# Perpetually annoyed...
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetually-annoyed/78766
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [August 29, 2001, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetually-annoyed/78766 "2001-08-29T18:30:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@mrblue92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrblue92)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2001, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetually-annoyed/78766/1 "2001-08-29T18:30:24Z")
This little dilemma came to my mind today…
Are you Sisyphus or Prometheus?
Here’s a happy thought… putting the other details of their stories aside, would you rather push a rock up a hill for eternity with no hope at redemption, or have your liver eaten by an eagle for eternity, but have some miniscule chance for escape? Frustration with no hope, or horrible pain with a tiny hope?
I guess I’d reluctantly take the eagle because I’d still have that speck of optimism.
---
### Author:  [@seawitch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seawitch)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2001, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetually-annoyed/78766/2 "2001-08-29T18:52:11Z")
I’d take the eagle eating my liver and then hope wildly for hepatitis, just in case it was fatal to eagles. Or at least made me taste bad.
Not so much hoping for escape as determined to take somebody down with me. I guess I’m a vindictive sort.
---
### Author:  [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2001, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetually-annoyed/78766/3 "2001-08-29T18:54:26Z")
Not being familiar with the myth, I just wonder why Sisyphus bothers pushing the damn boulder. I’d just say “to hell with it” and park my fanny at the bottom of the hill.
---
### Author:  [@mrblue92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrblue92)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2001, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetually-annoyed/78766/4 "2001-08-29T19:03:18Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by rjung \*
> \*\*Not being familiar with the myth, I just wonder why Sisyphus bothers pushing the damn boulder. I’d just say “to hell with it” and park my fanny at the bottom of the hill. \*\*
For the sake of argument, let’s just say you get an eagle picking at your genitals for eternity if you refuse to push the boulder.
Enough motivation for you?
---
### Author:  [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2001, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetually-annoyed/78766/5 "2001-08-29T19:11:04Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by mrblue92 \*
> \*\*
>
> > [@](#):
> >
> > \*Originally posted by rjung \*
> > \*\*Not being familiar with the myth, I just wonder why Sisyphus bothers pushing the damn boulder. I’d just say “to hell with it” and park my fanny at the bottom of the hill. \*\*
>
> For the sake of argument, let’s just say you get an eagle picking at your genitals for eternity if you refuse to push the boulder.
>
> Enough motivation for you? \*\*
WOW!
I’m pushin’ the rock, boss! I’m pushin’ the rock!
---
### Author:  [@seawitch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seawitch)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2001, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetually-annoyed/78766/6 "2001-08-29T19:12:08Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by mrblue92 \*
> For the sake of argument, let’s just say you get an eagle picking at your genitals for eternity if you refuse to push the boulder.
Then I’d pray for syphillis and/or gonorrhea. I’m telling you, the eagle has got to go.
---
### Author:  [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2001, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetually-annoyed/78766/7 "2001-08-29T20:02:27Z")
Eagle all the way. I like birds. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2001, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetually-annoyed/78766/8 "2001-08-29T23:44:23Z")
{setting self up solidly]
Give me the bird, any day.
---
### Author:  [@MysterEcks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysterEcks)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetually-annoyed/78766/9 "2001-08-30T04:25:21Z")
**mrblue92** said:
> [@](#):
>
> Frustration with no hope, or horrible pain with a tiny hope?
My, aren’t _you_a bundle of joy.
I don’t like pain–pain hurts, dammit–so I guess I’ll go for the rock.
---
### Author:  [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetually-annoyed/78766/10 "2001-08-30T13:34:50Z")
Life _is_ pain.
I’d take rolling the eagle over a hill of boulders for an eternal chance at escape.
---
### Author:  [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetually-annoyed/78766/11 "2001-08-30T15:17:11Z")
thinksnow, you truly are an inspired person. Thank you for making that alternative available.
However, I’d prefer to roll the eagle’s gizzard over mountains of grain for eternal beer.
---
### Author:  [@Humble\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Humble_Servant)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetually-annoyed/78766/12 "2001-08-30T15:22:30Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by thinksnow \*
> **I’d take rolling the eagle over a hill of boulders for an eternal chance at escape.**
You know how to roll your own eagles?
If I could be marinated in a nice chianti, I’d take the eagle too–and my Hercules might rescue me some day.
---
### Author:  [@mrblue92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrblue92)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetually-annoyed/78766/13 "2001-08-30T16:10:58Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by thinksnow \*
> \*\*I’d take rolling the eagle over a hill of boulders for an eternal chance at escape. \*\*
And Zeus spake:
“Do you really want to roll the eagle when he’s biting you _there_?!? I suppose that could be arranged, but since being such smart asses is what got you guys here in the first place, I have a better idea. We’ll get the eagle to eternally roll boulders up your… and remove them out your… yea, that’ll work. No escape for you!”
---
### Author:  [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetually-annoyed/78766/14 "2001-08-30T17:02:56Z")
Bummer.
---
### Author:  [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetually-annoyed/78766/15 "2001-08-30T17:06:31Z")
I have a high tolerance for pain. Give me the eagle.
Plus, I’m an optimist (usually) and I can’t stand repetitive work. Ugh, boulder rolling. Feh.