Philosophical Discussion

JSMcustoms

JSMcustoms

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Feb 2, 2012
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Okay, admit it, how many of you groaned when you read the title?


Now that the jokes are out of the way, on to the more serious stuff. I got into a discussion with a friend earlier today (it was quite a long one so I'm going to have to summarize here or you'll be reading this for a couple of hours. The discussion was on the saying that "you only live once" and I though that his interpretation of it was rather bleak compared with my own. Basically his was that it's a totally horrible saying to live by being that the world is already screwed up enough without people following/saying stuff like this. My response to this was that the saying means something completely different, that it means live your life in a way that you won't regret the choices you've made in the past. Perhaps this would make for a better world and not a worse one if people actually took it the way that I do?
 
Multiple interpretations depending on the existence of any afterlife.

Judeo-Christian = Live the best life you can now since you only get one shot and are going to go to Heaven or Hell depending on your choices.
Reincarnation = Your multiple lives are a long progression towards Nirvana so a sinful life now will only slow your progression, not damn you.
Atheist = Balls to the wall. If you don't get caught by the cops in the here and now, you're home free!
 
Living with hope is the only route that makes sense.

Living in despair only leads to more despair.


Life is what you make it, make it a positive thing.



Big Mike
 
Do what makes you happy without disturbing others. But most of all, marvel at the existence of yourself and everything else around you. Live your life in awe because you'll never understand the reason for it. Until you succeed, that is. ;)
 
Big Mike said:
Living with hope is the only route that makes sense.

Living in despair only leads to more despair.


Life is what you make it, make it a positive thing.



Big Mike
Click to expand...


I agree, without hope, nothing really makes sense. Or it doesn't seem like it would at any rate. And life is for sure what you make it, as well as what you don't make it for that matter.


dttomcat said:
Do what makes you happy without disturbing others. But most of all, marvel at the existence of yourself and everything else around you. Live your life in awe because you'll never understand the reason for it. Until you succeed, that is. ;)
Click to expand...

:thumbup: Couldn't have said it better.
 
I thinks this is very appropriate. . .

“For me the world is weird because it is stupendous, awesome, mysterious, unfathomable; my interest has been to convince you that you must assume responsibility for being here, in this marvelous world, in this marvelous desert, in this marvelous time. I want to convince you that you must learn to make every act count, since you are going to be here for only a short while, in fact, too short for witnessing all the marvels of it.”

― Carlos Castaneda, Journey to Ixtlan
 
JSMcustoms said:
The discussion was on the saying that "you only live once" and I though that his interpretation of it was rather bleak compared with my own. Basically his was that it's a totally horrible saying to live by being that the world is already screwed up enough without people following/saying stuff like this. My response to this was that the saying means something completely different, that it means live your life in a way that you won't regret the choices you've made in the past. Perhaps this would make for a better world and not a worse one if people actually took it the way that I do?
Click to expand...

You're both right. It's just a meaningless saying that people use to justify stuff that they'd do anyway.
To put it differently: I've never heard of anyone who has made the decision to change their life in any way, after hearing that phrase.

Another thing: The only people who follow the whole "YOLO" fad are idiot high schoolers and college students. So, while, the phrase can mean many different things, it's currently mostly being used to justify doing all the stupid shit that high schoolers and college kids have always done. Not really doing any major harm. Or even affecting anything at all, really.
 
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"Atheist = Balls to the wall. If you don't get caught by the cops in the here and now, you're home free!"

Hopefully meant tongue in cheek. I'm an atheist of about 45 years standing, and I know many and communicate regularly with numbers on various forums. I don't know a single one who would invest in such an idea.
Perhaps because atheists generally tend to be rather well-educated, they also tend to have a rather liberal attitude towards life, with a deep appreciation of things intellectual and artistic.
As well, most are humanists, and in valuing humanity, we are not prone to exploit or take advantage of our fellow humans.
Live the best life you can, and if you are so inclined, improve life for others.

As to "you only live once" Well, that's demonstrably true... At least, no compelling evidence of reincarnation has ever been demonstrated.... And despite the constant flood of zombies lately, they still seem to remain in the realm of Hollywood.
So, whether you are religious and believe in an afterlife or non-religious and believe in none... Living well and ethically would seem to be the best course of action.
 
I've often heard it as a justification for doing something stupid or dangerous, but I generally think of it as an admonishment to cherish what you have. Life is not that long, and I'd rather spend it with the people I love.
 
mwerner said:
"Atheist = Balls to the wall. If you don't get caught by the cops in the here and now, you're home free!"

Hopefully meant tongue in cheek. I'm an atheist of about 45 years standing, and I know many and communicate regularly with numbers on various forums. I don't know a single one who would invest in such an idea.
Perhaps because atheists generally tend to be rather well-educated, they also tend to have a rather liberal attitude towards life, with a deep appreciation of things intellectual and artistic.
Click to expand...

It was tongue in cheek. The fact that so many atheists are morally good puts them head and shoulders above the religious masses who are only moral because of their fear of going to Hell if they are not.
 
I always thought YOLO was just something stupid that people put as their clan tag in the MW3 lobbies.
I had no idea it was because of moral superiority.
Either in before the lock or in on one, but I am in!
 
I'm not quite sure what you are all saying but I beleive that we die and that is the end. I live by the goal that people won't remember me for who I am but for what I have done. For example, I have no idea WHO Bob Loveless is but I know that he was one of the most famous knife makers in the world. We should all be remembered for our actions so make sure those actions are ones you are proud of. I'm not sure how relevant that is but it's all I have to say about that.
 
You only live once....I had a huge post written that I erased..still new here.

My take is "It is exactly what it says"

I know way to many people getting through life doing only what needs to be done and thats it.
They are no different than people with a disease that are terminal.
Too many people get to an age that they can't do things because of physical or monitory issues and wish they did things.

So

You only live once..this is a completely different thing to those who can't as opposed to those who can.
Bucket lists are good but should be started at 15 years old not 50 years old.

To me, I want to go into the box worn out with no regrets and am living my life to make sure I do.
Thats my take on this discussion.
 
I worship well-made, finely wrought knives. What does that make me, a knifeiest?

TimberWolf7.62 said:
It was tongue in cheek. The fact that so many atheists are morally good puts them head and shoulders above the religious masses who are only moral because of their fear of going to Hell if they are not.
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you mean like go back in time and change some thing in your life?? yea dont give the basterd a ride home. the one that stabbed me 6 times so I can walk and have a normal life.
 
"You only live once" can be very constructive or very destructive and is in a sense a philosophical Rorschach Test. Generally it means make the most out of life but that begs the question what is life about? To some ( including but not limited to religious Muslims, Jews, Christians and those who believe in reincarnation), it means be the best you can be according to your religious values because you will be judged accordingly. To some it means grab everything you can and do for yourself because that's all there is. I would note that atheists do not necessarily belong to the latter group and "believers" do not necessarily belong to the former, but that entails quite a discussion that your Moderator may or may not want so I'll leave my comments there.
 
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