Zenmervolt
Elite member
- Oct 22, 2000
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I would prefer not to.
That said, I could deal with it if I had to. Honestly, I was least prepared to die during the time over a year ago when I wanted to die. I don't feel as though I have nearly the amount of loose ends in my life that I once did and I would feel confident that I was at least average in my accomplishments if I died now. There are a lot of areas in which I need to work to improve myself, but overall I am happy with my life and I do not worry terribly about dying.
It's interesting to me that the times I most wanted to die have been the times when I would leave the most embarassing or pathetic sort of legacy while the times that I would prefer to go on living are the times when I know I could die peacefully. From what I've read in this thread, that seems to hold true for most others as well. To me this suggests that some core part of our humanity realises the stupidity of using death as a "get out of jail free" card.
I find it interesting also that there is the automatic assumption that a contemplation of death is inherently indicative of a depressive episode. This seems a uniquely Western view. The way that I begin to see things, as I grow older and more mature (as though I could possibly grow less mature than I am) is that, as we find peace (with ourselves, with the world, etc) the spectre of death fades. Not only the spectre of death as the destroyer of our lives, but also the spectre of death as some sort of misguided "grand finale" that we can usher in on our own to escape the world. No, death eventually simply is. We regard it as something that will happen eventually and we make our peace with that. This is not to suggest that one gives up on living or on the desire to live, but rather that one accepts life as a process that will eventually include death. One needn't even invoke the concept of a diety (though I personally believe in Christ and most of the tenents of the typical Christian theological idea of the afterlife) to find this peace. If one stops and listens long enough, one can find it.
And HC, you must have more thoughts on this than you've given thusfar, let's hear your own ramblings.
You have a habit of excellent questions to which you give cursory answers.
ZV
That said, I could deal with it if I had to. Honestly, I was least prepared to die during the time over a year ago when I wanted to die. I don't feel as though I have nearly the amount of loose ends in my life that I once did and I would feel confident that I was at least average in my accomplishments if I died now. There are a lot of areas in which I need to work to improve myself, but overall I am happy with my life and I do not worry terribly about dying.
It's interesting to me that the times I most wanted to die have been the times when I would leave the most embarassing or pathetic sort of legacy while the times that I would prefer to go on living are the times when I know I could die peacefully. From what I've read in this thread, that seems to hold true for most others as well. To me this suggests that some core part of our humanity realises the stupidity of using death as a "get out of jail free" card.
I find it interesting also that there is the automatic assumption that a contemplation of death is inherently indicative of a depressive episode. This seems a uniquely Western view. The way that I begin to see things, as I grow older and more mature (as though I could possibly grow less mature than I am) is that, as we find peace (with ourselves, with the world, etc) the spectre of death fades. Not only the spectre of death as the destroyer of our lives, but also the spectre of death as some sort of misguided "grand finale" that we can usher in on our own to escape the world. No, death eventually simply is. We regard it as something that will happen eventually and we make our peace with that. This is not to suggest that one gives up on living or on the desire to live, but rather that one accepts life as a process that will eventually include death. One needn't even invoke the concept of a diety (though I personally believe in Christ and most of the tenents of the typical Christian theological idea of the afterlife) to find this peace. If one stops and listens long enough, one can find it.
And HC, you must have more thoughts on this than you've given thusfar, let's hear your own ramblings.
You have a habit of excellent questions to which you give cursory answers. ZV
Many depressed people want to die
Many happy people want to live
but wanting, and minding are two different things Im gathering
Many happy people want to live
but wanting, and minding are two different things Im gathering
- Sep 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I would prefer not to.
That said, I could deal with it if I had to. Honestly, I was least prepared to die during the time over a year ago when I wanted to die. I don't feel as though I have nearly the amount of loose ends in my life that I once did and I would feel confident that I was at least average in my accomplishments if I died now. There are a lot of areas in which I need to work to improve myself, but overall I am happy with my life and I do not worry terribly about dying.
It's interesting to me that the times I most wanted to die have been the times when I would leave the most embarassing or pathetic sort of legacy while the times that I would prefer to go on living are the times when I know I could die peacefully. From what I've read in this thread, that seems to hold true for most others as well. To me this suggests that some core part of our humanity realises the stupidity of using death as a "get out of jail free" card.
