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Miles Rationis
Joined: 08 May 2007
Location: Just Say No To Korea!
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 Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:45 pm Post subject: Settling down or waiting in line for the Grim Reaper... |
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From a biological standpoint the propagation of DNA is a perfectly understandable and rational endeavour; from a biological standpoint, it is the very purpose of our existence. However, as homo sapiens has in many ways moved beyond his genetic/evolutionary limitations (e.g. birth control, art, etc.), I cannot help but think that the routine of 'settling down', i.e. giving up the interesting (and yes, at times exasperating existence) of the road warrior/transient expatriate is tantamount to waiting in line to die. Do not misunderstand me; oblivion is the final destination for us all but the very concept of 'settling down', at least in terms of its ideation, seems to hasten the process (in an abstract way). I cannot help but equate it with resignation. I am only speaking for the standard definition of 'settling down'. Of course there are arguments that could be made for other types of non-linear 'settling down'. A man and woman could choose to propagate their DNA whilst living abroad, changing country every few years or so, just as an example, but how many people actually do this? Not many based solely on observation. Most people, particularly Anglophones I have met, have some ultimate plan, which upon close inspection conforms to the standard pattern of resignation. One cannot exclude man's deep need for security from this equation, despite the fact that the security sought after is entirely illusory and can be torn forth from the seeker's grasp in the blink of an eye. Still, taking all such factors into account (reproductive drive, need for security, etc.), I have to pose the question why, if man is able to supersede and transcend evolutionary boundaries and limitations, most people, much like lemmings, line up to wait in line for death in the most unimaginative ways.
What do you think? |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:48 pm Post subject: Re: Settling down or waiting in line for the Grim Reaper... |
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| I started to read that, but it turned into blah blah blah due to your avatar. I can't possibly read something like that looking at your avatar... |
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Miles Rationis
Joined: 08 May 2007
Location: Just Say No To Korea!
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:50 pm Post subject: Re: Settling down or waiting in line for the Grim Reaper... |
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| laogaiguk wrote: |
| I started to read that, but it turned into blah blah blah due to your avatar. I can't possibly read something like that looking at your avatar... |
So, in essence, evolution has got you by the balls... |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:53 pm Post subject: Re: Settling down or waiting in line for the Grim Reaper... |
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| Miles Rationis wrote: |
| laogaiguk wrote: |
| I started to read that, but it turned into blah blah blah due to your avatar. I can't possibly read something like that looking at your avatar... |
So, in essence, evolution has got you by the balls... |
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Miles Rationis
Joined: 08 May 2007
Location: Just Say No To Korea!
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| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 12:13 am Post subject: |
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| What an interesting thread this could have been... |
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Imbroglio
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: Behind the wheel of a large automobile
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| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 12:32 am Post subject: |
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| Artemis was bathing in a stream in the woods one day and a hunter called Actaeon just happened to be passing by and saw her. Even though she was hot, Artemis was a major prude. She was so loving pissed that he saw her naked that she changed him into a stag. After that she was still pissed, so she set his dogs on him. Actaeon was ripped apart and eaten alive by his own dogs. |
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KirbyMagnus
Joined: 05 Apr 2008
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 1:09 am Post subject: |
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Sorry I gave up. Really I know I am not as clever as a lot of people who post on this forum but English is a form of communication. English is a vehicle for expressing emotions and ideas, not showing off and dressing up your selfish sixth form ideas in psychobabble.
Seriously, "propogating your DNA" - no real person dehumanizes the act of having children with such language. Falling in love is the best thing that can ever happen to a person and children are the ultimate expression of that love. I am not saying they are neccessary to live a full life, I often think this world is not one I would want to raise children in.
Man cannot transcend evolutionary boundaries and limitations. Do we have time travel? Can we make ourselves immortal? no, we our born, we live, we die. You can't do anything about that. Putting a Johnny on when you have sex so the woman doesn't get pregnant isn't really transcendant is it.
Exploring the world around you, meeting someone you want to share your experiences with, finding somewhere nice to raise children and passing on your knowledge and experience to them. Unimaginative? Sometimes things are they way they are for a reason, yes some things haven't been tried but for the most part human lives and civilization have been honed over a hundred generations. The WISDOM of the ages is so named for a reason.
