life is too short for me !

[Disciple]

I like to think that is how character is formed and the betterment of the individual.

What? The old 'suffering enobles', 'no gain without pain 'and "everything happens for a reason" ? Oh please ,those claims are fatuous nonsense as principles.

Suffering MAY be 'character building' (whatever that means) My observation is that usually it is not.

I happen to be blessed with the ability to bear the suffering of others with fortitude,indifference,and at times. pleasure. I handle my own suffering poorly,becoming no fun at all to be around. My own continued suffering makes me really cranky,not stoic.

I also watched my father die by inches,as the person slowly disintegrated with dementia. There was nothing enobling or character building about my father's suffering,for him or those around him. That experience left me livid at the sanctimonious arseholes who prevent voluntary euthanasia laws being passed.



I have seen no proof that the universe is sentient or that there is any guiding intelligence.

Hey padraic, You know, I can totally relate to you on loosing your father. I actually just lost mine just two weeks ago to lung cancer. It was a slow death that was very painful to watch and honestly im still struggling with that one. And i can talk a big game about trials and whatnot building character but I handle my own suffering poorly as well some of the time. Its one of those things thats much easier said than done. However I dont believe any suffering is ever in vain. Its all for a purpose. Im not sure if all suffering it is meant to build character or what, I was just refering to the origional example in the post. what dosent kill us will make us stronger if we allow it to. Or we can turn it in on ourselves and deteriorate from the inside or let it drive us insane. Peace.