The thirst for afterlife?
Been just reading the Why You Will Always Exist: Time Is 'On Demand'. Interesting article, liked the style. Heard about quantum physics before.
This hysteria has been going on for as long as humans existed on Earth. It goes like: "I can't believe we really die. We can't be dying like... really dying?! That's just wrong! Noway death is the end. That'd just mean life is cruel and meaningless! That'd just mean the world is unjust and the whole thing is a joke! Life can't be this cruel, so there must be something out there, some afterlife!".
There were times I was thinking like that. But then later I looked around and realized: yes, life is cruel, yes, it is unjust and yes, world can be as mean as to push someone into existence and then took that someone out of it.
We never want to admit something we're afraid of.
Everybody is afraid of death. So people everywhere keep trying to prove there is life after death. Some use religion, some - philosophy, some - scientific experiments, some "get visions", some "just know it".
Denial works like a charm for many. Worked for me before. But then at some point you grow to accept the fear of death and the fact it will probably always be there, that's just how we're wired. Although, as Irvin Yalom says, what you can get rid of is the dread of it.
But then comes the question is this life really so precious to me that saying good-bye to it would be so horriffic? As I said, I once thought the world was wonderful and just. It's been quite kind to me personally. But ... I guess it's still true what Ekklesiast said: "the increase of knowledge is the increase in sorrow". The more you study history, the more you read the news, the faster that "wonderful world" collapses.
Dostoyevsky wrote "the happiness of the whole world is not worth a tear on a cheek of an innocent child". Well, children of this world have cried an ocean. Just google "Mengele twins". There is nothing that could possibly justify such atrocities. No religious bullshit about everything happening for a reason and no previous life karma bullshit. And there are so many things like the one I mentioned happening on a daily basis: to people, to animals that it still is sometimes hard for me to believe this whole living is for real. I remember waking up couple times in the morning and in that half-asleep-half-awake state thinking to myself "just maybe this whole cruel world was just a bad dream and now I'm waking up to the one where no one suffers". And for a moment I was filled with hope.
Frankly, having seen and read what I've read, death in the meaning of eternal nonexistence seems a much better option than life in a world like this one. So I really hope there's nothing out there. I've had it with this life, I don't want any afterlife, thank you.
More posts from this category: Torture porn moviesDo we know enough to stop procreating? (video)
 Irina |
04-04-2012
Then I steel myself with the realization of it's reality and try to adjust. That is what all of us have to resort to - adjust. Many times it's the thought of an escape through suicide that's made existence palatable for me. Yep. At the very least that one is available. Even though it is not an easy thing to go through with. And it stops being availble if one is stuck in some hospital on a life-support and the loving relatives won't let you die.
Isn't that what most people think of themselves? That they're not really afraid of death. Someone else is, maybe, but not them, they're lucky to be devoid of this primal dread. Something SO drastic and people can't be bothered? Those people who are afraid of so much more trivial things? Yeah, right! If you haven't read Ernest Becker's 'Denial of Death', you would most likely have liked it. And the documentary that was produced later that proved Becker's theory to be true. Here it is. |
 A-wal
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10-02-2013
Hi. I saw your latest video on youtube and followed the link. Looks like a good site with some interesting stuff.
