A rather morbid subject

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A rather morbid subject
Topic Started: Feb 22 2012, 12:13 PM (519 Views)
Catholic Europe	Feb 22 2012, 12:13 PM Post #1
Spammer Posts: 9,612 Group: Members Member #4 Joined: December 24, 2003	So...about 4 months ago I suddenly had an epiphany (whilst reading about estimates for the amount of human beings that have ever been born) that I will, one day, die. And it SCARED the shit out of me for some reason. Until that point I was not scared of death at all but, I guess, I never really realised until four months ago that I would not be different to everyone else and that I, too, would end one day. Now, I'm really not quite sure why this affected me so much (and still does....just last night I was unable to sleep because everytime I was about to drift off my body/mind would shock me with the fact that I would die eventually). The pain that comes with death is a little concerning to me. I don't necessarily mean a terminal illness or even a heart attack (they don't scare me so much) it's deaths from burning or being shot or getting hit by a bus that seems to concern me. I also find myself actually being angry with my parents for having me in the first place because if they didn't then would never have to experience this realisation that I will end. It's completely irrational but I have found myself thinking recently that having children should be banned simply so they don't have this realisation occur to them. And, finally, I seem very concerned by having an untimely death. I have no problem with dying if I just think that I will live to 80 or 90 and slowly just reach the end. But, if you think about it, there is so a tiny chance that you will get this death.....you're much more likely to die in a violent way early in your life then in your bed sleeping when you're nearing 100. Has anybody else had this kind of 'crisis'....I have no idea why it hit me so suddenly then or why it still continues to bother me when before I had no fear of death....maybe I'm having a 'quarter life crisis' haha....I am 25 next month! :o



New Harumf	Feb 22 2012, 12:47 PM Post #2
Bloodthirsty Unicorn Posts: 9,638 Group: Forum Mods Member #177 Joined: October 8, 2005	Fearing death should be cured by having faith - that does it for me. Also, since I am 60, soon to be 61, I am much closer to that inevitable day. As to dying young - CE, it is said, only the good die young, so you are pretty safe there. In all seriousness, I see no reason why you can't beat the average age of Western Men and live well into your 80's or 90's. As to the pain - I think everyone has that fear in one way or another - I always wonder how long the mind will continue to feel pain after the body dies? Will it last until it is consumed in the crematorium - will I feel the fire? Will it still think if I lay in the ground being eaten by worms? Not something I look forward to finding out. I am deathly afraid of death by drowning - taking that last breath into your lungs and having it be nothing but water terrifies me. Most other methods I could deal with, especially a long, drawn out illness, provided I have a doctor that knows how to administer pain meds! Your fears are common, I believe. Why the sudden realization hit you about your own mortality?? It must hit us all - perhaps it will lead you to live a slower, gentler life, which is a good thing.



Catholic Europe	Feb 22 2012, 01:32 PM Post #3
Spammer Posts: 9,612 Group: Members Member #4 Joined: December 24, 2003	It's not so much what I will experience after I have died that scares me...it's the process of it and the actual event. And the fact that I won't exist here on this earth....I don't know. I guess it also has to do with questions that I am having about why I was born....for what purpose. What's the meaning of my life. It's not totally to do with my physical body but rather my conscious mind. That's the idea that I'm having problems with....the idea that my mind will end. That my consciousness will simply cease to exist.



New Harumf	Feb 22 2012, 02:44 PM Post #4
Bloodthirsty Unicorn Posts: 9,638 Group: Forum Mods Member #177 Joined: October 8, 2005	Catholic Europe Feb 22 2012, 01:32 PM It's not so much what I will experience after I have died that scares me...it's the process of it and the actual event. And the fact that I won't exist here on this earth....I don't know. I guess it also has to do with questions that I am having about why I was born....for what purpose. What's the meaning of my life. It's not totally to do with my physical body but rather my conscious mind. That's the idea that I'm having problems with....the idea that my mind will end. That my consciousness will simply cease to exist. CE, at some point, even all of the Universe will cease to exist. View life not as something with a destination but as a journey, and enjoy each step of the way; where we end up is of no consequence. Live, love, care.



