2mo ago

What is currently worth living for?

76 comments

Shit is interesting right now. We're at (or approaching) the climax of western society. I wanna see how the story resolves.
- Lol, everyone's thought their generation is the end times.
  
  I mean, they didn't have climate change looming overhead.
  
  Some were right, and the last one will also be.
  What you're doing is called inductive reasoning, and it's not very bright.
  "Lol, every day I wake up alive. Therefore, I will never die."
- solar power will save the world, it's gonna be rad
  
  I don't agree, because I think our problem is deeper than just energy - it's about our dominionist world view (in the non-religious sense). Which is a cultural thing, not a fundamental human thing.

“I meant,” said Ipslore bitterly, “what is there in this world that truly makes living worthwhile?”
Death thought about it.
CATS, he said eventually, CATS ARE NICE.
Terry Pratchett, Sourcery
- on the other hand...
  "If cats looked like frogs we'd realize what nasty, cruel little bastards they are. Style. That's what people remember."
  Terry Pratchett, Lords and Ladies
- I was literally about to respond that my husband and our two kitties are pretty awesome

There’s a list of people I’m trying to outlive. If I don’t outlive them, I’ll be sad.

Food, empathetic people, smiles, cute animals, those little glimpses through the fog, or if all else fails, spite.
- if all else fails, spite.
  Yes. I've put up with too much crap not to get to become a cranky old person ranting unintelligible bullshit, someday.
  I plan for it to be relatively pleasant unintelligible bullshit. But unintelligible bullshit it will still be.
  
  When the scientists wanted to get the first computers connected to what would become the internet, they plugged in special parts to let the computer audibly scream at a phone! It was loud and horrible and I miss those old screams.
  Some humans were able to memorize those computer screams and could scream them well enough themself to trick the phone into doing all sorts of things.
  
  You can be the crazy guy from Novac!
- One day at a time. You're doing great.
- Don't underestimate food. You can be frustrated at life - but imagine being frustrated at life with a beak full of pizza.

Wanting to live long enough to see the obituaries of those who are making the world a terrible place. (NB: Not specifically wishing anyone dead, only pointing out that time catches up with everyone, and many of the people I'm referring to are quite old.)
I had other points but they're reasons not to stop living as opposed to being reasons to live. One of those being morbid curiosity. And let's face it, the one I started out with is pretty borderline.

Sunrises. Mountains. Marmots. Fresh pow.
Sunsets. Beaches. Tropical drinks.
Just a walk around the block. That cute dog.

My dogs.
- Yeah dogs. I don't have my own, but even every street dog I come across makes my life at least borderline bearable.

Goofy people near and far

I had some really good chicken curry today. (Temporarily off the vegetarian diet for complicated reasons, but it was good. Preferable to be alive when something like that comes along.)

Wonderful coffee, sitting in a quiet room reading a book, and snuggling with my dog.
Another, completely separate answer: eating pussy.

One Piece hasn't yet concluded, so.

Possibilities. So no I don't have anything in particular but im not ready to leave yet and if I do I hope it has some meaning. There are certainly things left to enjoy. Im big on simple things. Walks and nature.

Seeing the end of israel

The time period between the actual collapse and when you finally die will be rather exhilarating I think.

So damned much, there's so much to see and do!
I will die before I've read half the books on my list, scritched even a fraction of the goodest dogs who need scritches and eaten at each of my city's amazing lil restaurants.

If you truly have nothing else, spite can work wonders as a motivator....

Cheese.

Friday, I'm going to a concert, Post Modern Jukebox.

I have a list of hobbies I want to do and so I live to have fun

I wish I had grand reasons to live but turns out it's easier if it's primitive. Eating tasty food, watching fun videos, petting cute animals.
Let politics be politics and philosophy be philosophy and turn to the small things for a bit.
- The only way to stay sane if you ask me.
  
  Ignoring reality?

My wife and my parents. My wife is a bit older than me. When my parents and wife have gone then I can check out.

I'm genuinely drawing blanks here.

Finding out what's next.

Survival instincts is forcing me to live... I don't have a choice... 🤷‍♂️
- Mine are rapidly wearing off.
  
  I know what'd happen if I try to kms. I'd walk up the the bridge, look down, then get scared of the heights and be a coward and decide to go home.

World War 3. It will usher in the Federation.
- Usher? Good artist.

Good question. My answer is a little pathetic. It's partially the new media that drops. Invincible season 4 is worth hanging on for. Much less pathetic, my friends. Spite is incredibly powerful as well. Another related thing. I have to experience the stuff that dropped that I was never allowed to experience (mormon family), and am too young to have experienced. I have 21 seasons of South Park to watch. I have the God of War games. Rdr1. The Boondocks. Kotor. The GTA series. Skyrim (played Oblivion remaster, that was cool). Undertale/Deltarune. Elden Ring. Ghost of Tsushima. Soulframe. Warframe. Dark Souls. So, that should be at least a few years. There's always some joy to be found in the creations of others and yourself.

My kids. But I'm already living for them. You gotta find someone else's kids to live for.
- Feels like kicking the can down the road. I would not want to be a kid growing up in this world seeing what it has become, and the dire fucking future ahead.
  
  That's silly. What's the alternative? Give up on humanity? There's no other team to join. This is it.
  I'm afraid for the future too, but humanity has been through worse than whatever my kids will experience.

Outdoors, if you live in a place with natural beauty. Getting out every day and walking to my local rose garden (it was very close, I was lucky) during the pan did wonders for my keeping it together.
- My city's premier is destroying a beautiful public green space to build a private mega spa and parking lot for himself and his cronies, so that's fun
- I'm extremely upset seeing our ecosystems collapse. It's worse than almost anyone realizes. If you're middle-aged and think on it, you'll remember a very different world.
  Having said that, I'm in the woods and waters all the time and usually see things that surprise me! Despite being a bit polluted, there were loads of baby fish at the boat ramp last weekend, even with all the boats coming and going.
  Giant stick insect I've never seen before.
  New pitcher plant I've never seen!
  No idea how I've missed the local bamboo going to seed. Would have never guessed those balls were from bamboo.
  These little fellers spark joy! Terrible photo, they look unreal IRL, like modded out racing grasshoppers
  Baby snake, and again, a new one on me.
  New spider. That camo and flat body freak me out! They could be on ANY tree!
  
  I remember road trips when I was a child. The windshield would be covered with splattered bugs. That doesn't happen anymore.

Sunrises and sunsets, fresh air, sex, love, meeting new people, walking in nature, meeting animals, feeling emotions, marvelling at the wonder of your own existence, fighting oppression, being part of the solution, forming or joining communities, reading books, playing games, bouncing a ball, whistling, art, music films, dancing, quietly thinking, solving problems, being creative, chatting, making friends, falling in love, smelling flowers and herbs, eating great food, exercising, helping to bring about positive change even in small ways, laughter, riding a bike/scooter/horse/unicycle, painting, crayons, massage, feeding the hungry, helping others, finding peace, swimming in the ocean or lakes, climbing a tree, growing food.... And this doesn't cover a 100th of it. Times are hard, so many things are bad, but there's always a lot to live for.
- Crayons? Not my cup of tea.
  I'll choose riding the horse/unicycle then.

Wiener Schnitzel.
And cats (not to eat, I'm not Alf).

Time will put your enemies in the ground.
- Hail Tune!

Making new experiences. I spend time with my friends and try to build communities with interesting people to help deal with whatever the future will throw at us. Everytime I think I've got something figured out, another perspective pops up to consider. I'm plenty worried about the future, but life has certainly never been that interesting for me.

Fighting back against the people that made the world shit.

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