Poll: Do you deserve to live?

[Tipsy Giant]

N.b. I've done a quick search, and it came up empty. So I naturally assume this topic hasn't been done in the all too recent past. If I'm wrong, meh. Then I'm wrong. Close it, lock it, try to unsee it.

Hey folks, it's time for some more introspective bullshit! It is widely known and accepted, contrary to Tyler Durden's opinion, that we are all beautiful snowflakes composed of the same decaying matter. We are all unique, yet not unique in our uniqueness. Everybody is unique! And beautiful! Just like all life is deemed valuable. That's why a lot of people try to safe everything even remotely alive, ranging from starving Ethiopian kids to whales.

Yet, and this is important, let us assume for the sake of argument that life is only valuable if it means something more. One could say that the talented artist's life is more valuable, because he or she has a unique talent (or 'gift') that adds something to this world and society. The same goes for the scientist, although it can be argued that the scientists studying a duck's corkscrew penis [http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/12/22/kinkiness-beyond-kinky/] is less worthy of life than, let's say, the guy who brought us penicilline.

Of course, the same goes for the Straight A-student and the talented athlete. Whether it's the former who has the talent to become that scientist that kills AIDS dead, or the athlete whom we all worship as if (s)he's a Greek demi-god for kicking a ball, being able to jump really far or cycle around France with only one testicle.

So, what have you done for society, for humanity, for the world that does not involve leeching off valuable resources and wasting equally valuable time? You might think that 'making my parents happy' or 'getting an epic in WoW' qualifies, but... Is this really so? Sure, mom might be proud of her kid being able to kill pixels, but wouldn't she have been happier if her child would have been an Oscar/Pullitzer/Nobel Prize winner?

Just think about it. What have you done, or... if you're too young to make a difference whatsoever, might you be realistically able to do to legitimize your existence?

Yeah, think on that one for a change.

I myself? Other than being right in a lot of questions/dilemma's/problems revolving human nature and social behaviour, often involving other wonderfully unique snowflakes of decaying matter, have done nothing to deserve life.

And I'm too selfish to rid the world of my existence, and to clear up valuable resources for more talented folk to survive. For all I know I (and, you as well) might be the reason why a strapping, bright young lad in Ethopia is starving. A lad who might have, one day, cured cancer.

So. Let 'em rip, folks! And remember, be honest.

But all the "Worthwhile" people would get bored without the rest of us

 

[Angus565]

Everybody deserves to live, from the most average person to the most extraordinary. Because even the extraordinary were once ordinary.

 

[Tipsy Giant]

Of course, the same goes for the Straight A-student and the talented athlete. Whether it's the former who has the talent to become that scientist that kills AIDS dead, or the athlete whom we all worship as if (s)he's a Greek demi-god for kicking a ball, being able to jump really far or cycle around France with only one testicle.

Seriously, athletes will always beat nerdy A-students. Nerdy guys will just sit around studying, using all the mental stuff, but an athlete needs both mental and physical skills. The amount of mental preparation and effort that goes into training alone matches the kid reading some stupid textbook, and add to that all the physical skill he needs to just perform the actions in the sport mean that any athlete kicks the ass of a nerd in term of worthyness to live.

EDIT: Yeah this is my first post, hi everyone, I saw this topic next to the Zero Punctuation vid and had to say something in it, I know too many hipster semi-philosophers to let this go

But all an athlete can do when you think about it is move their limbs about, we can all do that to some degree, whereas a scientist that discovers speed of light travel is way more important and i'd happily live in a world with zero athletes than zero scientists

 

[Dash-X]

What have I done to contribute to society?

Let me counter by asking this question:

What has society done to merit my contribution?

I could waste my life and time trying to do something for society, but if shit happens, society will not help me. Hell, chances are pretty good that society would be what's tying me to the stake and lighting the fire at my toes.

Fuck society. I deserve to live because I'm currently living. I will die when I no longer deserve to live.

All of my efforts are for me. I've got nothing to prove.