Aelius	Feb 22 2012, 02:49 PM Post #5
Norman Warlord Posts: 2,137 Group: Members Member #523 Joined: July 17, 2009	I don't fear death, it eventually comes to everyone, but I'm not sure how to process non-existence, that you're alive one moment and dead the next. Like, just instantly, nothing. Everything blinks out. If there is a God and a heaven, does the mind/soul know the body is dead? If there is no afterlife, then do we ever know that we are dead? I don't fear it, like I said, but I definitely don't understand it.



Catholic Europe	Feb 22 2012, 04:02 PM Post #6
Spammer Posts: 9,612 Group: Members Member #4 Joined: December 24, 2003	New Harumf Feb 22 2012, 02:44 PM Catholic Europe Feb 22 2012, 01:32 PM It's not so much what I will experience after I have died that scares me...it's the process of it and the actual event. And the fact that I won't exist here on this earth....I don't know. I guess it also has to do with questions that I am having about why I was born....for what purpose. What's the meaning of my life. It's not totally to do with my physical body but rather my conscious mind. That's the idea that I'm having problems with....the idea that my mind will end. That my consciousness will simply cease to exist. CE, at some point, even all of the Universe will cease to exist. View life not as something with a destination but as a journey, and enjoy each step of the way; where we end up is of no consequence. Live, love, care. Well...the fact that the Universe will end also affects me quite a lot....but, I'm hoping by that time that humans would have evolved the means to live beyond the universe.



The Authority of the Grand Moff	Feb 22 2012, 04:21 PM Post #7
2nd Lieutenant Posts: 460 Group: Members Member #657 Joined: February 11, 2011	The best scientific data shows that the Universe will not actually "end"; so far the data shows that there is not enough matter in the Universe to exert a gravitational effect able to bring about a "Big Crunch". Instead the Universe will keep expanding to infinity. This is actually the most depressing possibility, because eventually the Universe will be almost a total vacuum, with only scattered subatomic particles floating about (and eventually annihilating each other, although the timescales required for this, due to the expansion, are extreme beyond any comprehension). First the stars will die, then the galaxies, then the black holes (yes, they do "die"), and finally it's possible that even protons themselves will decay. Believe it or not, there are even theories that suggest that even Time will eventually stop (the logic behind the argument being that if Time were infinite, then anything and everything possible in the Universe would be much more readily observed than they actually are). There will no way for any life-form to survive this. Nothing beats entropy. If it makes you feel better, though, CE, then there is one intriguing (and controversial) theory about how Life could exist in some fashion if the Universe in fact is destined to collapse upon itself in a "Big Crunch". The theory is called the "Tipler point cosmology", and it argues that as the Universe shrinks further and further, then almost literally at the last moment before total Annihilation the ambient temperature of the Universe, and its Energy, will be near Infinity. If a life-form could harness this and create a quantum computer, then this computer would theoretically be powerful able to run a simulation of the Universe (and all the states and events that it has had and could have)--and, moreover, due to its infinitely-powerful nature and the time dilation effects of the Universe's collapse, this simulation would be able to "run" forever (even if the actual Universe indeed dies only minutes or seconds later). Edited by The Authority of the Grand Moff, Feb 22 2012, 04:22 PM.



Catholic Europe	Feb 22 2012, 04:27 PM Post #8
Spammer Posts: 9,612 Group: Members Member #4 Joined: December 24, 2003	The Authority of the Grand Moff Feb 22 2012, 04:21 PM The best scientific data shows that the Universe will not actually "end"; so far the data shows that there is not enough matter in the Universe to exert a gravitational effect able to bring about a "Big Crunch". Instead the Universe will keep expanding to infinity. This is actually the most depressing possibility, because eventually the Universe will be almost a total vacuum, with only scattered subatomic particles floating about (and eventually annihilating each other, although the timescales required for this, due to the expansion, are extreme beyond any comprehension). First the stars will die, then the galaxies, then the black holes (yes, they do "die"), and finally it's possible that even protons themselves will decay. Believe it or not, there are even theories that suggest that even Time will eventually stop (the logic behind the argument being that if Time were infinite, then anything and everything possible in the Universe would be much more readily observed than they actually are). There will no way for any life-form to survive this. Nothing beats entropy. If it makes you feel better, though, CE, then there is one intriguing (and controversial) theory about how Life could exist in some fashion if the Universe in fact is destined to collapse upon itself in a "Big Crunch". The theory is called the "Tipler point cosmology", and it argues that as the Universe shrinks further and further, then almost literally at the last moment before total Annihilation the ambient temperature of the Universe, and its Energy, will be near Infinity. If a life-form could harness this and create a quantum computer, then this computer would theoretically be powerful able to run a simulation of the Universe (and all the states and events that it has had and could have)--and, moreover, due to its infinitely-powerful nature and the time dilation effects of the Universe's collapse, this simulation would be able to "run" forever (even if the actual Universe indeed dies only minutes or seconds later). In some strange way...yes it does make me feel better!



