JoeyC said:

ZombieKitten said:

I get up each day only with the promise that once I do all the things I have to I can go back to bed

I never do go back to bed, but I could if I wanted to

The thought of returning back to my snuggly warm bed gets me up

The woman I love

The child we created

Building a future as a family

Life is what you make it, we are all responsible for our own decisions and as such how our life turns out. If we make shit decisions, we have to turn that around and make things how we want them to be. Nobody will come along and hand us what we want, take away the pain or guide us to our Nirvana.

Unhappiness, not being where we want in life is down to nobody but us, plain and simple. Take responsibility, change it.

Be all you can be, do all you can do, live life and grasp your chance with both hands.

aequalitas said:

The woman I love

The child we created

Building a future as a family

Life is what you make it, we are all responsible for our own decisions and as such how our life turns out. If we make shit decisions, we have to turn that around and make things how we want them to be. Nobody will come along and hand us what we want, take away the pain or guide us to our Nirvana.

Unhappiness, not being where we want in life is down to nobody but us, plain and simple. Take responsibility, change it.

Be all you can be, do all you can do, live life and grasp your chance with both hands.

With respect, that's utter bollocks.

You must have good health and a healthy family. Lucky you.

Fonkyman said:

aequalitas said:

The woman I love

The child we created

Building a future as a family

Life is what you make it, we are all responsible for our own decisions and as such how our life turns out. If we make shit decisions, we have to turn that around and make things how we want them to be. Nobody will come along and hand us what we want, take away the pain or guide us to our Nirvana.

Unhappiness, not being where we want in life is down to nobody but us, plain and simple. Take responsibility, change it.

Be all you can be, do all you can do, live life and grasp your chance with both hands.

With respect, that's utter bollocks.

You must have good health and a healthy family. Lucky you.

Bullshit.

You can be happy and sick, you can be happy and poor, you can be happy and all sorts of things. If you don't wish to take responsibility then that is exactly what I am talking about.

Whatever. Your happiness is your responsibility, not mine.

Assesing your goals and abilities is key to happiness.

dJJ said:

I was born.


I had no choice in that procedure.

I'm alive because since then I've not had an accident or illness with deadly consequences.

The answer to the meaning of life is 42.


And that's it. Why does my life need a specific reason for existence?



I'm not different from any other human being who is alive. No special reason for it.

Just like my cat, the birds flying in the sky and the fish swimming in the canals.

We'r all living in a few square feet in Amsterdam. For no special reason, just a chain of events that lead up the current situation.

I do find living very painfull, harsh and challenging.

And sometimes overwhelming wonderful and beautiful.

Both kind of experiences amaze me and are impressive.









My cat thinks the reason of my life is to take care of him.



And I also agree with him.

I really like your answer. I find that I have absolutely nothing to live for.

aequalitas said:

Fonkyman said:

With respect, that's utter bollocks.

You must have good health and a healthy family. Lucky you.

Bullshit.

You can be happy and sick, you can be happy and poor, you can be happy and all sorts of things. If you don't wish to take responsibility then that is exactly what I am talking about.

Whatever. Your happiness is your responsibility, not mine.

Assesing your goals and abilities is key to happiness.

aequalitas said:

Fonkyman said:

With respect, that's utter bollocks.

You must have good health and a healthy family. Lucky you.

Bullshit.

You can be happy and sick, you can be happy and poor, you can be happy and all sorts of things. If you don't wish to take responsibility then that is exactly what I am talking about.

Whatever. Your happiness is your responsibility, not mine.

Assesing your goals and abilities is key to happiness.

To a good extent...you are BOTH right.

You can be "ill" (cancer, diabetes, amputation) and have a positive outlook ("happy"). That doesn't mean that you are content, but you aren't exactly miserable & depressed.

However, there can be certain illnessess that are so severe and so debilitating that happiness in any form is not possible. I knew someone (former co-worker) who got skin cancer - she got it treated, and had a positive outlook on life as she was going through chemo.
When it spread into her lungs...she wound up so debilitated (in a wheelchair, even speech-impaired towards the end) that there was no "happiness" to be found since we all knew where she was headed. The funeral was a heartbreaking event, especially when reminiscing about how positive & lively she had been in life.



But poverty (as in the lack of material things) does not necessarily equal unhappiness. I agree with that.

^ Exactly.

aequalitas said:

Bullshit.

You can be happy and sick, you can be happy and poor, you can be happy and all sorts of things. If you don't wish to take responsibility then that is exactly what I am talking about.

Whatever. Your happiness is your responsibility, not mine.

Assesing your goals and abilities is key to happiness.