Here's a couple of things you might not have considered. If you believe in an universe that will go on existing forever then it stands to reason that if there's an infinite amount of time then one day we will have to be brought back to life by some technology (human or otherwise) that can reconstruct long dead people somehow for the simple reason that if you wait long enough everything, no matter how unlikely it seems will have to happen one day. If this is the case then when we die we immediately find ourselves in the distant future. If on the other hand you don't believe in an everlasting universe then quantum mechanics could come to the rescue. The many worlds hypothesis says there's a virtually infinite number of alternate realities basically because of determinism being lost because of the uncertainty principle. It's really fascinating. You might well know this but it's impossible to know both the exact position and momentum of something at the same time. The more accurately you can know one, the less accurately you can know the other. And it's got nothing to do with the measuring equipment. To measuring something you have to interact with it in some way, which then obscure the result, but that's not where the uncertainty principle comes from. It's impossible even in principle to violate uncertainty on a small scale, meaning that objects actually can't even have a well defined position and velocity at the same time. I'm still no expert on this side of physics but it has real examples in the universe that actually make sense. When an electron is confined by the strong nuclear force of an atom its position becomes more constricted and so its momentum has become less well defined as a result which gives it more energy than it would normally have, or something like that. The weak nuclear force also uses it when a radioactive element give off radiation it's because the uncertainty in the electrons position can cause them to 'tunnel' out of the system and escape. It also has something to do with stars. I think t helps hold them up. Sorry for the massive nerdout. The point is that if you can't know the outcome of an event because of the fact that it's impossible to know the initial conditions then the universe has to either act in a non-deterministic way or there's just a hell of a lot that we're unaware of that makes it seem random to us because in every instant of time the universe is branching off into every possibility and we're only aware of the one we're on. If this is the case then we're fundamentally unkillable, until we're so old that it's simply no longer physically possible for us to go on living. We can't experience death because death by definition is a lack of experience so every attempt we can make to kill ourselves is doomed to failure from our own perspective. Although we'd still die from the perspective of those we leave behind we'd naturally find ourselves on a branch of reality where we didn't die. I wouldn't recommend trying it though. We can still get hurt, in fact that's all that could happen. It's kind of depressing when you think of people who are suffering and want to die because they can't, all they can do is go on suffering, but there's always a bad side to everything. Then there's the simulation hypothesis that says when we're capable of it we will create a convincing artificial reality in which the life forms will eventually create their own artificial reality, and so on like Russian dolls. If that's the case then the chances of finding ourselves in the 'real' universe would be beyond remote, or maybe there isn't one and it just goes on and on forever, like this post. It's a bit longer than I thought it was going to be.  |
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Irina |
10-02-2013
Hi A-wal. I don't believe our Universe will go on existing. Scientists say it will end, it's a 'when', not 'whether' question. Don't waste time on me with physics, I hated it in school because it was too boring the way they were presenting it.))) We can't experience death because death by definition is a lack of experience. We can still experience dying and the fear of death - no problem. And we can still die - seize to exist as a biological organism with it's consciousness. The fact we're unable to experience the lack of experiences is irrelevant. If this is the case then we're fundamentally unkillable If. But why should it matter for me in this reality? I don't get my hunger satiated because my parallel self just ate in another reality. If the effects of me existing elsewhere is virtually undetectable - what does it matter if it's true or not? Enough problems in this reality to be worrying of others. hypothesis that says when we're capable of it we will create a convincing artificial reality Yeah, heard that. Virtual reality. Whatever. When they create virtual non-existence - I'll line up. One eternal sleep for every reality out there - that's something I'd take.)) |
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A-wal
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10-02-2013
"Hi A-wal. I don't believe our Universe will go on existing. Scientists say it will end, it's a 'when', not 'whether' question."
