Preserved Topic: Random thought... (Page 1 of 1)

So, whilst reading some of the threads here, about what are our influences; such as music, art... And well, once everyone gets talking, there are all sorts of creative juices flowing round here and they've got me thinking ~ ouch! ~

But heres another thought for you.... do *you* ever wonder about the more random happenings in life... like how living in one place rather than another gives u XYZ chances/opportunities...? I know that there are all sorts of people in here, young & old, professional and hobbists; a lot of very talented people from all walks of life; all in different countries (or different parts of the same country...) But how has that benefited you directly / indirectly? I mean everything shapes us, our personalities, outlooks on life... But and here I am probably just rambling, but how about the *totally* random meeting of your parents or gulp, grandparents which is the unique bringing together of people that ended-up spawning more people, to thus create *you*

- just mindless stuff really! - but if anyone has any thoughts to offer-up?


also just to perhaps justify this thread a little, I think I am suffering from "the grass is always greener" scenario, in that I cant help but think that given the same set of characteristics, but somewhat different circumstances, would I be in a better/worse situation...?

Thoughts??

Kit

Life is certainly a collection of tenuous threads and chance encounters. More than once I've considered what, if anything I would change if given the opportunity to go back in time and influence my past. But I'm afraid I believe more in the domino effect (any change of the past, no matter how minor, has an ever increasing influence on the present in a kind of geometric progression), rather than the intertial effect (where at best you can only make minor changes to your past, as the inertia of time will cause major events to snap back into shape). So if, for instance, I went back to make sure I didn't get fired from that job that left me out of work for a year and a half, I'm certain I never would have met my wife.

On the other hand (he says, waffling as usual), I'm also a firm believer in serendipity. It's played a major role in my life. So maybe things would work out even if I did change the past. Or maybe not. After all, there's a big difference between serendipity and destiny. And I'm not sure I believe in destiny.

As to where you grow up influencing you... Well sure it does. Does it limit your chances? Only if you let it. In my life I've gone from growing up on the eastern seaboard of Canada to living in Alaska. I've never been rich. I've been poor a few times, including now. But I've always been happy.

Enough rambling for now....

Witherin

Taking the grass is greener issue first, I've come to a place where I like and appreciate the person I am, and understand that all the good/bad/indifferent things in my past are essential to creating who I am. Although with a past as checkered as mine, it's difficult for others to see it that way. I certainly didn't plan to become a recovering addict on welfare in my middle age, but I'm cool with the results.

I don't think my parents, grandparents, et.al. meeting was entirely random. Whether it was the result of individual personal decisions and choices through the ages or it was divinely guided, the result is the same.

That said, (and also waffling) I'm not so sure that serendipity isn't just a result of my own limited viewpoint. A variation on "Coincidence is just the hand of [insert name of favorite diety, higher power or scientific theory here] attempting to remain anonymous."

As for destiny, it's too big a concept for me to comprehend. I'm happy to see how things turn out, a day at a time.

"the most incredible feats are often accomplished by
those who have had the most incredible challenges"

Yeah, it's sometimes pretty mind-blowing when I think about the seemingly random events that led me to where I am now. Personally, I choose to see it as divine guidance, but everyone has their own way of looking at things.

As for the green grass syndrome, I have only this to say: Wherever you may be, there are always opportunities. They may be different opportunities depending on where you are, but they are opportunities nonetheless. Whether or not you take those opportunities is 100% your choice. Rather than looking at my environment as a limiting factor, I try to see how I can make the best of the situation that I'm in. It's all about the outlook.

Oh, by the way, this is the "Philosophy and other Silliness" forum--you don't need a justification for your threads . If you still think you need justification, try reading this thread.





What does it mean?

or this thread

^-- ROFL, great thread!! I love the archives here.

I'm laughing too hard over here, thanks for the laugh WJ

Yeah mind-blowing indeed! Take this story for example:

A young woman was driving down the road minding her own business. She stopped at a red light and began daydreaming. She had not noticed that the light had inevitably turned green. A man in the car behind her honked his horn in haste. The woman responded by flipping him the bird and yelling "f#@k you" out the window.

