Another year, what's the point?

[bkrich83]

Re: Another year, what's the point?

To watch the Chargers rip my heart out once again.

Oh and to watch USC dismantle another Big 10 team in the Rose Bowl.

[Brandon13]

Re: Another year, what's the point?

I don't believe there is a point. So savoring the positive moments in life and not dwelling on the negative ones is about the best I can come up with.

[GSW]

Re: Another year, what's the point?

Giving life a point is a human creation. The dog, the tree, the rose do not live with a point. They simply live. They don't live for, like us humans do, they just live.

It is in our "living for" that we find perceived happiness, but that happiness is only temporary. When what we "live for" dies (literally and/or metaphorically) we fall tremendously, unable to exist without that thing which we depended on so heavily for our happiness.

When one can live, not trying to achieve or gain anything, without a point, then there is that happiness that can not be taken away.

I'm a fairly relgious/spiritual person... but i must say its insanely difficult to argue or disagree with this take.

[countryboy]

Re: Another year, what's the point?

Giving life a point is a human creation. The dog, the tree, the rose do not live with a point. They simply live. They don't live for, like us humans do, they just live.

It is in our "living for" that we find perceived happiness, but that happiness is only temporary. When what we "live for" dies (literally and/or metaphorically) we fall tremendously, unable to exist without that thing which we depended on so heavily for our happiness.

When one can live, not trying to achieve or gain anything, without a point, then there is that happiness that can not be taken away.

Well said Mossfan, well said. I don't know that I've heard a better answer to the question above, nor to any question similar.

[fistofrage]

Re: Another year, what's the point?

Giving life a point is a human creation. The dog, the tree, the rose do not live with a point. They simply live. They don't live for, like us humans do, they just live.

It is in our "living for" that we find perceived happiness, but that happiness is only temporary. When what we "live for" dies (literally and/or metaphorically) we fall tremendously, unable to exist without that thing which we depended on so heavily for our happiness.

When one can live, not trying to achieve or gain anything, without a point, then there is that happiness that can not be taken away.

While I think this is an excellent response, I can't say as I agree. Take the dog for example, while they are programmed to live as you describe, they have certain natural characteristics that define their need to survive....Which is basically live for the sake of living.

However, the dog(well at least some) also takes pleasure in serving their master or just playing. They are going beyond just living, they are doing something for a purpose outside of just survival. In those regards they are just like the human in the fact that they have their own agenda, tend to do what pleases them, and long in aticipation for the next time they will get to do something they enjoy.

And how does someone live without trying to achieve or gain anything? Its not possible. Even if you were dropped in the middle of no where with nothing, you would at minimum try to survive. You would build shelter, gather food and because you have a mind you would think and dream. Your thoughts would lead you to improve your shelter, increase your diet, etc. For a human, even a mammal like a dog for that matter to live as you describe it would have to be devoid of thought.

[Mossfan8480]

Re: Another year, what's the point?

However, the dog(well at least some) also takes pleasure in serving their master or just playing. They are going beyond just living, they are doing something for a purpose outside of just survival. In those regards they are just like the human in the fact that they have their own agenda, tend to do what pleases them, and long in aticipation for the next time they will get to do something they enjoy.

We actually agree on more than you think.

One should take pleasure in what it is that they enjoy, and should spend their life doing things which they truly love. But the difference between dogs and humans is that we start basing our living and overall happiness on our pleasures. That is the "living for." We live not in the moment, but for a specific moment when all is great, when we are being pleasured. And when this moment is not the present, when it is a projection into the future or a reflection of the past we become sad and depressed.

We may have family over for the night, having a tremendous time talking, playing games, but they will leave, and the pleasure of the night will come to an end. We as humans tend to cling to this pleasure and not allow it to "die." And when it does die which is inevitable, when our family does leave, we want them back. We want that moment again, and again, and again. All of our actions become directed at recreating that moment which is now gone, dead, all while missing the present moment and the numerous beauties it offers.

The dog is able to let the moment go, to move on to new moments. That is the difference between the human "living for," and the dog living. Just observe a dog. Play with it, have a great time playing fetch. Then watch as you leave the dog, the dog lets you go, and goes on its own way. It accepts that the moment has passed. When you come back, it is not angry that you ended play last time, it is happy that its friend is back.

And how does someone live without trying to achieve or gain anything? Its not possible. Even if you were dropped in the middle of no where with nothing, you would at minimum try to survive. You would build shelter, gather food and because you have a mind you would think and dream. Your thoughts would lead you to improve your shelter, increase your diet, etc. For a human, even a mammal like a dog for that matter to live as you describe it would have to be devoid of thought.

One can only live without trying to achieve or gain anything by understanding what achievement and acquisition truly is. It is not about living with nothing, it is about living without the need for anything. If the woman you love, loves you, be with her. But if that same women does not love you back, can you live happily without it?

[fistofrage]

Re: Another year, what's the point?

We actually agree on more than you think.