It's still not widely accepted that you universe has to end. It's based on dark energy which is really just a name for something that they admit they don't understand. The current best guess says our universe will end but it's still up for debate. It's not like dark matter. They know that's out there and they can even map it, they're just not sure what it is. Also the universe could be one of any number of universes that are constantly coming in and out of existence in an everlasting multiverse, in which case everything that can happen does somewhere. This is actually separate and independent to the many worlds hypothesis. "Don't waste time on me with physics," You'd be so good at it. Maybe not as a traditional physicist. It depends how good you are at maths, but I think looking at through equations sucks the soul out of it anyway. You don't need to use them to understand any of it, as long as you haven't got to work stuff out. You're an deep thinker and some of what you've said on the videos I've seen shows that you would easily be able to grasp the concepts that a lot of people struggle with. If you can think creatively and critically at the same time then you can understand practically anything. "I hated it in school because it was too boring the way they were presenting it.)))" I hear that. I love physics but hate most physicists. I was hoping I made it sound a bit more interesting. Most people (including the vast majority of physicists) don't realise how spiritual it can be. Physicists are normally totally left brained and when you get one who isn't they really stand out, like Niel deGrasse Tyson. Have you seen this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D05ej8u-gU I watch it whenever I feel existential depression setting in or when I just need a lift. Most physicists put people off because they associate it with the people who are trying to explain it to them and making a terrible job of it. We need more inspirational physicists like him. "We can still experience dying and the fear of death - no problem. And we can still die - seize to exist as a biological organism with it's consciousness. The fact we're unable to experience the lack of experiences is irrelevant." "If. But why should it matter for me in this reality? I don't get my hunger satiated because my parallel self just ate in another reality. If the effects of me existing elsewhere is virtually undetectable - what does it matter if it's true or not? Enough problems in this reality to be worrying of others." It matters in the sense that it's dynamic. They're not really separate realities because they're constantly branching off of all the realities that already exist. It could be argued that it's this that gives us the freedom make decisions because we're choosing to some extent the reality that we want to experience. It's arguable whether this actually constitutes free will because in reality we'd be making every possible choose simultaneously. We can't choose to not experience anything though, because you can't experience nothing because that wouldn't be an experience at all if that makes sense. We'd always find ourselves in a version where we're still alive. Of course it could all be total bollocks. I used to be very afraid of death. When I was a kid and I grasped it for the first time I really struggled with it, and still do to some extent. I was still really struggling with it in my mid twenties. I'm 32 now and that particular demon's gotten a lot better. I've managed to tame it a bit. (: "Yeah, heard that. Virtual reality. Whatever. When they create virtual non-existence - I'll line up. One eternal sleep for every reality out there - that's something I'd take.))" If you think about it it's all just a simulation of our minds anyway. We experience the universe through our five senses. If we took life away from the universe then it couldn't look, sound, feel, taste or smell like anything, so what would that leave? Nothing but an equation! We create all of this. Existential thought can be so uplifting at times but yet so depressing at other times. It's definitely a double edged sword. I suppose it depends what mood you're in at the time. Life is the only part of the universe capable of understanding itself though so we've got to try, otherwise what's the point. Most people are just happy to live out their lives without giving it a second thought. Fair enough I suppose but I think that defeats the whole object of being alive. It's closest I think we can get to the answer of why we're hear. I'm guessing you suffer from depression at times but also illation at other times. I don't mean to be presumptuous and the last thing I want to do is patronise you. I don't know you. All I've seen a couple of videos and a handful of posts but I tend to be able to read people, especially if they say or do something that reminds me of how I feel sometimes. When I was very young the world seemed very different. It seemed exiting and amazing. It still does at times. At other times it really doesn't. |
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Irina |
12-02-2013
Niel deGrasse Tyson. Seen him, hear d a little bit, may watch more some day. They're not really separate realities. Well, then in the practical dimension it doesn't matter, we can safely talk about one reality that feels real to us - where we have to pay taxes and die :D arguable whether this actually constitutes free will the free will topic gives me a headache)) I'll worry about it later, if I so 'choose' I guess We can't choose to not experience anything though, because you can't experience nothing Why said we could? I was just joking that I'd choose that virtual reality if I had to choose between any realities. In essence, I was just saying my choice is non-existence. I used to be very afraid of death. When I was a kid and I grasped it for the first time I really struggled with it, and still do to some extent. At least you're honest with yourself...to some extent ;) I'm 32 now and that particular demon's gotten a lot better. I've managed to tame it a bit. (: ...to some extent ;) hehe. Is that why you're talking about us beiong ultimately unkillable and such? You know, I had no problem with death either when I didn't really believe in it.
