What's the point in living?

Dancook · 27-11-2007, 12:19 PM

I don't want to get morbid about the subject, but objectively - what is the point in living?

I am athiest and do not believe in life after death, this is not a religious debate - and I do not want opinions arguing life after death.

Sometimes I just wonder why we bother living, once we die we've forgotton about all that we did and makes life seem so fruitless. People say our memories live on, but once we die - what does that actually matter to us. Yes you can argue we have good times, but what If i were to end my life right now? I wouldn't feel like I've missed out, why? because I'm dead.

Some people think it's not a sad thing to die doing something you love? I love drinking, so maybe I could enjoy drinking myself to death? Or even rob banks, live a life with money then go out fighting till the end! I can see why people choose to become criminals.

What does everyone else think?

dognosh · 27-11-2007, 12:26 PM

Me too, I am atheist but I have no great desire to rob a bank or hurt anyone, maybe you need religion ?

Sporran · 27-11-2007, 12:28 PM

i dont really want to worry about the point tbh you end up scratching your head for nothing.

I just want to get on, have an enjoyable life, be with my wife, round my family enjoy my brother kids have a laff.

Doing the things i/we want to do and try to be a nice person.

Am i worried about dying more certianly not.

As for your question i dont care.

lisag · 27-11-2007, 12:29 PM

Hi Dan,

It's a good question and I am looking forward to the debate - but are you feeling depressed, cos if you are please don't contemplate too much on death vs life. Even if there isn't any point to life, it is still worth living, you never know what might happen next...

lisa

Dancook · 27-11-2007, 12:32 PM

I get depressed from time to time - what with stress of the house and work... and whether I will find the right woman, after recently coming out of a 5 year relationship with marriage plans. Yes, so maybe I'm wondering if there's light at the end of the tunnel.

dennis · 27-11-2007, 12:35 PM

get a serious illness like me and see how much life means to you,sounds like you need some help mate.

Toasty · 27-11-2007, 12:35 PM

“The world is a thing of utter inordinate complexity and richness and strangeness that is absolutely awesome. I mean the idea that such complexity can arise not only out of such simplicity, but probably absolutely out of nothing, is the most fabulous extraordinary idea. And once you get some kind of inkling of how that might have happened ‘ it’s just wonderful. And . . . the opportunity to spend 70 or 80 years of your life in such a universe is time well spent as far as I am concerned.” - Douglas Adams

dognosh · 27-11-2007, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dancook

I get depressed from time to time - what with stress of the house and work... and whether I will find the right woman, after recently coming out of a 5 year relationship with marriage plans. Yes, so maybe I'm wondering if there's light at the end of the tunnel.

There is always light at the end of the tunnel

And make sure you continue posting on this thread,don't let it build up

Dancook · 27-11-2007, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toasty

“The world is a thing of utter inordinate complexity and richness and strangeness that is absolutely awesome. I mean the idea that such complexity can arise not only out of such simplicity, but probably absolutely out of nothing, is the most fabulous extraordinary idea. And once you get some kind of inkling of how that might have happened ‘ it’s just wonderful. And . . . the opportunity to spend 70 or 80 years of your life in such a universe is time well spent as far as I am concerned.” - Douglas Adams

That actually is a good + on the side of living

lisag · 27-11-2007, 12:39 PM

Dan - 5 years is a long time to be with someone, you must be grieving the end of that relationship and grieving does make you go slightly mad (from experience). I got counselling when my boyfriend died and it helped me enormously, maybe you could try talking to someone.

Or, if that is not your cup of tea, just focus on things you enjoy doing (films, sports, gaming?) and when you are feeling bleak try and accept it as normal for what you have been through, knowing that they way you feel is constantly changing so will probably improve soon.

lisa

Dancook · 27-11-2007, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennis

get a serious illness like me and see how much life means to you,sounds like you need some help mate.

I don't think i really need help - ok maybe it's selfish and heartless.. but once you're dead what's does it matter about people around you - you're dead you don't need to consider the consequences.

I only tried to OD once.. but it was a half hearted attempt -- large does antibiotics just makes you violently sick for a day... I don't think I have the will to try anything serious.

