Does the thought of non-existence disturb or frighten you?

[Raziaar]

The topic really says it all. How do you feel about the thought of you dying and your consciousness and personality ceasing to exist.

I really find it hard to come to grips with this thought, and it's one of the things I find the most hard to imagine. It's very difficult for me to just think of myself as not existing, not thinking about things, not seeing things. Just... nothingness. Forever, without even able to contemplate about this eternity in some black void somewhere.

Do you struggle with this? Does it frighten or disturb you?

 

[MJ12]

I am more appalled by the idea that I do exist.

I think more so along the lines of, what would life be like if I didn't do "this" or meet "them", etc.

 

[Jintor]

Want me to paraphrase Mark Twain? I'm going to paraphrase Mark Twain. Buddy, I didn't exist for eaons before I did, and it didn't hurt me one bit.

 

[Raziaar]

Want me to paraphrase Mark Twain? I'm going to paraphrase Mark Twain. Buddy, I didn't exist for eaons before I did, and it didn't hurt me one bit.

Yeah, I know that... but it's a different thing to think about... non-existence before living, versus non-existence after living life and growing attached to the universe.

 

[Asuka]

No - I am not bothered by this at all.

I dont agree that its a eventual reality. So my vote went to above.

 

[Krynn72]

Nope, not bothered at all.

 

[Shakermaker]

Here's something I learned at school about this. It's from Seneca. He was the Roman emperor Nero's personal philosopher, but that aside his judgment was pretty good. In a letter to one of his students he writes that you shouldn't worry about this non-existence, since you have no memory of this non-existent state before you were born. Since you were in a state of non-being then, just like you would be after you have died, you simply weren't there. If you are there, death isn't and vice-versa.

 

[Eejit]

Not much bothered. I don't often think about it.

Besides, there might be an afterlife of some kind, so I'll cross that bridge when I come to it - except ofc I won't be able to. Not point worrying about what I can't change.

 

[VirusType2]

I've had moments where I'm like "whoa" and get a little bothered, but have no choice but to just go about my life.

I keep telling myself I probably still have a lot of time left ...

1) so why spend it thinking about something like that

2) there is something heroic about lying on your death bed, saying goodbye to family - facing death calmly.

3) by the time I'm old and dying, I'll probably be ready to call it quits, in a lot of pain since my body will be all old and not working great. Don't know if you guys know this but getting older is painful. Body aches and pains, along with anything you may have developed like bad knees, arthritis, etc.

4) I think that thinking about this kind of shit can give you a heart attack when you are older, because you get upset or scared and your heart starts beating fast getting a hard workout.

5) I think death will be like sleeping without the dreams. Almost never have good ones, and I don't usually remember them anyway. So death will be Resting In Peace. R.I.P.

6) ???

 

[Tollbooth Willie]

I was thinking about this the other night and it made me feel really depressed.

 

[Dog--]

I don't think it matters, I won't be alive to even care, so why should I? There is nothing I can do about it, and it happens billions of times every day (not just humans, like animals and shit, too). Natural order of life.

I'd be more worried about death itself (the pain), if I didn't think that I'd be dead afterwards and couldn't feel the pain anyways, I'd cease to exist, so it works out all good.

 

[French Ninja]

I envy those of you voting for the second option.

I've lost much sleep over the past couple weeks because of this situation and I feel like a wreck.

 

[theotherguy]

Had and passed up the existential crisis. Voted option 2.

 

[Jintor]

Yeah, I know that... but it's a different thing to think about... non-existence before living, versus non-existence after living life and growing attached to the universe.

Not imho. *shrugs*

I don't know. I feel the world will spin on, and, well... will it really matter so much? I'll be too non-existant to know, or care.

 

[Raziaar]

It's not so much about worrying then, since you obviously can't, it's worrying about then while we're still alive, knowing that you won't and can't see, hear, feel, think, or do anything since you will be nothing.

 

[Dog--]

Well, think of it this way, Raz, nothing bad can happen to you while your non-existent, but bad stuff can happen to you now.

 

[elkaebee]

A wise man once said "We are just pollution. If you got rid of us, and all the stars and all the galaxies and all the aliens and everybody, then the difference this makes on the universe would be largely imperceptable."

Therefore, why does it matter should we die and then not have our conciousness continued in another form. If all traces of us were wiped from the universe, there would be no difference at all.

So no, non-existance after death does not frighten or disturb me at all, because, using the thinking previously used to describe death(post-christian-era) defines death as non-existance, and I do not fear death, for I am immortal. Even in death I am immortal.

Even with my body broken, raped, on fire, knees shot out, locust-infected, scradje-depleted, and raped once more, I shall be immortal, for I-and I alone-found the meaning of the line "fingernails are pretty, fingernails are good, seems that all they ever wanted was a marking".

Good night.

 

[Raziaar]

But good stuff can also happen to me right now. Joy, love, friendship. I won't experience anything... and as I blink out of existence, I won't be bound to time or anything anymore, and humanity and the entire universe will just fade off and blink out of existence as well without me even knowing or being there to experience anything.

It's just depressing.

 

[Farrowlesparrow]

Don't think about it and you won't feel depressed :awesome:
Or simply accept that this is the case and then stop thinking about it.



:awesome:

 

[Raziaar]

It's one of those things that comes and goes for me. I have these thoughts... sometimes at night I'll have worrying thoughts about my own mortality that doesn't involve my non existence but rather the circumstances of my death.

Sometimes when I'm riding in a vehicle with my family, I'll have these amazingly horrible daydreams that will involve the violent deaths of my family members in the vehicle in some freak accident... like a board flying through the windshield at a high rate of speed and decapitating my father as he drives... reducing him immediately from the father I love to a horribly mutilated corpse.

