What's your biggest fear

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Prison

[reiyza]

As a pianist - debilitating disease/condition. Such as stroke and vehicular accidents which may cause injury resulting in inability to play the piano.

As a person - death. Who the heck's not afraid of this? come on!!

+1 to sir RF for posting this, it has been really on my mind recently. Please post guys.

[outin]

Prison

Don't worry, I will get you out...I need to protect my assets. I don't think you can practice piano in American prisons...here it would not be a much of a problem.

Personally I don't really fear anything anymore. What's scary about death really? Things end and while it kinda sucks, it's nothing to be scared about.

[bachrach]

Having to leave the planet because of climate change, nuclear war, AI takeover, etc. and never being able to come back!

[swagmaster420x]

finalsweek

[outin]

Having to leave the planet because of climate change, nuclear war, AI takeover, etc. and never being able to come back!

Now that would be something! If I was younger and fit I might sign up for the Mars mission

I guess some people just thrive on change while others do on sense of security.

[outin]

Forgot...I do have an irrational fear...something that I try to avoid at all costs and even the thought of it happening causes a strong physical reaction. But I cannot tell, since some people would not hesitate to use it against me

[Bob]

Ones that will probably become true in the future.

[chopinlover01]

Donald Trump becoming president.

[pencilart3]

A socialist or criminal ruling america.

[iansinclair]

Between pencilart3 and chopinlover1 just above, they pretty well have the ground covered.  So what is one supposed to do?

[briansaddleback]

My biggest fear is facing God at the end, and Him saying that I was a hypocrite.

[pencilart3]

Between pencilart3 and chopinlover1 just above, they pretty well have the ground covered.  So what is one supposed to do?

Colonize mars.

[chopinlover01]

Or just realize that, chances are, you probably don't know what the word "socialism" is as described by Bernie Sanders..

[ajlongspiano]

    My biggest fear is that I'm just a pile of cells, neurons, electrons, and other materialistic components with no true or objectively grounded meaning. That death is God, and in the end, it ultimately wins. That I live a whole life where the greatest thing I can do is learn how to swallow my own impending doom with some sort of courage or nobility, which in of itself has no meaning, but is merely done for its own sake, or as an illusion to make myself feel a deceptive comfort about my bleak and hopeless condition. That there is no why to the how and that chance has produced a world in which I have no chance myself. A world where the greatest blessing on earth would be to have never been born in the first place.

[mjames]

Prison

LMAO

[pencilart3]

Or just realize that, chances are, you probably don't know what the word "socialism" is as described by Bernie Sanders..

Or just realize that I don't exactly like to consider what degree of socialism I would like to see in the president of the United States

[mjames]

pls, america...wut r u doing. pls fund ur public education system.

socialism at this point, thanks to public education, is a buzzword. You two might be talking about two entirely different things.

Bernie Sanders isn't socialist. Social democracy=/=socialism

Also, America's a mixed economy, has always been and will continue to be. Pure capitalism doesn't work...it leads to things like...like..like the erosion of public education.... XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

[rachmaninoff_forever]

    My biggest fear is that I'm just a pile of cells, neurons, electrons, and other materialistic components with no true or objectively grounded meaning. That death is God, and in the end, it ultimately wins. That I live a whole life where the greatest thing I can do is learn how to swallow my own impending doom with some sort of courage or nobility, which in of itself has no meaning, but is merely done for its own sake, or as an illusion to make myself feel a deceptive comfort about my bleak and hopeless condition. That there is no why to the how and that chance has produced a world in which I have no chance myself. A world where the greatest blessing on earth would be to have never been born in the first place.

Who cares if you're just a pile of cells with no meaning.

Why does everyone wanna find a meaning to their existence? 

You're here cause you're here THE END

[chopinlover01]

Or just realize that I don't exactly like to consider what degree of socialism I would like to see in the president of the United States

All of them have some element of socialism. Socialism is any publicly owned program. IE roads, public schools, etc. The question is; do we extend this to the extent Bernie Sanders wants it?
When you say socialist, it's very misleading. Stalin or Mao are not the same as Sanders. Their ideologies are nowhere near each other.

[ajlongspiano]

I do, and anyone who has any sort of emotional attachment to me does. .

Because it's ingrained into our nature. From the beginning of time, men and women have wondered if the human race has any value. We want to feel important. I'm sure you appreciate it when someone gives you a compliment or does something kind for you. It makes you feel as if you matter. I think it's an important question that no one should dismiss fully.

Do you know that for certain? "You're here cause you're here?" Do you mean that my existence is and always was contingent on my own existence? That seems a bit far-fetched. Surely, I don't have the essence of being within myself.

Best,

AJ

[pencilart3]

Stalin or Mao are not the same as Sanders. Their ideologies are nowhere near each other.

OK, finally something we can agree on

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Because it's ingrained into our nature. From the beginning of time, men and women have wondered if the human race has any value. We want to feel important. I'm sure you appreciate it when someone gives you a compliment or does something kind for you. It makes you feel as if you matter. I think it's an important question that no one should dismiss fully.

