# The meaning of life **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 6, 2001, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558 "2001-05-06T19:41:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![upperdeckfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/65b543/32.png) [@upperdeckfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/upperdeckfan)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558/21 "2001-05-07T00:19:41Z")
Do the “Hokey Pokey.” That’s what it’s all about. ---
**Author:** ![gadgetgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c5a1d2/32.png) [@gadgetgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gadgetgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558/22 "2001-05-07T01:17:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by upperdeckfan \* > \*\*Do the “Hokey Pokey.” That’s what it’s all about. \*\* That’s it, That’s it! all hail upperdeck the wise. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558/23 "2001-05-07T01:30:44Z")
Congratulations, Mort Furd. Your children are fortunate to have you as a parent who cherishes them. ---
**Author:** ![Mysphyt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@Mysphyt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mysphyt)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558/24 "2001-05-07T04:31:14Z")
C:>copy con meaning.bat @echo off echo The purpose of life is to breed children, :breed echo whose purpose it will be to raise children, goto breed ^Z 1 file(s) copied So what we have here is a redundant loop wherein we single people are slaves to those of you with more fruitful loins and nothing of any actual merit gets accomplished. Disregard all other pursuits in life, because if they are not directly related to raising children, they must be worthless. Never mind raising the quality of life for existing, contributing members of society, we’re doing all this work for the children. And this is GD, so I will bring religion into it . . . Disregard all attempts to attain a higher level of consciousness or do good to mankind or maintain a personal relationship with God, for none of these things contribute to the tautology that is life, so they must be worthless. If you have an ugly child, kill it, for it will be unable to breed and will thus lead a meaningless life. You’ll be putting it out of its misery. As I’ve said so many times, yeesh. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558/25 "2001-05-07T17:01:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mysphyt \* > \*\*If you have an ugly child, kill it, for it will be unable to breed \*\* Counterargument: Bill Gates. He’s got a daughter. Though I wouldn’t argue that killing him at an early age would necessarrily be a _bad_ thing… 😉 The meaning of life? “Be excellent to each other and party on.” ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558/26 "2001-05-07T18:08:59Z")
_Zygotes are just gametes’ way of making more gametes._ (RAH/LL) ---
**Author:** ![tuzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/da6949/32.png) [@tuzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tuzi)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558/27 "2001-05-07T22:19:47Z")
Let me remind all of you leaping on Mort Furd that you were all children at some point. Your parents spent an unappreciated amount of time speculating on the miracle you were ( SOME of you still are!). Instead of picking his thoughts apart, take a few minutes and reflect on Mort’s desire to share with you this incredible moment in his life, I know I did. This thread has been an eye opener for me, I had no idea there were so many egocentric individuals interested in these amusing and thought provoking topics. Some of your comments lead me to believe you are incapable of deep thought!!! Keep up the battle Mort, I appreciate you. ---
**Author:** ![LokiTheDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6f9a4e/32.png) [@LokiTheDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LokiTheDog)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558/28 "2001-05-08T00:57:02Z")
\*\* tuzi\*\* Yeah, you’re right, the Great Debates section of this board is where we should all gather to pass out cigars and talk about the exciting new turn of events in our lives. :rolleyes: I see that was your first post, I don’t mean to scare you off, but we tend to discuss differences of opinions in here. There are other places you can chat if you want to gossip. Try AOL 😃 ---
**Author:** ![LokiTheDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6f9a4e/32.png) [@LokiTheDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LokiTheDog)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558/29 "2001-05-08T01:00:59Z")
Damn, it’s only when you start tossin out zingers that you forget to close the bold or mispel stuff. (yeah, I know that’s misspelled) ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558/30 "2001-05-08T01:06:01Z")
Mysphyt wrote: > [@](#): > > So what we have here is a redundant loop wherein we single people are slaves to those of you with more fruitful loins I thought Esprix and matt\_mcl were the ones with the more “fruitful” loins. \ ---
**Author:** ![johnny\_fishface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@johnny\_fishface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnny_fishface)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558/31 "2001-05-09T05:35:52Z")
tracer wrote: > [@](#): > > I thought Esprix and matt\_mcl were the ones with the more “fruitful” loins. I think that was covered in another thread. 😉 On a more serious note… tracer, you seem obligated to post on every thread where someone brings up something ‘spiritual’ or ‘meaningful to them’ in the GD. > [@](#): > > \ > > Um … the meaning of life is a noisy pickup truck driving by outside my house? why is that? BTW, I have my own theory. ---
