What's the point of life?

[Darkover]

I've been thinking about this a lot and I find that we are born, live and then die. And when you die, anything that you did on Earth does not matter. Nothing will be remembered. It has gotten me thinking that there is no point in life. Yes, everyone says you have to find a purpose, but then when you die that purpose is nothing. So why even bother to try hard to do all of these things if they mean nothing in the end? Everything dies in the end. Memories, friends, family, love etc. It means nothing. Life is nothing. I study for hours for school, the goal ultimately to get a good job. But what is the point? When we die we lose everything we spent our 85 years trying to accomplish, everything. People are saying life is what you make of it, but perhaps this is true, but when you die, what's the point of what you make out of life? It's all over, and all the things you have experienced ends... It's a really depressing thing to think, but in 100 years none of us alive today will be remembered. We will be forgotten, faded away into the ever turning wheel of time...

I realize that life is not beautiful. I realize now that life has no point. There is no point in "being alive". That first kiss and the emotions that stayed with you will be torn, punctured, grinded, and hacked to oblivion. You will not remember it when you die. As with everything you experienced when you were alive. Everything! You live and see and learn and laugh and cry and dance and sing and type and read, WHATS THE FUCKING POINT? You die, and everything is gone...

 

[nood11]

If death is oblivion like before we were born then there truly is no point. It's non-existence, existence, then back to non-existence. If it's heaven and hell like Christianity says then there is a point, but it can still be hard to decipher while alive.

 

[FuneralCry]

I believe humans only question what is the point as they have the ability to be conscious and aware unlike animals, to me existence will always be a horrific and meaningless mistake that is better off erased and forgotten about. I don't believe existence was something worth having in the first place.

I do think it's for the best that existence is ultimately worthless, with all we know inevitably being erased once we lose consciousness. The thought of permanently ceasing to exist and being free from the temporary curse that is existence is the only comfort.

 

[avaruus]

The main and only goal of all living things, seems to be surviving and procreating.
I think the mistake in human evolution, was becoming so intelliegent, that we consciously or atleast subconsciously realized this.
A deer, a wolf, an ant or a fish in the sea, are not searching for meaning. They are privileged, or from a certain perspective, unprivileged to realize this.
Instead, they only basically think about what's going to be their next meal. That's the only thing on their mind. They have no choice, but in my opinion, even tho it's cruel for them to be constantly in 'alert mode', it's for the better.

There has never been a documented case of any other animal in nature, committing CTB.
Only when we humans have fucked with their brains, with drugs or some cruel experiment. Some animals, like rats have shown signs of self-harm (such as biting their tails, or starving themselves), but those kind of actions were most likely delusional actions rather than actual desires.

 

[Darkover]

If death is oblivion like before we were born then there truly is no point. It's non-existence, existence, then back to non-existence. If it's heaven and hell like Christianity says then there is a point, but it can still be hard to decipher while alive.

all the evidence point to our certain demise just like before we was born, but i can't help but think the universe might be able to bring you alive again in a completely new machine either that or nothing forever, i've ruled out the one only book writen by god to the work of man

 

[Forever Sleep]

Yes and no really. It's true that many of us don't leave much of a legacy to be remembered. Some people certainly do though. I love that quote- 'Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin never died. They simply became music'. It was quoted in the HBO series 'Westworld', although I feel like it must have been said before. I suppose that's what a lot of us strive for- to be respected in our chosen field. It doesn't work out that way for the majority of us granted.

I guess, in my life, the people I most remember were good people. I remember the acts of kindness they did. That is their legacy. That's maybe the best legacy we can leave. I'd certainly say that some of the people I loved and lost made this world a better place for having been here.

Ultimately though- we're talking about other people's perceptions and memories of another person. They too will die some day. They may have told wonderful stories to younger relatives but soon- it's true- next to nothing will remain of that original person.

Why is that such a big deal though? If you climb Everest- does it only count if there are a group of people that witness it and applaud your efforts? What about your own experience in life? Isn't that a bigger deal than what other people think of you and whether they will remember you?

Unless your faith system is based on people needing to remember you, why is it important? Why does there even need to be a purpose in life? If someone told you what that purpose was, do you really think you'd be grateful? I think one of the very few positives to being alive is a (limited) freedom to choose. If you want to choose to believe it's all pointless and all shit- that's up to you. I'd suggest that that definitely won't lead to anything but pointless shit but I guess it's safer than trying to hope. Hope can end up being even more crushing sadly.

 

[Unending]

Only when we humans have fucked with their brains, with drugs or some cruel experiment. Some animals, like rats have shown signs of self-harm (such as biting their tails, or starving themselves)

There's also the fact that animals in zoos have been shown to, in some instances, self harm as well. Furthermore, chickens and pigs in factory farms exhibit psychologically distressed behaviors even including cannibalism due to their situations. That's the reason why humans debeak farmed chickens. Humans seem to be really good at placing other species in extraordinarily painful situations.

 

[voyager]

There has never been a documented case of any other animal in nature, committing CTB.

Oh, but they have. The dolphins and orcas of Sea World and similar have indeed suffocated themselves or lashed out at one another because they were so unhappy. Really depends on the animal. Many have emotions, enjoy playing, relaxing, dreaming and so forth. Maybe they don't think about the point of life all the time, but then again, neither do most humans.

topic

Well, it is indeed all pointless in a way, especially in the vastness of time. Therefore I'd say it's our consciousness which gives it meaning, since we're the ones enduring it. As long we have desires in the broader sense, selfish or selfless, we have a form of purpose. It doesn't require a great legacy, just enough to fulfill ourselves. Which is why it's so crucial to be at peace with oneself and able to feel some joy, because it's the only real counterbalance we have towards the void. When that's gone and we can no longer fulfill our desires, quite possibly because we have none anymore, it's over. Which is why suicide restriction is the most pointless exercise of all.

 

[letmejoindeath]

Life is supposed to be about the journey not the destination.

When the journey sucks though I would have to agree. Ctb would be the best option.

 

[Dying Knight]

Life is supposed to be about the journey not the destination.

Exactly. The purpose of life is enjoying the process like when you get fun out of playing a 3d computer game.

 

[letmejoindeath]

Exactly. The purpose of life is enjoying the process like when you get fun out of playing a 3d computer game.

Games are only fun if you win every now and then though. When you lose every level and just get pushed to the next one it's no longer fun. Basically being forced to play that game for my entire life.

The journey sucks, I'm ready to be at the destination.

 

[Dying Knight]

When you lose every level and just get pushed to the next one it's no longer fun.

Some people eat a lot of shit in their life and feel relatively happy despite that somehow. But of course this lifestyle ain't suitable for everyone (pro-lifers often don't understand this remarkable nuance assuming that if happy shit-eaters exist, everyone else should be able to be so "heroic" too).