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Ask HN: How do you justify your existence?

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Re: Ask HN: How do you justify your existence?

#51

Post by flashgordon »

TL;dr With gratitude and the feeling that this is probably as good as it gets?

Slightly longer version. I grew up thinking I was hot s#1t. You know smart, hard working, loving family (with its own annoying hateable quirks), destined to do great things, Yada Yada yada. You can see where this is going.

Many things didn't pan out and some things lucked out. Sadly my speciality had nothing to do with it. Heck with a lot of help and support and mentoring etc I was guided to see that the luckiest of luckiest rarely deserve their good fortune any more than the most downtrodden of the downtrodden deserved their misfortune. So much so often comes down to environment and luck.

While we are here might as well enjoy the ride, work on things you are passionate about, cherish loved ones and don't harm others (atleast transitively by X degrees).

Re: Ask HN: How do you justify your existence?

#55

Post by hotpotamus »

didgetmaster wrote: post #48
ifdefdebug wrote: post #32

Got 1084 of karma at HN. That should be more than enough to justify my existence.

I just joined a few weeks ago, so I am still working on getting my karma above 100. At what point do you get the red pill that breaks you out of the simulation?

Let's say 500.

Re: Ask HN: How do you justify your existence?

#56

Post by rektide »

I believe I have the possibility of helping undo some of the top down control & command that capitalistic computing has imposed upon us & help create more flexible & open new paths we can freely explore & make our own. I believe we can re open authentic computing experiences & reenable creative computing & endless possibility, and I think I might be able to help. My belief & social activism in owning the means of communication is, if not the material/software contribution I'd love to make, a voice towards the better un-dimmed un-grimmed future I hope we can make tracks towards.

Other basic good-personisms like humility, trying hard, being sympathetic to the vastness & teaming chaoticness & happenstanceness of it all, encouraging others, being inquisitive & hopeful... I strive to be a good cosmic consciousness, meager though I & we be.

Re: Ask HN: How do you justify your existence?

#57

Post by rektide »

mistermithras wrote: post #52

One is curious as to why anyone needs to justify their existence.

"Everyone is welcome to have nothing to say for themselves", which various parties may or may not agree with. I personally find it acceptable, but generally I find that those at least questing for meaning or trying to find options are far far better & more interesting people in my book. Not required, but having something to offer this world is recommendable.

Re: Ask HN: How do you justify your existence?

#58

Post by openfuture »

Surprising how many people take the stance that they don't have to do anything.

It's not that I disagree or anything, it is totally irrefutable, but many people have a sense of responsibility nevertheless and they feel a lot better when they've managed to justify themselves somehow. For example I know many people who refuse to go as guests to others peoples homes without bringing a gift with them.

Some people feel entitled to their space due to some contribution they've made to the collective or just simply because of their beliefs being "correct" .. there's all sorts, however, I am not expecting people to have that much self-reflection.. still it surprises me that most of the people who thought to answer would be of the "I have no need to justify myself" persuasion. I wonder what the lurkers think..

Re: Ask HN: How do you justify your existence?

#60

Post by PeterWhittaker »

hotpotamus wrote: post #55
didgetmaster wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just joined a few weeks ago, so I am still working on getting my karma above 100. At what point do you get the red pill that breaks you out of the simulation?

Let's say 500.

Well, 500 gets you out of that level of the simulation.
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