**Kieron** · 27-11-2007, 12:40 PM

Difficult one to answer. Do you have children?

I thank God every day for mine - they are the greatest thing in my world, they never cease to amaze me.

Maybe you need to put more into your life. A very old chap who I didn't particularly know that well once said to me "enjoy your life son".

That was nearly 10 years ago. Since then I've tried to fill my life with things that I probably wouldn't have done.

I've jumped out of planes, owned sports cars, bought a Harley Davidson (having passed my bike test after the above advice), met the girl of my dreams, got married, had 3 more children, bought a house, seen the world, work in a job I love, took up boxing (I have my first fight in February in front of 400 people), shot a gun - the list goes on and on.

I've passed the same advice to my children. I didn't want to get to 70+ years old and then thought to myself "wow, I wish I had done that when I was younger..."

Life's what you make of it. Nobody can do it for you. Life has a knack of kicking you in the groin and patting you on the head the next day. My 3rd son was born 2 years ago - he's a little miracle. Then 6 months later my Mum passed away of cancer.

3 months ago my Dad passed away of a massive heart attack.

And that's life. Up one minute - down the next.

It's certainly better than never having existed though.

I do believe in the afterlife too. My Dad didn't, but I know that he's up in heaven (with my Mum) watching me enjoy my life.

As ever, just my opinions.....

Dancook · 27-11-2007, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisag

knowing that they way you feel is constantly changing so will probably improve soon.

lisa

Yes I woke up this morning bright and cheery.... and now look how things have changed

I'm sure by tomorrow I'll have deeply buried it again.

I'm sure if I win the lottery, I'll feel much better.

Dancook · 27-11-2007, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kieron

Difficult one to answer. Do you have children?

No I don't, I am 25.. but I do want children. Actually that's one thing I look forward to being, a father.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kieron

I've jumped out of planes, owned sports cars, bought a Harley Davidson (having passed my bike test after the above advice), met the girl of my dreams, got married, had 3 more children, bought a house, seen the world, work in a job I love, took up boxing (I have my first fight in February in front of 400 people), shot a gun - the list goes on and on.

Maybe I'll have a look into firing a gun.. and taking up a martial arts of some sort. I got to the gym and swim regularly which fills up my time at the mo.

jimborae · 27-11-2007, 12:53 PM

This one is easy to answer from a certain point of view - The point of living is to procreate and continue the species and your lineage.

On a more personal level the answer becomes a lot more complex I would imagine.

Decadence · 27-11-2007, 12:55 PM

Just get on with it...stop thinking about it and start doing it. Maybe stab a tramp or something, nobody'll miss him/her and it'll probably make you feel alive!

geomuss · 27-11-2007, 12:58 PM

What do you want to leave behind should be your question, what do you want your legacy to be?

You sound like your at the crossroads of bad period your going through.
I think everyone on this forum will tell you life can at times be crap and it may seem we have a pointless existence.

So now is the time to grab the bull by the horns, get up, get out, meet new people, enjoy what you have now and dont dwell on the past.

Your will remembered a long time after you are gone by the people that you get close too, your family and your friends.

As monty python would say "Always look on the bright side of life!"

lisag · 27-11-2007, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Decadence

Just get on with it...stop thinking about it and start doing it. Maybe stab a tramp or something, nobody'll miss him/her and it'll probably make you feel alive!

That is just wrong - I wonder if mods will delete that?

Dancook · 27-11-2007, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Decadence

Just get on with it...stop thinking about it and start doing it. Maybe stab a tramp or something, nobody'll miss him/her and it'll probably make you feel alive!

hah thanks for making me smile

maybe I'll just sell up the house and live a bit with my money.. go back to my parents for a bit. Do the go round the world thing with my mate.

geomuss · 27-11-2007, 1:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Decadence

Just get on with it...stop thinking about it and start doing it. Maybe stab a tramp or something, nobody'll miss him/her and it'll probably make you feel alive!

Are you the ghost writer for the Hostel films.

Dancook · 27-11-2007, 1:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geomuss

What do you want to leave behind should be your question, what do you want your legacy to be?