Hands up, I forgot where I was posting.

I'm not speaking of my happiness.

I wont get too involved but I know far too many horror stories to even begin to agree. All being well, you'll never have the same enlightenment or realisation and will carry on in your blissful happiness. Congratulations on your positivity.

I'm well aware you can be happy and sick or happy and poor, to a point. Not everyone's in a position to 'take responsibility' and make decisions for themselves. Not everyone can change the position they're in.

90 year old with onset of dementia. No family support, mentally and physically abused by 'carers'. Shits themselves without so much as blinking. Are they responsible? Can they make decisions? How do they assess their goals and abilities? Do you think they're happy?

9 year old being physically and mentally abused by one parent. Physically, mentally and sexually abused by the other parent. They're taken into social care after the suicide of one of the parents where they're mentally, physically and sexually abused again, this time by strangers. Are they responsible? Can they make decisions? How do they assess their goals and abilities? Do you think they're happy?

27 year old. No relatives or friends but has a cute puppy and bakes nice cakeys. Terminally ill. Three weeks after being diagnosed they're hit by a drunk driver leaving them paralysed, brain damaged, bedridden and being fed through a tube. Are they responsible? Can they make decisions? How do they assess their goals and abilities? Do you think they're happy?

You're so wrong you could start a religion. Like I said before, good luck, I wish you all the best and, of course, happiness.

Fonkyman said:

^ Exactly.

aequalitas said:

Bullshit.

You can be happy and sick, you can be happy and poor, you can be happy and all sorts of things. If you don't wish to take responsibility then that is exactly what I am talking about.

Whatever. Your happiness is your responsibility, not mine.

Assesing your goals and abilities is key to happiness.

Hands up, I forgot where I was posting.

No, you just decided to think in absolutes instead of general rules.

I'm not speaking of my happiness.

I wont get too involved but I know far too many horror stories to even begin to agree. All being well, you'll never have the same enlightenment or realisation and will carry on in your blissful happiness. Congratulations on your positivity. Thanks, I have had some pretty shitty times including temporary paralization leading to months of rehab, hasn't really changed me.

I'm well aware you can be happy and sick or happy and poor, to a point. Not everyone's in a position to 'take responsibility' and make decisions for themselves. Not everyone can change the position they're in. Most people are.

90 year old with onset of dementia. No family support, mentally and physically abused by 'carers'. Shits themselves without so much as blinking. Are they responsible? Can they make decisions? How do they assess their goals and abilities? Do you think they're happy? At that point, probably not, I wonder if they were EVER in the place they were in control or the current situation negates the FACT they were?

9 year old being physically and mentally abused by one parent. Physically, mentally and sexually abused by the other parent. They're taken into social care after the suicide of one of the parents where they're mentally, physically and sexually abused again, this time by strangers. Are they responsible? Can they make decisions? How do they assess their goals and abilities? Do you think they're happy?

27 year old. No relatives or friends but has a cute puppy and bakes nice cakeys. Terminally ill. Three weeks after being diagnosed they're hit by a drunk driver leaving them paralysed, brain damaged, bedridden and being fed through a tube. Are they responsible? Can they make decisions? How do they assess their goals and abilities? Do you think they're happy?

You're so wrong you could start a religion. Like I said before, good luck, I wish you all the best and, of course, happiness.

Oh I will, thanks, I appreciate your best wishes.

You see this outlook is why you will never be happy. Nothing in this life is 100%, including generalizations on a GD forum.

In general, MOST people have their happiness in their own hands. I am sure, being the little ray of sunshine that you are and deciding to focus the negative you will find something to argue about.

aequalitas said:

Fonkyman said:

^ Exactly.

Hands up, I forgot where I was posting.

No, you just decided to think in absolutes instead of general rules.

I'm not speaking of my happiness.

I wont get too involved but I know far too many horror stories to even begin to agree. All being well, you'll never have the same enlightenment or realisation and will carry on in your blissful happiness. Congratulations on your positivity. Thanks, I have had some pretty shitty times including temporary paralization leading to months of rehab, hasn't really changed me.

I'm well aware you can be happy and sick or happy and poor, to a point. Not everyone's in a position to 'take responsibility' and make decisions for themselves. Not everyone can change the position they're in. Most people are.

90 year old with onset of dementia. No family support, mentally and physically abused by 'carers'. Shits themselves without so much as blinking. Are they responsible? Can they make decisions? How do they assess their goals and abilities? Do you think they're happy? At that point, probably not, I wonder if they were EVER in the place they were in control or the current situation negates the FACT they were?

