Live data from Hacker News

Hunter S. Thompson on Finding Your Purpose (1958)

tranquilmonkey.com

11–20 of 265 posts

Re: Hunter S. Thompson on Finding Your Purpose (1958)

#11
post #9

"no one HAS to do something he doesn’t want to do for the rest of his life. But then again, if that’s what you wind up doing, by all means convince yourself that you HAD to do it. You’ll have lots of company." Conformity

Said slightly differently: "If you end up with a boring miserable life because you listened to your mom, your dad, your teacher, your priest, or some guy on television telling you how to do your shit, then you deserve it." - Frank Zappa

I was told to follow Zappas 'advice.'

Re: Hunter S. Thompson on Finding Your Purpose (1958)

#12
post #11
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Said slightly differently: "If you end up with a boring miserable life because you listened to your mom, your dad, your teacher, your priest, or some guy on television telling you how to do your shit, then you deserve it." - Frank Zappa

I was told to follow Zappas 'advice.'

While we're referencing things from the 70's, including prog rock:

  You can choose a ready guide, 
  in some celestial voice.
  If you choose not to decide, 
  you still have made a choice.
  You can choose from phantom fears, 
  and kindness that can kill.
  I will choose a path that's clear.
  I will choose Free Will.

Re: Hunter S. Thompson on Finding Your Purpose (1958)

#13

"no one HAS to do something he doesn’t want to do for the rest of his life. But then again, if that’s what you wind up doing, by all means convince yourself that you HAD to do it. You’ll have lots of company." Conformity

I don't think it's necessary bad to choose a life that's ordinary. In fact he says that if you do then simply convince yourself that you had to. It's your life and you can always readjust your goals to match your circumstances.

Re: Hunter S. Thompson on Finding Your Purpose (1958)

#14
I remember reading this in college and coming away with the feeling that what he was proposing was impossible.

I didn't know what my Abilities were and how they relate to the others around me such that I can use them effectively.

Not only that I didn't even know what I desire aside from food and sex.

Luckily I was on a career trajectory and had quite a bit of experience ahead of me so I took solace in the idea that world travel, responsibilities etc... would flesh a lot of those abilities and desires things out for me.

It's been 13 years since, and I still have no idea where my Abilities lie or what I Desire aside from food and sex.

I like his suggestion to read Sartre, though I suggest Camus instead.

Re: Hunter S. Thompson on Finding Your Purpose (1958)

#15
post #3

"In short, he has not dedicated his life to reaching a pre-defined goal, but he has rather chosen a way of life he KNOWS he will enjoy. The goal is absolutely secondary: it is the functioning toward the goal which is important." I find this is quite new & profound.

Profound, yes, but also pretty much as old as time. "Don't do something, be someone." "The journey is more important than the destination." Etc. etc. Maybe new to folks who're used to a goal-obsessed environment. Nice to see that more people are opening up to it.

Thompson is not exactly saying that the journey is more important than the destination; he's saying that as we grow and change and experience different things, we become another person, and therefore the destination is irrelevant.

The goal we may have had when we started, doesn't change, but we do, and so it's unlikely that we desire it as much as we did or thought we did.

We can't "make it" because there is indeed no destination. The meaning of life is to grow.

Re: Hunter S. Thompson on Finding Your Purpose (1958)

#16

"no one HAS to do something he doesn’t want to do for the rest of his life. But then again, if that’s what you wind up doing, by all means convince yourself that you HAD to do it. You’ll have lots of company." Conformity

You mean: 'Responsibility'.

See those kids you have? No, don't have a choice but to raise them to the best of your ability.

Re: Hunter S. Thompson on Finding Your Purpose (1958)

#17

I remember reading this in college and coming away with the feeling that what he was proposing was impossible. I didn't know what my Abilities were and how they relate to the others around me such that I can use them effectively. Not only that I didn't even know what I desire aside from food and sex. Luckily I was on a career trajectory and had quite a bit of experience ahead of me so I took solace in the idea that w…

Did you not desire to write this comment?

Re: Hunter S. Thompson on Finding Your Purpose (1958)

#19
post #8

I prefer Mike Rowe's opinion on that subject. http://youtu.be/CVEuPmVAb8o

Ironic that he became an opera singer and a TV host which is just the sort of occupations he was slamming people for pursuing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Rowe#Early_life

Re: Hunter S. Thompson on Finding Your Purpose (1958)

#20
post #9

"no one HAS to do something he doesn’t want to do for the rest of his life. But then again, if that’s what you wind up doing, by all means convince yourself that you HAD to do it. You’ll have lots of company." Conformity

Said slightly differently: "If you end up with a boring miserable life because you listened to your mom, your dad, your teacher, your priest, or some guy on television telling you how to do your shit, then you deserve it." - Frank Zappa

Zappa preacher saying 'don't follow anyone's advice except mine'?

It's definitely fair to remind people that they have options, but most people want stability, family, to watch the game, enjoy the sunset, and derive little joy from shaking things up and wagging it in other people's faces.

Moreover - most people recognize that life is just as much a responsibility as it is an opportunity.

The 'Rock N Roll' movement was about self actualization, but when everyone fully self-actualizes, there is nobody left to pay the bill for the hotel room that was just trashed.

Life is fairly mundane, it's mostly just work, dealing with people, common things. Even for 'famous and exciting people'.

Post reply on HN