P.S. Sorry I edited this rant as I couldn't get it to put the OP's post in quotation boxes.
P.P.S. I don't want to sound like I am being agressive towards the OP. I understand what he is getting at but I just think when you are talking about things that are fundamentally human you need to drop the academic speech and talk like you would to real people.
Last edited by KirbyMagnus on Sat Apr 12, 2008 1:32 am; edited 2 times in total |
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mikowee
Joined: 03 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 1:15 am Post subject: |
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| use paragraphs plox |
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Miles Rationis
Joined: 08 May 2007
Location: Just Say No To Korea!
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| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 1:31 am Post subject: |
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| KirbyMagnus wrote: |
I will attempt to translate this from textbook into human.
"From a biological standpoint the propagation of DNA is a perfectly understandable and rational endeavour; from a biological standpoint, it is the very purpose of our existence."
"propogation of DNA" means "having children" so the OP is saying that having children is our puprose in existence (life).
"However, as homo sapiens has in many ways moved beyond his genetic/evolutionary limitations (e.g. birth control, art, etc.), I cannot help but think that the routine of 'settling down', i.e. giving up the interesting (and yes, at times exasperating existence) of the road warrior/transient expatriate is tantamount to waiting in line to die."
"homo sapiens" means "human beings" or "people". "transient expatriate" has no direct translation but it is the sort of term you see in reviews on Pitchfork.Com.
"Do not misunderstand me; oblivion is the final destination for us all but the very concept of 'settling down', at least in terms of its ideation, seems to hasten the process (in an abstract way). I cannot help but equate it with resignation. I am only speaking for the standard definition of 'settling down'."
"oblivion is the final destination for us all" - we are all going to die.
Of course there are arguments that could be made for other types of non-linear 'settling down'. A man and woman could choose to propagate their DNA whilst living abroad, changing country every few years or so, just as an example, but how many people actually do this? Not many based solely on observation.
"non-linear 'settling down'" - living in a caravan.
"Most people, particularly Anglophones I have met, have some ultimate plan, which upon close inspection conforms to the standard pattern of resignation."
"ultimate plan". Most human beings desire to become adults, have jobs, fall in love and have children.
"One cannot exclude man's deep need for security from this equation, despite the fact that the security sought after is entirely illusory and can be torn forth from the seeker's grasp in the blink of an eye. Still, taking all such factors into account (reproductive drive, need for security, etc.), I have to pose the question why, if man is able to supersede and transcend evolutionary boundaries and limitations, most people, much like lemmings, line up to wait in line for death in the most unimaginative ways."
Sorry I gave up. Really I know I am not as clever as a lot of people who post on this forum but English is a form of communication. English is a vehicle for expressing emotions and ideas, not showing off and dressing up your selfish sixth form ideas in psychobabble.
Seriously, "propogating your DNA" - no real person dehumanizes the act of having children with such language. Falling in love is the best thing that can ever happen to a person and children are the ultimate expression of that love. I am not saying they are neccessary to live a full life, I often think this world is not one I would want to raise children in.
Man cannot transcend evolutionary boundaries and limitations. Do we have time travel? Can we make ourselves immortal? no, we our born, we live, we die. You can't do anything about that. Putting a Johnny on when you have sex so the woman doesn't get pregnant isn't really transcendant is it.
Exploring the world around you, meeting someone you want to share your experiences with, finding somewhere nice to raise children and passing on your knowledge and experience to them. Unimaginative? Sometimes things are they way they are for a reason, yes some things haven't been tried but for the most part human lives and civilization have been honed over a hundred generations. The WISDOM of the ages is so named for a reason. |
Are you a religious person?
Putting on a condom is counterintuitive to our evolutionary purpose. |
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KirbyMagnus
Joined: 05 Apr 2008
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 1:49 am Post subject: |
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Are you a religious person?
Putting on a condom is counterintuitive to our evolutionary purpose. |
I am open to the belief in a higher power. The nature of which I am not sure of. But I don't believe in an afterlife. This is it as far as I am concerned.
But I don't think it is relevent. I have noticed on these forums whenever someone is sincere and does not use academic language they are asked if they are religious. What is the implication, that because I have a poetic soul and not a scientific one I must be a brainwashed bible basher.