Al Araam	Feb 22 2012, 04:35 PM Post #9
Demigod of Death & Inactivity Posts: 3,486 Group: Global Mods Member #102 Joined: February 19, 2005	If you are a person of faith, then your faith answers the question of what happens after death for you relatively completely. Life a life that is consistent with what is demanded by your scriptures. If you aren't a person of faith, you're essentially going to have to work through the logical ramifications of death in general, and your death in particular, by yourself. The idea that, at some point, your consciousness will cease to exist is at least a bit mind-bending.



Catholic Europe	Feb 22 2012, 04:46 PM Post #10
Spammer Posts: 9,612 Group: Members Member #4 Joined: December 24, 2003	Al Araam Feb 22 2012, 04:35 PM If you are a person of faith, then your faith answers the question of what happens after death for you relatively completely. Life a life that is consistent with what is demanded by your scriptures. If you aren't a person of faith, you're essentially going to have to work through the logical ramifications of death in general, and your death in particular, by yourself. The idea that, at some point, your consciousness will cease to exist is at least a bit mind-bending. I guess you are correct...for some reason I'm not connecting the fact that I do believe that my mind, my consciousness, will go on into the next life...for some reason it's not connecting for me. I keep thinkin of them as two different things.



New Harumf	Feb 22 2012, 05:00 PM Post #11
Bloodthirsty Unicorn Posts: 9,638 Group: Forum Mods Member #177 Joined: October 8, 2005	Catholic Europe Feb 22 2012, 04:46 PM Al Araam Feb 22 2012, 04:35 PM If you are a person of faith, then your faith answers the question of what happens after death for you relatively completely. Life a life that is consistent with what is demanded by your scriptures. If you aren't a person of faith, you're essentially going to have to work through the logical ramifications of death in general, and your death in particular, by yourself. The idea that, at some point, your consciousness will cease to exist is at least a bit mind-bending. I guess you are correct...for some reason I'm not connecting the fact that I do believe that my mind, my consciousness, will go on into the next life...for some reason it's not connecting for me. I keep thinkin of them as two different things. You are not a man with a soul. You are a soul temporarily living as a man. (Paraphrased from "The Canticle of Liebowitz")



Tristan da Cunha	Feb 22 2012, 05:47 PM Post #12
Science and Industry Posts: 6,792 Group: Veterans Member #86 Joined: November 1, 2004	"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience."



Hastine	Feb 25 2012, 11:20 PM Post #13
Universi enim hic sumus. Posts: 586 Group: Members Member #438 Joined: May 11, 2008	My fear of death is less to do with with its finite nature and the actual process of dying, that it is with the fear of doing nothing with my dreams and having it all cut short, with little of note being ascribed to my hand. Sure, people will mourn me and wish I could return, but will they look at me simply for my relationships with them, or also for the deeds I have done in the world, good and bad? Laziness; that's what I fear. And because of that fear, I'm going down the path of sloth very, very fast. It's a paradox, really.



Sedulius	Feb 26 2012, 07:39 AM Post #14
Field Marshal Posts: 4,727 Group: Members Member #427 Joined: March 29, 2008	I have no fear of death. I have hardly any fear. But I do fear.



Comrade Queen	Feb 26 2012, 07:08 PM Post #15
Comrade Bitchqueen Posts: 4,159 Group: Forum Mods Member #83 Joined: October 4, 2004	Well, there is some hope. I hear that they're starting to make big leaps in longevity research, starting to understand and isolate what makes us age and even reverse it. Hell, I've heard some remarks that New Harumf's generation might be the last to die from old age as well as others that claim that twenty years after the birth of the first person to reach 150, the first person to reach 1,000 is born. Imagine that! And then, there's also the Singularity.



