That i am a goddamn miserable person who puts on a front to all people in order to conform to values that I dont agree with. That the universe doesn't give a shit about me. That while trying to remain uncynical I am becoming more and more cynical. That questions like this will never connect you to other people. Let me tell you a secret, well fuck it its not a secret. "Do you believe in god" type questions about anything like big events? THEY WILL GIVE YOU NOTHING.
The reason? Because people are more important than what they believe. Ask someone about a particular event or time in their life and you will make more friends and connections that you ever will asking bullshit abstractions.
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So I'm editing this and taking out some stuff that was here because it was personal and I was very drunk and depressed when I wrote it. Suffice to say, because of the alcohol and the current state of work/family dynamics I had a bad day when I wrote this post. I'll keep the content as is except for the personal things that I really should not have written. I ask that people who see this look at it with the introspection that we all have bad days and this one was particularly bad for me and I took it out on hubski's comment system.
I want to be clear, I am not struggling to accept anything I've read more philosophy and psychology books than most post grad students trying to add bullet points to their resume. Camus, dada, surrealisms and absurdisms are all fine but never do anything because they are just ideas and ideas are cheap. There is a difference between knowing and understanding. - Feynman
I never intended for this question to be a setup. I'm just interested in how all different kinds of people come into what they see as understanding in a world that probably doesn't give a shit about anyone. But you have to realize that the world is what you make of it. I have absolutely no authority to tell you anything. However, I can comment on one of your points: the one about abstractions. I really don't care about making friends right now, I can say I don't care how others perceive me (it's a lie), but I do care about allowing people to think. By being asked bullshit abstractions, people are confronted with ideas contrary to the norm. Ideas that they themselves may never have conjured up on their own. I'm not worried about truly feeling a connection with someone, no, I'm worried about the things I could never imagine on my own. Understandings that people have that I may never experience. I'm worried about the unknown unknowns. Sure, I can garner some sense of scope at how insignificant my problems really are, but I know, in the long run, that won't matter. What does matter is our attempt at making our lives truly our own. In my worldview, I don't think we can do that until we understand everything else that is out there; be it through introspection, conversation, or any other means of reflection. We, as a species, will probably never know everything, and some may say that it is pointless to even try.
1. way to long of a reply for a friday 2. abstractions comment was not about you but in general I hate these things, its fine if you like themm 3. Thanks for talking about your worries THAT is the shit that makes people connect. 4. four 5. I dont think you are bullshit, just sometimes questions are, we're human, I just made this list of replies and it's already bullshit, dont take it personally.
It's all good, dude. I didn't feel attacked, just wanted to explain myself. You made some really good points. Honestly, this is the only answer to make me really think about things I hadn't considered :) Everything's bullshit, man. We just have to find the best shit to make fuel.