What about robot-dancing (or something) in the last defiant moments of life?

[midlifeaspie]

Sure you can. The meaning can have dignity even if the process is a mess.

I beg to differ. There's no meaning with death. It's just the end.

With age comes experience and wisdom regarding these things.  The kids won't understand until life teaches them otherwise.

You're talking to somebody who has been preparing for her partner's death since his terminal diagnosis. Shove it so far up your ass you choke on it.

I was talking to Odeon, who doesn't generally refer to himself as "her".

[ZEGH8578]

Sure you can. The meaning can have dignity even if the process is a mess.

I beg to differ. There's no meaning with death. It's just the end.

With age comes experience and wisdom regarding these things.  The kids won't understand until life teaches them otherwise.

You're talking to somebody who has been preparing for her partner's death since his terminal diagnosis. Shove it so far up your ass you choke on it.

His age-angle was invalid, but you must accept that people will still be nihilistic about these kinds of things, in a world where many try to find meaning because it is important to them.

A friend of mine just lost his mother, and as strongly atheistic as he usually is, I found myself casually discussing ghosts with him, and for a moment I forgot he just lost his mother, and I kept mocking his sudden acceptance for the possibility of ghosts. He took it with stride, and let me laugh, cus he knows where I come from. Only later that night did I suddenly remember that he was probably imagining the ghost of his mother, while insisting to me that a ghost would not frighten him.

[Pyraxis]

I was talking to Odeon, who doesn't generally refer to himself as "her".

Uh huh, looked like you were talking to Odeon about the other people in the thread, one of whom was in the quote.

[Pyraxis]

His age-angle was invalid, but you must accept that people will still be nihilistic about these kinds of things, in a world where many try to find meaning because it is important to them.

A friend of mine just lost his mother, and as strongly atheistic as he usually is, I found myself casually discussing ghosts with him, and for a moment I forgot he just lost his mother, and I kept mocking his sudden acceptance for the possibility of ghosts. He took it with stride, and let me laugh, cus he knows where I come from. Only later that night did I suddenly remember that he was probably imagining the ghost of his mother, while insisting to me that a ghost would not frighten him.

Sure. Yeah I know a lot of people are nihilistic. Actually one of the arguments I've heard is that it's comforting if death is a random and meaningless thing, because what's the alternative? Something has decided that you're such a horrible person that you deserve to be painfully destroyed?

I think I might share your friend's perspective on ghosts. Horror films about the supernatural are mostly boring. Even if you have a vengeful spirit targeting you... so what? Maybe it's like Sixth Sense and they just want someone to know the truth about what happened.

[ZEGH8578]

His age-angle was invalid, but you must accept that people will still be nihilistic about these kinds of things, in a world where many try to find meaning because it is important to them.

A friend of mine just lost his mother, and as strongly atheistic as he usually is, I found myself casually discussing ghosts with him, and for a moment I forgot he just lost his mother, and I kept mocking his sudden acceptance for the possibility of ghosts. He took it with stride, and let me laugh, cus he knows where I come from. Only later that night did I suddenly remember that he was probably imagining the ghost of his mother, while insisting to me that a ghost would not frighten him.

Sure. Yeah I know a lot of people are nihilistic. Actually one of the arguments I've heard is that it's comforting if death is a random and meaningless thing, because what's the alternative? Something has decided that you're such a horrible person that you deserve to be painfully destroyed?

I think I might share your friend's perspective on ghosts. Horror films about the supernatural are mostly boring. Even if you have a vengeful spirit targeting you... so what? Maybe it's like Sixth Sense and they just want someone to know the truth about what happened.

It is often difficult and unpredictable to relate to people suffering a loss. Another example was before I was born, my uncle Miguel died in a traffic accident.
Friends and relatives of my grandmother tried to comfort her, by saying "He's in a better place now." This only enfuriated her, because "a better place" would be alive, on earth, with her. She isn't religious.
But how could they know? They only meant to be consoling.

[midlifeaspie]

I was talking to Odeon, who doesn't generally refer to himself as "her".

Uh huh, looked like you were talking to Odeon about the other people in the thread, one of whom was in the quote.

['andersom']

Having had shots pass by me 7 times in my life, I can only say that one should Keep Calm and Duck.

  What kind of neighborhood do you live in? 

There are always people envious to the throne.

['andersom']

I don't think there is dignity in death. But, dying is the last bit of living one does. Somehow I find comfort in knowing someone died fitting the way he or she lived. The way people die does make a difference, both for the dying, and for the ones left behind. It doesn't change the gap left behind, and the missing. But it can make a change in how you can deal with that gap. 

[RageBeoulve]

It is true that once you're dead you're dead. Your actions in life affect others however. (You are part of an enormous picture, the world does not revolve around you. It never will.) So say if you die saving the lives of others, as opposed to dying from inhaling cocaine laced with gasoline, one is going to be inspiring to others, and one if going to be a fucking joke. In short, a heroic death is a "good" death. We are all GOING TO DIE someday. Wouldn't you like to think your life and death meant something?

[midlifeaspie]

Wouldn't you like to think your life and death meant something?

Wouldn't I like to think after I am dead that my life meant something?  Hmmm.  There seems to be a minor logical error in that thinking but I just can't put my finger on it.   

[Bastet]

I was talking to Odeon, who doesn't generally refer to himself as "her".

Uh huh, looked like you were talking to Odeon about the other people in the thread, one of whom was in the quote.

You are such a hypocrite. Kicking someone when they are down. After I've seen you get on Pentagram about it.

[Pyraxis]

Hey, I'd rather be butthurt than be an asshole. 

[odeon]

It is true that once you're dead you're dead. Your actions in life affect others however. (You are part of an enormous picture, the world does not revolve around you. It never will.) So say if you die saving the lives of others, as opposed to dying from inhaling cocaine laced with gasoline, one is going to be inspiring to others, and one if going to be a fucking joke. In short, a heroic death is a "good" death. We are all GOING TO DIE someday. Wouldn't you like to think your life and death meant something?

In a few years, the humans you hoped to influence will be gone, too, and whatever you so-called good death was, it won't be remembered. When everyone dies, the death of one is bound to be confused with the death of another.

As you say, *everyone* dies. But it doesn't stop there. Give it more time and the planet will be gone, too. And the sun. Ultimately everything is pointless.

I'd much rather try to find meaning in my life while I still live it.

[odeon]

Hey, I'd rather be butthurt than be an asshole. 

It's entirely possible to be both.

[Pyraxis]

It's entirely possible to be both.

  The things we aspire to.