emphryio

One example of intelligence eventually leading to pleasure/happiness notwithstanding luck.

LIFE IS:
a very boring game of endless meaningless repetition, the losers die while the winners just get to play some more with the threat of losing/the threat of pain always hanging over their head. And the threat of pain is USUALLY much worse than the pain. Still, we continue to play this hellish game because it is all there is.

1. Why focus on losing and the fear of pain instead of winning? On this particular morning where I have gotten out of the wrong side of bed, I focus on losing or the threat of pain, because I have no attainable goals beyond sustaining the situation I already have. I do have goals, (like knocking science on its ear, becoming a well-known fantasy fiction writer, having enough money to be free from mind-numbing work), but today they seem completely unattainable. Beyond these goals I have everything I really want. (I couldn't care less to make 100,000 instead of 50, to drive a BMW instead of a tin can, etc.) Therefore since I'm only trying to sustain my situation, "winning" at the mind-numbing daily tasks of life, doesn't mean much. Therefore I'm instead "negatively driven" by "fear of losing".
This means I either need to go back to thinking my goals are attainable, or I need to find some new goals.

2. Also, does losing have to mean death? As supposedly civilized men couldn't it just mean only having a small house, decent food to eat, a nice garden out back, and a few toys? Ahhh well, maybe it could according to some socialist/communist. Ideally, yes it could. But realistically it probably won't anytime soon, and I'm not holding my breath.

Note: Also in the past the "answer" to this has been pride. Even though the game is mind-numbingly boring, and negatively driven out of fear or the anticipation of pain, one can still have pride in playing the game well. And there is nothing in life that matters beyond pride at playing games well. (Note: by "games", I refer to everything that exists in life.)

(But I like the first answer better.)

Note: This bit of depression stems from recent failures I have experienced with my goals. Then I wake up this morning feeling quite horrible, (as I often did long ago), and wondering why. (Normally I'm quite chipper nowadays. But we all forget things and must start over. Three steps forward, 2.9 back.)

[ June 17, 2002: Message edited by: emphryio ]</p>

Kent Stevens

Hopefully, intelligence would help create profit in a business. Not many executives could stay in business if they just relied on faith.

Would you put money on a stock based on someone saying you should do this on faith? Or would you prefer to use intelligence in the selection of what business you should invest in?

[ June 20, 2002: Message edited by: Kent Stevens ]</p>

seebs

If life is hellish, you may be living it wrong. Do you have pets? Maybe you should get some. Do you ever go out to a park and watch the sun set? If not, why not?

Viti

I fail to reach goals all the time....so I adjust the goalposts for the new direction I find myself facing.

Panta Pei

"I fail to reach goals all the time....so I adjust the goalposts for the new direction I find myself facing. "

Now, that would make for some interesting World Cup action!

phaedrus

Life...isnt it like a movie in which you are the director? Whether the movie turns out to be a tragedy or comedy or feel-good movie is something which is in our hands. Either we can stand in a corner and bitch about it or do something about it. What is "nice" and what is "pain" is something dependant on our web-of-beliefs. We just have to make sure the hordes and their "mass culture" doesnt become the guiding force for those web-of-beliefs. Peace of mind arises out of a balance - knowing the "self" and what really you want to do with your movie.

*too much pontification...back to reality.sys*