I find it interesting also that there is the automatic assumption that a contemplation of death is inherently indicative of a depressive episode. This seems a uniquely Western view. The way that I begin to see things, as I grow older and more mature (as though I could possibly grow less mature than I am) is that, as we find peace (with ourselves, with the world, etc) the spectre of death fades. Not only the spectre of death as the destroyer of our lives, but also the spectre of death as some sort of misguided "grand finale" that we can usher in on our own to escape the world. No, death eventually simply is. We regard it as something that will happen eventually and we make our peace with that. This is not to suggest that one gives up on living or on the desire to live, but rather that one accepts life as a process that will eventually include death. One needn't even invoke the concept of a diety (though I personally believe in Christ and most of the tenents of the typical Christian theological idea of the afterlife) to find this peace. If one stops and listens long enough, one can find it.
And HC, you must have more thoughts on this than you've given thusfar, let's hear your own ramblings.
ZV
You overanalyze stuff. Life coach for ZV
- Sep 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: Xyclone
Hell yes I would mind! How depressed are you!?
Not at all. Got a great job, husband, family and friends. Happy as a clam. Still wouldn't mind.
None of us has any great knowledge of whether or not there is an afterlife or what its form is. I think making assumptions about it is no light matter, and those assumptions are likely to be wrong.
To any thinking "well, what's my life worth anyways", I challenge you to change the answer, value your capacity of heart and head and spirit, and to know that if there is an afterlife, then certainly, the figurative heart and head and spirit will to some degree matter there, but the body and its material accomplishments as such likely wouldn't.
To any thinking "well, the afterlife is the real show, as long as I have a positive balance in my account, I'll be well-rewarded", I challenge you to consider that if the purpose of life is merely to demonstrate a positive balance, then life could be a whole lot shorter and simpler. So value life, and what might still be accomplished for the heart and head and spirit in living it.
To any thinking "well, what's my life worth anyways", I challenge you to change the answer, value your capacity of heart and head and spirit, and to know that if there is an afterlife, then certainly, the figurative heart and head and spirit will to some degree matter there, but the body and its material accomplishments as such likely wouldn't.
To any thinking "well, the afterlife is the real show, as long as I have a positive balance in my account, I'll be well-rewarded", I challenge you to consider that if the purpose of life is merely to demonstrate a positive balance, then life could be a whole lot shorter and simpler. So value life, and what might still be accomplished for the heart and head and spirit in living it.
Zenmervolt
Elite member
- Oct 22, 2000
- 24,514
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Ah, but I find great joy in over-analysing. It's something I haven't delved into since very shortly after college and I am elated to find the beginnings of a once-dead mode of thought returning.Originally posted by: HotChic
You overanalyze stuff. Life coach for ZVOriginally posted by: Zenmervolt
I would prefer not to.
That said, I could deal with it if I had to. Honestly, I was least prepared to die during the time over a year ago when I wanted to die. I don't feel as though I have nearly the amount of loose ends in my life that I once did and I would feel confident that I was at least average in my accomplishments if I died now. There are a lot of areas in which I need to work to improve myself, but overall I am happy with my life and I do not worry terribly about dying.
It's interesting to me that the times I most wanted to die have been the times when I would leave the most embarassing or pathetic sort of legacy while the times that I would prefer to go on living are the times when I know I could die peacefully. From what I've read in this thread, that seems to hold true for most others as well. To me this suggests that some core part of our humanity realises the stupidity of using death as a "get out of jail free" card.
I find it interesting also that there is the automatic assumption that a contemplation of death is inherently indicative of a depressive episode. This seems a uniquely Western view. The way that I begin to see things, as I grow older and more mature (as though I could possibly grow less mature than I am) is that, as we find peace (with ourselves, with the world, etc) the spectre of death fades. Not only the spectre of death as the destroyer of our lives, but also the spectre of death as some sort of misguided "grand finale" that we can usher in on our own to escape the world. No, death eventually simply is. We regard it as something that will happen eventually and we make our peace with that. This is not to suggest that one gives up on living or on the desire to live, but rather that one accepts life as a process that will eventually include death. One needn't even invoke the concept of a diety (though I personally believe in Christ and most of the tenents of the typical Christian theological idea of the afterlife) to find this peace. If one stops and listens long enough, one can find it.
And HC, you must have more thoughts on this than you've given thusfar, let's hear your own ramblings.
