I think about death a bunch.

My main concern with it is I hope it doesn't happen whilst defecating, masturbating, or fornicating...

The last one really isn't too concerning but i worry nonetheless, yadig?

[Edited on April 18, 2012 at 11:08 PM. Reason : page 2, yadig?]

4/18/2012 11:07:48 PM

Assuming humanity isn't killed by WW3, super aids, or global warming... we have terrible luck being born so early in our species' history.

The life expectancy will go up and up and maybe we will turn into immortal cyborgs in space... our ancestors will look back on us feeling sorry for us with our cancer, black plague, and yatta yatta

4/18/2012 11:43:08 PM

Better than been born earlier, though. Sheesh. Talk about glass half empty!

4/19/2012 9:22:12 AM

When I was younger it blew my mind that certain things would never happen again in my life time. It was hard to wrap my head around never seeing the return of a comet or not knowing what tricentiennial quarters will look like. [/nerd]

Now, I tend to think of it terms of length of life and health. Are the things I'm doing now helping to improve my life in the end? Are they shortening my life?

4/19/2012 9:45:08 AM

Quote :

"not knowing what tricentiennial quarters will look like. "

lolomg, I remember the particularly awkward conversation with my parents that stemmed from "wow, I can't wait until we get to see the tricentennial quarters!" They actually took the effort to carefully make the point that they won't be there and there's a good chance I won't either. This is exactly the type of thing I wouldn't bother explaining to a kid. I would just agree that it's going to be awesome and leave it at that.

4/19/2012 10:53:55 AM

i would be 90 years old for the tricentennial...i suppose it's possible...

4/19/2012 11:03:55 AM

Quote :

"lolomg, I remember the particularly awkward conversation with my parents that stemmed from "wow, I can't wait until we get to see the tricentennial quarters!" They actually took the effort to carefully make the point that they won't be there and there's a good chance I won't either. This is exactly the type of thing I wouldn't bother explaining to a kid. I would just agree that it's going to be awesome and leave it at that. "

I think it's healthy to be reminded of your mortality, personally. It adds meaning to each moment we do get. I don't know what how early I would make sure my kids understood it but it would be pretty young.

4/19/2012 11:28:02 AM

I've accepted my fate as a mortal but believe in the Christian idea of the afterlife, thus, while I'm not exactly "excited" to die, I do look forward to seeing those who have gone before me again someday.

4/19/2012 12:46:29 PM

I honestly don't care about if I die or not. As a Christian I believe in an afterlife and it sounds pretty darn good compared to being on earth. I more care about my family and would hate for my parents to have to bury me or something along those lines. Wouldn't want to burden others with something like that (not that I am suicidal or anything like that, more like that is more of my motivation to try and extend this whole living thing). Basically I am not worried about dying but am not exactly going out of my way to do it.

4/19/2012 2:47:31 PM

death freaks me out, I try not to think about it. however, I can't imagine a "nothingness". I feel like it took energy to bring me into this world and that energy has to go somewhere when I leave it whether in the traditional sense of reincarnation or in kind of a lifestream idea. I'm a baptized Episcopalian and I certainly pray to Jesus but I think the Bible should be more metaphorically interpreted than it is.

4/19/2012 2:50:31 PM

Try to imagine what you were like before you were conceived. You were nothing for a very long time. You had a start; it stands to reason you will have an end.

4/19/2012 3:15:17 PM

death freaks me out, I try not to think about it. the lightness can be unbearable...

4/19/2012 3:32:46 PM

i repair my telomeres daily through meditation.

im not going anywhere.

4/19/2012 3:43:54 PM

Quote :

"Try to imagine what you were like before you were conceived. You were nothing for a very long time. You had a start; it stands to reason you will have an end."

Thread title is "your mortality, and your thoughts on it."

Not "your mortality, and your thoughts about everyone else's thoughts on theirs."

4/19/2012 4:28:48 PM

I'm doing heroine for my 90th birthday party

4/19/2012 4:36:28 PM

Wonder Woman?

She-Hulk?

Joan of Arc?

4/19/2012 4:41:01 PM

Quote :

"Thread title is "your mortality, and your thoughts on it." Not "your mortality, and your thoughts about everyone else's thoughts on theirs.""

Thanks for bringing that up to the person that responded to my beliefs on it.

This is a discussion forum. If you don't want people to respond, start a blog without comments.

4/19/2012 4:55:44 PM

I don't presume to remember this life or ones before it, but I think the energy has to pass to somewhere just like it passed into my current human form. Not even saying I'll ever be human again, but the energy has to be part of something otherwise what's the point? cycle of life.

