made me happy.

There is no reason for me to exist.

 

[Ambivalent1]

I wish i had a grand purpose when i arrived here, as much as i think life shouldn't exist, i can't help that I'm here now.

It's pointless, i don't want kids or a family, i dont want a career, i dont want anything.

People say that its great that life has no meaning but i disagree, im not one of those people that can just live and enjoy it, nothing has ever made me happy.

There is no reason for me to exist.

What is worth wanting? There's a short story by Isaac Asimov where select individuals get to live on after death. "God" assigns everyone a task thats basically impossible. The main character in the story says "If I can't die, then i'll figure out how to destroy you." "God" says, "Get started." Even God would eventually realize that nonexistence is better.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I don't think I'd like it if I was told there was something in life I absolutely HAD to abide by or work towards- because that was the purpose of it. Life feels restrictive enough with the limited choices we are restricted to.

As for individuals finding meaning for themselves- that's up to them really. I don't necessarily think it's delluded to pursue something you enjoy and get fulfilment from. It worked quite effectively for me for quite a while. Do I feel somehow 'superior' because I suddenly see it as a 'delussion'? A meaningless 'distraction'? No- not really. I always pretty much realised this capitalist world is out to exploit people. I wasn't really under any illusions there.

So long as I made enough to survive on, being able to be creative in my job- I was happy-ish enough. I didn't really need the entire world to believe what I was doing was revolutionary or worthwhile. Very few people are going to get universal approval. So long as some people liked what I did (enough to pay me) and I felt like I was producing something good enough- I was satisfied enough.

For me at least- it's not so much a sudden Nihilistic realisation that made me doubt everything, it's more that I don't have the same drive to succeed now. I don't necessarily think people who have a drive in life are stupid. They can easily be taken advantage of though unfortunately- this world does seem to love to exploit people. I guess it's easier to exploit people with an ingrained work/ family life ethic.

Actually- this reminds me of a YouTube video I watched just this morning. Kind of debatable whether it's ethical or not- in terms of animal cruelty... Still- bear in mind- the mice were given all they needed in order to survive and yet- the 'society' eventually collapsed and died out... Interestingly- in later experiments- they gave some mice more creative endevours to solve and those mice lasted longer- so- clearly, it isn't enough for living organisms with a brain just to 'survive'. They seem to need other stimuli in order not to just wither and perish...



Of course- the hardcore Nihilists out there will say all we're good for is to wither and perish anyway. Still- we're all stuck here for now. No one can argue with that. It's also made very difficult for us to leave. Also- hard to argue with. It's really up to the individual how they choose to spend their time here. If someone feels empowered and insightful realising what a pointless shitshow this all is- then- fine. I guess some people just want to make it through as painlessly as possible- whatever that means for them. Sometimes that means a life of hedonism- pure pleasure seeking- but- unless you have a liver and kidneys and bank balance to be able to sustain that kind of lifestyle- you end up like the rest of us- working to try and scrape together the money to live a comfortable life.

Seeing as work makes up 1/3rd of our lives- it makes sense to me to at least try and do something you find fulfilment in. Unless you happen to enjoy things like shop work- that usually involves doing more than the bare minimum. Sadly- it now tends to involve fighting tooth and claw with all the competition out there and even then- you might not succeed. I think achieving your goals is sadly fraught with difficulties but I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing to have goals to begin with. Many people here feel the way they do because they don't have desires or goals anymore. I can feel myself moving that way more now and it's not very liberating! I know it's just going to 'enable' me to get a wage slave job again and I know how unhappy they make me.

 

[TheSpookyNameGuy]

What is worth wanting? There's a short story by Isaac Asimov where select individuals get to live on after death. "God" assigns everyone a task thats basically impossible. The main character in the story says "If I can't die, then i'll figure out how to destroy you." "God" says, "Get started." Even God would eventually realize that nonexistence is better.

I mean as much as philosophical texts are concerned, i find them pointless after a 10 minute meander through them.

They basically all just conclude to me that this is pointless and all I'm trying to do is numb the feeling with a text written by someone who probably also had an existential crisis.

Believe me, I've tried a few of them but i can't attain anything except misery.

 

[Ambivalent1]

I mean as much as philosophical texts are concerned, i find them pointless after a 10 minute meander through them.

They basically all just conclude to me that this is pointless and all I'm trying to do is numb the feeling with a text written by someone who probably also had an existential crisis.

Believe me, I've tried a few of them but i can't attain anything except misery.

Sci Fi, not philosophy

 

[vitbar]

Honestly it used to bother me, but these days hardly at all. The meaninglessness is itself meaningless ultimately. Why should it stop me? To some extent it's my rebellious streak. Won't give me meaning? Well fuck you then I'll carry on despite it.

