(January 7, 2013 at 12:02 pm)Violet Lilly Blossom Wrote: I didn't need to subscribe to any particular philosophy to make me a nice girl and a doormat

I don't believe my being a deterministic existential nihilist has benefitted my life at all. For the most part, I recognize that what I believe if pressed has little bearing upon my appreciation for my life. It doesn't consume me, it is simply as much an inherent part of me as being a woman, loving pizza, and having silvery-blond hair.

It will obviously not be the same story for all people. I see choice and authenticity as the most important. I have a lot of respect for other people's right to choose. You don't hold the same values as I do, so your reaction will obviously be different.

(January 7, 2013 at 12:02 pm)Violet Lilly Blossom Wrote: I would ask... precisely what is 'truth'? How does recognizing that meaning is self-derived and otherwise likely nonexistent turn one into a pacifist? It seems just as likely one could take existentialism and be a mass-murdering psychopath... simply because the philosophy makes no claims past itself. It isn't a religion... so why do you hold it so reverently and suggest it has guided you?

Again, my value system is different. I've always disliked the violent side of myself, but I often let it control me. That wasn't really me and if I wanted to be authentic to myself, I had to do something about it. I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't use some kind of force to defend myself or my loved ones, so I dubbed it a "cautious" pacifism. Life has always been important to me and it got even more important with the loss of my faith. I was a existentialist before I knew what existentialism was, but there are finer parts (such as the question of authenticity and the topic of angst) I was not as familiar with. It made sense to me and I became a little more committed to choice and authenticity than some other parts. Furthermore, there are many different kinds of existentialist (as that variety in the most popular existential authors clearly show). My friend is not the same type of existentialist that I am, but we hold the same kind of umbrella beliefs (although he has a tendency to apply them in ways that are radically different than my own). I'm not sure of all the fancy terms used to describe specific kind of existentialism I practice, because it's not as important to me, but I don't believe I am deterministic (within the boundaries of physics, of course). Choice is all I have to define myself with and I am comfortable with that.

(January 7, 2013 at 12:02 pm)Violet Lilly Blossom Wrote: Respect my opinions all ya like, I'm still asking questions when people say strange things

As, but normal is what everyone is and you are not. "Strange" is relative.

Annika Wrote:It will obviously not be the same story for all people. I see choice and authenticity as the most important. I have a lot of respect for other people's right to choose. You don't hold the same values as I do, so your reaction will obviously be different.

Well, why not offer my story then? How else for you to understand where I come from?

Value is all subjective, as is respect. Why are these things important to you? What on earth is *not* 'authentic'? What is it about the illusion of choice that you fancy so?

Annika Wrote:Again, my value system is different. I've always disliked the violent side of myself, but I often let it control me. That wasn't really me and if I wanted to be authentic to myself, I had to do something about it. I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't use some kind of force to defend myself or my loved ones, so I dubbed it a "cautious" pacifism.

Then is it not *you*, a person, who has decided to step up your game, and not a philosophy? I'd use my body as a shield, myself. Not much point or concern in guarding my own life though, might as well just run

Quote:Life has always been important to me and it got even more important with the loss of my faith. I was a existentialist before I knew what existentialism was, but there are finer parts (such as the question of authenticity and the topic of angst) I was not as familiar with. It made sense to me and I became a little more committed to choice and authenticity than some other parts.

Topic of angst? Commitment to a philosophy? I guess if it makes you feel good, but at that point it sounds like a replacement for faith in a god.

Quote:Furthermore, there are many different kinds of existentialist (as that variety in the most popular existential authors clearly show). My friend is not the same type of existentialist that I am, but we hold the same kind of umbrella beliefs (although he has a tendency to apply them in ways that are radically different than my own). I'm not sure of all the fancy terms used to describe specific kind of existentialism I practice, because it's not as important to me, but I don't believe I am deterministic (within the boundaries of physics, of course). Choice is all I have to define myself with and I am comfortable with that.

There's a different version of every word for every person. To a child, a cloud might be heavenly, to a romantic a fantasy, to a scientist a novelty. Sure, there are 7 billion brands of existentialism, from everything to nothing, but it's always something.