 

[jamesworkshop]

I deserve to live because I haven't died yet

 

[Ickorus]

You forget that the person who fathered that A-Student who cures AIDS could easily have been a deadbeat.

Or that athletic guy could have inspired someone to make themselves a better person. (Perhaps even inspired the A-Student to study harder or take the speciality in science that led him to curing AIDS)

 

[Nomanslander]

Well, on one side I'm a classic misanthrope that only see worth in his own life and no one else, and all the rest of you 6 billion bitches can burn in hell for all I care.
=P

But I did serve for four years, so when it comes to my worth in the outside world. My worth is obvious, considering I'll be getting veteran benefits for the rest of my days...free!
=)

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

I'm at university studying earth sciences so that I can get a job prospecting for oil to further kill our planet.

Do I deserve to live? Hell yes!

 

[Always_Remain]

Well. Uh. Right now basically all I'm doing is consuming resources and entertaining those around me. So maybe?

 

[JLML]

Currently it's a no, but then again, I'm not even 17 yet. Also, I actually think I might do something in the future, considering I have plenty of ideas to try.

I guess we'll wait a few years and then see again, eh? Maybe I'll do something, maybe I won't. xD

 

[Ironic Pirate]

No, I may be intelligent but I lack motivation. I'm thirsty, and should be looking up website design, but I probably won't get to that today, and I won't get a drink for an hour.

 

[Mr Thin]

I easily voted no, and immediately after seeing all the other 'no's, thought "so many ****ing emos, get over yourselves."

Instant hypocrite, just add water!

 

[Jonluw]

I do pretty well in school, so maybe I'll become someone important someday.

Other than that, the only thing I've done to deserve my life is being born. I haven't done shit to deserve my life, but I don't think I need to; I'll live either way.

Edit: I almost did something clever once though. I got the idea to register sex.xxx (just like a lot of other people on this site I guess), thing is, I told a friend about the idea, and he went to a domain shop and found that the domain was free. However we stalled, and now it's taken.

 

[Jamous]

I probably don't no. But then, I'm only just moving up to do my A levels, so I can hardly tell yet. Oh well. I can hope I do something good.

 

[Lemon Of Life]

I have a right to live. My parents worked hard to give me the life I have, and who knows, maybe I could accomplish something.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Yes, why? Because I fucking said so and I'm the only person that matters.

 

[Danny Ocean]

But all an athlete can do when you think about it is move their limbs about, we can all do that to some degree, whereas a scientist that discovers speed of light travel is way more important and i'd happily live in a world with zero athletes than zero scientists

HAH, you serious? "All athletes can do is move their limbs about"? All scientists can do is think, we can all do that to some extent. If you had any idea how much mental and emotional control and skill it took to be a top athlete, you'd know it's not anywhere near "just moving limbs about". I'm yet to see a nerd that has the determination and strength that an athlete has, to push their body AND mind to the limit contantly, improving every part of themselves. I'd rather be with an athlete, an infinately more complete human, than a nerd who can derive any equation in under three seconds but has no idea of the limits of his body.

Oh I beg to differ. Everyone is capable of a minimal degree of thought and action, but far fewer are capable of truly complicated thought. This is why not everyone gets straight A's, but everyone plays sport. Why the intellectual elite of the world is far fewer in number than the athletic elite. Why most people are reasonable when it comes to playing a game of footie, but couldn't understand even the basics of sociopolitical theory no matter how much you explain it (Trust me, I've tried.).

The problem here is that most people don't really push themselves in either field, so examples can always be pulled. People can get good grades by sheer grinding and not raw talent, as people can win sporting competitions with sheer grind and not raw talent.

You seem to elevate athletes above intellectuals on the basis of 'determination', and assume that athletes need to push their mind as much as intellectuals do. As someone who is quite capable at both, I can assure you that true intellectual challenge is far more difficult than the mental challenge incurred while practising whatever sport they do, including the art I practice, which is particularly mentally challenging.

