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Old 02-22-2005, 02:31 PM   #1
SteveDallas
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Why?

Well?

Why?

What's the point?

What's the purpose of your existence?

If any.
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Old 02-22-2005, 02:44 PM   #2
Trilby
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What is with all the exsistential angst going around? It's hard enough to just be myself and now all the people in the Cellar are questioning God and the Meaning of Life!

I'm here because I volunteered for the experiment. I chose a nasty habit and a melodramatic narrative. It's getting boring, but I'm sure I'll come out alright in the end. By the way, I am not dissing on your thread, SteveD, it's just an observation.
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In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic.

"Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her.
—James Barrie


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Old 02-22-2005, 02:57 PM   #3
SteveDallas
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brianna
I am not dissing on your thread
Don't hold back on my account...
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Old 02-22-2005, 02:59 PM   #4
OnyxCougar
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42.
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Old 02-22-2005, 03:04 PM   #5
Trilby
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OnyxCougar
42.
As good a reason as any.
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In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic.

"Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her.
—James Barrie


Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum
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Old 02-22-2005, 03:06 PM   #6
Dunlavy
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Is there a purpose? Or do we do what we've been trained to do. If our ancestors didn't work, would we?

Our purpose is to prepare for death. Or rather make a feeble attempt at ignoring it, or running away from it.
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"Two roads divirged in the wood and I, I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
-Robert Frost

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions"
-Old proverb
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Old 02-22-2005, 03:27 PM   #7
lookout123
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The Dark Tower? Ka? 19?

yes, i'm still rereading The Gunslinger series. I'm on volume The Wolves of Calla now. all this because of the thread about what technologies would survive the fall...
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Old 08-15-2010, 03:36 PM   #8
kerosene
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lookout123 View Post
The Dark Tower? Ka? 19?

yes, i'm still rereading The Gunslinger series. I'm on volume The Wolves of Calla now. all this because of the thread about what technologies would survive the fall...
Sorry to resurrect an ancient thread...but, lookout, I was just curious what you thought of the series. I just finished #4. I read the first three many moons ago.

Is it normal to take 16 years to get through a series of novels?
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Old 08-20-2010, 02:51 PM   #9
BigV
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kerosene View Post
Sorry to resurrect an ancient thread...but, lookout, I was just curious what you thought of the series. I just finished #4. I read the first three many moons ago.

Is it normal to take 16 years to get through a series of novels?
not unusual given the ... tectonic pace at which they were released to the general public.

and worth re re reading. I read them many many moons and moods ago, and when each new one was released, I liked to go back to the first one and read them all again in order so the big finale (the current most recent book) would be a fresh ending and the story would be fresh too.
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Old 02-22-2005, 03:59 PM   #10
Pie
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveDallas
What's the purpose of your existence?
Oddly enough, I find myself getting more and more towards the objectivist philosophy, the more I look at it.
I'm here to achieve some sense of personal satisfaction, and to enjoy myself. If that ends up being useful to society, more's the better.

Yep, that's about it.
- Pie
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per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions
The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.
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Old 02-22-2005, 04:56 PM   #11
cowhead
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*sigh* I've been hacking at that one for.. damn.. most of my life. I used to think there was some 'purpose', however the older I get.. it seems to have little or no point other than to consume and breed to continue the species. (then again! maybe there is a point to it all and I just haven't stumbled across it yet... until then '42' will just have to do)
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no my child.. this is not my desire..I'm digging for fire.
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Old 02-22-2005, 05:46 PM   #12
Brown Thrasher
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveDallas
Well?

Why?

What's the point?

What's the purpose of your existence?

If any.
To show love when I can.

To allow others to show me love if they can.

To continue to wonder the purpose of my existence.
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Old 02-22-2005, 06:43 PM   #13
Dunlavy
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Well said, Brown. My life.... although seemingly meaningless is to help those around me. Those who deserve such help that is. A soulwatcher if you will. I give love and take pain, and all in all, I am respected for it. It is what I do, and what I will be doing till this body fails to exist any longer.
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"Two roads divirged in the wood and I, I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
-Robert Frost

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions"
-Old proverb
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Old 02-24-2005, 09:53 PM   #14
Brown Thrasher
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dunlavy
Well said, Brown. My life.... although seemingly meaningless is to help those around me. Those who deserve such help that is. A soulwatcher if you will. I give love and take pain, and all in all, I am respected for it. It is what I do, and what I will be doing till this body fails to exist any longer.
Dun, I thought you were a young man. However, your statement seems wise for a youngster. In my opinion, you will not find love without pain. As long as you continue to help others, you will be repected. The only question I have; is what you mean when you say "those that deservre such help." I hope you meant those who really need help, for who are we to say who deserves help.
Anyway a profound statement, that not many can honestly say is a driving force in their life..........
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Old 02-24-2005, 11:29 PM   #15
lookout123
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well, love is pain and pain is love. who can cause you pain if you do not hold some degree of love for them? really. if you care nothing about a persons regard for you how can their thoughts, words, actions cause you pain? and if you don't hold much stock in their thoughts, words, actions - do you hold love for them?

for me? i consider my reason for existence to be my son. in mymind i am here to raise him to be a better man than i can ever hope to be. to paraphrase a certain Mr Pacino - i always new the right path, but i have invariably chosen the wrong one. i hope to raise my son to be a better man. a better human.

beyond that i hope to brighten someone's day. may that be my assistant who has no living family, my son who has no other father, my parents who have no other son, the man on the corner who i bought lunch, my client who lost his wife to a sudden illness... someone. everyday.

i don't believe in ka, karma, or luck. i do believe that there is a certain point where all credibility is shot. i believe there comes a point where "i" can no longer be the one to make a difference. i believe my actions have a consequence. i believe there comes a point where i can no longer be used in a truly meaningful way - so i must hope to impact the lives of those that have not passed that mile marker, whatever it may be.

that is what i believe.
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