Look, we’re in a philosophy forum, for heaven's sake—and I am miles away from being some kind of misanthrope; quite the opposite, actually. If you can't see that the seed of war lives in every single one of us—that war isn't just some tactical agreement between a few power brokers, but rather an external manifestation of the internal warfare inherent to the human condition—then you're either oblivious or just refusing to admit it. If you believe this country is a planet of suffering solely because we are "evil" or, if you want to be pedantic, simply "not good enough," then we have nothing to talk about. It's a domino effect: if the people on the street are idiots, then the street is idiotic, which makes the neighborhood, the city, the state, and eventually the entire world just one giant collection of idiots. Some are worse than others, sure, but they're too flawed to admit it and change, so the cycle just repeats through every generation. We sit in classrooms learning about wars like they're just statistics—another million dead is basically just a typo in a textbook—while kids joke around about things like the horrors of concentration camps. And that's a massive problem. Another thing is that the average person loves to flatter themselves by pretending they're "good."😉 The idea that we are all fundamentally flawed isn't even my own invention; I picked it up from Slavoj Žižek. To reach that conclusion, all you need is a shred of honest experience and a realistic perspective without all the sugarcoating. Claiming everyone is perfectly good is pure stupidity, whereas saying everyone is inherently bad is very close to—if not absolutely—the truth. Some more, some less. Even the philosophy of the Mainlander is almost universally rejected, yet there's truth to be found there, let alone in the claim that we are all inherently bad.
"The men she grew up with—like her father—tend to show up in her partners too. It’s like by trying to fix a partner on some subconscious level, she’s actually trying to heal her dad—trying to grab that happy ending to her childhood story that she never got."
It’s a fascinating angle—honestly, it makes perfect sense when you factor in daddy issues. Especially that part about chasing a better conclusion to her early years.
ruggedraven36 said:Since when did you become the spokesperson for everyone else? You don't get to decide what "everyone knows." Most people posting here aren't just "moping"—they're actually engaging. What you wrote is pretty unfair and, frankly, a bit rude.
Actually, it’s just the truth—and your post really drives that point home. Those playing dumb are even worse. We’re all fundamentally flawed. You’re completely insignificant—just like me, and just like everyone else on this board. Without some famous names or family ties, you wouldn't even exist. Your existence is totally irrelevant, and you're just jerking off on this forum. Calling what I wrote "unfair"? Lol. What's actually unfair is that we as a species still exist at all. If there were democracy on Earth, every other species would have voted us out long ago. You want to know the real injustice? Dragging a new generation into this little hellscape and pretending we're doing them a favor.
Honestly, isn't that way more realistic than the usual bullshit about "preserving the species"? As if we’re all some noble collective, obsessed with procreation just to keep the human race ticking along. You want kids to ensure survival? Please—nobody actually thinks like that. We all know deep down we earned being wiped off the face of the Earth by some massive meteor ages ago. And us losers hanging out on this forum—we're the lucky ones who didn't deserve anything good to begin with, yet somehow, no matter how you slice it, things still suck.
Gerald Hill—you should really put "Dr. of Thanatology" right under your avatar; it’s hilarious. Do you ever actually laugh, or do you find any humor at all in the world around you?
rapidmaker59 said:I wouldn't go along with that. If that were true, why do so many women end up being the "other woman," thinking they're rescuing a guy from a miserable marriage? Or why do they stay with alcoholics, addicts, or even abusive guys?
Women clearly have an interest when a guy is vulnerable and opens up about his struggles. They lean into it. There’s a definite attraction to a man who's going through a rough patch or showing weakness.
It’s actually the exact opposite of what you're saying. In my experience, men only seem interested when I’m totally composed, strong, and on top of my game. The second I hit a rough patch, it's like they want to wipe me off the face of the earth.
🤣🤣🤣 Look, you’re speaking from your own experience, and we can't generalize—your theory that "the opposite isn't true" falls apart the moment I mention how much I prefer girls who are gentler and more delicate. That doesn't mean they're annoying, nagging, or needy—it just means they have soft, kind personalities rather than aggressive ones. In my experience, I'm only captivating when I'm at my best; opening up about my vulnerabilities turned out to be a total disaster, even with a girl who was going through her own hell. It might work in tiny doses, but that's about it.
That whole "rescuing him from a bad marriage" bit is a classic line guys feed to their mistresses to keep them on the hook for free sex—and let's be real, husbands rarely actually leave their wives for the mistress. As for why women stay with abusive men? Maybe they have nowhere else to go, maybe they're used to it, or maybe they think being with an abuser is better than being alone. And you can't lump all addicts together—an alcoholic can be a great person, so why shouldn't a woman fall for one? At least a third of the guys in this country end up struggling with booze by the time they hit middle age.
What Joe Biden is saying is pure truth—it's logically sound, too. It’s just that nobody actually wants to live like that; you can't. People end up chasing or stumbling upon their own little sliver of meaning just to get by. Once you start feeling better, you look back at that kind of thinking as total nonsense—because honestly, celebrating life feels a hell of a lot better—but the truth remains. People crave happiness above all else and they'll run from reality any day if it means clinging to some colorful illusion. That's exactly why the dead philosophers were always ignored.
Meh, if this forum were full of people actually believing they can just swoop in and save someone from rock bottom, maybe we wouldn't be seeing so much nonsense. It’s basically movie logic—the idea that women want to play hero just to feel powerful, usually only if the guy happens to be hot enough. I had a serious girlfriend once who was totally infatuated at first; I told her right away not to put me on a pedestal. Turns out, she didn't actually care about me as a person once I hit my absolute lowest point. There are some crazy women out there who get a thrill from a man being a total wreck, but honestly, they're rare. Nowadays, most divorces are initiated by women anyway, so the whole "saving" narrative is a joke. It’s more realistic to say they take what they need and then move on.