If someone compliments me, cool, but if someone thinks I ain't sh*t, well then too bad.

Alright then if you wanna feel important then just tell yourself that your important.  Or just ask a friend to tell you that you're important.  Or watch motivation videos.  Problem solved.

[chopinlover01]

OK, finally something we can agree on

Not sure what you mean.
But you should realize that neither of the two people you mentioned are actually running.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Do you know that for certain? "You're here cause you're here?" Do you mean that my existence is and always was contingent on my own existence? That seems a bit far-fetched. Surely, I don't have the essence of being within myself.

That just means I don't know and I don't care.

Why am I here?  Idk.  Probably for no reason.  Do I care?  No.  At the end of the day I still like playing piano and having sex.  THE END. 

I think it's pretty arrogant to think that out of all of the species that has ever lived EVER, humans are the ones that have to have a purpose.  Nobody asks what's the purpose of jelly fish, or zebras, or spiders.

But humans MUST have a purpose right?  Says who?  Well us.  So it's from a completely biased point of view.  The only species that says we matter is us.  So all of this questioning our existence is man made.  There's nothing mind boggling, transcendental, or mysterious about it.  You can literally say whatever you want:  we matter, we don't matter, our purpose is to be kind to each other, our purpose is to kill each other, we don't have a purpose, etc.

[outin]

Or just realize that I don't exactly like to consider what degree of socialism I would like to see in the president of the United States

I can somewhat understand your immature views on religion but your fear of "socialism" is just plain ridiculous... Then again they are probably related. Someone should be punished for bringing you up the way they did 

[ajlongspiano]

" Probably for no reason. " So you're saying that mathematical probability is on your side? Could you show me?

Best,

AJ

[outin]

Who cares if you're just a pile of cells with no meaning.

Why does everyone wanna find a meaning to their existence? 

You're here cause you're here THE END

I find your views very wise and mature for you age...in this matter  

[rachmaninoff_forever]

" Probably for no reason. " So you're saying that mathematical probability is on your side? Could you show me?

Best,

AJ

The math is too complex for the mere characters on my keyboard to translate into a pianostreet text box.

I mean the characters on my keyboard aren't sufficient to accurately display the math behind this.

I mean the feeble human mind (besides me of course) is too simple to fathom the great mathmatics of this.

[ajlongspiano]

So you would say it's wrong to be arrogant? 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Did I miss something with this pencilart guy?

As far as I know, he just doesn't believe in global warming and doesn't like socialism but apparently the heat he's got coming to him extends beyond that.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

So you would say it's wrong to be arrogant? 

Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeet I'm just making an observation here.  If you wanna be arrogant be arrogant it ain't none of my business.

[chopinlover01]

It's more of the hyper dogmatic religious fundamentalism, which then leads to the things like fear of socialism, denial of global warming (a settled issue in the scientific community) and evolution (beyond settled).

[ajlongspiano]

It would be difficult for me to find a purpose for a zebra or a spider because I've never really lived as one (Though it certainly would be cool!). The nice thing about people is we can communicate our ideas and what we're feeling with each other so we can come to a universal understanding and form some hypotheses from that information. I think that if we can't figure out the purpose for our own species that it would be totally impossible to figure out the purpose of another. If we were able to come to an understanding of our own, then maybe we could use that piece of information as a foundation to figure out why everything else around us matters.

[mjames]

Life on earth is a consequence of the physical and chemical properties that govern our universe. So yes, the conditions for life "as we know it" is a matter of mathematical probability.

Absolute intrinsic value does not exist, it's just people imposing their views on other things. Your metaphysical journey is no one else's but your own, it's up to you to figure out what your purpose and values are.

[pencilart3]

I can somewhat understand your immature views on religion but your fear of "socialism" is just plain ridiculous... Then again they are probably related. Someone should be punished for bringing you up the way they did 

Wow, somebody just talked about dogmatism on another thread. But about me....

[outin]

Wow, somebody just talked about dogmatism on another thread. But about me....

Do you think it's ok to install to a young mind irrational fears for things unknown? Because from your posts it's clear that you have more prejudices than actual knowledge on certain subjects. I think thus preventing an individual's balanced intellectual development is criminal and it makes me very sad. You are not to blame and I can only hope that you will one day be able to think more freely and then be able to form your own value system. You don't have to agree on mine no more than anyone else's.

[pencilart3]

OK, thanks I guess. Though my parents nor teachers nor anybody forces me to have any views on anything. Gosh what do you guys think homeschooling is LOL it's ok I'm used to it. Classic. Get it all the time. Do you have any friends? Do you know what Bernie Sander's "Socialism" is? Do you know what a standardized test is? Do you read the news? Do your parents indoctrinate you? Do you have any say in what school you do? Do you actually DO school? GOSH SHUT IT PLEASE I am NORMAL in the sense that I am schooled (just like everybody else is) only I have a say in what I learn and my brilliant parents teach it to me and not some overweight underpaid government employee. That doesn't make me stupid. OK? ok. Glad we're clear on that.