9 year old being physically and mentally abused by one parent. Physically, mentally and sexually abused by the other parent. They're taken into social care after the suicide of one of the parents where they're mentally, physically and sexually abused again, this time by strangers. Are they responsible? Can they make decisions? How do they assess their goals and abilities? Do you think they're happy?

27 year old. No relatives or friends but has a cute puppy and bakes nice cakeys. Terminally ill. Three weeks after being diagnosed they're hit by a drunk driver leaving them paralysed, brain damaged, bedridden and being fed through a tube. Are they responsible? Can they make decisions? How do they assess their goals and abilities? Do you think they're happy?

You're so wrong you could start a religion. Like I said before, good luck, I wish you all the best and, of course, happiness.

Oh I will, thanks, I appreciate your best wishes.

You see this outlook is why you will never be happy. Nothing in this life is 100%, including generalizations on a GD forum.

In general, MOST people have their happiness in their own hands. I am sure, being the little ray of sunshine that you are and deciding to focus the negative you will find something to argue about.

deebee.

Many a time it is so I don't have to do it again.

I figure if I commit suicide, all the lessons that I was to learn in this lifetime I will have to come back and learn in another.

Add to that that my daughter is but 11 yrs old and it would be devastating to her if I offed myself. They say that children of suicide victims never really get over it.

Also, lastly, if I do rise out of the ashes in this lifetime after all these years it will be an amazing story.

See? Deebee's awake.

aequalitas said:

Oh I will, thanks, I appreciate your best wishes.

You see this outlook is why you will never be happy. Nothing in this life is 100%, including generalizations on a GD forum.

In general, MOST people have their happiness in their own hands. I am sure, being the little ray of sunshine that you are and deciding to focus the negative you will find something to argue about.

Thanks for telling me I'll never be happy. As if you know what you're talking about.

"In general" and "most" aint gonna sell it either, regardless of your chirpiness or lack of wisdom.

I don't mind, after all I'm a little ray of sunshine.

deebee said:

aequalitas said:

Oh I will, thanks, I appreciate your best wishes.

You see this outlook is why you will never be happy. Nothing in this life is 100%, including generalizations on a GD forum.

In general, MOST people have their happiness in their own hands. I am sure, being the little ray of sunshine that you are and deciding to focus the negative you will find something to argue about.

But it's not just about being negative; it's about considering the real, material basis on which all these things that might contribute to our 'spiritual' wellbeing (being able to fulfil one's true potential, working on something that you truly value, holding a position in which other people grant you recognition and respect, etc) is based. Yes, each of us can find fulfilment in things like our family relationships, etc, and people do, but it's not all down to individual choice.

A couple of examples: It's often a meaningful, fulfilling thing to marry the person you love, but if the law of the land forbids you from doing that, you have less opportunity to achieve that than those whose ability to marry is not impeded. The argument that it all boils down to 'what you make of it' is therefore a deeply conservative one, in this respect. It would mean we say to the gay people looking for 'aequalitas' in terms of marriage rights, "Look, if you're not happy, it's you're own fault. Happiness is in your own hands; it's an individual matter. What you need to do is just be happy with what you've got and stop complaining that it's not as much as other people have." Nicely twisted. In no way was that what I said. I am a firm believer and campaigner for equal rights and opportunity. However I don't believe that the lack of opportunity decreases the love in a relationship, decreases the opportunity to be all you can be within that relationship or LESSENS that relationship in any way. What one can achieve in that situation IS oin your own hands, you know why? If you sit on your butt and do nothing then we would not be where we are today, we would all be sat, miserable and complaining when we are now at 12 states in this country were you CAN fulfill your dream. See how it works?

Likewise, in the sphere of work and economics. If you're stacking shelves in WalMart, you're likely to find that considerably less meaningful and fulfilling than, say, being a university lecturer reading and debating interesting subjects, or a surgeon helping to save people's lives - both of which involve considerable education (and therefore cash) to get into. They also offer better remuneration, which gives you greater freedom to invest in all kinds of pursuits you find meaningful, enjoyable, and 'self-cultivating'. Also, many of the most fulfilling things we do are done in our leisure time (reading and learning about new things, spending time with family and friends, etc). But if you're working two or even three jobs, trying to make ends meet, you have less opportunity to do that than someone with a better-paid job that allows them to work less hours, gives them decent holiday time, etc. They can get the whole weekend to take the kids out, go to the exhibition or the play, read the fascinating book, etc; and their better rate of pay will mean they get enough to treat themselves and their loved ones more often. Again, saying, "It's all up to you. If you're not happy, it's your own fault" erases all of that; and it allows those who are in a more privileged position to smugly look at those who aren't and falsely credit their own sense of wellbeing to nothing more than their own 'good choices'. Yes, we all have some choice in how things play out, but there's a whole world of factors outside that. Nicely defeatest. It has nothing to do with a smug attitude and everything to do with how much you want to change things. In the picture you just painted there is nothing to stop a person changing their future. Is it hard? yes, will it take sacrifice and work? yes. Is it insurmountable? Hell no!