That doesn't mean I should respect all of them, many of them, some of them, any of them. Many are made by the ignorant, plenty are crafted by the nonadept philosophically, a few might even be constructed by well-meaning and yet erroneous elderly. Existentialism necessitates Nihilism necessitates Subjectivism. Assuming any of these, why believe that you are not a fantastic biological machine that will always make the same decision no matter how many times an option be run through an identical system? You are a system, you are a machine, and you will always make the same decision considering identical situation.

What is free will, then? What is this choice you speak of? We will always be free to choose the choice we always will make. Or are you bringing something metaphysical into this?

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(January 7, 2013 at 2:42 pm)Annik Wrote: As, but normal is what everyone is and you are not. "Strange" is relative.

How am I not normal? I'm the most normal lady I know

Just go to the Winchester and wait for all this to blow over.

You may as well ask why it's worth existing in general. Because it's more interesting. Even if there were a God and some kind of afterlife it would still be the same.

I personally find life more meaningful without a god than with one. That's why it's worth being atheistic.

(January 8, 2013 at 5:03 pm)HalcyonicTrust Wrote: I personally find life more meaningful without a god than with one. That's why it's worth being atheistic.

I hate when anyone of any labels say "I am an". Atheist is a position, not who the person is. "Atheist" will no more make one automatically good or evil than any other label. All atheist says is "I do not hold a belief in a god or gods".

"Atheist" does not convey class, or education level, or politics. I know of "atheists" whom do nothing but say "I don't believe" and do nothing to educate themselves. I know atheists who own guns and voted for Mitt Romney. I don't know of any "atheists" personally in our prison systems, but I am sure there are. I am also sure in a more "atheistic" majority like the UK their prisons would reflect a higher rate of atheists because that reflects the population, although they have a total lower crime rate than the US.

Christians represent the majority of our prisoners because they come from a society with a majority of Christians.

Ultimately labels do not matter. We still are individuals in a long evolution all capable of the same range of human emotions and actions, both constructive and destructive.

I wouldn't treat the word "atheist" as a worldview or a personal philosophy. It is just a statement about one position on one issue. Humans are always more complex than the religious or political positions they hold.

Haven't found worth in it yet, but I'll report back if I ever do.

Quote:Why is life worth living as an atheist?

Because there is an entire world out there to be conquered and enslaved!!!

(January 25, 2013 at 2:32 am)naimless Wrote: Haven't found worth in it yet, but I'll report back if I ever do.

Have you tried
*Sex
*Cotton Candy
*Sour Patch Straws/Kids
*Skittles of every variety
*Video games
*Masturbation
*Pizza
*Petting a good dog
*Shooting someone
*Spaghetti
*Sugared Cereals like Cap'n Crunch or Cinnamon Toast Crunch
*Raisin Bran
*Soy milk
*Sugar and Cinnamon rice
*Salt and Pepper rice
*Sushi
*Reading
*Movies
*Mountain Climbing
*Socializing
*Religion
*Bubble Gum
*Bubbles
*Eating Babies
*Crafting
*Sculpting
*Scalping
*Costumes
*BDSM
*Programming
*Music
*Playing a musical instrument
*Fixing a car
*Children (having)
*Slaves (owning)
*Slave (being)
*Drugs
*Gushers
*Kaleidoscopes
*Racing
*Sports
*IEDs
*Board Games
*Card Games
*Battlebots
*Legos
*Blocks
*Money
*Fanboyism/Fangirlism
*Anime and Manga
*Poetry
*Laughter
*Clowns
*Silly Hats
*Violet Lilly Blossom's existence
*Politics
*Semantics
*Existential Nihilistic Determinism (worth is not innate, it is what you make it... or do not make it. Shit goes on regardless)
*Swimming
*Olympics
*Breathing
*Singing
*Showering
*Killing
*Brutalizing
*Bullying
*Raping
*Misinforming
*Teaching
*Donating
*Greifing
*Being a douchbag in general
*Mollycoddling
*Working
*Dying
*Surviving
*Hugs

?

No, I haven't tried

eating babies, BDSM, having children, owning a slave, IEDs...