I don't think as human beings we do have an evolutionary purpose. I don't think there is a God that has a plan for us. I just think we are, and we as human beings have to decide for ourselves what we do with life. So as human beings we do transcend our evolutionary purpose through our free will.
| Quote: |
Man cannot transcend evolutionary boundaries and limitations.
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Oh Bugger! So I just contradicted myself. For my next trick...
Now to your original post. I want to travel the world and see many different places, but one day I would like to settle down. I understand what you mean about spending a few years here and a few years there. I know it is stressful to uproot your family but I only have one life and I would like to live with my wife and children in more than one country.
I think many people dream of doing this. But I think the main barrier is money. If I was rich I would not stick to one country I would have houses in at least 2 countries, I would have summer and winter retreats. I would tutor my children privately so I would not be forced to settle in one place for the sake of their schooling.
When I say tutor privately I mean "hire teachers" if I taught my children myself they would more than just a bit thick. I would also make sure to propogate my DNA with a woman who was really smart so they would have the genes to combat their inhereted dumbness from myself. |
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Miles Rationis
Joined: 08 May 2007
Location: Just Say No To Korea!
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| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 2:06 am Post subject: |
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| KirbyMagnus wrote: |
| Quote: |
Are you a religious person?
Putting on a condom is counterintuitive to our evolutionary purpose. |
I am open to the belief in a higher power. The nature of which I am not sure of. But I don't believe in an afterlife. This is it as far as I am concerned.
But I don't think it is relevent. I have noticed on these forums whenever someone is sincere and does not use academic language they are asked if they are religious. What is the implication, that because I have a poetic soul and not a scientific one I must be a brainwashed bible basher.
I don't think as human beings we do have an evolutionary purpose. I don't think there is a God that has a plan for us. I just think we are, and we as human beings have to decide for ourselves what we do with life. So as human beings we do transcend our evolutionary purpose through our free will.
| Quote: |
Man cannot transcend evolutionary boundaries and limitations.
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Oh Bugger! So I just contradicted myself. For my next trick...
Now to your original post. I want to travel the world and see many different places, but one day I would like to settle down. I understand what you mean about spending a few years here and a few years there. I know it is stressful to uproot your family but I only have one life and I would like to live with my wife and children in more than one country.
I think many people dream of doing this. But I think the main barrier is money. If I was rich I would not stick to one country I would have houses in at least 2 countries, I would have summer and winter retreats. I would tutor my children privately so I would not be forced to settle in one place for the sake of their schooling.
When I say tutor privately I mean "hire teachers" if I taught my children myself they would more than just a bit thick. I would also make sure to propogate my DNA with a woman who was really smart so they would have the genes to combat their inhereted dumbness from myself. |
Good post.
Unfortunately I spent too much time in academia; after Korea I am returning thither. |
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tfunk
Joined: 12 Aug 2006
Location: Dublin, Ireland
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| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:01 am Post subject: Re: Settling down or waiting in line for the Grim Reaper... |
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| Miles Rationis wrote: |
I have to pose the question why, if man is able to supersede and transcend evolutionary boundaries and limitations, most people, much like lemmings, line up to wait in line for death in the most unimaginative ways.
What do you think? |
They can manufacture artificial eggs in China now. I have to pose the question why, if man is able to supersede and transcend evolutionary boundaries and limitations, most people, much like lemmings, line up to wait in line for eggs in the most unimaginative ways. |
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KirbyMagnus
Joined: 05 Apr 2008
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:32 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| They can manufacture artificial eggs in China now. I have to pose the question why, if man is able to supersede and transcend evolutionary boundaries and limitations, most people, much like lemmings, line up to wait in line for eggs in the most unimaginative ways. |
Unlike lemmings we humans unfortunatelly have no Nuke button.
God shall look down upon Judgement Day and say
"Stupid humans they aren't being original, they're just lining up for death in the most unimaginative ways...right"
[Click Click]
OH NO!
5
4
3
2
1
BOOM!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wnjyxCl1kyA
Last edited by KirbyMagnus on Sat Apr 12, 2008 9:33 am; edited 1 time in total |
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darkcity
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: SF, CA
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| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 7:11 am Post subject: |
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| where are you guys getting your weed? |
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Miles Rationis
Joined: 08 May 2007
Location: Just Say No To Korea!
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| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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| darkcity wrote: |
| where are you guys getting your weed? |
Nowhere... |
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