Well, this stuff is all public domain and not proprietary. Which goes to show just how similar capitalism and communism really are.

Last edited by Overlord Morgus (12-06-2012 02:33:08 PM)

:snerk: coming out.

Atropos wrote:

I probably sound insane, but I think experiencing sorrow is one of the only ways to improve yourself at a spiritual level. That's not to say anyone who suffers will become a better person, but you can't become the best person possible without experiencing pain in your life.

Have you read De Profundis by Oscar Wilde?  "Where there is suffering there is sacred ground."  Probably one of my favorite quotes ever.

Also, I think a lot of existentialism is about this sort of thing.  But I could be wrong, I didn't even get through the introduction of Existentialism for Dummies.

So no, it doesn't sound insane.  It's definitely something I can attest to on a personal level, too.  Sort of... when something bad happens, it's humbling.  And learning to stand in awe of the inevitability of loss means you won't cling to the things that you're afraid of losing to the point where you're willing to destroy everything else for the sake of that thing, because it's just not worth it, and it never will be.  I'm trying to think of a less bullshitty way to say it, but it's just not working.

Atropos wrote:

I probably sound insane, but I think experiencing sorrow is one of the only ways to improve yourself at a spiritual level. That's not to say anyone who suffers will become a better person, but you can't become the best person possible without experiencing pain in your life.

I definitely agree. I would say though that to me it's not necessarily the pain that seems to build character, it's the adversity. It's not the pain that changes you, it's the decision you make to do something about it. Fighting it isn't necessarily the right answer--there are whole schools of thought around the embracing and accepting of pain as part of life, and they're not wrong. It's deciding that you're stronger than what happens to you, what's dished out, and what's unfair.

Stephen, you have a good point, too. There's a certain amount of adversity that's improving in the young, but it seems like so many experience so much hardship so early in life that...how can they deal with it? Think of how often this happens. How many of us were abused, sexually or otherwise, as children? How many of us got picked on, beat up, or were isolated for some reason from our peers? We're all still here. We've all survived. Nevermind how 'intact' we are or are not, it's amazing to me, when I reflect on it, the amount of pain and horror we can survive. And then, after that survival, we can still talk about wanting to improve.

I guess what I'm saying is 'Holy crap people are amazing.'