Telosan	Feb 26 2012, 07:47 PM Post #16
The Foremost Intellectual Badass Posts: 3,893 Group: Map Makers Member #445 Joined: May 27, 2008	Scythirus Feb 26 2012, 07:08 PM Hell, I've heard some remarks that New Harumf's generation might be the last to die from old age as well as others that claim that twenty years after the birth of the first person to reach 150, the first person to reach 1,000 is born. Imagine that! Poor NH. While the rest of us frantically scramble about and try playing God, he can sit back and be the Devil's Advocate forever.



Sedulius	Feb 26 2012, 07:57 PM Post #17
Field Marshal Posts: 4,727 Group: Members Member #427 Joined: March 29, 2008	Hey, I don't worry. I'm just going to live my life as well as I can and die happily knowing I did what I could. It doesn't matter if there is life after death or not as long as you actually do something meaningful with yourself. I know I've already done enough, but that I will do more. I wish I could die sooner rather than later, but I know it won't be that way. I don't need to be remembered, but I know I will be at least by a few.



Rhadamanthus	Feb 26 2012, 10:20 PM Post #18
Legitimist Posts: 12,945 Group: Admin Member #19 Joined: January 13, 2004	Scythirus Feb 26 2012, 07:08 PM Well, there is some hope. I hear that they're starting to make big leaps in longevity research, starting to understand and isolate what makes us age and even reverse it. Hell, I've heard some remarks that New Harumf's generation might be the last to die from old age as well as others that claim that twenty years after the birth of the first person to reach 150, the first person to reach 1,000 is born. Imagine that! And then, there's also the Singularity. In all likelihood, if such breakthroughs are made and and developed into user-ready techology, won't they probably be limited to filthy rich for the forseeable future?



Comrade Queen	Feb 26 2012, 11:26 PM Post #19
Comrade Bitchqueen Posts: 4,159 Group: Forum Mods Member #83 Joined: October 4, 2004	Rhadamanthus Feb 26 2012, 10:20 PM Scythirus Feb 26 2012, 07:08 PM Well, there is some hope. I hear that they're starting to make big leaps in longevity research, starting to understand and isolate what makes us age and even reverse it. Hell, I've heard some remarks that New Harumf's generation might be the last to die from old age as well as others that claim that twenty years after the birth of the first person to reach 150, the first person to reach 1,000 is born. Imagine that! And then, there's also the Singularity. In all likelihood, if such breakthroughs are made and and developed into user-ready techology, won't they probably be limited to filthy rich for the forseeable future? It depends on what the price of the project turns out to be. When a new drug or vaccine is made available these days, the production usually costs about tens of billions of dollars. Some of the longevity proponents believe they can aim to make the project lower than that, like only a couple billion.



New Harumf	Feb 27 2012, 09:33 AM Post #20
Bloodthirsty Unicorn Posts: 9,638 Group: Forum Mods Member #177 Joined: October 8, 2005	Telosan Feb 26 2012, 07:47 PM Scythirus Feb 26 2012, 07:08 PM Hell, I've heard some remarks that New Harumf's generation might be the last to die from old age as well as others that claim that twenty years after the birth of the first person to reach 150, the first person to reach 1,000 is born. Imagine that! Poor NH. While the rest of us frantically scramble about and try playing God, he can sit back and be the Devil's Advocate forever. Is there an accusation in there onewhere?? :sad:



Catholic Europe	Feb 27 2012, 11:53 AM Post #21
Spammer Posts: 9,612 Group: Members Member #4 Joined: December 24, 2003	Talio Feb 26 2012, 07:57 PM Hey, I don't worry. I'm just going to live my life as well as I can and die happily knowing I did what I could. It doesn't matter if there is life after death or not as long as you actually do something meaningful with yourself. I know I've already done enough, but that I will do more. I wish I could die sooner rather than later, but I know it won't be that way. I don't need to be remembered, but I know I will be at least by a few. I think I totally agree with this and it may be the answer as to why I am suddenly having all these fears about death. At the moment my life is on hold in Brazil as I wait for my boyfriend to get his visa/passport/whatever the fuck so we can move back to London....I am currently overstaying my visa and so work (i.e: teaching english which I hate) is proving difficult to find and so I have not very much to do. Maybe when I get back to London and begin my life properly these worries and fears will subside a bit....I hope so anyway! :unsure:



