Philosophy Now Forum

The only way anyone can be a 'nobody' is if no one else is aware, or cares about, their existence. To die a genuine 'nobody' is a sad end indeed.

Harbal wrote:In real life I am a nobody, even though, in many respects, I am quite capable.
On philosophy forums I seem to be a somebody, even though I know fuck all about philosophy.
It's a funny old world.

So you are saying that you are less important to the mighty oceans of humanity than you are to a small group of eccentrics who mingle online on a forum. If the pool is small enough every fish is a big fish.

I am a nobody and it suits me fine. I shall die alone but since I am a loner and also not afraid of death it does not bother
me at all. Now no one is going to remember me but given how I anticipate spending the rest of eternity in pain free non
consciousness it does not truly matter. I had zero problem not existing before I was conceived so should have none after
I cease to be. Death is where it is at for me. For life is simply a minor diversion on that journey as far as I am concerned

Harbal wrote:In real life I am a nobody, even though, in many respects, I am quite capable.
On philosophy forums I seem to be a somebody, even though I know fuck all about philosophy.
It's a funny old world.

One definition of 'paradox':
At the most basic level, a paradox is a statement that is self contradictory because it often contains two statements that are both true, but in general, cannot both be true at the same time.
Another definition:
A statement that seems to contradict itself but may nonetheless be true.
And another:
A paradox is a statement that, despite apparently sound reasoning from true premises, leads to a self-contradictory or a logically unacceptable conclusion.
And yet another:
A seemingly absurd or contradictory statement or proposition which when investigated may prove to be well founded or true.
The list goes on.

What I discovered is in real life 'I' am actually nobody. Without going into all the details, what I call the small 'i', the individual person, i.e., me, is in fact nobody. 'i' am nobody, in that 'i' am not made up of a body, as in the physical human body. 'i' am the thoughts and feelings, existing with-in a human body. Thoughts and internal feelings, as far as we know, are not made up of any thing physical, therefore are of no-body. Of course the human body creates thoughts and emotions, i.e., the living being with-in the body, but as far as we can tell we can not find nor "put our finger" on thoughts and emotions, like we can on a (physical) body.

So, my life can very easily be seen as a paradox, i.e., 'being nobody' may seem absurd and/or contradictory but may in fact be the truth.

What's a nobody? Is it someone who ranks zero on the chart compared with others above or below? And who gives a crap! Time will blow us all into oblivion and leave no one left to remember anything. Every human will default to nobody sooner or later.

sthitapragya wrote:

Hobbes' Choice wrote:

sthitapragya wrote: Oh yeah. I have two kids. So lets see how that works out.

So you have achieved natural selection; what's your problem?

I have no problem whatsoever at all of any kind.

You said; "But I can say fuck you to Darwin. I am the guy that broke his law of survival of the fittest. "

That is obviously bullshit, isn't it?

Hobbes' Choice wrote:

sthitapragya wrote:

Hobbes' Choice wrote:
So you have achieved natural selection; what's your problem?

I have no problem whatsoever at all of any kind.

You said; "But I can say fuck you to Darwin. I am the guy that broke his law of survival of the fittest. "

That is obviously bullshit, isn't it?

Of course it is. I have found repeatedly now that I should avoid trying to be funny when I write. I fail miserably at it because people take it seriously.

Harbal wrote:In real life I am a nobody, even though, in many respects, I am quite capable.
On philosophy forums I seem to be a somebody, even though I know fuck all about philosophy.
It's a funny old world.

There are no "nobodies," Harbal.

God made you. He knew He made you. The Creator of the Universe chose that you should exist, and brought you into being with the greatest of intentions toward you. That makes you of immeasurable importance.

The cynics will bark, but that won't change the facts. Ironically, the cynics matter too; they are just selling themselves short. So whatever they say or think, they're just wrong. Don't take it to heart.

You matter. You always will -- whether or not you're on a philosophy forum.

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:The only way anyone can be a 'nobody' is if no one else is aware, or cares about, their existence. To die a genuine 'nobody' is a sad end indeed.

So if a person dies and no-one notices, they were a nobody? It has happened.

thedoc wrote:

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:The only way anyone can be a 'nobody' is if no one else is aware, or cares about, their existence. To die a genuine 'nobody' is a sad end indeed.

So if a person dies and no-one notices, they were a nobody? It has happened.

In effect. Yes.

Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name. Nobody came.

Wyman wrote:Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name. Nobody came.

That makes for a sad song, but when it happens in real life, it makes you wonder about what kind of a person were they, that no-one noticed that they had died and were not coming around anymore.

thedoc wrote:That makes for a sad song, but when it happens in real life, it makes you wonder about what kind of a person were they, that no-one noticed that they had died and were not coming around anymore.

I had an cousin who was extremely reclusive. An interstate aunt, my mother and I (rarely) were the only people he seemed to interact with. He seemed pleasant and kind to me, and had a seemingly encyclopaedic knowledge of old movies.

Reclusiveness is essentially peace-seeking behaviour. Through experience the reclusive find that, while being alone is not perfect, it tends to work out better than their interactions with others. From memory, he lived into his late 70s or early 80s, which suggests that we was at least probably kind to himself - a personality trait that allows a safe haven for loners who prefer to avoid the intimidating judgementalism of others. Self-flagellating loners are the ones in a truly sad situation.

Greta wrote: I had an cousin who was extremely reclusive. An interstate aunt, my mother and I (rarely) were the only people he seemed to interact with. He seemed pleasant and kind to me, and had a seemingly encyclopaedic knowledge of old movies.

Reclusiveness is essentially peace-seeking behaviour. Through experience the reclusive find that, while being alone is not perfect, it tends to work out better than their interactions with others. From memory, he lived into his late 70s or early 80s, which suggests that we was at least probably kind to himself - a personality trait that allows a safe haven for loners who prefer to avoid the intimidating judgementalism of others. Self-flagellating loners are the ones in a truly sad situation.

The person I was referring to was not a recluse, but apparently was not a nice person. He visited a homeless shelter to recruit some help for some odd jobs around his house, and then cheated the homeless person out of $30.00. That got him murdered, and no-one noticed.

thedoc wrote:

Greta wrote: I had an cousin who was extremely reclusive. An interstate aunt, my mother and I (rarely) were the only people he seemed to interact with. He seemed pleasant and kind to me, and had a seemingly encyclopaedic knowledge of old movies.

Reclusiveness is essentially peace-seeking behaviour. Through experience the reclusive find that, while being alone is not perfect, it tends to work out better than their interactions with others. From memory, he lived into his late 70s or early 80s, which suggests that we was at least probably kind to himself - a personality trait that allows a safe haven for loners who prefer to avoid the intimidating judgementalism of others. Self-flagellating loners are the ones in a truly sad situation.

The person I was referring to was not a recluse, but apparently was not a nice person. He visited a homeless shelter to recruit some help for some odd jobs around his house, and then cheated the homeless person out of $30.00. That got him murdered, and no-one noticed.

Whoever murdered him would have noticed (and so did you).