So, this is exactly what the OP is getting at. Are we saying if someone is a teenager, their opinion doesn't matter? That they need to be "taken down a notch" because of their age—as if that actually changes anything? It feels like a systematic way to crush any attempt at building a healthier, happier society. Most adults just end up being losers who folded to a system designed to favor the worst among us. The kid called the emperor naked because, honestly, a teenager hasn't been spiritually broken by the world yet—they still see things for what they really are. 😉 And your response would be, "Quiet, kid, you don't know anything." Teenagers still have that raw, childhood honesty left—they spot something, and their brains actually work.
That’s why being a teenager was such a grueling era for most of us—it's that specific window where the world starts trying to break you, and everything good left in us fights back against it.
Let’s be clear—I had nose surgery for medical reasons, so why does anyone care if it was purely cosmetic? I don't see how that's any of your business. My nose, my choice. Plus, breathing is much easier now. So, what do you think—do you like the new look?
MrBeast gave you the most accurate answer here—honestly, why even bother looking for logic in that kind of pathology? Anyone actually backing up those views is probably just deeply unwell. So, fine, you’re an absolute efilist by your own definition now—what’s your next move?
It makes sense—though I suppose some people would find sense in marrying a tree. That philosopher you mentioned was basically born from a trauma, which says plenty about where his headspace ended up. Honestly, I think you're leaning a bit too hard into the darkness and nihilism—and that’s a trap, because there’s really nothing there.
I don't want to come off as some kind of know-it-all armchair psychologist—but I think you’d pin down the "diagnosis" pretty easily, and honestly, you probably wouldn't like what I have to say about it.
If that’s really how you see it... then honestly, things are falling into your lap that would probably crush you—unless, of course, you're intentionally picking the easy wins just to stay in your comfort zone. I don't see any other way to look at it; it’s pretty basic psychology. It reminds me of that old parenting cliché—"if you don't set boundaries for a kid, they’ll have nothing to overcome"—which usually just ends in frustration and self-sabotage. Are you actually sure you haven't just stopped setting limits for yourself?
But honestly, that shouldn't have anything to do with practicing some kind of spirituality. Who exactly has achieved such a state—and actually made it permanent? Almost anyone can feel that sensation if they just hike to the top of a mountain peak. Some people probably find it at a nightclub in Vegas, for instance.
The main thing is just not letting it get out of hand—that way you can actually enjoy a drink when things get rough without falling right back into the same old cycle. What are you, some kind of doctor, a nurse 😁? Or maybe a sommelier? Temptation isn't going anywhere; you just have to accept it. Honestly, just being human is hard enough, and once you make peace with that—and manage to keep your ego in check—everything gets a lot easier. Some people deal with emotional pain, others physical, some both, and some are just grinding away to support their families. Life has this funny way of finding exactly how to push everyone to their breaking point.
I’ve been through enough pain and catharsis to tell you—you probably drink to numb the ache or because you feel empty inside. At least, that’s my take. I was never much of a drinker, but I started hitting the bottle because I lost my usual escape—my favorite way to check out. Sometimes it was just pure, unbearable boredom or having too much damn time on my hands. I’d get drunk and wander the streets alone, living out some low-budget noir adventure. Eventually, I didn't even bother leaving the house; I’d just grab a liter of wine and knock it back in an afternoon. It became my "new normal"—drinking a bottle almost every single day. I actually started getting into it, learning about different labels and finding favorites. There were nights I’d sit with a bottle and browse this forum—it was actually pretty great for a while. But then it hit me: I’d been doing this for ages, and I could feel the alcohol calling my name. It didn't matter what the drink was anymore—as long as it was booze. That’s how most chronic drinkers start, I'm sure. I hated that realization, so I quit. Now, sitting down with a bottle isn't fun anymore; it’s lost its charm and usually feels pointless. I don't have any alcoholics in my family, so I guess I got lucky in that regard.
So, let's cut to the chase, Miškica. I know it sounds cynical—if booze is all you have, then without it, you have nothing—and a better life doesn't just build itself.
I know a young couple who are heavy drinkers; we’ve never talked about it directly, but it’s obvious they come from some seriously messed up backgrounds. And I won't even get into my impression of the woman—she’s completely unhinged. I doubt there’s any help for her right now, because every time I see her, she’s showing up with two liters of cheap beer or some bottom-shelf wine. I feel for her and wish I could help just by talking, but you can't really have a conversation with someone in that state.
Anyway, I just wanted to say: don't be afraid. Every bit of pain passes eventually. Suffering itself is meaningless unless we let it be a teacher to make us better people. That’s the core of our experience on Earth—we’re just tiny pieces of a puzzle that might be so beautiful it transcends our ability to even understand beauty.
darkcanyon10 said:Yeah... quality text. You could spend all day reading literature like this... Well explained. Pure truth. My late old man was exactly like that. Fits the description perfectly.
But... I'm pretty sure info isn't enough. Or even helpful. Reading isn't enough. Knowing isn't enough. You have to live what you read. It's jebenica when you know if it's going to rain every single day. jebenica! But... I'm out here getting soaked because: ____________________________....... jebenica! It’s easy to get tangled up and just take the path of least resistance. And that's a trap. You gotta go through the pain. Real pain. Go through the stuff you'd normally run from. Dammit. There's no other way. No easy route. Nothing's easy. Running from problems and pain just breeds mental illness. Most of us just try to "escape" our issues instead of actually dealing with them.
Yeah... there comes a time when you just have zero willpower. You have to push through it. Ideally sober and clean. If you use booze or drugs as a crutch during those times... you're just piling more suffering and self-loathing on top of yourself. There's no shortcut for anyone.