4/19/2012 5:04:13 PM

I'm just saying there's no evidence whatsoever that there is this "energy". No part your body has any physiology to react to or consume this. All theories of vitalism and phlogiston and everything like that have been disproven, so unless this "energy" doesn't interact in any way with physical reality, it doesn't exist. And if it does exist but doesn't intereact with physical reality in any way then it may as well not exist.

My thought experiment was just to get you to imagine "nothingness" which you said you couldn't imagine. Have you ever been knocked out or have a dreamless sleep? That's "nothingness". No consciousness, no existence. Just nothing. The only difference with those "nothingnesses" is they're temporary.

4/19/2012 5:08:31 PM

not enough mana

4/19/2012 5:14:14 PM

nothingness is scary as shit.

4/19/2012 5:47:11 PM

meh. Would you really want to exist forever?

4/19/2012 6:06:50 PM

Quote :

"Of course all scientific theories are partially wrong! That's part of science: constantly improving. Incorrect science is the doorstep to correct science. Everything every human "knows" is imcomplete or wrong to some degree. No one suggests that we will ever know everything about anything. However, you're selling science and particularly medical science extremely short here. We know quite a lot about the immune system and we're continuing to learn and refine our knowledge regarding it. I don't know how you can look at how much science has accomplished and just disregard it."

Yes, so don't act like you have everything figured out. It's one thing to say, "This is what science says but there's probably more to the picture and we can't be definite about anything." It's another to stand on the science as absolute truth without allowing for the idea of a different truth.

And I never just completely disregarded science. Don't put words in my mouth. I work in science, it's what I've staked my entire education and professional life on. My research is on the immune system and I'm telling you that it's mind boggling how complex it is. It's both fascinating and terrifying at the same time. You're right, we do know quite a lot about the immune system. But there is soooo much more that we don't know and don't have an answer for. That's what my point is. We know a lot of things, but you have to be willing to accept that you are completely wrong about something in order to continue doing good science.

Just think back to all of the scientists and brilliant minds that were laughed at because they refused to accept the popular contemporary beliefs of their time. They were mocked and slandered, but they were also right. This continues on today and I refuse to be one of the arrogant asses that pretend to have it all figured out.

4/19/2012 8:24:17 PM

Quote :

"nothingness is scary as shit."

We will never be nothing. I don't like the idea of dying, but i have accepted and embraced the fact that I am going to make some damn good dirt one day. The energy and nutrients from my body will make the grass a little greener and the flowers a little taller that grow in the dirt that my body will fertilize. this is part of the reason i plan to not be embalmed and i already know where i will be buried. My consciousness will certainly dissappear when i die, but my physical being will continue to be recycled until the end of time. I like that.

4/19/2012 8:36:42 PM

Quote :

"Yes, so don't act like you have everything figured out. It's one thing to say, "This is what science says but there's probably more to the picture and we can't be definite about anything." It's another to stand on the science as absolute truth without allowing for the idea of a different truth. And I never just completely disregarded science. Don't put words in my mouth. I work in science, it's what I've staked my entire education and professional life on. My research is on the immune system and I'm telling you that it's mind boggling how complex it is. It's both fascinating and terrifying at the same time. You're right, we do know quite a lot about the immune system. But there is soooo much more that we don't know and don't have an answer for. That's what my point is. We know a lot of things, but you have to be willing to accept that you are completely wrong about something in order to continue doing good science. Just think back to all of the scientists and brilliant minds that were laughed at because they refused to accept the popular contemporary beliefs of their time. They were mocked and slandered, but they were also right. This continues on today and I refuse to be one of the arrogant asses that pretend to have it all figured out."

"don't put words in my mouth"

"don't pretend to have everything figured out."



I can't believe I have to put tentatively, given existing evidence and subject to change next to every scientific claim I cite, but if that's what you neurotic fucks need, then fine.

Quote :

"We will never be nothing. I don't like the idea of dying, but i have accepted and embraced the fact that I am going to make some damn good dirt one day. The energy and nutrients from my body will make the grass a little greener and the flowers a little taller that grow in the dirt that my body will fertilize. this is part of the reason i plan to not be embalmed and i already know where i will be buried. My consciousness will certainly dissappear when i die, but my physical being will continue to be recycled until the end of time. I like that."

Every atom that makes up you comes from the Universe, and to the Universe they shall return. I too find this comforting.

[Edited on April 19, 2012 at 8:41 PM. Reason : .]