Sometimes I can't stop these thoughts from coming on. They're really terrible to have, especially those daydreams.

Anyways... I'm going to bed.

 

[No Limit]

If you're that worried about it find a religion.

 

[Raziaar]

If you're that worried about it find a religion.

I was a Christian...

I think you're misinterpreting the purpose of this thread anyways. I just want to see what people think, how they feel about it and how they comprehend it.

 

[Dog--]

Maybe you should get a psychiatrist.

You have daydreams about your father getting decapitated...

 

[Steve]

If I end up not existing, I doubt I'll find myself worrying about it.

 

[Sheepo]

It's a disturbing thought but really, life goes on. The universe actually will go on. My life is the only thing that will not. Oh wait. SHIT.

 

[No Limit]

I think you're misinterpreting the purpose of this thread anyways. I just want to see what people think, how they feel about it and how they comprehend it.

I don't think I am misinterpreting it. You are going through life worrying about the inevitable. You are not special, we all suffer the same fate. Is that fate depressing when you worry about it? Sure it is. But why worry about this? That's a shitty way to go through life, so if you plan of living that way might as well start believing in some god, you'll probably be much happier that way.

 

[taviow]

Not bothered at all. Not existing is better, as life kind of sucks.

 

[Absinthe]

Of course you won't care once you no longer exist. I mean, duh. That's a given.

But as a mortal being with a temporary existence, if you don't find the prospect of disappearing off the face of this universe in all shapes and forms to be the tiniest bit unsettling, I find that odd. I don't go through life dwelling on it. It doesn't shape the course of my day or change my outlook on life. It doesn't depress or tax me in any way. I accept the inevitability of it. But when you think about it, you will basically be missing out on the rest of life forever. And unless you subscribe to some crackpot, ignorant idea that the world's going to hell and the best is behind us; that humanity is in some downward spiral and it's best that you kicked the bucket before nuclear armageddon or some such bullshit, I think there's good enough reason to find it somewhat sad.

I don't think I am misinterpreting it. You are going through life worrying about the inevitable. You are not special, we all suffer the same fate. Is that fate depressing when you worry about it? Sure it is. But why worry about this? That's a shitty way to go through life, so if you plan of living that way might as well start believing in some god, you'll probably be much happier that way.

I hardly think that one question on an internet forum is basis enough for one to evaluate the composition and direction of his life.

 

[Sedako]

There can be only one!

 

[Asus]

Imagining myself look back on how my life was shaped from the perspective of right before I die doesn't seem like it would shake me. However looking outward at all the possibilities of what if, the rest of the universe and my end really puts me in my place. Hard to really wrap my head around.

But I don't care. My existence as I know it is all from my perspective anyway. Not about the rest of it with or without me.

 

[-Kashmir-]

The very thought kind of messes up my day. Just being completely gone from this universe, with no feeling or thought, in a black void. It just depresses me. I find it really strange that it can't frighten some of you guys.

 

[Que-Ever]

Not as much as that goddamn elbow squid, ****.

 

[lefty]

Non-exsistance doesn't frighten me, but I may have some regrets if I enter that state too early.

 

[Krynn72]

Like I said before, it doesnt really bother me at all, in the context of being disturbed or frightened. I'm not even one of the people who are awe-struck by the idea of non-existence. But, along with what Absinthe was saying, I do feel disappointed with it. I want to see where we go from here, and where we end up. I want to know and experience all the things that the universe has to offer. Its a sad thought, not being able to experience anything ever again. But thats the way it is, so I just swing my arm, snap my fingers, and say "Aw shucks."

 

[Bad^Hat]

To be honest, the idea of there being an afterlife frightens me more, since chances are I wouldn't get in. And if I did... would I really want to live forever?

 

[Atomic_Piggy]

I won't exist, so it doesn't bother me - I won't even know.

 

[BabyHeadCrab]

I've had moments where I'm like "whoa" and get a little bothered, but have no choice but to just go about my life

6) ???

Number 6 summed it up for me. I just don't know. I get these moments of extreme paranoia sometimes where I think "Well, the hell is non-existence? I used to have these moments much more frequently in my childhood.

 

[cheddarrr]

im more curious what my corpse is gunna look like when i leave it behind.

 

[Saturos]

Some atheist guy once told me that if there really was an afterlife, there'd be no need for reproduction.

I believe in some form of afterlife though.

im more curious what my corpse is gunna look like when i leave it behind.

^This too.

I there is an outerbody experience after I die, I'll get to check my corpse to see if Kyle's dad was right once and for all! (The theory that everyone poops immediately after death.)

Poop from a dead person. Ewwww.....

 

[VirusType2]

I want to know and experience all the things that the universe has to offer. Its a sad thought, not being able to experience anything ever again. But thats the way it is, so I just swing my arm, snap my fingers, and say "Aw shucks."

You ever notice how if you do something a lot you get bored of it? Well, not all things, but most things?

Well, maybe the trick is to do everything you love until you don't want to do it anymore. Live a rich and eventful life, then you can die feeling accomplished - and that will be a lot better feeling than dying and being sad, "I never got to do this or that. No fair."

You are only young once, and some things you won't be able to do when you are old. I guess a good idea would be to do the strenuous things that you love when you are young, things like skiing or something, and when you get older, you can travel and things like that - especially since you will be able to retire and no longer have to stay in one location to get to work or whatever.

I think it would be great to see how far technology goes and see how great video games look 100 years after I'm dead and things like that, but I'm over it. I appreciate that I might live to see how they look 65 years from now.