As she drove on, she noticed that he was on her tail, following her every turn...all the way to her home! She got out of the car and saw him pull up into the driveway. He introduced himself in a manner that was totally unexpected...very politely! So they began talking to each other for a while and the woman apologized for her response at the stoplight. The two exchanged phone numbers and actually started dating. And, well, they eventually got married.

Two years later they had a baby boy. And 23 years after that the boy was posting messages on a forum called Ozone Asylum under the alias "Thumper".

Thanks mom!! For being such a bitch!!!

Please keep your posts as short and inclusive as possible. I want to see your points and not spend too much time.

Great story, Thumper

quote:

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Please keep your posts as short and inclusive as possible. I want to see your points and not spend too much time.

---

What? And miss all the fun?

Perhaps we should start an express forum for those of us who do not have to the time to read the insane blatherings of all the inmates...

(I don't know why, but I found that post so incredibly funny...)





What does it mean?

LOL

Thumper: *loved* ur story! - a little lapsed concentration, one little green light, one er, little birdie and who knows *what* can happen!!??

Witherin: I think u have read a helluvalot of sci-fi but yes, again the "what if" factor does rapidly spiral out of control if u start considering multiple layers / potential outcomes and/or messing with the time-space continuum?!

brucew: not sure what I want to say will make sense - but here goes! U certainly must have a strong self-belief or something, to kick a drug habit - to which I applaud u and wish u all the best...

This also interests me in that what if *we* / *you* / *me* - whomever! are not that strong.. how can u, in most desperate hour, pull your shit together?

Hmmmmmm pause for thought...

Kit

kit: Thanks. Twenty-two months now after 28 years of drugging.

For me it's not an issue of strength, but rather, one of weakness. When my time came I had only two options. Change or die. Had there been any more than two options, as I'd always had in the past, I'd have chosen one of them.

I didn't have the strength to choose death. And part of changing meant admitting the drugs are stronger than me. It's sort of like a bully in the schoolyard. If the bully is stronger than me, he's best avoided. If I choose to tangle with him anyway, I get hurt. But unlike the bully in the schoolyard, the drugs will never come after me, I have to go there.

It's the others who didn't have to be beaten down as far as I did that amaze me.

"the most incredible feats are often accomplished by
those who have had the most incredible challenges"

I think the quote from brucew says it all:

quote:

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"the most incredible feats are often accomplished by
those who have had the most incredible challenges"

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Mostly, being 'strong' has a lot to do with the circumstances...just look at my life...

Kit

quote:

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Witherin: I think u have read a helluvalot of sci-fi but yes, again the "what if" factor does rapidly spiral out of control if u start considering multiple layers / potential outcomes and/or messing with the time-space continuum?!

---

Yea, I'm an avid Sci/fi and Fantasy reader. I read as much as time and money afford me, and the local used book store is my bestest friend. I started in my mid-teens. I'd never really warmed up to reading until I hit high school. All that free time between classes I found myself in the library. They had a decent sized sci/fi section and I picked up a book. It was a colleciton of short stories by Corwainer Smith. That got things started, but the one that really sparked me was a book or two later, when I read a short story by Harlan Ellison named I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream. At 16 years of age, living in the midst of the Cold War, it really hit me. I've gone on from there to read literally thousands of books, from serious items like Larry Niven's Ringworld and J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings to things less serious like Piers Anthony's Xanth Series.

Amongst all that, books on time travel are definately one of my favorite themes. A particularly enjoyable series is the Timewars series by Simon Hawke

Witherin


[This message has been edited by Witherin (edited 05-03-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Witherin (edited 05-03-2002).]

You sohuld read the Belgariad and the Mallorean by David and Leigh Eddings then...bloody good series, also centred around prophesy and seering



Koan 63:
Those who Believe
Can
Those who Try
Do
Those who Love
Live

On the other side of the village... on the other side of the hill... If you are quiet enough, you just might see the little bahooty people of bonkers vill. These people are very shy and reclusize... plus they are nearly 1/4th the size if you. This is why it makes it so hard to actually sneek up on these people... But, scientists in the field have managed to put video cameras in there houses and video there every actions. In effect, the bahooty people are much like us, and are fairly nice people.