Besides, intellectuals have done far more for society than athletes ever have, although it is true that some particularly exceptional individuals have excelled in both fields. I'm not claiming that achieving sporting excellence isn't necessarily easier than intellectual excellence, both just require difference skillsets. Athletic endeavours require the mental fortitude to deal with repetition and pain, as well as some mental capacity to manage your body properly (And in my case, learn complex manoeuvres and patterns). Intellectual endeavours require intense mental flexibility, memory, an open mind , and critical thinking skills (All surprisingly hard to find), as well as a small amount of athletic capacity to ensure your body is healthy enough to facilitate the thinking.

Look at it this way, though: If society deemed athletic endeavour to be more important than intellectual, then surely it would teach more sport? This is not the case. We no longer live in an age where literal physical strength or martial prowess is important, because we have machines.

It wasn't our physical prowess that elevated us above the animals. I'd like to see even the strongest man of today overpower an angry elephant. It was our brain power. Our ability to fashion tools and machines to give us an edge over those with superior physique. Extend this to the modern day, and you have the gun, which almost removes all physical requirements for killing. A child could kill a pro wrestler with minimal effort. Alternatively, take the bulldozer, for example. Where the shifting of earth might have required twenty or thirty men, it now only takes one, with a machine that took a significant level of brainpower to develop. Initially it took physical strength, but now of course we have machines making machines, so the only area where physical strength is needed is in the mining of the raw materials, and even this is becoming increasingly mechanised.

And in the end, who are the ones that control, run, and manipulate society? Those with brains, or those with brawn? I think almost everyone will tell you that it is those with brains that call the shots.

TL;DR: Brain Power is more important than Athletic Power in the modern world. Our educational focus on, and long-term veneration of the persons who possess intellect are evidence of this. However, both are necessary, and both difficult in different ways. I'd say that (As someone capable at both) employing brainpower is more challenging for most people than employing physical power, but that's subjective. I believe those knowledgeable in demographics will agree with me though.

Anyway, I do believe I deserve to live, for many reasons. Most of all, though, I want to change the world for the better, and think that I am capable of doing so.

IF I'm worthy of life it is solely because I'm the counter balance to everyones expectations. I'm intelligent, but I have no drive or will to use it, I'm happy, and tend to make others feel that way, but I hate people. There can not be light without darkness, for without darkness, how would we know what is light?

Oh don't be so dramatic. You're hardly dark or surprising. Intellectual laziness and disliking people are two traits that often go hand in hand. It is not an uncommon combination, especially on the internet. I'll make no assumptions, however, if you tell me why you think you dislike people by default?

 

[Uberpig]

None of us do. That's why I'm taking you all with me. XD

 

[JoJo]

Well, there is a flip-side to what you say too. If we had to evacuate earth and could only take a certain number of people, would you continue with your opinion then? I'm sure having a bunch of knuckle-headed sports stars would hold you in perfect stead when trying to survive. I think you really need to think these things through better before you say things.

I'm sure the scrawny nerds will be so great at rebuilding society. Assuming all the building and infastructure is made from materials that weigh less than a kilo. Despite not having the annoying, nihilstic, argumentative and thoroughly weak nerds, I'm pretty sure the combined determination and physical strength of pro-athletes would easily make society better.

Besides, "evacuate Earth"? Where are we going to go? Mars? Despite how good you think scientists are, they can't quite breathe in space yet. I just took your question to be more "who would you chose to have in a bunker" or similar.

To be honest, to rebuild society you would need a mix of people, rather than just one type. The "nerds" would be responsible for the planning and the decision-making, whereas the "athletes" would get to carry out the actual building and physical work. Neither would be able to function anywhere near as well without the others skills on hand.

 

[manic_depressive13]

Your entire argument is baseless. If human lives are meaningless, how does improving human lives make you valuable?

If one human life is important, they all are, because every single person will positively affect someone else in some way, just as they will inevitably affect someone negatively. Conversely, if you suggest one life is worthless, they all must be.

I tend to sympathise with the latter sentiment.