1 Reply by Reindeer (edited by Reindeer 15-Feb-2013 15:40:10)

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Re: Should one feel guilty for being average?

[DISCLAIMER: This is posted in 'Politics' cos of the punchline 'Discuss real-world topics here.' and not of the forum name.]

Dear IC community

My life has evolved around one theme during the past few years which can be found as the fitting title of this thread.
I would LOVE your input on this subject as it would help me process and compare my own thoughts.

Assuming everyone has a certain talent, should one feel guilty for not excelling at it or at least trying to?

Suppose you are given all means to achieve goals that are valued exceptionally high by society. I would think common goals in the western world are things like getting a PhD, making a lot of money or helping out the lesser fortuned in a meaningful and lasting way. Should you be ashamed of rather spending your Friday nights grabbing a beer with your friends after a basketball training? Should you punch yourself in the face for preferring playing online and offline games to studying hard? Ofcourse these activities can be combined, but that would make you the 0.001% of the population able to.

Perhaps I'll edit this later to formulate some things better, but I rather hear your input first.

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Re: Should one feel guilty for being average?

probably not unless you start lying to do it

The core joke of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is that of course no civilization would develop personal computers with instant remote database recovery, and then waste this technology to find good drinks.
Steve Jobs has ruined this joke.

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  • LG
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Re: Should one feel guilty for being average?

Do what makes you happy. Your life isnt set to fullfill acts of what peoplw think should be done or should be the norm. To me this is a ridiculous thing to even ponder about.

If you do things you enjoy then enjoy doing them, if you do thngs that make you feel guilty its a little bit different.

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Re: Should one feel guilty for being average?

I could never answer this question as I can never claim to be normal.

Everything bad in the economy is now Obama's fault. Every job lost, all the debt, all the lost retirement funds. All Obama. Are you happy now? We all get to blame Obama!
Kemp currently not being responded to until he makes CONCISE posts.
Avogardo and Noir ignored by me for life so people know why I do not respond to them. (Informational)

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Re: Should one feel guilty for being average?

lol

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Re: Should one feel guilty for being average?

I don't believe one should feel guilty for being average, or for not realizing their potential.  If they prefer to relax through life instead then that's a personal choice.

However, there is a point when a person becomes a drain on the society in which they were born.  Where that point exists is a different question.  Related to that is whether or not one is obligated to be a productive member of society in the first place.

I think though that "do what makes you happy" is a natural, but oversimplified, sentiment.

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Re: Should one feel guilty for being average?

You're looking at it all wrong. Nobody owes anybody anything.

Life is about balance. If you're a crappy human being your parents should have raised you well enough to be ashamed of yourself and strive to improve yourself. If you're a crappy human being your family should be good enough to be ashamed of you and pressure you to improve yourself.

It's not about owing anyone anything; it's about being virtuous because you are virtuous. Having a beer or 10 on Friday night doesn't hurt anyone. What matters is what you do the rest of the week.

Nobody owes anyone sacrifice. That's what makes it virtuous. If it was mandated by government or society, everyone would slack in doing it and the fruits of their labor would be poor quality. You can't mandate virtue.

Life is about choices. Should you feel guilty for being average? Well, is average all you choose to be?

[I wish I could obey forum rules]

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Re: Should one feel guilty for being average?

^ well said.

Got a few bucks?  The Imperial Tip Jar is accepting contributions!

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Re: Should one feel guilty for being average?

> Mister Spock wrote:

> You're looking at it all wrong. Nobody owes anybody anything.

>Life is about balance. If you're a crappy human being your parents should have raised you well enough to be ashamed of yourself and strive to improve yourself. If you're a crappy human being your family should be good enough to be ashamed of you and pressure you to improve yourself.

>It's not about owing anyone anything; it's about being virtuous because you are virtuous. Having a beer or 10 on Friday night doesn't hurt anyone. What matters is what you do the rest of the week.

>Nobody owes anyone sacrifice. That's what makes it virtuous. If it was mandated by government or society, everyone would slack in doing it and the fruits of their labor would be poor quality. You can't mandate virtue.

>Life is about choices. Should you feel guilty for being average? Well, is average all you choose to be?


<3 you aere so smaart it's retdarfded <3

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Re: Should one feel guilty for being average?

People are individuals, we are all different by design.  I am your average BeoWolfe.  If I compare my math skills against Stephen Hawkins then I am below average - if I compare my sexual skills against Stephen Hawkins...well I probably lose again... but thats not my point.  You should be working to be a better version of you, you will always be an average you - the trick is to make sure the average you of today is better then the average you of last year.   You can have guilt about your actions but save the guilt about yourself for Dr. Phil

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Re: Should one feel guilty for being average?

I'm waaaaay below average for a Vulcan.

[I wish I could obey forum rules]

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12 Reply by Little Paul (edited by Little Paul 19-Feb-2013 15:54:27)

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Re: Should one feel guilty for being average?

vulture...its spelled vulture tongue

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Re: Should one feel guilty for being average?

KEMP!

how can we have a poltiics forum if you keep posting sense??

The core joke of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is that of course no civilization would develop personal computers with instant remote database recovery, and then waste this technology to find good drinks.
Steve Jobs has ruined this joke.

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Re: Should one feel guilty for being average?

Hold on. You're completely right, Mr. Yell. I could tell you were using a new and glorious technique. But I haven't drank any vodka yet tonight. I'll be back later.

[I wish I could obey forum rules]

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