. . .

Loved the Belgariad series. There're lots of great series and authors out there. You should look up Dave Duncan, Robert Jordan and Tad Williams .

Witherin

Already read all those series...just waiting, I guess, for someone to produce the likes of a LotR again....or Larry Niverns Ringworld (other space) stuff...Who knows, maybe Stephen King will actually finish the Dark Tower series...One of the best modern day fantasy epics (IMHO)...anybody else?

It amazes me as to the diversity of interests that the people in here seem to have, and that they are so willing to share... Whadda crowd! THANKS to all that have made suggestions.. I may dip in, I may dip out...

To all of *you* that suggested books Witherin I think, in particular... and going back to my initial ramblings, I'm still curious for your opinions : does this have more / less to do with environment / formal education/situation? I dunno, perhaps there are people that are just naturally inquisative (?) ? Those who have a burning desire to read, learn, talk, learn, try, learn, pause, learn, listen, learn...

So what are/is your background(s)??? ~ If u care to share that is...?

~

brucew: still not sure I understand the weakness/strength thing.

u see I'm a complete and utter *lightweight* and though in theory I can understand something social/enjoyable can turn into a dependancy... and I guess not to be a complete hypocrite I do smoke... But for harder substance abuse... I guess I dont really know how that transition happens...

is it a weakness, yes I think so, so surely to kick-the-habit is a strength? esp. given the choices of giving up / dying - for some people I'm sure the latter is tempting (or is that too harsh to say? - sorry, no offence meant) So yes, strength..

Strength to say its not going to be easy, mentally, physically, emotionally - but I do actually want to live... and have to sort it... I just cannot imagine the kind of soul searching one would need to do to accomplish that. again, I applaud you, and I think given your school yard / Bully analogy, well you have in fact kicked his arse! so I think u can be goddamned pleased with yourself...!?

Another rambling thought that this connects to isn't so much our own environment but are we genetically programmed to succeed/fail?

~ or is this all a bit too nature/nurture.... chicken/egg...?

Kit

Hmmm...interesting question kit:

quote:

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Another rambling thought that this connects to isn't so much our own environment but are we genetically programmed to succeed/fail?

~ or is this all a bit too nature/nurture.... chicken/egg...?

---

I've spend a rather large portion of my life trying to figure that out myself...why have I turned out not to be a criminal/loser/dead, like so many others of my childhood? I only know there is something deep, deep down inside that won't allow it. To be blunt - sometimes I scare myself (or in other words, live in some amount of fear for parts of me that are under lock and key, for good reason). During the war, I really got to 'know' these parts of me (and let them out)...and I feel they should remain under lock and key for the rest of my life. Why did I decide to do that? Even though I recognize that these things are an intrinsic part of me, I don't see that they have a place in my world...I just don't really enjoy being mean. I like being happy. I like to enjoy life, and when I am 'under the influence' of these other parts of myself, I may feel good at the moment, but later, after the realization comes through of just what I have done, I don't feel good at all. Therefore, I try to just be that that allows me to enjoy life, without being mean and destructive to others.

... just suppose you can see that there is some good in everyone... Well, there are bound to be a similar amount of negative in people too yes, such as - anger, the capacity to be mean... (violent, prejudiced?)

Where do these things come from and how to we learn to keep those ugly beasties under control?

Or are these things burdens, what say you, if your one talent is of a rather morally questionable nature, shouldnt you still embrace it!? -

kinda spookie none the less..

Kit

I think 'embrace' is the wrong word...accept, surely, but to a point...I live by the 'what comes around, goes around' method, which means treat others like you would like to be treated. Set positive 'karma' in the world, and it will come back to you...the same with negative 'karma'. Since all people have positive/negative aspects of themselves, it's just a case of deciding which one wishes to follow...however, full acceptance of what one is is a must in my book...