I still can't get past the thinking of, well at that point i'll be dead and carefree... maybe i'll review it in a happier mood

partyweb · 27-11-2007, 1:05 PM

sim667 · 27-11-2007, 1:15 PM

[QUOTE=Dancook;5912901]No I don't, I am 25.. [QUOTE]

Im 24 and have just come out of a 5 year relationship which was with my first g/f, I even bought a house for us to live in together

It is upsetting and I do mis my ex a lot, but at the same time I feel quite liberated, Ive got a house all to myself (and as she was my first g/f if im being really truthful im interested in seeing what other varieties of fish there are in the sea(does that make me an a**hole......probably)), but I do get lonely quite a lot, im also worried that ill never meet anyone else as im a bit of a chubby chap and although have lots of freinds who are girls worry that no one will be interested in me again.

As for going on about this death malachy, I had the same thoughts a little while back..... I think its an age thing that you get in your mid 20's, I recall them speaking about it on radio 1 saying that they'd all had the same thing in their mid 20's. Another thing that stuck in my mind is if we didnt die would we ever get anything done?

dBrowne · 27-11-2007, 1:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toasty

“The world is a thing of utter inordinate complexity and richness and strangeness that is absolutely awesome. I mean the idea that such complexity can arise not only out of such simplicity, but probably absolutely out of nothing, is the most fabulous extraordinary idea. And once you get some kind of inkling of how that might have happened ‘ it’s just wonderful. And . . . the opportunity to spend 70 or 80 years of your life in such a universe is time well spent as far as I am concerned.” - Douglas Adams

Didn't he suffer from such severe depression that he would spend days hiding behind his sofa?

Geege · 27-11-2007, 1:18 PM

Dan -

Now is the time to be selfish and to do what you want to do and achieve in life. The most important person in life in yourself and then your family. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?? What do you want to achieve? Plan ahead now and set a goal that before you turn 30 years old you will achieve those aims in life.

For example. Make a list of countries to visit and start saving for a round the world trip. What is your ideal job/occupation? what would make you happy? Start working towards this now. Do you want to achieve anything else?

Don't give up with regards finding the right person and when you do have children, it will fulfil your life and it will be the happiest time of your life.

Decadence · 27-11-2007, 1:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisag

That is just wrong - I wonder if mods will delete that?

Some people can be so stuffy...as if I would seriously advocate stabbing a homeless person (or indeed any other member of a minority "lifestyle choice" group)...

dognosh · 27-11-2007, 1:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Decadence

Some people can be so stuffy...as if I would seriously advocate stabbing a homeless person (or indeed any other member of a minority "lifestyle choice" group)...

Dancook · 27-11-2007, 1:22 PM

[QUOTE=sim667;5913127][QUOTE=Dancook;5912901]No I don't, I am 25.. [QUOTE]

Im 24 and have just come out of a 5 year relationship which was with my first g/f, I even bought a house for us to live in together

It is upsetting and I do mis my ex a lot, but at the same time I feel quite liberated, Ive got a house all to myself (and as she was my first g/f if im being really truthful im interested in seeing what other varieties of fish there are in the sea(does that make me an a**hole......probably)), but I do get lonely quite a lot, im also worried that ill never meet anyone else as im a bit of a chubby chap and although have lots of freinds who are girls worry that no one will be interested in me again.[QUOTE]

I'm in the same boat - except not chubby

she's moved out and I've been looking to try and take the mortgage on with a parent as a guarantor.

Lonliness seems to make a mess of decisions...

geomuss · 27-11-2007, 1:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dancook

I still can't get past the thinking of, well at that point i'll be dead and carefree... maybe i'll review it in a happier mood

Nope you got that wrong you will just be DEAD.

It sounds as though you need a good kick up the arse and told to get a grip!

We are only here for a short while make the most of it

lisag · 27-11-2007, 1:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Decadence

Some people can be so stuffy...as if I would seriously advocate stabbing a homeless person (or indeed any other member of a minority "lifestyle choice" group)...

Sorry, I didn't mean to be stuffy. If I could see the twinkle in your eye I may have giggled - but in black and white(blue?) like that the tongue in cheekness of it was a little hidden...

lisa