We don't all have the same abilities, drive and motivations. Should we have the same opportunities to succeed? Of course we should. That does not mean we should all have the same things. Does not mean we all deserve to be millionaires.

What about my pictures? Can you do those too?

Can they change their futures? No, not all of them. Is it hard? No, it's impossible. Will it take sacrifice and work? No, it wouldn't make a difference. Is it unsurmountable? Yes, and ridiculous.

You're twisting it. How's happiness to do with justice and equality here? I mean, obviously they've got a lot to do with some aspects of happiness but that wasn't your argument. It's all in your hands, grasp the dream, take the plunge... Into reality.

HAPPY

My reason for living is a combination of three things:
My respiratory system, the cosistent beating of my heart, & my medulla oblongata regulating it all.

Fonkyman said:

What about my pictures? Can you do those too?

Can they change their futures? No, not all of them. Is it hard? No, it's impossible. Will it take sacrifice and work? No, it wouldn't make a difference. Is it unsurmountable? Yes, and ridiculous.

You're twisting it. How's happiness to do with justice and equality here? I mean, obviously they've got a lot to do with some aspects of happiness but that wasn't your argument. It's all in your hands, grasp the dream, take the plunge... Into reality.

HAPPY

I can't be bothered arguing with you.

I have worked hard to change what is bad in to what is good. Enjoy looking at the bad in everything.

There are no absolutes in this world, I thought that was a given, apparently to some people looking for a ruck that is not the case.

Enjoy your life, I will certainly enjoy mine.

Off for a dip in the pool now. Its 90 degrees and too hot for arguing.

dick

aequalitas said:

deebee said:

[deebee:] But it's not just about being negative; it's about considering the real, material basis on which all these things that might contribute to our 'spiritual' wellbeing (being able to fulfil one's true potential, working on something that you truly value, holding a position in which other people grant you recognition and respect, etc) is based. Yes, each of us can find fulfilment in things like our family relationships, etc, and people do, but it's not all down to individual choice.

A couple of examples: It's often a meaningful, fulfilling thing to marry the person you love, but if the law of the land forbids you from doing that, you have less opportunity to achieve that than those whose ability to marry is not impeded. The argument that it all boils down to 'what you make of it' is therefore a deeply conservative one, in this respect. It would mean we say to the gay people looking for 'aequalitas' in terms of marriage rights, "Look, if you're not happy, it's you're own fault. Happiness is in your own hands; it's an individual matter. What you need to do is just be happy with what you've got and stop complaining that it's not as much as other people have."

[aequalitas:] Nicely twisted. In no way was that what I said. I am a firm believer and campaigner for equal rights and opportunity. However I don't believe that the lack of opportunity decreases the love in a relationship, decreases the opportunity to be all you can be within that relationship or LESSENS that relationship in any way. What one can achieve in that situation IS oin your own hands, you know why? If you sit on your butt and do nothing then we would not be where we are today, we would all be sat, miserable and complaining when we are now at 12 states in this country were you CAN fulfill your dream. See how it works?

[deebee:] But, with respect, it's your argument that leads to butt-sitting, and my argument that leads to precisely the sort of social change you're describing. Yours says that an individual's ability to achieve happiness is a personal, 'internal' matter: if he's not happy with things as they are, it's his problem, and his individual responsibility to change his attitude towards it. There's no reason to seek broader, social changes; one should simply 'buck up one's ideas', 'try harder', etc. It's my argument that says, yes, of course an individual's happiness can depend on things like attitude and private endeavour to some extent, but it's also the case thtat social factors (e.g. the laws of the land; the economic system, etc) enable some to engage in particular kinds of meaningful, fulfilling activity, and prohibit others from doing so, and that it's wrong to overlook or ignore that.

I agree entirely that people can get together and, through their collective endeavour, change the existing social order to make it less unequal; but they'd have had to recognise that their discontent was more than an individual, private shortcoming to even contemplate that in the first instance. I mean, if each had concluded that it was all about individual attitude or lack of effort, why bother going to the trouble of changing social structures? It makes no sense.

fuck if i know

aequalitas said:

I can't be bothered arguing with you. Is this what you call an argument?

I have worked hard to change what is bad in to what is good. Good on ya, there's plenty to do, keep it up.

