Freethought & Rationalism Archive

viscousmemories · 01-19-2003, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Buddrow_Wilson
I wouldn't know, personally my net worth is very much in the negative, so investments are the last of my worries. BTW He who dies with the most toys wins? nope. He who dies with the largest debt gets the last laugh? indeed...

Quote:

If life is so meaningless, what do you lose by trying these things? I find it odd to have such wishes or regrets in a meaningless existence. Perhaps what is really troubling you is your increasing awareness of your future obliteration, while 'wasting' the short life you currently have. To me this is about as sad as devoting your life to the sky-fairy, but I must admit to having the same issues at times.

I can't say I'm worried about wasting my "short" life. I had a rough time growing up, and honestly didn't expect to live past twenty. I'm 34 now and I still feel like I'm living on borrowed time, so it's difficult to plan for the future.

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Perhaps, or maybe you would be much worse. There is no way to tell, and these thoughts are rarely constructive. I'm sure there are many people out there who would think it a dream come to true to wile away 10 years on booze and computers

.

Hehe. Yeah, it has had it's moments.

Quote:

Here's a bit of truth. We all know that our emotions and perceptions are largely or completely dependant on the chemical-electrical interactions in our bodies. For some of us no matter what we do, we will not be satisfied because of a genetic predisposition. Self-medicating through alcohol and other drugs is a good sign that this exists within oneself.

I would suggest visiting a psychiatrist to discuss anti-depressants. Whatever adversions you have to doing this, I would ask why? These drugs are much safer than drinking, etc. and actually lead one to stability and the courage to try new things. Perhaps you fear it wouldn't really be you anymore? Possibly, but not anymore so than the drunk version of you isn't the real you. If you had a chance to feel generally happy about existence, wouldn't it be worth trying?

I have gone that route. Which isn't to say that I won't go it again, I'm just apprehensive. Yes, anti-depressants helped me feel more stable, but the desire to socialize eventually took me back to the bar, and once there I went back to my normal routine of drinking too much. While still on Wellbutrin and Zoloft, BTW. Not a very good idea.

I honestly feel like it's safer to stay off anti-depressants than to combine them with alcohol. Then again, I made some decisions that pretty much set me up for failure at that time. I moved to a new city fairly spontaneously (the shrink I was seeing agreed that it sounded like a good idea for me) which resulted in (ultimately) my financial life completely dissolving.

It's a long story, but I'll probably tell it here eventually.

Buddrow_Wilson · 01-19-2003, 08:27 PM

Quote:

I can't say I'm worried about wasting my "short" life. I had a rough time growing up, and honestly didn't expect to live past twenty. I'm 34 now and I still feel like I'm living on borrowed time, so it's difficult to plan for the future.

Ever since I was in my early teens, I had this weird idea that I wouldn't live past 27. Well I just turned 28 last month, so damn what now, eh?

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Hehe. Yeah, it has had it's moments.

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I have gone that route. Which isn't to say that I won't go it again, I'm just apprehensive. Yes, anti-depressants helped me feel more stable, but the desire to socialize eventually took me back to the bar, and once there I went back to my normal routine of drinking too much. While still on Wellbutrin and Zoloft, BTW. Not a very good idea.

hmm..long story short: Ditto (sidenote: I found Zoloft greatly increases my alcohol tolerance, but apparently not the point where I would pass out.)

Quote:

I honestly feel like it's safer to stay off anti-depressants than to combine them with alcohol. Then again, I made some decisions that pretty much set me up for failure at that time. I moved to a new city fairly spontaneously (the shrink I was seeing agreed that it sounded like a good idea for me) which resulted in (ultimately) my financial life completely dissolving.

Well, I'm not convinced of this completely. While its not the best idea to mix antidepressants and alcohol, I still think one is better off staying on the antidepressants.

However, I suffer in many the same ways as yourself. I'm alot better at dishing out advice than I am at following it.

Proxima Centauri · 01-20-2003, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by viscousmemories
If I had to sum up my life philosophy in a paragraph, it would look something like this:

I am eventually going to die. After I die, the fact that I ever existed will be irrelevant to me. Therefore, what I do while alive is unimportant except in whether or not it contributes to my current happiness.

The problem is that some things which make me happy immediately ultimately make me less happy. For example, I am happy that I am able to go to the bar and get drunk tonight, but I will in turn blow all my money. As a result, I will be unhappy tomorrow because I have blown all my money and therefore can't go to the bar and get drunk.