So? Even if I have a bad dream and wake up and realize it was just a dream it still f*ing sucked, because it felt real, so simulation or not - I don't care. Existential thought can be so uplifting at times but yet so depressing at other times. It's definitely a double edged sword. I suppose it depends what mood you're in at the time. Uplifting how? Like Dawkin's 'We are going to die, and that makes us the lucky ones'? I respectfully disagree. We're fucked. Not only because we will die, but because we will whitness the deaths of our loved ones, sometimes the very nasty deaths. Life is the only part of the universe capable of understanding itself though so we've got to try, otherwise what's the point. What's the point in any case? Suppose we understand it, then what? Most people are just happy to live out their lives without giving it a second thought. Fair enough I suppose but I think that defeats the whole object of being alive. It's closest I think we can get to the answer of why we're hear. I'm scencing something new-agey here. Like we're on some grand mission here.
No. I'm sad sometimes but depression is a prolonged state of apathy and sadness which I dont tend to be in. When I was very young the world seemed very different. It seemed exiting and amazing. It still does at times. At other times it really doesn't. I guess that's yet another reason people like children. They re-live the excitement again through the eyes of the kids. That excitement will wear off with years. The stars, the butterflies, the grasshoppers - who cares after 25 years? Same shit different day))) Ok, there are some magnificently beautiful places on this shithole planet, I agree, but most of the time - you're not there! So that sucks once again. You're in some noisy office 9to5 and that's where you'll spend the majority of your insignificant life before you croke without ever seeing your dreams come true. Lol. I'm uplifting, aren't I? Ok, today I'm actually not in the best place in my life. However, that's how I think about life even when I'm in the best place, just not that charged emotionally, but rationally - same verdict: useless pointless struggle. |
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A-wal
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12-02-2013
"Niel deGrasse Tyson. Seen him, hear d a little bit, may watch more some day."
Did you watch the video I linked? It's only short, and it's beautiful. "Well, then in the practical dimension it doesn't matter, we can safely talk about one reality that feels real to us - where we have to pay taxes and die  "I think we probably have to pay taxes and die in most of them unfortunately. "the free will topic gives me a headache)) I'll worry about it later, if I so 'choose' I guess" Yea that one is a mind bender. I could say something about that but I won't. Ask me when you want to think about it. "Why said we could? I was just joking that I'd choose that virtual reality if I had to choose between any realities. In essence, I was just saying my choice is non-existence." It would make things a lot simpler. Still I'd rather carry on being able to contemplate the pointlessness of existence than not have it though. "Is that why you're talking about us beiong ultimately unkillable and such?" Hmm, probably. Another way I like to look at it is that the illusion of a moving time line is created by the fact that we can only see in one direction of it, the past. That's all we need to feel the sense of progression we experience and I think that's the only thing that separates time and space. So we don't really die as such. We experience our hole lives in an instant but at all points of it in time we're only aware of what's behind us. How's that for a mindfuck. "So? Even if I have a bad dream and wake up and realize it was just a dream it still f*ing sucked, because it felt real, so simulation or not - I don't care." LOL Good point. You just completely undercut the most profound realisation I've ever had in my life. Nice one. I like you. "Uplifting how? Like Dawkin's 'We are going to die, and that makes us the lucky ones'? I respectfully disagree. We're fucked. Not only because we will die, but because we will whitness the deaths of our loved ones, sometimes the very nasty deaths." Well yea, it's depressing if you look at it like that. Think about