New Harumf	Feb 27 2012, 12:00 PM Post #22
Bloodthirsty Unicorn Posts: 9,638 Group: Forum Mods Member #177 Joined: October 8, 2005	Catholic Europe Feb 27 2012, 11:53 AM Talio Feb 26 2012, 07:57 PM Hey, I don't worry. I'm just going to live my life as well as I can and die happily knowing I did what I could. It doesn't matter if there is life after death or not as long as you actually do something meaningful with yourself. I know I've already done enough, but that I will do more. I wish I could die sooner rather than later, but I know it won't be that way. I don't need to be remembered, but I know I will be at least by a few. I think I totally agree with this and it may be the answer as to why I am suddenly having all these fears about death. At the moment my life is on hold in Brazil as I wait for my boyfriend to get his visa/passport/whatever the fuck so we can move back to London....I am currently overstaying my visa and so work (i.e: teaching english which I hate) is proving difficult to find and so I have not very much to do. Maybe when I get back to London and begin my life properly these worries and fears will subside a bit....I hope so anyway! :unsure: You could do some Brazilian gay porn - I don't think they check legal status - and it's safer now, according to everyone here! :evil:



Kiensland	Feb 28 2012, 10:27 AM Post #23
Apathetic Lizardman Posts: 380 Group: Members Member #12 Joined: December 30, 2003	... I'm adamant I'll be dead in six years, either through unhealthiness in mind or body or a stupid accident. It's not something you can do much about in terms of accidents, and not being excessively stupid means you won't get shanked for your phone... besides, whatever happens, happens.



Catholic Europe	Feb 28 2012, 01:51 PM Post #24
Spammer Posts: 9,612 Group: Members Member #4 Joined: December 24, 2003	New Harumf Feb 27 2012, 12:00 PM Catholic Europe Feb 27 2012, 11:53 AM Talio Feb 26 2012, 07:57 PM Hey, I don't worry. I'm just going to live my life as well as I can and die happily knowing I did what I could. It doesn't matter if there is life after death or not as long as you actually do something meaningful with yourself. I know I've already done enough, but that I will do more. I wish I could die sooner rather than later, but I know it won't be that way. I don't need to be remembered, but I know I will be at least by a few. I think I totally agree with this and it may be the answer as to why I am suddenly having all these fears about death. At the moment my life is on hold in Brazil as I wait for my boyfriend to get his visa/passport/whatever the fuck so we can move back to London....I am currently overstaying my visa and so work (i.e: teaching english which I hate) is proving difficult to find and so I have not very much to do. Maybe when I get back to London and begin my life properly these worries and fears will subside a bit....I hope so anyway! :unsure: You could do some Brazilian gay porn - I don't think they check legal status - and it's safer now, according to everyone here! :evil: Erm...I am in a long term relationship so no haha!



Sedulius	Feb 28 2012, 05:42 PM Post #25
Field Marshal Posts: 4,727 Group: Members Member #427 Joined: March 29, 2008	Catholic Europe Feb 28 2012, 01:51 PM New Harumf Feb 27 2012, 12:00 PM Catholic Europe Feb 27 2012, 11:53 AM Talio Feb 26 2012, 07:57 PM Hey, I don't worry. I'm just going to live my life as well as I can and die happily knowing I did what I could. It doesn't matter if there is life after death or not as long as you actually do something meaningful with yourself. I know I've already done enough, but that I will do more. I wish I could die sooner rather than later, but I know it won't be that way. I don't need to be remembered, but I know I will be at least by a few. I think I totally agree with this and it may be the answer as to why I am suddenly having all these fears about death. At the moment my life is on hold in Brazil as I wait for my boyfriend to get his visa/passport/whatever the fuck so we can move back to London....I am currently overstaying my visa and so work (i.e: teaching english which I hate) is proving difficult to find and so I have not very much to do. Maybe when I get back to London and begin my life properly these worries and fears will subside a bit....I hope so anyway! :unsure: You could do some Brazilian gay porn - I don't think they check legal status - and it's safer now, according to everyone here! :evil: Erm...I am in a long term relationship so no haha! Straight porn? :lol:


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