Any thoughts?

Christians like Gemmma Therese will say this is typical of the immoral attitude they expect of atheists.
Fortunately only a minority of atheists/agnostics are like viscousmemories.

viscousmemories · 01-20-2003, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by B.Shack
Christians like Gemmma Therese will say this is typical of the immoral attitude they expect of atheists.
Fortunately only a minority of atheists/agnostics are like viscousmemories.

Interesting perspective. Care to elaborate on exactly what I am like and in particular how my comments indicate that I am "immoral"? I'm new around here so I require a little more hand-holding.

Thanks.

Proxima Centauri · 01-23-2003, 11:08 AM

You drink too much. You show no concern about any good you could do to other people.
Christians would call that immoral as would humanists.

viscousmemories · 01-23-2003, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by B.Shack
You drink too much. You show no concern about any good you could do to other people.
Christians would call that immoral as would humanists.

Damn, and I had become convinced that you weren't going to respond. I will, in the interest of acting more mature than I really am, refrain from using the words I want to use for you right now.

Let me just stick with these:

Presumptuous
Self-Righteous
Self-Important
Condescending
and Obnoxious

There. That's as nice as I could be. I hope the mods don't think that too much of a personal affront.

In other words, you don't know me and you don't know anything about my life other than what you have read in a couple of paragraphs here, so you may keep your opinion of my character to yourself.

You, IMO, are the type of person that give us atheists/agnostics a bad name. I've met many, many christians who are less judgemental and critical than you, and consequently whose opinion I value more.

jj · 01-23-2003, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by viscousmemories

In other words, you don't know me and you don't know anything about my life other than what you have read in a couple of paragraphs here, so you may keep your opinion of my character to yourself.

You, IMO, are the type of person that give us atheists/agnostics a bad name. I've met many, many christians who are less judgemental and critical than you, and consequently whose opinion I value more.

I think he's claiming omniscience, oh one whose memory is thick. Maybe we ought to examine his statements further for that particular sort of behavior?

Hmmmm.....

(for some reason an old Jethro Tull song came to mind, but it really wouldn't relate the right way here)

viscousmemories · 01-23-2003, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jj
I think he's claiming omniscience, oh one whose memory is thick. Maybe we ought to examine his statements further for that particular sort of behavior?

Hmmmm.....

(for some reason an old Jethro Tull song came to mind, but it really wouldn't relate the right way here)

More sticky than thick, but I get the point.

I had to look up the last word you used for me... which now I don't remember.

Something "tropic" I seem to recall.

Keith Russell · 01-23-2003, 02:38 PM

"Really don't mind if I sit this one out..."
Jethro Tull, Thick as a Brick

Keith.

beyelzu · 01-23-2003, 03:32 PM

viscousmemories

i have decided that i must tortue you, to death if necessary, to get you to confess your heresy and sins. damn you satan.

oh wait, i am an atheist. instead i will just reason with you cuz atheists dont tortue people in order to increase their virtue.

thus atheism is more moral than theism.

serious note.

I know what its like to deal with depression. I have spent much of my life in depression. Kind of a shitty childhood, I still am dealing with it. It can be very hard to plan ahead and very easy to drink away when youre depressed. What the hell. I dont think that your stance is immoral however. Now if you said killing people gave you pleasure and happiness, then I would think you are immoral

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01-23-2003, 11:08 AM	#25
Proxima Centauri Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: England, the EU. Posts: 2,403	You drink too much. You show no concern about any good you could do to other people. Christians would call that immoral as would humanists.

01-23-2003, 02:38 PM	#29
Keith Russell Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Overland Park, Kansas Posts: 1,336	"Really don't mind if I sit this one out..." Jethro Tull, Thick as a Brick Keith.

01-23-2003, 03:32 PM	#30
beyelzu Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: the peach state ga I am a metaphysical naturalist Posts: 2,869	viscousmemories i have decided that i must tortue you, to death if necessary, to get you to confess your heresy and sins. damn you satan. oh wait, i am an atheist. instead i will just reason with you cuz atheists dont tortue people in order to increase their virtue. thus atheism is more moral than theism. serious note. I know what its like to deal with depression. I have spent much of my life in depression. Kind of a shitty childhood, I still am dealing with it. It can be very hard to plan ahead and very easy to drink away when youre depressed. What the hell. I dont think that your stance is immoral however. Now if you said killing people gave you pleasure and happiness, then I would think you are immoral

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