# IS life a curse? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 29, 2016, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040 "2016-10-29T18:40:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040/101 "2016-11-04T06:09:45Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > They actually haven’t addressed the question so far as to why stick around when life isn’t and grand as we make it out to be. Have you read any existentialism? Nietzsche? Sartre? Camus? The conflict between our need to find meaning and our arbitrary existence is exactly what Sartre meant by absurdity. Then take a look at the Myth of Sisyphus, in which Camus directly addresses the question of whether suicide is the only rational response to life’s meaninglessness. Seriously, much greater minds than you or I have considered these questions and posited answers. Read. I don’t make life out to be particularly grand myself. I don’t frankly care whether my experiences come down to a bunch of arbitrary chemical reactions or not. You’re asking questions you already have the answers to. Yes, life is meaningless. Yes, life is full of suffering. So what? What now? Roll over and die? Or cobble together your own sense of meaning? I’ve suffered much of my life. My brain seems determined to make me suffer. I find my meaning in using that suffering to connect more deeply with others. Is it real? I don’t give a shit. I’m living my life. We muddle through. Eventually at some point in your existential crisis you will learn to accept this is just the way things are. The two options are acceptance or more arbitrary suffering. Pick one. As an aside, I see nothing mystical about any of the four noble truths. Just common sense. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040/102 "2016-11-04T09:29:15Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Life is better now than in the past. A poor person today has options and healthcare that a rich person couldn’t obtain 200 years ago. Hah! Not in the US. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040/103 "2016-11-04T11:45:33Z")
I find boring and repetitious to be greater evils than meaninglessness. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040/104 "2016-11-04T12:26:11Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > No they don’t. After a half dozen of these threads that always end up in the same place (“But why?” “Because that’s what life is.”), perhaps you should rethink the question. Or stop making new threads and continue this in one thread so people can see what ground has already been covered. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040/105 "2016-11-04T12:28:59Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > I can’t believe the Internet masses, which have been wrong before, can’t solve this question about my self for me, despite them constantly telling me they cant. Oh its worse than that. It is “none of your answers mean anything and you’re wasting my time”. Which again, is a serious flaw in the OP, not in us. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040/106 "2016-11-04T15:57:52Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Oh its worse than that. It is “none of your answers mean anything and you’re wasting my time”. > > Which again, is a serious flaw in the OP, not in us. Because I cannot find an answer myself ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040/107 "2016-11-04T15:58:54Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Have you read any existentialism? Nietzsche? Sartre? Camus? The conflict between our need to find meaning and our arbitrary existence is exactly what Sartre meant by absurdity. Then take a look at the Myth of Sisyphus, in which Camus directly addresses the question of whether suicide is the only rational response to life’s meaninglessness. Seriously, much greater minds than you or I have considered these questions and posited answers. Read. > > I don’t make life out to be particularly grand myself. I don’t frankly care whether my experiences come down to a bunch of arbitrary chemical reactions or not. You’re asking questions you already have the answers to. Yes, life is meaningless. Yes, life is full of suffering. So what? What now? Roll over and die? Or cobble together your own sense of meaning? > > I’ve suffered much of my life. My brain seems determined to make me suffer. I find my meaning in using that suffering to connect more deeply with others. Is it real? I don’t give a shit. I’m living my life. We muddle through. Eventually at some point in your existential crisis you will learn to accept this is just the way things are. The two options are acceptance or more arbitrary suffering. Pick one. > > As an aside, I see nothing mystical about any of the four noble truths. Just common sense. But the link to posted a few posts ago just nullifies all that and says all one can do is live from one happy moment to the next. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040/108 "2016-11-04T16:05:44Z")
Life is the alternative to not life. If not life, then oblivion. Choose. There’s your fucking answer. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040/109 "2016-11-04T16:11:11Z")
That doesn’t really answer anything. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040/110 "2016-11-04T16:14:40Z")
Yes it does. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040/111 "2016-11-04T16:21:29Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Yes it does. No it doesn’t. It doesn’t say why choose life. If life just keeps you alive by instinct then why continue if there isn’t a reason to? It’s like living against your will. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040/112 "2016-11-04T16:25:15Z")
What kind of answer would satisfy you? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040/113 "2016-11-04T16:28:18Z")
Look, it’s been explained to you in multiple ways, by multiple people, in multiple threads on the subject, started by you. We can explain it to you but we can’t understand it for you. Do your own work. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040/114 "2016-11-04T17:36:39Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > But the link to posted a few posts ago just nullifies all that and says all one can do is live from one happy moment to the next. People have different views on this, so no, one answer does not nullify the other. There is no objective answer to your question. You realize that, right? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040/115 "2016-11-04T17:44:52Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > No it doesn’t. It doesn’t say why choose life. If life just keeps you alive by instinct then why continue if there isn’t a reason to? It’s like living against your will. No one is forcing you to live. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040/116 "2016-11-04T17:46:23Z")
I have this picture of **Machinaforce** sitting there in front of his computer with someone holding a gun to his head, “Damn you, live or I’ll shoot.” ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040/117 "2016-11-04T18:17:47Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > No one is forcing you to live. Meh. He knows that. It’s just mental masturbation and an excuse for not doing anything worthwhile with his life while he mooches off his parents. \ _I mean it’s all so futile and pointless, why bother to even live, maaan…_ \. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040/118 "2016-11-05T00:37:59Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > People have different views on this, so no, one answer does not nullify the other. There is no objective answer to your question. You realize that, right? That’s not what that article made it out to be. It seems like he shut down the other methods that one could think of. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040/119 "2016-11-05T00:40:34Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Meh. He knows that. It’s just mental masturbation and an excuse for not doing anything worthwhile with his life while he mooches off his parents. > > \ _I mean it’s all so futile and pointless, why bother to even live, maaan…_ \. Because why bother with anything when the actions are hollow? Did you even read the second link I posted a few posts ago. It said the only goal is to be happy, but jumping from one happy feeling to the next seems awful. It’s so empty, just living for that sensation and little else. There is no such thing as “worthwhile”, it’s all just actions. None of them matter. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040/120 "2016-11-05T02:31:26Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > Because why bother with anything when the actions are hollow? Did you even read the second link I posted a few posts ago. It said the only goal is to be happy, but jumping from one happy feeling to the next seems awful. It’s so empty, just living for that sensation and little else. > > There is no such thing as “worthwhile”, it’s all just actions. None of them matter. If it’s not worthwhile to you, that’s your problem. Plenty of us think our lives are worthwhile, or even if some of us are just going through the motions, at least some worthwhile moments come up from time to time. If you think life is meaningless, don’t expect a lot of agreement on that score. Instead of inviting people to your pity party, get up off your arse and try to fill your hollow spots. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-a-curse/770040.md?page=7)