Why the love of life?

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Without the concept of superiority there is no need for hierarchy, therefore the hierarchies that rule our world will never allow that concept to take hold because it's a threat to their existence.

^I would rather not be cynical like that.

I'm no Cynic----but there are, definitely, people who believe in hierarchy--whether explicit or implicit.

As the Dalai Lama would say, 'My philosophy is kindness.'

That's my preferred mode of relating to people....kill them with Kindness!

^No, no killing.

You know that should not be taken literally, right?

When you "kill" someone with kindness, you shower that someone with kindness.

it's meant to be ironic.

I'm not a cynic actually, I have hope. But hope is intangible and it doesn't do anything except give a feeling. On a hot day go get a bucket of water and place it next to a bucket of hope. Drink from the bucket of hope and see how hydrated you feel, then drink from the bucket of water and see how hydrated you feel. One is tangible, it can be felt, heard, smelled, etc., the other is merely a temporary feeling.

Hehe, by that logic, hope is literally air - without which you can't live either

If the hope had oxygen in it then it would become much more useful for sure...

I accept your premise though. You can't live without it, but it's also not something that's necessary to pursue in light of more constructive things, like actually doing something about it.

And I'll admit my example was pretty weak, it's a play on something the Cubans did in the early years of Castro on the same premise but to a much greater effect than I. Part of the communist transition was getting rid of religion, of which Cuba has a large group of practicing Catholics. So, to help achieve this goal teachers would tell their students to close their eyes and ask god for a candy bar. When they opened their eyes nothing was there. Then the teachers told their students to close their eyes again and ask Papa Castro for a candy bar. When they opened their eyes the teacher had placed a candy bar on their desk. Simple, yet highly effective-- I'm no supporter of the Cuban communists, but I admire the brilliance of the method they used in this case.

Hope is an intangible, immeasurable facet of human cognition. While it does not materialize in a physical sense, it fufills somewhat of a powerful function in influencing human behaviour. If it prevents universal despair and fear of an uncertain future, it is a important emotion indeed.

^I agree wholeheartedly!

Great answer.

I saw my psychiatrist this morning and he said that I am very limited in what I can do for work because of my anxiety, depression and degenerative disc disease. He said that I should consider that I cannot do the things that others do workwise. While this seems obvious, for some reason it hit me with the force of a rogue wave. I simply hadn't considered that I couldn't overcome my difficulties. I feel physically sick. I told him I was starting the job at the call centre on Monday and he agrees with me that it presents a heap of difficulties for me, but he understands why I am trying it. But now I'm wondering if I should even bother. I'm feeling very confused as to what I should do. I think, like Aristophanes is suggesting, that I am valuing myself based on my participation in the wheel of industry.

You have to do what makes you happy Andro. If the job gives you satisfaction then it gives you satisfaction, if it doesn't then you should move on. I have faith you'll find the right decision for yourself. You're a lot stronger woman than you put on Andro. I've read a lot of your posts, I've heard a lot of your problems and ya know what I think when I hear you talk? It's not poor Andro she has it so rough, and she has a lot of problems; what I think is wow she's been through so much adversity and still gets up every morning and brings it, I wish I could have that kind of courage. It sounds like a form of manipulative BS, I know, but goddamn if it's not the truth. Your experience has made you an exceptionally resilient person.

Wow, thanks Aristophanes. I may print out your post and put it on my fridge as a motivator.

I agree with you that I shouldn't let this job define me. Part of my binary thinking, I guess, to see it that way. I will go for the training and just aim to make a few bucks out of that and look at it as an interesting experience.

I don't know if I ever mentioned that I studied Aristophanes in university ... The Clouds and such. It was a good course.