EP

What I want to know is what a pessimist wants.

What would you consider to be a "cure" for your pessimism - what do you think would make you happy?

I've been asked a couple of different questions, by a user who has blocked me from answering (?), so here are some thoughts on the nature of philosophy.

It isn't about facts, opinions or beliefs. Those are not philosophy. Philosophy moves - it's a living breathing thing and just because one doesn't preface everything they write with "This is how it appears, at the moment.", doesn't mean they're thinking in "absolutes".

Also, philosophy is about the exploration and examination of existing ideas. If one does not want one's beliefs, opinions or "knowledge" examined, then one doesn't actually have any interest in philosophy, so why post them?

I seek examination of my thoughts. I don't give a rat's behind what somebody thinks about me, personally. Ad hominem crap doesn't interest me, unless they it's being used in an attempt to get someone whose views I AM interested in to shut up.

Debaters speak in "absolutes" and philosophers have no interest in debate. They prefer motion forward, rather than backward in an effort to "catch someone up".

What do YOU think philosophy is? If you are a philosophical thinker, then I would appreciate an examination of my views on the matter. If you're a debater, then do whatever melts your butter.

Name something you know that isn't 100% dependent upon an assumption with a big, juicy center of metaphysics.

Something outside of yourself - i.e. something aside from "I like chocolate (or beer or pot or whatever)".

Zero effect? For instance, would the magnetic field of a small magnet stuck to the end of a propeller blade simply "travel", intact, like a solid object? With no change in its properties and leaving nothing "behind"? If so, would it leave a "wake"? If so, would such a wake be relative to its size or to some other property?

Why don't those who keep pushing any and all questions referring to God to R&S just skip the questions they can't answer?

Are you afraid that someone might say something that makes some previous claim you've made look ridiculous?

We get it. You are incapable of addressing any aspect of the topic philosophically and you don't want anyone in the philosophy section to know it. But if you simply skip such questions, no one will give your previous claims a single thought.

Who is it that assumes any question that includes the words "God" or "Bible" are not philosophical? Or that any question from a religious person can't be philosophical?

Philosophy and Theism are not mutually exclusive. All "isms" are PHILOSOPHICAL.

Why not simply ignore the questions you don't like instead of reporting them or - for 7th level contributors - moving them to R & S?

Anyone who thinks that philosophy has nothing to do with religion, or vice versa, doesn't know much of anything about either.

There's a significant difference between how you perceive life when you're happy and how you perceive life when you're not. The "solution" is obvious, is it not?

I understand that most people believe that it isn't a choice, but one good look around will show that people who "should" be miserable, are not. So, how do miserable people explain that to themselves?

Obviously, misery is perceived as being better than the alternative, but how? What "terrible" things do people believe will happen if they are happy?

What do you think would happen TO you, if you chose not to watch television or read the "news"? In other words, how much of your own discomfort is created by what the media tells you?

I have a dog who has diarrhea. Since it is impossible to clean up those mess spots in the yard I "treated" them with the only non-toxic stuff I had that would kill the bacteria and then some other non-toxic stuff to kill and/or keep bugs off it and it appears to have simply become some sort of "dirt". I treated on Monday and the grass seems to be loving it and has already "consumed" it in the areas where there was grass. I totally expected the grass to die, in those spots and intended to sort of dig out the poop and sort of "cultivate" a few inches deep and drop on some grass seed, once it dried. But now I just want to know what happened. What would be the best way to find out?

10 days ago, I put 2 maples seeds in a damp paper towel and under a jar on the kitchen counter top and one of them has sprouted already - what do I do now? Is it okay? I was told it would take may weeks and I don't know what to do! Do I wait for the rest of the time? The sprouts are already over an inch long. Crikeys! I just looked at the neighbor's beautiful maples, thought I would plant one with them to continue the line, looked down and there were 2 seeds on the porch. I don't know why I'm freaking out about it, LOL! They must have been about ready to pop when they blew up on the porch!

Or are they simply angry that THEY aren't in charge?

Obviously they don't have any problem with a sort of "Universal God-Cop" as they are quite vocal in their OWN petitions for the job!!

Does it mean "Yikes" or something like that? I can't find a translation.

Does anyone know of software that will allow my home computer to snap a picture and email it to me every 5 minutes? It will email VIDEO with motion detection, but I just need a photo every 2 - 5 minutes to keep an eye on rain water levels near my home when I'm at work.

I'm looking for photographs and/or inspection reports of dome homes that have survived earthquakes.

Would that be the same a -200/+325 mesh size?

I've noticed an inordinate number of references to us and we/human beings/society/culture/the world today. Why "we" do things, why "the world" doesn't do things, where "society" is going, what "human beings" are about, etc., etc....

Here's my question: Doesn't it seem, sometimes, that people think they can't change until everyone else changes or that they're angry that no one is changing? What does one expect to gain by standing still, complaining and "pointing the way"? Why not simply **go** the way?

What are people waiting for? Permission? Consensus? Followers? Leaders? What's the hold up? Fear? Confusion? Uncertainty?

Must it be "all or nothing"? Why do people so want others to do what they are not willing to do themselves?

Obviously, I don't mean to say that everyone is like that, but even those who take off on their own will often stop to give directions rather than travel alone.

I think Lao Tzu had the right idea. When you get to the point of no return, stop and write it all down, then toss it over your shoulder on your way out the door.