**Author:** ![dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f19dbf/32.png) [@dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dude)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558/32 "2001-05-09T12:22:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Mysphyt \* > > \*\*If you have an ugly child, kill it, for it will be unable to breed \*\* > > Counterargument: Bill Gates. He’s got a daughter. > > Though I wouldn’t argue that killing him at an early age would necessarrily be a _bad_ thing… 😉 > > The meaning of life? “Be excellent to each other and party on.” > \*\* party on dude ! ---
**Author:** ![dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f19dbf/32.png) [@dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dude)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558/33 "2001-05-09T12:24:43Z")
Children and evolution etc. is HOW life works. Why or the meaning is a different thing, i think you are confusing the two. the meaning of life - who knows ? ---
**Author:** ![Xerxes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d2c977/32.png) [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558/34 "2001-05-09T12:48:42Z")
Would it be such a tragedy if there was no \*universal[/] meaning of life (and I personally don’t think there is, at least not one which is self-evident to me right now). Note, I’m not saying that person A’s life doesn’t have meaning, just that it might be light-years away from person B’s… ---
**Author:** ![Xerxes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d2c977/32.png) [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558/35 "2001-05-09T12:50:17Z")
I hate it when that happens… sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558/36 "2001-05-09T13:37:27Z")
From [Merriam\_webster’s Online Dictionary](http://www.m-w.com/home.htm): > [@](#): > > ``` > Main Entry: 1life > Pronunciation: 'lIf > Function: noun > Inflected Form(s): plural lives /'lIvz/ > Etymology: Middle English lif, from Old English lIf; akin > to Old English libban to live -- more at LIVE > Date: before 12th century > 1 a : the quality that distinguishes a vital and functional > being from a dead body b : a principle or force that is > considered to underlie the distinctive quality of animate > beings -- compare VITALISM 1 c : an organismic state > characterized by capacity for metabolism, growth, reaction > to stimuli, and reproduction > 2 a : the sequence of physical and mental experiences that > make up the existence of an individual b : one or more > aspects of the process of living <sex life of the frog> > 3 : BIOGRAPHY 1 > 4 : spiritual existence transcending physical death > 5 a : the period from birth to death b : a specific phase of > earthly existence <adult life> c : the period from an event > until death <a judge appointed for life> d : a sentence of > imprisonment for the remainder of a convict's life > 6 : a way or manner of living > 7 : LIVELIHOOD > 8 : a vital or living being; specifically : PERSON <many > lives were lost in the disaster> > 9 : an animating and shaping force or principle > 10 : SPIRIT, ANIMATION <there was no life in her dancing> > 11 : the form or pattern of something existing in reality > <painted from life> > 12 : the period of duration, usefulness, or popularity of > something <the expected life of flashlight batteries> > 13 : the period of existence (as of a subatomic particle) -- > compare HALF-LIFE > 14 : a property (as resilience or elasticity) of an inanimate > substance or object resembling the animate quality of a > living being > 15 : living beings (as of a particular kind or environment) > <forest life> > 16 a : human activities b : animate activity and movement > <stirrings of life> c : the activities of a given sphere, area, > or time <the political life of the country> > 17 : one providing interest and vigor <life of the party> > 18 : an opportunity for continued viability <gave the patient > a new life> > > 19 capitalized, Christian Science : GOD 1b > 20 : something resembling animate life <a grant saved the > project's life> > > ``` Yeah, I know. cheesy, huh? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558/37 "2001-05-09T14:08:49Z")
Kids are the meaning of life?!! Balderdash, sir! Tommyrot! Mewling, puking, snot-infested, scabby-kneed crumb snatchers! With an unerring instinct to urp up on the only clean office shirt you’ve got! Stuff money and food into one end and the other produces the single most toxic substance in the Universe! Takes 18 years, minimum, to develop the most rudimentary set of human emotions and, rest assured, gratitude will not be on the list. Spends your Porsche money on graduate school in Women’s Studies so the mean little slut can write learned papers on the evils of Patriarchy (that’s you, Bub!). Turns your lust-crazed, oral compulsive hotsy-totsy into a Mom, and you, you poor shmuck, you turn into your Dad! Go shave, and there he is, staring at you. The instant that child hits ground, you start making those noises when you get up out of the chair, your abs turn to flabs and young women start calling you “sir”. And you can’t do the sensible thing and blow your brains out because you have responsibility, the **one** curse you labored most mightily to avoid. Kids are **not** the Meaning of Life. There is **NO** Meaning of Life!! There isn’t the slightest need for one. ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558/38 "2001-05-09T14:44:42Z")
Please define for me what you mean by “meaning”. Until you have made this clear, I don’t think that we can come to any kind of conclusion. pan ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558/39 "2001-05-09T15:57:45Z")
johnny fishface wrote: > [@](#): > > On a more serious note… tracer, you seem obligated to post on every thread where someone brings up something ‘spiritual’ or ‘meaningful to them’ in the GD. > > why is that? Why? Why do I prefer vanilla ice cream? Why does the longest life still seem so short? Why does the summer breeze caress me so? Why do birds suddenly appear, ev’ry time you draw near? Well, as far as my butting in to threads about spirit and meaning, it **might** have to do with the fact that I was sure, absolutely sure, I’d figured out the Meaning Of It All [TM] back in my late teens/early twenties. Then I found out I was full of it. In fact, my signature (on the rare occasions I use it) looks like this: ---
**Author:** ![dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f19dbf/32.png) [@dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dude)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558/40 "2001-05-09T18:10:46Z")
1. to try be happy 2. to try make others happy what do you reckon ? keep it simple huh ? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/64558.md?page=3)