ZV
It's a part of me that I thought I'd lost and now I see that it is possible in some ways to return to that which I once was. At least, to something similar to that which I once was, for any time one adds experiences to his life's store, he changes himself and so I am returning to a changed same-ness, certainly different and hopefully at least slightly wiser, but a sameness nonetheless. In some ways to grow older is really no more than the process of remembering how to be young.
But I divert from the thread (very likely proving your point) and my left hand is cramping from tiredness and typing so I'm probably best to leave this stand and retreat for the moment.
ZV
Zenmervolt
Elite member
- Oct 22, 2000
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- Sep 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: HotChic
Reading about the N Korea nuke got me thinking. It really wouldn't bother me to die right now if they dropped a nuke on us, if only it was a swift death. It doesn't seem either frightening or inconvenient.
So, would you mind/fear dying right now? Don't make fun of my question if it doesn't make sense to you - it makes sense to me.
Wow, you're a freak.
- Sep 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: ndee
Originally posted by: HotChic
Reading about the N Korea nuke got me thinking. It really wouldn't bother me to die right now if they dropped a nuke on us, if only it was a swift death. It doesn't seem either frightening or inconvenient.
So, would you mind/fear dying right now? Don't make fun of my question if it doesn't make sense to you - it makes sense to me.
Wow, you're a freak.
Thank you.
I would not mind.
You lack perspective.
Originally posted by: ndee
Originally posted by: HotChic
Reading about the N Korea nuke got me thinking. It really wouldn't bother me to die right now if they dropped a nuke on us, if only it was a swift death. It doesn't seem either frightening or inconvenient.
So, would you mind/fear dying right now? Don't make fun of my question if it doesn't make sense to you - it makes sense to me.
Wow, you're a freak.
You lack perspective.
yes, i would mind dying, i have yet to have the experience the joys, sorrow, pissed off, happiness, sadness, rage, kidness, of having kids.
Originally posted by: Seer
I would not mind.
Originally posted by: ndee
Originally posted by: HotChic
Reading about the N Korea nuke got me thinking. It really wouldn't bother me to die right now if they dropped a nuke on us, if only it was a swift death. It doesn't seem either frightening or inconvenient.
So, would you mind/fear dying right now? Don't make fun of my question if it doesn't make sense to you - it makes sense to me.
Wow, you're a freak.
You lack perspective.
It would totally suck if I would die and that's why I would mind. What stupid question is that?
Yeah, but that doesn't mean that you have to be OK with the idea. I mean, nobody is really all that great a lose to anyone except the people they are close to, and that doesn' stop them from fighting tooth and nail for survival.
I'd prefer to live a few more decades, thank you.
Not a bit.
There is nothing I have a burning desire to accomplish "before I die," and I have no duties that obligate me to continue to exist.
I have no particular desire to lose my life, but there's nothing in it I desperately cling to.
As an agnostic I firmly believe that either there is an afterlife, or there isn't . But neither alternative frightens me since I don't feel a need for life to have a special meaning or higher purpose, though it's a nice idea.
There is nothing I have a burning desire to accomplish "before I die," and I have no duties that obligate me to continue to exist.
I have no particular desire to lose my life, but there's nothing in it I desperately cling to.
As an agnostic I firmly believe that either there is an afterlife, or there isn't
. But neither alternative frightens me since I don't feel a need for life to have a special meaning or higher purpose, though it's a nice idea.I would mind. I'm 20 and I have not achieved any of major experiences in life (like getting laid/get a good job/kids/whatever). In fact i'm such a bastard, I would wanna live even if I have my arms and legs blown off, so long as I can do at least something.
timosyy
Golden Member
- Dec 19, 2003
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This is a question I've wrestled with a while. Last year, my answer would have been an instant "no". I was at a point where I honestly felt like I should just get drunk, get laid, and step in front of a bus. I would not seek death, but I wouldn't terribly mind if I did (I found also that friends get really freaked out if you turn to them and remark upon which songs you would like played at your funeral if you died soon). I remember telling a friend I couldn't promise to see her in a week because I might die between now and then (it was a matter-of-fact thing, not a threat or anything, and I wasn't contemplating suicide, trust me).
Right now I sort of have something to prove though, which will take a year (until next fall, at least). It would kind of suck to have that gnawing at me if I died between now and then, so yes, I do mind, right now. We humans are prideful creatures.
Right now I sort of have something to prove though, which will take a year (until next fall, at least). It would kind of suck to have that gnawing at me if I died between now and then, so yes, I do mind, right now. We humans are prideful creatures.
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