reply to post by chardonnay
When I was a christian (and 10 years younger) I would have better understood this thread. Nowadays, I don't believe in evil. But a couple times I have
had thought experiments. Sometimes I wonder, for example, whether we're all evil entities in a sort of prison. This reality we're in is the prison.
All of us were condemned in our real life. So we were sent here to this virtual place for imprisonment. I think it would be virtually impossible for
us to know one way or the other whether we're truly trapped entities. It would be a game if it weren't so painful for everyone. Somehow, most of us
are able to trick ourselves into thinking we're not prisoners of this place.
It's hard for me sometimes to accept this place. Nature produces so much randomness and the trials of time and space determine which of those
survive. Even intelligence could simply be a product of trial and error over billions of years across billions of light years of space. A chaotic soup
of potentials. Amongst all of this, it's hard to find meaning. The meaning we have in our locale region appears tangible to us, but it would if this
is how we've developed for millions of years. Take us out of this environment and things won't feel quite so familiar.
So much death everyday. So much suffering. All the way from the smallest lifeforms and organisms to the largest mammals and swarms of creatures that
work with one mind. The universe selects from this pool of life those forms which meet its demands and discards the rest into the abyss of forgotten
things. To me, this is a terrible thought to have.
So.. what if we're all demonic entities.. or evil in nature? What if we strive to deny this? To look at all of this around us and to see it in a good
way because we have no other choice. It's bleak.
And there you have the thought experiment in its complete form, mostly. Except I haven't explained the specifics. What crime are we guilty of? Why is
this prison this way? Who're we?
But then I shake myself after and think the idea is absurd. I know that this reality we're in is substantial. There's a quote that goes like "I think,
therefore I am." Well, this reality feels real to me. It has to come from somewhere. We have our source somewhere. I tend to be a rationale sort of
person so I don't subscribe to spiritualist explanations for things. Despite that, I do think that hyper advanced technologies might appear spiritual
or supernatural to us. Going on what I know, there just isn't enough information to say what this all means. But it means something.
We come from somewhere. But the point of me bringing up this thought experiment I've had is that, yes, I've felt "evil," but in a different kind of
way. And I gotta add that it's all hypothetical and these thought experiments are also done for entertainment. I don't let it go beyond that.
Don't let your feelings dictate your life too much. Anything is bad without moderation. But that doesn't mean we need everything equally. Just keep
your head on your shoulders.
One of the best pieces of advice someone gave me was to stop and think sometimes. I can be impulsive in this world. Jumping here and there. Running
and walking and crawling and climbing. I make a lot of mistakes on my way to whatever place I'm headed. So this advice really meant a lot to me
because it's so true for me. Maybe it'll help you. Are you impulsive with your feelings?
edit on 16-1-2012 by jonnywhite because: (no reason
given)