I realized awhile ago that givng a shit was more than I was willing to share with the world, so I have been focusing as much attention on making others happy. By focusing my life onto a slightly notable goal, I can provide for myself and others without giving it too much thought. If I have to help others, I have to be alive, and wouldn’t it be easier if my life was easier? So I do well in school, meet all my basic requirements, then just enjoy living.
For me, I just can’t get too worked up on things, because I always come back to the truth that no matter what you do now, somewhere down the line in won’t matter. Be it in 50 years, or a hundred, or a thousand, scope will eventually trivialize your life.
It doesn’t matter who dies, who lives, who triumphs and who is crushed by living, because nothing is forever. Hooray!
Are any of you “people who don’t care” religous? Religion in most of its forms can awaken compassion and a deep feeling of connection. I’m not saying religion is the only path, but it focuses structure, hope, and love for some people.
I felt exactly like this up until the moment I fell in love. Not trying to be corny or anything like that, but this is the first time in my life I’ve ever felt anger or sadness as a passionate emotion rather than just something I’m supposed to be feeling given a certain stimulus. I also get excited about meeting new people or doing something unusual, and that’s never happened before either. It’s nice, for the record. Maybe you’ll find something similar, or maybe you won’t. You shouldn’t feel like you HAVE to feel something if you don’t.
I used to not care about anything. Al through high school I got by because I was smart enough to get decent gardes and spend most of my time outsid of school dicking around and having fun carelessly. That changed last year when I almost failed out of college due to laziness. Then I got motivated. But only for myself. That is to say I started caring what happened to me. I realised that if I didn’t care what happened to me (if I continued to slack off and spend time partying and plaing video games rather than studying) it would be more bad stuff than good stuff.
Of course I still don’t care much about the plights of others. I can’t really do the whole empathy thing thing. If someone else is crying their eyes out I might try to comfort them, usually without success, but I can’t really feel bad for them. I wouldn’t expect them to feel bad for me, either. I’ve never really been in love, I’ve never really been truly sad, and I’ve come to think that perhaps parts of brain are broken. Eh, whatever.
In fact ‘Eh whatever’ sums up most of my reactions to other peoples problems and ‘big problems’.
The only real difference I can see from the OP is that I have personal ambitions. But thet are mine. I don’t want or expect other to help me achive them or pick me up if I stumble on the path towards them.
In short, my ambitions and burdens are my own and I shall shoulder them myself. I leave others to do the same.
Argghh! My implication was not that atheists are incapable of the same feelings or compassion as religous folks. I’m only saying that for some, religion can provide an awakening and give a sense of purpose. That’s all.
I can also think of a lot better choices in the development of compassion than Christianity (which I’m sure was the conclusion of yourself and most most here when I refer to “religion”.).
You know, you’re right. You didn’t really say that. I think I flew off the handle b/c I DO get that from people I speak to other than here, and it really ticks me off that they think that religion is the only path to things like that. (Especially when it relates to ethics or morality. Tokio Smash!)
Anyway, I post so rarely that I don’t want to misconstrue people when I do. Sorry. Carry on.