puppies and chocolate and stuff. Seriously though, the odds of that sperm making it to that egg are so remote that we're incredibly lucky/unlucky to be here, assuming here is the only version of reality of course. I think things like that can be uplifting. You really need to watch that video. "What's the point in any case? Suppose we understand it, then what?" Then the whole universe dissolves around us and a message comes up saying 'Level 2'. I'd love to take the credit for that joke but I stole it from a comedian. (: We'd probably just all look at each other and say what the fuck do we do now? Let's go get drunk. "I'm scencing something new-agey here. Like we're on some grand mission here." Not really. I just haven't found anything better to do. "No. I'm sad sometimes but depression is a prolonged state of apathy and sadness which I dont tend to be in." Lucky you. Most intelligent people tend to suffer from it. It must be because you let it out in short bursts online.  "Ok, there are some magnificently beautiful places on this shithole planet, I agree, but most of the time - you're not there! So that sucks once again. You're in some noisy office 9to5 and that's where you'll spend the majority of your insignificant life before you croke without ever seeing your dreams come true. Lol. I'm uplifting, aren't I? Ok, today I'm actually not in the best place in my life. However, that's how I think about life even when I'm in the best place, just not that charged emotionally, but rationally - same verdict: useless pointless struggle." Tell me your troubles. A problem shared is a problem, shared. Unless it's too depressing, in which case you can keep it to yourself. I don't like you that much.  Btw I think there's a problem with the philosophy-psychology page. I couldn't get through that way, I had to go to the recent comments. |
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Irina |
13-02-2013
Did you watch the video I linked? It's only short, and it's beautiful. Neh, I knew we were 'made of stars' and such. So what? We had to be made of some material, stars exploded, the soup got mixed and out of that thing living organisms emerged. Such thoughts could make me feel the awe some years ago, before I got in touch with how bruntal reality can be. Today when I think of all the horrific suffering sentient beings experience daily - I couldn't care less if we were made of blue diamonds or if god created us. On the scales of horrendous vs beautiful nothing can outweigh the horrendous of this world. Seriously though, the odds of that sperm making it to that egg are so remote that we're incredibly lucky/unlucky to be here, assuming here is the only version of reality of course. Remote odds tell us nothing. If a disease is rare it doesn't make its carrier a lucky one. Nothing uplifting, even more depressing for a person to think 'omg, why me out of all people? why couldn't i be spared this fate if the odds are so small?' We'd probably just all look at each other and say what the fuck do we do now? Let's go get drunk. I get drunk once in a while anyway, don't need a 'level 2' excuse for that Lucky you. Most intelligent people tend to suffer from it. Well then it's good that I'm not too intelligent, eh? Tell me your troubles. A problem shared is a problem, shared. Unless it's too depressing, in which case you can keep it to yourself. I don't like you that much. Hehe. Thanks, I got some friends for that purpose)) But if you're trying to avoid 'too depressing', you're reading the wrong blog Btw I think there's a problem with the philosophy-psychology page Everything seems to be working fine on my end, might have been some temporary glitch. |
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A-wal
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15-02-2013
"Neh, I knew we were 'made of stars' and such. So what? We had to be made of some material, stars exploded, the soup got mixed and out of that thing living organisms emerged. Such thoughts could make me feel the awe some years ago, before I got in touch with how bruntal reality can be. Today when I think of all the horrific suffering sentient beings experience daily - I couldn't care less if we were made of blue diamonds or if god created us. On the scales of horrendous vs beautiful nothing can outweigh the horrendous of this world."
