“ you should be grateful if your loved ones keep you in their thoughts for those ensuing decades.” I wonder how exactly anyone can be grateful after their exit from life, far as we know that don’t matter after to that person
Life Has Several Exits
41–50 of 69 posts
Re: Life Has Several Exits
#42Earlier quoted context omitted.
It’s also in the middle of the insane logistics that get dropped on you when a loved one dies. I wrote my dad’s obituary. Three days prior none of us would have ever thought about it. We were dealing with figuring out what actually happened, planning the funeral, tracking down contact info and notifying friends and family who we hadn’t talked to in sometimes decades, notifying my work, his work, medical bills and hea…
It has been suggested that one should write their own obituary. It gives you perspective. I just tried writing my own and it was a depressing affair. Maybe I need to reconsider my priorities. Also, it goes without saying that your loved ones will appreciate it when you do finally kick the bucket.
When writing my dad's eulogy I came across a few different pieces of writing he had done describing his life. They weren't exactly obituaries and mostly were full of dumb jokes but they helped a bit.
Re: Life Has Several Exits
#43Some of these exits are not like the others.
Yeah and I'm surprised at the lack of "exit from parenthood" it's an exit that I dread even though I've just begun the journey. It seems like a poorly thought out piece to have skipped one of the core human experiences.
But you never stop being a parent, unless you are referring to the children dying. On the other hand, you can certainly exit from the not-a-parent state.
Re: Life Has Several Exits
#44I am thirteen and this is deep
Re: Life Has Several Exits
#45So, 1,000 years from now, who will still be a household name from our era?
Re: Life Has Several Exits
#46I see it in another way, a bit nihilistic though. Sure, there are plenty of exits. But we will all have to make the final exit at some point. Either now or 10 years or 50 years. We will all have to go. And statistically, the chance that you would be someone who is remembered 100 years from now is kind of slim. And 100 years is, in the grand scheme of things, a blink of an eye. Even 1000 years would be inconsequential…
> And statistically, the chance that you would be someone who is remembered 100 years from now is kind of slim. You won't be remembered. The image of you is remembered. Not even that. It would be a photograph of a photograph of photograph of an image. We don't remember julius caesar or george washington. We remember the image of them. They themselves ( who they are or were ) doesn't matter. Just like we remember the…
It almost sounds like you're making an argument in favor of the "digital afterlife" trend, whereby you essentially leave an LLM of yourself.
Re: Life Has Several Exits
#47So, 1,000 years from now, who will still be a household name from our era?
Assuming human civilization is still around keeping track of things, Buzz Aldrin.
Re: Life Has Several Exits
#48I see it in another way, a bit nihilistic though. Sure, there are plenty of exits. But we will all have to make the final exit at some point. Either now or 10 years or 50 years. We will all have to go. And statistically, the chance that you would be someone who is remembered 100 years from now is kind of slim. And 100 years is, in the grand scheme of things, a blink of an eye. Even 1000 years would be inconsequential…
Yep, even famous people in their time are quickly forgotten. How often does anyone under age 60 think about JFK? In another 50 years he’ll be a name among many in a history class, which is more than most people get but that will be the extent of it.
At the risk of being glib, QAnon adherents do.
But your point is well taken, how many people have thought of D.R. Griffith, Jimmy Steward or Paul Newman this week?
Re: Life Has Several Exits
#49A big one for me is exiting one city and entering another (i.e. moving) especially when the new city is in another state. I've switched cities 7 times in the last 9 years and 6 states.
Wow. Do you enjoy the adventure, move for the job, or some other reason?
I'm looking for someplace to call home. Each city hasn't fulfilled my dream (e.g. too hot, too congested, too boring, too expensive).
Re: Life Has Several Exits
#50I see it in another way, a bit nihilistic though. Sure, there are plenty of exits. But we will all have to make the final exit at some point. Either now or 10 years or 50 years. We will all have to go. And statistically, the chance that you would be someone who is remembered 100 years from now is kind of slim. And 100 years is, in the grand scheme of things, a blink of an eye. Even 1000 years would be inconsequential…
About being forgotten:
There is a good fiction book in Russian on the topic: https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A1%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82_%D0%B...
Plot: After you die, you get to another place, call it heaven.
Every time someone who is alive remembers about you, you get a coin.
Coins are used in this afterlife community for food, entertainment, labor, etc
You cannot steal them, although can give as gift to another afterlife person.
Of course, in the beginning you are rich, people miss you. Then income drops...
When you are out of coins - you die second time, most likely forever.
Well written, good plot, etc.
But! In this after world Hitler and cavemen whose body is part of the exhibition in natural sciences museum live better and longer than any "normal" and "ordinary" person, especially in the long time perspective.
P.S. You still can do many things in this world to make people remember you for a long time after you are gone.