# Your Philosphy **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 9, 2001, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845 "2001-05-09T04:43:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TN\_hippie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@TN\_hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TN_hippie)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845/1 "2001-05-09T04:43:57Z")
Hey Dopers! This is a serious inquiry, although humorous responses are _always_ welcome in my posts. What is your personal philosophy of life, reality, the nature and/or meaning of existence, etc. ? This may or may not include classical philosophy, religion, spirituality, common sense, experience, or just a gut feeling about stuff in general. Show me yours and I might show you mine. You first. Peace, TN\*hippie ---
**Author:** ![TN\_hippie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@TN\_hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TN_hippie)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845/2 "2001-05-09T04:46:18Z")
Okay, here’s one: Always check your spelling, **philosophers**!!! feeling dumb already, TN\*hippie ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845/3 "2001-05-09T04:52:47Z")
Everything must come to an end. Which isn’t necessarily depressing as it might sound. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845/4 "2001-05-09T05:16:35Z")
I had a regular substitute teacher in high school with the philosophy: “Busy hands are happy hands.” I’m not sure he ever figured out why we always laughed when he said that. Anyway, my philosophy is to just try to be the best person that you can be in every situation. It seems to work quite well, when I follow it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845/5 "2001-05-09T05:22:05Z")
My worldview is existential humanism; my religious philosophy is animism; my political philosophy is social democracy, and my economic philosophy is Keynesianism. ---
**Author:** ![TPWombat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@TPWombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TPWombat)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845/6 "2001-05-09T09:51:33Z")
I just make it all up as I go along. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845/7 "2001-05-09T10:23:41Z")
Well, I could ramble on endlessly about EVERYTHING, but I’ll try to keep it (relatively) short. Try to be a good person. (Of course.) Try to always keep your mind active, with new hobbies and interests. Try to learn new skills, develop new talents, and keep working on skills you’ve developed. Don’t let your pride or fear of failing hold you back from doing these things. Go for something, do it with gusto, even if you suck at first. Occasionally, (within reason, time budget, etc.) **GO OVERBOARD!!!** Don’t hold back. Not even if those around you think you are “weird”. (There is a balancing act sometime - never letting “weird” migrate to “not healthy” - but that’s just something you’ll have to work out!) I don’t always follow my own philosophy, but when I do, it really pays off, and I find myself feeling pretty happy. It wards of depression (or at least takes the edge off.) I dunno, I just feel very strongly about this right now. I guess because lately I find myself surrounded by some people who just don’t seem to do this. They don’t have any personal projects, and don’t seem to be be looking forward to any exciting new thing, hobby, or skill. And I don’t want to be like that. Well, I did ramble a bit - but believe me - it could have been FAR worse! ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845/8 "2001-05-09T10:55:52Z")
Were I to determine my purpose in life by what I spend most of my time doing, I’d have to say that I was put on earth to move bits of paper around, sing whenever I can, and make cats happy. Which is not the worst life I could imagine. As for a philosophy, the keystone of mine is this: **Little kindnesses matter.** That’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Spritle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Spritle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spritle)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845/9 "2001-05-09T11:50:46Z")
I believe in doing a quality job, whatever it is. Even if you don’t like it. Eventually, somebody will come along, look at your finished product and ask, “Who did that?” There is a fine line between a job done well and a job that is “good enough”. I try to lean towards done well. My little creed is to **do everything such that you would be proud to sign your name**. It works with tangible jobs, like producing output, or even in the way you interact with people. ---
**Author:** ![Aghris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecccb3/32.png) [@Aghris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aghris)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845/10 "2001-05-09T13:08:56Z")
I have several, which proved successful and fun in the past. I believe that people generally think of me as a nice person to be around, so I heartily recommend people to share my views 😉 : [1] Try everything at least once, continue trying if you find you like it. [1a] Speak from experience, not from hearsay. [1b] Have fun in everything you do. [2] Don’t do unto others what you wouldn’t want others doing to you. [3] Be understanding. Always try to envision yourself in the other shoe. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845/11 "2001-05-09T14:17:58Z")
Never to answer philosophy messages…just kidding. Would prefer “nothing unreal exists” ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845/12 "2001-05-09T15:28:17Z")
> [@](#): > > She says life is like a windshield > It ain’t no rear view mirror > The only way to get where you’re goin’ > Is find that higher gear > And keep it > > Rollin’ > Life’s gonna run you over if you don’t get goin’ > She said I wanna fell the earth move under me > Movin’ with the motion of a melody > Oh I get the blues if the rhythm ain’t got no soul > You got to keep it > Rollin’ From Garth Brooks’ song **Rollin’**. _(From the same song: “If you’re tired get on the sofa 'cause the bed’s no place to sleep”) 😉_ ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845/13 "2001-05-09T16:45:40Z")
Life can be tough, but I bet I’m tougher. This quote from _The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon_ by Stephen King also sums it up for me: **"The skin of the world is woven of stingers, a fact you have now learned for yourself. Beneath there is nothing but bone and the God we share."** ---
**Author:** ![TN\_hippie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@TN\_hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TN_hippie)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845/14 "2001-05-10T05:11:35Z")
Be. Just kidding, sort of. It’s a bit more complicated than that, but I want to hear more of yours. This is good stuff. Peace, TN\*hippie ---
**Author:** ![Mercutio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Mercutio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercutio)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845/15 "2001-05-10T05:52:49Z")
You should not care what those you do not have a strong bond with, think of you. ---
**Author:** ![Erika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/47e85d/32.png) [@Erika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erika)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845/16 "2001-05-10T06:00:02Z")
No Regrets. That covers a lot of it (it’s amazing what high school teachers can make stick with you…). There’s a good load of Existentialism, and a rather large dose of rather liberal Christianity. And a mishmash of whatever else has struck me as true. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845/17 "2001-05-10T06:01:12Z")
As there is no creator there is no such thing as inalienable rights or basic human rights, or anything along those lines. Any “freedoms” or “rights” are those that people take and make for themselves with the agreement of those around them. That’s my philosophy of how to behave. My philosophy of life is that life is an accidental string of coincidences. Don’t overinflate its importance. ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845/18 "2001-05-10T06:18:06Z")
People should try to not get in each others’ way. The First Noble Truth: Life is suffering. People should try to act in ways that reduce the amount of suffering in the world; and avoid acting in ways that bring more into it. It’s good to be human. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845/19 "2001-05-10T10:08:53Z")
**What is your personal philosophy of life?** This is a good question, because it makes me think. At first glance, my reaction was “I don’t think I really have one!”. Bu that’s not entirely true. I think I can sum it all up in three short phrases:[ul][li]Whatever you do, try to have fun while doing it.[/li][li]Be aware of what implications your actions have on others, and be compasionate.[/li][li]Make enough friends to make life worth living, and always be loyal to those you call friends. They’re your back-up. And you are theirs.[/ul]\*\*Reality, the nature and/or meaning of existence, etc. ?[/li]\*\*Ah, this is where it gets easy for me. Allow me to quote my personal friend mr. Neil Peart, of Rush fame: _“Why are we here? Because we’re here Roll the Bones”_ In other words: I don’t know what it’s all about, and I don’t believe in a higher power, a goal for which I was put on this earth, or a destiny I should be persuing. It’s all in your own hands, your own roll of the dice: ROLL THE BONES. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845/20 "2001-05-10T13:54:12Z")
My philosophy is: Do it. Don’t just talk about it, bitch about it, or dream about it. Take the first step, then the next, then the next. Express your goals out loud to everyone and be proud. Zette future PhD in Clinical Psychology [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-philosphy/64845.md?page=2)