 If that video didn't touch your soul then I've my work cut out. That's okay, I love a challenge."Remote odds tell us nothing. If a disease is rare it doesn't make its carrier a lucky one. Nothing uplifting, even more depressing for a person to think 'omg, why me out of all people? why couldn't i be spared this fate if the odds are so small?'" Oh I was just getting warmed up. ::wink.gif:: "I get drunk once in a while anyway, don't need a 'level 2' excuse for that" I haven't been drunk for ages. I used to do it every weekend. I must be getting old. "Well then it's good that I'm not too intelligent, eh? There are plenty of reasons to be depressed I've just been successful at propping up the door behind which all the crap that's gonna crush my spirit one day is stuffed. Gets harder though. But yeah, writing/talking about it helps and creativity - helps turn off my brain, switch it to a practical mode: 'which shape and color would go well with this' kind of mode." Yea you can't beat being creative to lift your soul. It's very underrated and should be considered at least as important as intelligence and knowledge I think, and that should be emphasised in schools but it's not. I wasn't saying you're not intelligent. Far from it. I'm surprised someone as intelligent as you doesn't get it. Like I said, it must be because of you let it out continuously to a very small degree. If I do succeed in lifting your spirit I'm probably going to be responsible for you to start getting periodic depression. Meh. I'm going to try anyway. "Hehe. Thanks, I got some friends for that purpose)) But if you're trying to avoid 'too depressing', you're reading the wrong blog" You're going to singing the joys of life when I'm through with you! I think you're a very empathetic person who doesn't see why she should be all smiles and optimism when you know how much some other people are suffering. How about this? Everything we say and do, every breath we take causes a ripple affect that changes the world and will keep on changing it long after we're gone. Everything we do changes the world. We tend to think of everything as isolated but it's not. It's all connected. If we could all be positive and nice to each other for just one day then that will echo long after that and provide the fuel for us to keep being decent to each other, which will then have the same affect, and so on. Is it working? |
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Irina |
16-02-2013
If that video didn't touch your soul then I've my work cut out. That's okay, I love a challenge. That video in comparison to pictures of starving children, lab animals in agony, poor sick people walking right near me on the street, freezing and begging for food - which should touch my soul deeper? The inanimate matter floating in space or my fellow sentient beings? You say all is connected - I clearly feel that connection, question is - do you? If we could all be positive and nice to each other for just one day... Then animals would stop eating each other alive and people coming down with cancer and uncurable diseases and dying puking their guts out? I doubt that. We are needy, vulnerable organisms on a planet that couldn't care less about us, we can't change that, we can't fix all the problems, shit will continue to happen to people and non-human animals about which I also care and to whom I feel connected. So no, it's not working, and I'm not sure what should be the effect. I sometimes have great time, when I sing and dance and have fun. Just like yesterday btw.)) But does that translate to a different world-view - no. I take my time off, I re-charge myself, I try to relieve my own sorrows as best I can because I too deserve it and me being constantly miserable doesn't do any good to anybody including me. |
 Zenner
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15-02-2013
"Ok, today I'm actually not in the best place in my life. However, that's how I think about life even when I'm in the best place, just not that charged emotionally, but rationally - same verdict: useless pointless struggle."
Long live Equanimity! ::wink.gif:: (the sign of a worthy compass) |
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A-wal
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17-02-2013
Not as much as I should. I do feel for people who are suffering, but not like you do. In a way I wish I did, but in another way I'm glad I don't. To be honest inanimate objects in the universe do move more than people because it fells like I'm part of something bigger, something amazing. I've recently had some very bad news and would have been in a very different frame of mind had it not been for something very positive happening in a different part of my life, something that should allow to get my revenge. If those same two things had happened the other way round I would be feeling much worse. Not logical, but true. I still feel like shit when I think about it, and I feel guilty for feeling that way when I know I've how easy my life's been compared to some other peoples. I know there's a LOT of misery and unfairness in this world. I think there always has been though and there's good as well. In general I think most people a decent people on the whole, and I think most of the worlds problems are caused my a minority with too much power and control. I don't want to sound like a conspiracy theorist because I'm not really, but I definitely think the system is designed to only benefit the elite and it all comes down to money. This track has the best lyrics I've ever heard and pretty much sums up exactly how I feel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yos1HENhSx4.
