Thread: The Change I Want To See In The World

I'm pretty sure I agree and disagree with everyone in this thread simultaneously. I thought I agreed mostly with Xel at first, but then you made some good points Oneironaut, and Mark. see emoticon.

oh, let me add something. I'm in pretty good shape, overall. I don't currently have any serious or excessive suffering. I often wonder if my beliefs would change in the face of tragedy, as in Oneironaut's example: what if someone kidnapped my child, what then? would things suddenly matter to me? since I abhor children, a better example for me would be, what if someone killed my mother? (we are very close.) but the thing is, my beliefs are not who I am, I am not my beliefs. if my beliefs change, I essentially cease to exist. every moment of every day, I essentially cease to exist.

does that sound right to you, Xel?

Originally Posted by nerve

Lmao. God, I love that emoticon.

Originally Posted by nerve

I often wonder if my beliefs would change in the face of tragedy...

If I had to guess, I would have to say that tragedy is the #1 catalyst for paradigm change. It may not be the most common, but definitely one of the most successful.

And unfortunately, it often does take a tragedy, before people realize how biased (even unintentionally) or narrow-minded their previous views were (not that I'm calling anyone's views here narrow-minded. I'm just saying; in general).

Originally Posted by XeL

I can see that I'm not getting my point across... Sigh, I only have myself to blame ;/. English is not my first language.

Sorry I didn't realize English wasn't your first language. If part of what I said doesn't make sense please let me know haha.

Originally Posted by Oneironaut

Lmao. God, I love that emoticon.

ME TOO it is the best addition ever :0

And unfortunately, it often does take a tragedy, before people realize how biased (even unintentionally) or narrow-minded their previous views were...

what about what I said here?

my beliefs are not who I am, I am not my beliefs. if my beliefs change, I essentially cease to exist.

does it not make sense? I do not WANT any tragedy in my life, but I DO want to know what it would change, if anything. whatever happened, however dramatically my beliefs changed, I would not be the same person as before, for better or worse. I swear you said something about different "planes" of "caring," I thought it was you anyway, maybe in another thread? I've been thinking about it a lot lately (along with a friend of mine telling me that nihilism is "at serious odds with reason") and I think...if at some (ultimate?) level everything is absolutely meaningless, that plane might as well not exist. metaphysical nihilism, maybe any form of nihilism, might as well not even be an issue. so what if it's true? you can keep it in mind, but why act on it? it's...nothing.

I'm not thinking clearly right now. maybe didn't explain that very well. :\