4/19/2012 8:40:36 PM

disco_stu never ceases to play mr. know-it-all.

seriously, dude. it's not necessary to pick every little thing apart. you expressed your opinion, you could try letting others express theirs. nobody is close to knowing the ins and outs of life and death, and that's what this thread is about.

[Edited on April 19, 2012 at 9:00 PM. Reason : real talk]

4/19/2012 8:57:26 PM

but somebody is wrong on the internet




[Edited on April 19, 2012 at 9:40 PM. Reason : -]

4/19/2012 9:34:14 PM

/facepalm. Enjoy the myriad fruits of empericism while spitting in its face. Enjoy your comfortable and totally unsported by any kind of evidence beliefs.

If only they had no effect on me and the people I care about.

4/20/2012 1:02:56 AM

Wow, dude. Openness that there could be more to the universe than we know = spitting in the face of empiricism? Really?? No one knows what happens when we die and it's ridiculous to assume that you do. Maybe you've dug up a corpse, powered it up like Frankenstein, and talked to it?

You're acting like people are threatened by your opinions. They aren't. It's the manner in which you present them as all-encompassing truth, while subtly calling everyone else delusional. Let people believe what makes them comfortable, especially regarding such a sensitive topic. If they want to change their minds, they will.

4/20/2012 1:27:16 AM

PM sent.

4/20/2012 1:30:46 AM

I don't tend to think about death that much being in college and whatnot. I think I fear if my death will be painful or not, but I would not say I am afraid of death because of being with Jesus in heaven.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

4/21/2012 9:09:31 PM

you got to be pretty selfish and stupid to be afraid of death i thnik. i think i stop thinking about death when i was like 14 or so. for a little while i convince there would be so technology. then i metaphysics. now i just dont care much. just eat right, etc. mostly to have good quality of life later on. best chance to live forever is cooperation and fast progress toward world peace and prosperity---> funding priorities change---> medical research soars---> frozen heads----> cyborgs or internet people or something.

4/22/2012 3:22:47 PM

Quote :

"you got to be pretty selfish and stupid to be afraid of death i thnik. i think i stop thinking about death when i was like 14 or so. for a little while i convince there would be so technology. then i metaphysics. now i just dont care much. just eat right, etc. mostly to have good quality of life later on. best chance to live forever is cooperation and fast progress toward world peace and prosperity---> funding priorities change---> medical research soars---> frozen heads----> cyborgs or internet people or something."

I think you have to be pretty selfish and stupid to be afraid of punctuation, capitalization, and correct grammar.

4/22/2012 4:21:44 PM

Quote :

"you got to be pretty selfish and stupid to be afraid of death i thnik. i think i stop thinking about death when i was like 14 or so. for a little while i convince there would be so technology. then i metaphysics. now i just dont care much. just eat right, etc. mostly to have good quality of life later on. best chance to live forever is cooperation and fast progress toward world peace and prosperity---> funding priorities change---> medical research soars---> frozen heads----> cyborgs or internet people or something."

And you'd have to be delusional to think technological advances that could make you immortal will be available to you in your lifetime. Hey touchy theists and agnostics, is it OK if I call him or her delusional?

4/22/2012 5:47:45 PM

embed the 2pac hologram

4/22/2012 6:17:32 PM

^^ Yes.

And for real, the answer is just to glorify death. Humans are vastly more manipulable and dumber than everyone is giving them credit for. In many societies people looked forward to death, think about all the festivals that glorified death like "day of the dead". We don't do that here. We don't have any holidays that seriously celebrate death and the media promotes a plastic superman narrative combined with the capitalist thinking that your reward for you efforts is here on Earth (which you probably will be jipped on).

American culture isn't centered around the atheistic view of death, it's the nihilist view of death, which is partly a result of the fact that we used to be mostly Christian, now we're a mix of non-Christians and fake Christians. Nihilism is just the hangover.

4/22/2012 7:41:13 PM

they can all kiss my ass, lord
they can all kiss my ass
if they wanna kiss my ass
then they better do it fast
cause we're all gonna die someday

4/22/2012 7:49:57 PM

I'll take nihilism over a society so engrossed by death that they dig you up every few years and parade you about the town. I'm very glad to see embalming going the way of the dodo as well.

4/22/2012 7:50:10 PM

Quote :

"which is partly a result of the fact that we used to be mostly Christian, now we're a mix of non-Christians"

At first I lol'd.

Quote :

"and fake Christians."

ohhhhhhhhhhh.

<backs away slowly>

Oh, and my favorite poem has to do with the recent theme of this thread:

I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desart. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed:
And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

[Edited on April 23, 2012 at 8:51 AM. Reason : ozymandias]

4/23/2012 8:45:48 AM