[visitor]

[outin]

OK, thanks I guess. Though my parents nor teachers nor anybody forces me to have any views on anything. Gosh what do you guys think homeschooling is LOL it's ok I'm used to it. Classic. Get it all the time. Do you have any friends? Do you know what Bernie Sander's "Socialism" is? Do you know what a standardized test is? Do you read the news? Do your parents indoctrinate you? Do you have any say in what school you do? Do you actually DO school? GOSH SHUT IT PLEASE I am NORMAL in the sense that I am schooled (just like everybody else is) only I have a say in what I learn and my brilliant parents teach it to me and not some overweight underpaid government employee. That doesn't make me stupid. OK? ok. Glad we're clear on that.

I actually did not know/remember that you are home schooled... That must be great for learning piano

Brainwashing kids never required force. It only requires to be selective in choosing what is taught and when. It's not necessarily intentional either but is done in good faith. And I know there are schools around where it happens too. I would only recommend for you to start reading also books not recommended by your educators. And read them with a critical but open mind.  It can only make you more broad minded and if your views will still be the same then they will be only stronger and more your own.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Life on earth is a consequence of the physical and chemical properties that govern our universe. So yes, the conditions for life "as we know it" is a matter of mathematical probability.

Absolute intrinsic value does not exist, it's just people imposing their views on other things. Your metaphysical journey is no one else's but your own, it's up to you to figure out what your purpose and values are.

+1

[mjames]

No one's saying you're stupid, I actually think you're quite brilliant; which is why I worry.   Like I said, I don't care about Bernie Sanders or Trump because I'm not American, couldn't care less. However I think it's important to note that there's a clear distinction between social democracy, Marx' socialism, and communism. Having lived in the states for quite a few years and having some experience with the way history and economic classes teach these things (with fear and stigma of socialism/communism), I understand why so many Americans conflate these ideas so often. You're not alone.

But yeah, to echo Outin's point, all you've shown is prejudice against rather than actual knowledge. This reminds me of faith schools in the UK. Almost none of the students accept evolution even though their school teaches it, why's that? Because the teachers are so unqualified and biased that all they present are misconstrued ideas of evolution in hopes of swaying their students to a more religious based explanation.

It's what I keep seeing all over the US. People don't understand how science works, and they place their misunderstandings as a fault on science and scientists. This growing distrust in science has been going on in the United States for quite some time, and it keeps spreading. Media outlets spreading misinformation, politicians calling evolution and climatology fake science, anti-vaccine campaigns, and even bills to propose creationism as an alternative to evolution.

It's amazing. I don't know what's going on with America, the country once known as the leader of technological and scientific progress. So yeah Noah, you're not alone; you're part of a huge systematic problem.

[pencilart3]

Actually, Outi, it's funny that you say that because in the past few years I have done almost all reading and almost literally no "Classroom instructing" from my parents. And I do try to have an open mind though I admit it is hard for me

[mjames]

Actually, Outi, it's funny that you say that because in the past few years I have done almost all reading and almost literally no "Classroom instructing" from my parents. And I do try to have an open mind though I admit it is hard for me

What have you read on science? I'm curious.
Also, what have you done in mathematics?

[pencilart3]

Done w/ biology and precalculus. Why?

[mjames]

The textbooks.

I think it is important for kids to understand how the methodology of science works before they study it...

My recommendations:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=vtzCAgAAQBAJ&source=productsearch&utm_source=HA_Desktop_US&utm_medium=SEM&utm_campaign=PLA&pcampaignid=MKTAD0930BO1&gl=US&gclid=COmQ2qWyzcwCFQGbMgodd8sNbA&gclsrc=ds

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/elements-of-scientific-inquiry-eric-martin/1122160569/2672822073111?st=PLA&sid=BNB_DRS_Marketplace+Shopping+Books_00000000&2sid=Google_&sourceId=PLGoP2988&k_clickid=3x2988

[outin]

Actually, Outi, it's funny that you say that because in the past few years I have done almost all reading and almost literally no "Classroom instructing" from my parents. And I do try to have an open mind though I admit it is hard for me

Just to make it clear I meant also books beyond school subjects. Science is important but one's mind cannot thrive on textbooks alone. At least I think so, coming from a background  where broad knowledge of culture and science was considered valuable. One should understand before objecting which is why it's good I was also exposed to religion and the bible as a child

[pencilart3]

I am glad you separated "religion" and "the bible" as too many people confuse the two. mjames thanks I will look at those

[outin]

I am glad you separated "religion" and "the bible" as too many people confuse the two.

I remember there was this guy in the bible who seemed to have pretty socialist values... Now what was his name again? Oh yes, Jesus something 

[pencilart3]

I presume I am not worthy of an explanation?