 

[Minsu]

Maybe there's some afterlife, who knows.
But I'm an atheist and I would give it 99% for nothingness after our death.
Anyway, it would be nice if reincarnation existed because it would give me a second chance.. I probably wouldn't fucked things up in my life again

 

[Shaylla1998]

The inherent meaninglessness of life doesn't bother me as much as it does others, I believe that individuals have the power to give their own lives the meaning they desire. It's clear to those who do not suffer from societal brain fog that we are the product of an unfortunate chain of events that led to the emergence and evolution of life on this planet, resulting in the existence of humanity.

In a way, I see our existence as akin to playing Minecraft, where we are dropped into a world without any specific instructions on what to do. It is up to us to determine our goals and strive to achieve something during our limited time here. However, eventually, we will all meet the same fate, and even those cruel individuals who bring children into this world will see them grow, experience their own share of suffering, and eventually pass away like everyone else.

In the grand scheme of things, the efforts we put into our pursuits today will hold no significance in the distant future. Those who inhabit the world 1,000 years from now will have no knowledge of our existence (excluding brilliant minds). All our accomplishments, words, thoughts, creations, and endeavors will fade into oblivion. Future generations will undergo the same cycle of meaninglessness, repeating the pattern of life and death. As you mentioned, and I may add, akin to little hamsters mindlessly running in circles.

 

[FuneralCry]

But in my case I would never wish for there to be a point or meaning behind any of this anyway. If there was a reason for all this suffering it would likely be something so horrible, I think it's better that existing truly is so futile, unnecessary and meaningless where all will be forgotten about once we are finally free from this burden.

I see existence as being such a horrific, tragic mistake, existence itself and all the senseless cruelty and endless suffering it causes to be experienced certainly bothers me instead. Existence is so undesirable and repulsive, for me only death can bring relief, there should just be nothingness instead.

 

[josephk]

Most people are on the hedonic treadmill & don't realise it. They use Copium to get by. I think once you've realised this it's like you've looked up the skirt of the universe & realised it isn't wearing any knickers. There's no going back once you've seen that

 

[spøgelse]

no. i just want to stop suffering.

 

[pinkribbonscars]

What is worth wanting? There's a short story by Isaac Asimov where select individuals get to live on after death. "God" assigns everyone a task thats basically impossible. The main character in the story says "If I can't die, then i'll figure out how to destroy you." "God" says, "Get started." Even God would eventually realize that nonexistence is better.

What's this called?

@Forever Sleep

Beautifully put.

I do not understand this instinctual drive to find meaning. Do we need a god or a morale to live? We were put on this earth by random chance and we are here due to an evolutionary urge to survive and advance our species. We want to improve our humanity to preserve it and I expand upon it, and people find pleasure in the sensory delights that surround us and the emotional bonds we form with others, or the accomplishment of achieving goals. I don't think people who have made peace with this are deluded either. We only live once. If people want to make the best of their existence before they die, more power to them.

It's not the meaningless of life that makes me want to ctb. It is anhedonia. If there is no pleasure to experience, why bother? For the longest time I chose to live to rebel against our meaningless existence and enjoy it. I didn't want to submit to defeat. But I never feel anything other than stressed, tired, anxious or numb anymore. I don't want to rebel against the universe anymore. It can gladly take me.

 

[Ambivalent1]

What's this called?

@Forever Sleep

Beautifully put.

I do not understand this instinctual drive to find meaning. Do we need a god or a morale to live? We were put on this earth by random chance and we are here due to an evolutionary urge to survive and advance our species. We want to improve our humanity to preserve it and I expand upon it, and people find pleasure in the sensory delights that surround us and the emotional bonds we form with others, or the accomplishment of achieving goals. I don't think people who have made peace with this are deluded either. We only live once. If people want to make the best of their existence before they die, more power to them.

It's not the meaningless of life that makes me want to ctb. It is anhedonia. If there is no pleasure to experience, why bother? For the longest time I chose to live to rebel against our meaningless existence and enjoy it. I didn't want to submit to defeat. But I never feel anything other than stressed, tired, anxious or numb anymore. I don't want to rebel against the universe anymore. It can gladly take me.

The Last Answer

The Last Answer by Isaac Asimov Murray Templeton was forty-five years old, in the prime of life, and with all parts of his body in perfect working order except for certain key portions of his coronary arteries, but that was enough. The pain had come suddenly, had mounted to an unbearable peak...

www.highexistence.com

 

[NoLoveNoHope]

Not really, I actually get comforted by it. No matter what I do it doesn't matter anyway, in 100 years all traces of me will be gone.

 

[Ambivalent1]

Not really, I actually get comforted by it. No matter what I do it doesn't matter anyway, in 100 years all traces of me will be gone.

New thing to live by

 

[synthcadia]

i personally think life has a bit of meaning, at least a short meaning for me, but when i was nihilistic, it didn't bother me. it felt like the order of the universe or a natural thing.