# Life is unfair... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 20, 2000, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247 "2000-04-20T16:28:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SingleDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9e8a1a/32.png) [@SingleDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SingleDad)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2000, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247/1 "2000-04-20T16:28:00Z")
You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn’t it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them? So, now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe. – unknown * * * Dr. Crane! Your glockenspiel has come to life! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2000, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247/2 "2000-04-20T16:49:00Z")
## Whatever it is you’re smoking, can I have some? “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast!” - the White Queen ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2000, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247/3 "2000-04-20T16:55:00Z")
Yes, I agree. If life were fair, I’d be in a lot of trouble right about now! ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2000, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247/4 "2000-04-20T16:57:00Z")
Aren’t those the opening words of “The Road Less Travelled?” Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2000, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247/5 "2000-04-21T05:12:00Z")
Ah, perhaps life IS fair and we ARE getting what we deserve, but we just don’t know it! Let THAT thought rummage around inside your head for a while :)! ---
**Author:** ![WallyM7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5e925/32.png) [@WallyM7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WallyM7)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2000, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247/6 "2000-04-20T18:26:00Z")
The universe is neither hostile nor unfair. It is merely indifferent. Just thought I’d throw that into the mix. Don’t mind me. Tawk. Discuss. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2000, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247/7 "2000-04-20T18:29:00Z")
Life cannot be fair–there is no way that I deserved to be a middle-class American, and a billion starving third world children deserved to be a starving, third world children. Amen, SingleDad–had we all what we deserved, we’d regret it. ---
**Author:** ![dragonlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@dragonlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonlady)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2000, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247/8 "2000-04-20T19:05:00Z")
I find it necessary to my emotional health (such as it is) to agree with Wally, which is always a good idea anyway. The universe is indifferent. If not, I’d be living with Satan, which is what I’m sure I truly deserve. * * * Always remember that you are unique, just like everybody else. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2000, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247/9 "2000-04-20T19:14:00Z")
## Dragonlady says: The universe is indifferent. If not, I’d be living with Satan, which is what I’m sure I truly deserve. I’ve seen his picture and your pal Satan is a cutie. He’s nice to boot. Have you been that good? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2000, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247/10 "2000-04-20T19:16:00Z")
P.S. Hi SingleDad! You don’t know me, but I missed ya. ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2000, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247/11 "2000-04-20T19:38:00Z")
Yeah it’s fairly obvious that the type of Karmic rebound alluded to in the opening post does not exist. If it did then everybody who gives everybody else misery would receive it back in spades. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always happen that way. This is not evidence that the universe is unfair, but evidence that supports Wally’s conclusion that the universe is indifferent. It reminds me of a Bloom county cartoon when Opus has to blow on a dandelion when he is overwhelmed by the enormity of everything. In other words everything is a coping mechanism. God, this is getting to be waaay to serious for here. Keith ---
**Author:** ![SingleDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9e8a1a/32.png) [@SingleDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SingleDad)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2000, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247/12 "2000-04-20T22:54:00Z")
All: An interesting quote I received from a friend today. Esprix: I’m definitely interested in the correct attribution if you know it. Wally: I tend to agree. Biggirl: I’ve seen you around; you haven’t gone unnoticed. 🙂 \ How’s life treating you? * * * Dr. Crane! Your glockenspiel has come to life! ---
**Author:** ![MadPoet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8c91f0/32.png) [@MadPoet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPoet)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2000, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247/13 "2000-04-20T22:56:00Z")
Life is fair only in that it is unfair to everyone. * * * [http://www.madpoet.com](http://www.madpoet.com) I am human, and I need to be loved Just like anybody else does ---
**Author:** ![mega\_the\_roo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@mega\_the\_roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mega_the_roo)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2000, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247/14 "2000-04-21T01:02:00Z")
I agree with MadPoet. I don’t think life was ever intended to be fair, and with that, it’s as fair as it gets. * * * “Organs gross me out. That’s _organs_, not orgasms.” -the wallster ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2000, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247/15 "2000-04-21T02:30:00Z")
According to [this page](http://www.sadgeezer.com/babylon5/marcus.htm), this exact quote was Marcus Cole to Dr. Franklin, in the _Babylon 5_ episode [A Late Delivery from Avalon](http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/057.html). The author of that episode is the creator of the series, J. Michael Straczynski. Of course, I’ve heard and read similar sentiments before. * * * …this is another Moebius sig…b!s sn!qaoW jay+oue s! s!y+… (adaptation of a _WallyM7Sig™_ a la quadell) For business reasons, I must preserve the outward signs of sanity. - Mark Twain ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2000, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247/16 "2000-04-21T07:27:00Z")
“If you don’t get everything you want, think of everything you don’t get that you don’t want.” —sugar packet philosophy I try always to avoid complaining. For instance, I live **very** near to an airport, and it’s not true that “after a while you don’t hear it any more.” But I don’t let myself say, “I’d give **anything** if I didn’t have to hear those planes any more,” because that might happen…but the trade-off would be living somewhere that I like much less than this apartment. Or a national crisis that grounds all planes, and also strands me at home. Or a closing of the airport, causing this fairly nice neighborhood to become a slum. I complain with caution, and always try to remember what a **real** problem is. * * * “Hush, village idiot!” ---
**Author:** ![iceprincess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e495f1/32.png) [@iceprincess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iceprincess)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2000, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247/17 "2000-04-21T07:53:00Z")
Okay, silly me, being the inexperienced poster I am. Accidentally posted a new topic for what I meant to say. Here it is in it’s appropriate place. I think the question I have at this point is, “What do we really deserve?” ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2000, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247/18 "2000-04-21T08:10:00Z")
“I know that life is unfair, I just wish it were unfair in my favor” Calvin & Hobbes ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2000, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247/19 "2000-04-21T13:33:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by **SingleDad** : > > Esprix: I’m definitely interested in the correct attribution if you know it. Yup - the opening words of M. Scott Peck’s bestselling book “The Road Less Traveled” are, “Life is difficult.” From [amazon.com](http://amazon.com): > [@](#): > > By melding love, science, and religion into a primer on personal growth, M. Scott Peck launched his highly successful writing and lecturing career with this book. Even to this day, Peck remains at the forefront of spiritual psychology as a result of The Road Less Traveled. In the era of I’m OK, You’re OK, Peck was courageous enough to suggest that “life is difficult” and personal growth is a “complex, arduous and lifelong task.” His willingness to expose his own life stories as well as to share the intimate stories of his anonymous therapy clients creates a compelling and heartfelt narrative. Those were the words that grabbed me. I’d heard about it, saw it in the bookstore, and saw those first 3 words. I knew it was the book for me. Now, I’ve bought it, but haven’t read the darned thing. Remind me and I’ll let you know how it is when I do. Maybe that’ll be my summer reading this year. Esprix * * * Evidently, I rock. [Ask the Gay Guy!](http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum7/HTML/001376.html) ---
**Author:** ![Iolanthe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7bcc69/32.png) [@Iolanthe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iolanthe)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2000, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247/20 "2000-04-21T16:26:00Z")
“Use every man after his desert, and who should 'scape whipping? Use them after your own honour and dignity: the less they deserve, the more merit is in your bounty.” - Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-is-unfair/16247.md?page=2)