# Smapti is Pitted **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 21, 2014, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907 "2014-05-21T08:14:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 46
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907/901 "2014-11-05T17:50:46Z")
What’s the logic of wanting to be alive? Thing is, you didn’t arrive at the conclusion that being alive is better than being dead, instead you were provided an instinct to live by evolution. Any potential ancestors you might have had that didn’t care if they lived or died didn’t survive long enough to reproduce. Only organisms that take steps to preserve their lives survive. So the instinct to preserve your life is not logical. It is an instinct that was imprinted in your brain, just like some other instincts people believe they’re supposed to ignore, or don’t make logical sense. A parent who risks their life to save a child is acting out of instinct. A person who removes their hand from a hot stove is acting out of instinct. Why is pleasure better than pain? Because pain feels worse, because that’s how your brain was constructed. And a person who steps out of the way of an oncoming car is acting out of instinct as well. Why is living better than dying? Because you have an instinct to preserve your miserable existence. Except, what’s the point? No matter how much you try to preserve your life, eventually you’re going to die. It doesn’t matter if you die at 110 on your palatial estate surrounded by crowds of loving family, friends, and admirers, or at 3 years old in a house fire caused by your junkie parents, it’s completely fair because everyone is going to be dead for the exact same amount of time: forever. So what’s the point of life? There is no point. Live, die, whatever. But don’t pretend that the only rational point of life is to keep on living, and that anyone who takes the slightest risk is insane. Your life will get used up sooner or later, so how you choose to use your life is up to you. If you’d rather be a live jackal than a dead lion that’s fine, except you’ve only postponed the inevitable by a little bit. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907/902 "2014-11-05T18:02:32Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Any potential ancestors you might have had that didn’t care if they lived or died didn’t survive long enough to reproduce. Only organisms that take steps to preserve their lives survive. And thus, life is preferable to non-life. > [@](#): > > No matter how much you try to preserve your life, eventually you’re going to die. It doesn’t matter if you die at 110 on your palatial estate surrounded by crowds of loving family, friends, and admirers, or at 3 years old in a house fire caused by your junkie parents, it’s completely fair because everyone is going to be dead for the exact same amount of time: forever. And thus, it is incumbent on us to abolish death. ---
**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, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907/903 "2014-11-05T18:03:58Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Sometimes once something is broken, it can’t be fixed. You can’t fix stupid. **Smapti** , here’s your sign. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907/904 "2014-11-05T18:25:04Z")
Like I said, you’re starting to sound like Voldemort. If it were possible, I could totally see you constructing horocruxes. > [@Smapti](#): > > And thus, life is preferable to non-life. For you. Not for everyone. Some people prefer a short, happy life free of pain to a long, agonizing one. And that’s their right. Some people may feel that there are things that are worse than death. Far worse. ---
**Author:** ![Fuji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Fuji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907/905 "2014-11-05T18:34:38Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > And thus, it is incumbent on us to abolish death. Good luck with that. You’re not even a [King](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Canute_and_the_waves). I said it to you before and I meant it: you should really read Becker’s [_The Denial of Death_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Denial_of_Death). You are petrified by the fear of death and, assuming you make it that far, your old age will be terrifying and without peace unless you accept things as they really are. I literally feel sorry for you. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907/906 "2014-11-05T18:40:31Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Sometimes once something is broken, it can’t be fixed. I tell you: one must still have chaos in oneself, to give birth to a dancing star. I tell you: you have still chaos in yourselves. Alas! There comes the time when man will no longer give birth to any star. Alas! There comes the time of the most despicable man, who can no longer despise himself. Lo! I show you : the Last Man. – Freddy Nietzsche ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907/907 "2014-11-05T19:00:45Z")
Christ, we have this idiotic argument going on in _two_ threads now? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907/908 "2014-11-05T19:07:45Z")
> [@Strainger](#): > > Christ, we have this idiotic argument going on in _two_ threads now? Yeah, that’s exactly what I was thinking when I read the last few posts. Better to use this forum as intended. Jesus fucking Christ, I hate it when people like him destroy a GD thread with nonsense and then won’ let go. It’s like **Dio** , at his worst, was back here again… ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907/909 "2014-11-05T19:13:08Z")
Reading the quoted part, I get all of it now. Another one who believes someone else’s poor mental health was only important in how it affected them. The cop sucking up too. If mommy and daddy had been good law abiding citizens, young Smapti wouldn’t have had such a screwed up life. Dear God. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907/910 "2014-11-05T19:25:50Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > If mommy and daddy had been good law abiding citizens, young Smapti wouldn’t have had such a screwed up life. You are possibly correct. That’s why I believe in establishing a world where nobody ever has to go through the kind of things I did. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907/911 "2014-11-05T20:24:43Z")
**Miller** unfortunately locked the other **Smapti** Pit thread rather than consolidating it with this one, but it’s [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=638652). It deserves mention, if for no other reason than it produced the phrase, > [@Measure for Measure](#): > > Der Trihs: Voice of reason which I’m guessing is a first. > [@Colibri](#): > > The funny thing is, he would be less despicable if he were a troll and didn’t believe what he posts. Yep. **Smapti** is, inescapably, a pathological liar and the worst kind of internet troll… or he is something much worse than that. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907/912 "2014-11-05T20:41:01Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Yep. **Smapti** is, inescapably, a pathological liar and the worst kind of internet troll… or he is something much worse than that. I am not a troll. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907/913 "2014-11-05T20:42:24Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > And thus, it is incumbent on us to abolish death. How’s that coming along? What have you contributed to the effort so far? /Smeghead, the first immortal. So far, so good. ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907/914 "2014-11-05T20:44:01Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I am not a troll. Only a true troll denies his trollness. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907/915 "2014-11-05T20:46:04Z")
> [@FuriousGeorge](#): > > Only a true troll denies his trollness. So, then, are you a troll? ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907/916 "2014-11-05T20:48:02Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > So, then, are you a troll? Ah, the old “I know you are, but what am I?” gambit. Clever, clever. I’m rubber, you’re glue. What bounces off me, sticks to you. Fucking troll. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907/917 "2014-11-05T20:57:53Z")
> [@FuriousGeorge](#): > > Fucking troll. At least he’s getting some action. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907/918 "2014-11-05T21:13:19Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > And thus, life is preferable to non-life. Why? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907/919 "2014-11-05T21:47:40Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Why? Because we’re capable of having this discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907/920 "2014-11-05T21:52:41Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Because we’re capable of having this discussion. So ? How is having this discussion better than not having it ? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907.md?page=45) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smapti-is-pitted/688907.md?page=47)