# Prove your existance... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 8, 2001, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116 "2001-11-08T03:10:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![modro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@modro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/modro)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116/1 "2001-11-08T03:10:18Z")
Being in the philosophical mood that I am, I can’t help but wonder about the whole meaning of existance. Being as I can’t even prove that _I_ even exist to myself, with the exception of my conscienceness, I wonder what everyone elses take on this is. Do you exist, do _I_ exist, and can you prove it? Unfortunately, last time I pondered this, I reduced myself to a mere puddle of brain goo, left with thoughts of whether my reality was merely a figment of my imagination, and if so, could I change it. If everything as I know it, including the people of this board, are parts of my imagination, why am I not higher in the social system that I created? If I created everything in my own mind, does that make me god? If I am in fact god, why do you not worship me? What am I? What are you? And of course, the greatest question of all, why in the name of hell did I come up with polka, and why can’t I will it away? ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116/2 "2001-11-08T03:14:36Z")
I don’t worship anyone. Maybe a photo or video will prove your existence? But then, I understand vampires cannot see their images in mirrors, and perhaps not in photos. ---
**Author:** ![Oicu812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f475e1/32.png) [@Oicu812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oicu812)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116/3 "2001-11-08T03:15:43Z")
I don’t have to prove my existence to you, since you are merely a figment of my fertile imagination. A pantheistic solipsist at heart… O ---
**Author:** ![lenin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3bc359/32.png) [@lenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lenin)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116/4 "2001-11-08T03:23:29Z")
Statement Proof 1. I am 1. I think ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116/5 "2001-11-08T03:23:33Z")
Define “exist”. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116/6 "2001-11-08T03:25:30Z")
I post, therefore I am. ---
**Author:** ![modro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@modro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/modro)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116/7 "2001-11-08T03:26:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Violet \* > \*\*I don’t worship anyone. Maybe a photo or video will prove your existence? But then, I understand vampires cannot see their images in mirrors, and perhaps not in photos. \*\* How can a photo prove my existance to you, if you cannot prove that the photograph exists, merely the thought of it does? How can I prove that you exist for the same reason? Am I talking to myself? ---
**Author:** ![modro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@modro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/modro)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116/8 "2001-11-08T03:28:38Z")
[sup]\*please note that I did not mean “am I talking to myself” as derogatory, i reread it and noticed it sounded like that. I meant “if you are a figment of my imagination, am I talking to myself”.[/sup] ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116/9 "2001-11-08T03:33:45Z")
**Old Adage:** I think, therefore, I am. **New Adage:** I shop, therefore, I am. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116/10 "2001-11-08T03:38:36Z")
Definitely “Mundane Pointless Stuff I Must Share.” This is not a put down. Mere observation. I guess I don’t need to prove my existence to myself or anyone else. A bunch of terrorists tried to kill me in Sept. So I must exist to them. ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116/11 "2001-11-08T03:41:34Z")
…that if I am a figment of your imagination, then I want some of whatever you’re smoking so I can dream up myself. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116/12 "2001-11-08T04:25:05Z")
Does it matter if you exist or not? You are what you are, things happen as they happen. Something new will happen when we die, or not. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116/13 "2001-11-08T04:40:54Z")
Man, I gotta pee… I better exist myself on yond unto the facilities… Carry On. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116/14 "2001-11-08T04:43:16Z")
Unfortunately the college loan people are quite certain that I exist. ---
**Author:** ![Yue\_Han](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/eada6e/32.png) [@Yue\_Han](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yue_Han)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116/15 "2001-11-08T04:50:08Z")
I don’t. –John ---
**Author:** ![TheOtherOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dbc845/32.png) [@TheOtherOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheOtherOne)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116/16 "2001-11-08T04:53:17Z")
If you could create yourself, what would you be? How would your other creations regard you? If you are a figment of your own imagination, what are you to begin with, that has such a wonderful imagination, yet cannot exist without itself to imagine things? (yeah, I’m confused too)… Reminds me of a quote…“The single true test of God’s omnipotence is that he need not exist in order to save us”…forgot who said it. Or maybe I made it up. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116/17 "2001-11-08T05:11:00Z")
I don’t exist. Which means that you are hallucinating if you think that you are reading this. So you should get yourself to a good psychiatrist. But if you take directions from your hallucinations then you are really off your nut. That puts you into a bit of a quandry, doesn’t it. [sub]If you can read this then you are hallucinating to close[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![DPWhite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DPWhite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPWhite)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116/18 "2001-11-08T05:20:38Z")
It all depends on your definition of terms. By the definitions we all normally use, we all certainly exist. What does your life mean is a much tougher question. ---
**Author:** ![Palve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a698b9/32.png) [@Palve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palve)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116/19 "2001-11-08T05:23:51Z")
Prove my existance? Why? It doesn’t matter! If I don’t exist, it doesn’t affect my life and my happiness, therefore I don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![drillrod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@drillrod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drillrod)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116/20 "2001-11-08T10:54:13Z")
Proof that the rest of the world is real and not just a figment of your imagination? Easy. I’m not living the life I would be living if I could just make it all up. Are you? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prove-your-existance/92116.md?page=2)