Enjoy looking at the bad in everything. Seeing the bad. My eyes are open. Well, half open.

There are no absolutes in this world, I thought that was a given, apparently to some people looking for a ruck that is not the case. Generally mostly?

Enjoy your life, I will certainly enjoy mine. Fanks, you too. How do you know you'll enjoy anything? Good luck though.

Off for a dip in the pool now. Its 90 degrees and too hot for arguing. Oh, bitta cheeky monkey? Enjoy your swim. I heard it's well under 90 but I agree, it's too hot for mass debates and 'arguments'.

Deebee's bang on. So's Vision.

Cuddles said:

dick

Food. Sex. Music.

aequalitas said:

deebee said:

But it's not just about being negative; it's about considering the real, material basis on which all these things that might contribute to our 'spiritual' wellbeing (being able to fulfil one's true potential, working on something that you truly value, holding a position in which other people grant you recognition and respect, etc) is based. Yes, each of us can find fulfilment in things like our family relationships, etc, and people do, but it's not all down to individual choice.

A couple of examples: It's often a meaningful, fulfilling thing to marry the person you love, but if the law of the land forbids you from doing that, you have less opportunity to achieve that than those whose ability to marry is not impeded. The argument that it all boils down to 'what you make of it' is therefore a deeply conservative one, in this respect. It would mean we say to the gay people looking for 'aequalitas' in terms of marriage rights, "Look, if you're not happy, it's you're own fault. Happiness is in your own hands; it's an individual matter. What you need to do is just be happy with what you've got and stop complaining that it's not as much as other people have." Nicely twisted. In no way was that what I said. I am a firm believer and campaigner for equal rights and opportunity. However I don't believe that the lack of opportunity decreases the love in a relationship, decreases the opportunity to be all you can be within that relationship or LESSENS that relationship in any way. What one can achieve in that situation IS oin your own hands, you know why? If you sit on your butt and do nothing then we would not be where we are today, we would all be sat, miserable and complaining when we are now at 12 states in this country were you CAN fulfill your dream. See how it works?

Likewise, in the sphere of work and economics. If you're stacking shelves in WalMart, you're likely to find that considerably less meaningful and fulfilling than, say, being a university lecturer reading and debating interesting subjects, or a surgeon helping to save people's lives - both of which involve considerable education (and therefore cash) to get into. They also offer better remuneration, which gives you greater freedom to invest in all kinds of pursuits you find meaningful, enjoyable, and 'self-cultivating'. Also, many of the most fulfilling things we do are done in our leisure time (reading and learning about new things, spending time with family and friends, etc). But if you're working two or even three jobs, trying to make ends meet, you have less opportunity to do that than someone with a better-paid job that allows them to work less hours, gives them decent holiday time, etc. They can get the whole weekend to take the kids out, go to the exhibition or the play, read the fascinating book, etc; and their better rate of pay will mean they get enough to treat themselves and their loved ones more often. Again, saying, "It's all up to you. If you're not happy, it's your own fault" erases all of that; and it allows those who are in a more privileged position to smugly look at those who aren't and falsely credit their own sense of wellbeing to nothing more than their own 'good choices'. Yes, we all have some choice in how things play out, but there's a whole world of factors outside that. Nicely defeatest. It has nothing to do with a smug attitude and everything to do with how much you want to change things. In the picture you just painted there is nothing to stop a person changing their future. Is it hard? yes, will it take sacrifice and work? yes. Is it insurmountable? Hell no!

We don't all have the same abilities, drive and motivations. Should we have the same opportunities to succeed? Of course we should. That does not mean we should all have the same things. Does not mean we all deserve to be millionaires.

Is the third picture intentionally absurd?

Either that meme is intended for trolling or it's seriously stupid.

missfee said:

Honest answer: I don't know. I ask myself this exact question almost every week and still trying to find the answer.

It's so ironic, I think I've finally found my purpose in life today. I've found that I'm really good with trying to show people other ways of thinking without being forceful or trying to impose my opinions on them. I did this today at work and then thought back to other positions and situations in the past and found that I have a great pattern at achieving this even with the most "A" personality type people. So it makes me feel really good to realize that.

missfee said:

missfee said:

Honest answer: I don't know. I ask myself this exact question almost every week and still trying to find the answer.

It's so ironic, I think I've finally found my purpose in life today. I've found that I'm really good with trying to show people other ways of thinking without being forceful or trying to impose my opinions on them. I did this today at work and then thought back to other positions and situations in the past and found that I have a great pattern at achieving this even with the most "A" personality type people. So it makes me feel really good to realize that.