I just meant really that nothing we say or do is isolated. Violence breeds more violence for example, but seeing the beauty around us inspires others to do the same, and that's what I was trying to do. You're a deeply moral person and I wish others were more like that, including me. I know just from seeing a couple of your videos that you're not a depressing person to be around. I'm just trying to give you a bit of a lift in your general outlook, but maybe it's not my place. Maybe you're right to be focussing on the bad stuff because that's what people should be paying attention to. I don't think shit will continue to happen forever. I think things will improve for a lot of people. I heard about some advancements in agriculture for example that along with genetically modified crops that could really help people in developing countries. Animal testing doesn't happen as much as it used to and hopefully be completely phased out. I think there's hope, at least I hope there is. |
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Irina |
18-02-2013
In a way I wish I did, but in another way I'm glad I don't. I understand that. Even I wish I didn't ;) In general I think most people a decent people on the whole, and I think most of the worlds problems are caused my a minority with too much power and control. Problems are ingrained in the world itself, too. And there's greed all around, not just at the top, it's just more visible there, but look closer to small businessmen, do they offer generous salaries, do they never skim and rip off their customers? This presentation comes to mind http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_ariely_on_our_buggy_moral_code.html The wars, the genocides - they aren't done by a couple monsters, but by hundreds and thousands of average guys. So...people are not quite innocent lambs either. I think there's hope, at least I hope there is. I don't want to steel your hope.)) |
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18-02-2013
Carlin had a video on the subject of death. It's one of my favorites. It kinda changed the way I think about death.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOdg77jlo_k |
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Irina |
19-02-2013
Haha! Good clip, I've never seen it before and I thought I saw everything from Carlin. Probably missed some of his early years. |
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A-wal
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18-02-2013
I love that site, it's the best on the net. I like the people who post there as well. That was a really interesting video. You've probably seen these but they're the best talks I've ever seen.
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html http://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_bring_on_the_revolution.html http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_changing_education_paradigms.html "Problems are ingrained in the world itself, too. And there's greed all around, not just at the top, it's just more visible there, but look closer to small businessmen, do they offer generous salaries, do they never skim and rip off their customers?" That's the trouble with a system where everyone is in competition with each other instead of working together. For a small struggling business the incentive to do that must be huge, and the incentive doesn't go down when increase the size of the business. If anything it goes up. "The wars, the genocides - they aren't done by a couple monsters, but by hundreds and thousands of average guys. So...people are not quite innocent lambs either." Have you heard of the Milgram experiment? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment Otherwise decent people are capable of some really nasty things if they're told to do it by someone who they see as an authority figure. It makes me grateful that I have a major problem with authority. I saw it on a Derren Brown program. I don't know if you've seen him before, he's brilliant. He makes you realise just how easy people are to control. |
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Irina |
19-02-2013
I've mentioned Ken Robinson's videos here before when writing on education.:) He's great.
Sure I've heard about it and have referred to it on my blog, too. I know people are easy to control. But then, how can we call them 'decent' if they don't have a strong moral compass and can be easily turned into practically anything? If I get tortured by someone it doesn't make a big difference to me if he does this from his own initiative or blindly follows somebody's orders like a zombie. The end result is the same. And what Milgram's experiments demonstrate is that we can expect to see more horrors perpetrated by 'decent' people in the future. What good is such decency if it can't survive a pressure from authority? |
"..there are so many things like the one I mentioned happening on a daily basis: to people, to animals that it still is sometimes hard for me to believe this whole living is for real. I remember waking up couple times in the morning and in that half-asleep-half-awake state thinking to myself "just maybe this whole cruel world was just a bad dream and now I'm waking up to the one where noone suffers". And for a moment I was filled with hope."
I've felt the same way many nights and days. Almost unbelievable what reality we are stuck in here. Then I steel myself with the realization of it's reality and try to adjust.
Many times it's the thought of an escape through suicide that's made existence palatable for me.
Although I've faced death in a few ways in life, and though I thought myself fearless concerning it, I discovered not so. I am naturally afraid of what I do not know, like everyone else.
It feels like a cruel imprisonment many times to be here. I didn't choose this, and yet I'm forced.. through guilt and coercion if necessary, to keep 'going' and stay alive?
Ridiculous.
Thanks for your open hearted reflections. They give solace to me that another soul feels similar.