One should take pleasure in what it is that they enjoy, and should spend their life doing things which they truly love. But the difference between dogs and humans is that we start basing our living and overall happiness on our pleasures. That is the "living for." We live not in the moment, but for a specific moment when all is great, when we are being pleasured. And when this moment is not the present, when it is a projection into the future or a reflection of the past we become sad and depressed.

We may have family over for the night, having a tremendous time talking, playing games, but they will leave, and the pleasure of the night will come to an end. We as humans tend to cling to this pleasure and not allow it to "die." And when it does die which is inevitable, when our family does leave, we want them back. We want that moment again, and again, and again. All of our actions become directed at recreating that moment which is now gone, dead, all while missing the present moment and the numerous beauties it offers.

The dog is able to let the moment go, to move on to new moments. That is the difference between the human "living for," and the dog living. Just observe a dog. Play with it, have a great time playing fetch. Then watch as you leave the dog, the dog lets you go, and goes on its own way. It accepts that the moment has passed. When you come back, it is not angry that you ended play last time, it is happy that its friend is back.




One can only live without trying to achieve or gain anything by understanding what achievement and acquisition truly is. It is not about living with nothing, it is about living without the need for anything. If the woman you love, loves you, be with her. But if that same women does not love you back, can you live happily without it?

But the dog doesn't let you go, he anxiously awaits for your return at the window.

And as far as being satisfied with what you have. I completely understand that concept....but you had to "live for something" in order to get to your point of satisfaction. For example if you at this moment are completely satisfied with what you have, a loving family, a home to live in, a job, etc. You had to strive for something in order to get where you are now. You had to have a dream beyond the present to get from point a to point b. Point b, being the level where you are now. What we agree on is that there are people always trying to get to point c, which is the unattainable and just aren't satisfied being at point b or somewhere between a & b. That's when people start asking questions like "What's the point?"

[ODogg]

Re: Another year, what's the point?

Why does there need to be a point?

That's a good point...I don't know, I suppose some folks can simply exist whereas others feel a need to aspire to find out what the point is.

[ODogg]

Re: Another year, what's the point?

Giving life a point is a human creation. The dog, the tree, the rose do not live with a point. They simply live. They don't live for, like us humans do, they just live.

It is in our "living for" that we find perceived happiness, but that happiness is only temporary. When what we "live for" dies (literally and/or metaphorically) we fall tremendously, unable to exist without that thing which we depended on so heavily for our happiness.

When one can live, not trying to achieve or gain anything, without a point, then there is that happiness that can not be taken away.

this is a great answer!

[muggins]

Re: Another year, what's the point?

I asked my dad one time what his end goal in life was, and he said "To make sure my kids have a better life than I did". This is now my point in life - even though I'm not even married yet (July 09) and don't have any kids. Some people want to have a family, some don't. That is all.

Also my other point in life is to live long enough to see the Bills win a Super Bowl.

[fistofrage]

Re: Another year, what's the point?

I asked my dad one time what his end goal in life was, and he said "To make sure my kids have a better life than I did". This is now my point in life - even though I'm not even married yet (July 09) and don't have any kids. Some people want to have a family, some don't. That is all.

Also my other point in life is to live long enough to see the Bills win a Super Bowl.

I once said when I was younger that if I Got a hole in one golfing, had a beautiful heathy child, and caught a Musky larger than my dad's family record of 49 inches, my life would be complete and they could take me away a happy man.

I aced a hole in 95, had a beautiful daughter in 2005, and then promplty gave up fishing.

[bsb13]

Re: Another year, what's the point?

We are all born with a God sized hole in are heart. Booze, drugs, sex, and video games wont solve it.

Mark my words.....you may be in bed right next to your love one, but you will still feel alone in your heart. And you always will feel alone with out God in you're life.

[Brandon13]

Re: Another year, what's the point?

We are all born with a God sized hole in are heart. Booze, drugs, sex, and video games wont solve it.

Mark my words.....you may be in bed right next to your love one, but you will still feel alone in your heart. And you always will feel alone with out God in you're life.

Well, that's just not true for many people. But if it works for you then good.

[Pared]

Re: Another year, what's the point?

Just my take but this question usually comes from those that are lonely.

Do you have anyone special in your life, ODogg?

[Mossfan8480]

Re: Another year, what's the point?

Just my take but this question usually comes from those that are lonely.

Do you have anyone special in your life, ODogg?

Pared, aren't we all lonely? Yes, one may have a wife, a girlfriend, a son, but our relationships with these "special" people only serve as a temporary patching of our loneliness. It is not a cleansing of our loneliness so much as it is a rinse.

We become dependent on them, and when they are gone, we are lost. We try to find someone else to fulfill that need, another "special" person, all the while missing the key. The one thing that is always there, never gone, is ourselves. And when we can love and find delight in ourselves, not in a narcisitic way, we are no longer dependent on relationships. Which is beautiful, because our relationships are now able to be something far greater than they were. Devoid of fear, jealousy, anxiousness, hate, all those feelings that come with dependency.