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It could be argued that #5 is just another form of distraction. Any form of "rich life" is mostly keeping the death anxiety at bay.
by dasudasu 6y ago
It could be argued that #5 is just another form of distraction. Any form of "rich life" is mostly keeping the death anxiety at bay.
- uoaei 6y agoThe difference is that you are replacing the negative with something positive. If you don't see your pursuit of a "rich life" as a positive that wins out over the alternative, it may not be as rich as it seems.
- Bakary 6y agoBy a rich life, I'm referring to something that needs no further justification. When you are in this state, the need to contextualize, criticize, or philosophize about your experiences almost disappears. Think of a young child in a state of playful flow. Even if you fully take on the anti-natalist conclusion, the experience still justifies itself on its own, as an end in itself.
- scotty79 6y ago> When you are in this state, the need to contextualize, criticize, or philosophize about your experiences almost disappears. For me browsing and often gaming fulfills this description of rich life.
- dasudasu 6y agoSo the perfect distraction?
- Bakary 6y agoA distraction implies some other thing or state beyond it that ought to be reached or contemplated. But in this case, even if you believe that life is completely unnecessary and meaningless, there is no desire to end the state or seek to poke holes into it. You could argue for solipsism, that everything is a distraction from death, and all sorts of masturbatory ideas whose only logical conclusion is immediate and collective suicide, but this all tends to be short-circuited once your state is subjectively good enough to be self-justified.
- username90 6y agoWhich is what you get from computers? The only bad thing about them is the low social status associated with it. There is some weird bias in society that you are a lesser human somehow if you spend a lot of time in front of computers instead of doing more "rich" things like reading books. At least for me all anxiety related to spending a lot of time with computers disappeared once I stopped caring about what others think, I don't think there is anything inherently bad with it other than that.
- Bakary 6y agoI've also struggled with the stigma against computer-based activities in my lifetime. I'm more interested in the opportunity cost for the individual, however, irrespective of what others think. I've posted here with my own experiences, but they are not necessarily applicable to everyone. I'm certain that many people have a perfectly healthy relationship with computers but given the context of the thread I was writing for those who didn't, that is to say those who sought refuge in them in the face of an unsatisfying reality. In my case, I'm trying to reverse the flow and build the life I was always afraid of. I've caught glimpse of it here and there so I know it's not just a figment of my escapist imagination but a genuine interest. I know that many activities leave me more fulfilled than using a computer, but organizing my life so that I can engage in those regularly is the same difficult challenge that nudged me to get addicted to computers in the first place. By all means, if you've found a life that's inherently satisfying, don't let yourself deviate from it!
- yeos_ 6y agoPersonally, I would rather spend my time doing things I find fulfilling instead of killing an hour+ scrolling through Reddit and getting distracted by the internet. I don’t care that if I’m spending all my time on my computer if Im doing things I find meaningful. Compulsively checking my phone and scrolling Reddit is in no way meaningful to me anymore.
- username90 6y agoSimilarly I'd rather spend my time doing things I find fulfilling instead of killing an hour+ talking about the weather with acquaintances. I don't see the difference.