Baseless suicide threats.

Chagen

They never are followed upon. And I have to say this after yesterday. Though you all already know this, I would never actually commit suicide. Partly because it's a sin, and partially because I couldn't bear to leave this world. From new anime or manga, the latest tech-pushing games, new technology in general....I couldn't leave it all behind. And though this sounds narcissistic, I live to make my mark on the world. I could never die without leaving my mark on the world. I want to be remembered. I want people a thousand years from know, even if it's just my descendents, to have memoirs of me. Better yet, I want the whole world to know about me. I want to be in the history books. I want people to write about me. I want people to make movies detailing my life. I want my name to go down in the record books. And with all that? Nah, suicide's the pussy way out. No matter how terrible my life seems at the time, no matter how hopeless everything, no matter what suffering I go through, I'll just look up at the sky, smile and keep on walking. The sheer idea that I may be known one day will keep me moving when everything else is gone. Nothing can stop that. No matter what pain I go through, it won't last forever. Even the darkest and most morbid day is fated to become a beautiful and radiant morning. ....I'm sorry. I had to get this off my chest after what happened yesterday.

RedEyedAbyss

(awaits relapse)

BaronGrackle

Bravo for the no suicide. But as for being remembered thousands of years hence... well, I'd say that ol' Ozymandias is no better off than Gregory the peasant, right now. Both dead. Either exposed to the same afterlife or rotting in the ground; either way makes the posthumous fame thing sorta silly.

Chagen

Abyss: Being a dick doesn't get you anywhere.

I poured out my emotions into that post. You won't discredit them no matter how hard you try.

RedEyedAbyss

Short-term emotion doesn't automatically forgive long-term irritation. I will wait and see if those words hold any weight in the future.

Gelzo

This is a needlessly self-aggrandizing way to apologize.

There's a lot of things I could excuse you for just by virtue of your youth. I know I was a lot more emotional at your age, and I wasn't always the bastion of rationality I am now (heh). But you really do push the limit of that sometimes, and it's never too late or early to put in more of an effort towards growing up a little more.

Chagen

Self-Aggrandizing? What do you mean by that?

What's wrong with being slightly dramatic? I can have dreams if i want. The problem with nerds is that they never have dreams and they shut down anyone who does.

I was trying to give a rousing and awesome speech....

I hate how nerd culture always tries to make everyone mundane and boring.

Central Avenue

Now, you outright say you were trying to be dramatic and give a "rousing speech", but you can't see why that may come off as self-aggrandizing?

RedEyedAbyss

"The problem with nerds is that they never have dreams and they shut down anyone who does."

Who says we don't? Any aspirations occur offscreen because internet forums are some of the least productive venues for reaching them around.

Chagen

Abyss: That doesn't mean you can't talk about them. Nerds seem to adore everyone acting the same and keeping everyone boring and pessimistic.

CA: I'd answer that....but I don't know what "aggrandizing" means.....

Gelzo

There's a good example of a bad habit to grow out of, talking in absolutes.

You didn't know? Well a Google search can fix that.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/self-aggrandizing

"The act or practice of enhancing or exaggerating one's own importance, power, or reputation."

BaronGrackle

Aww, but I like some absolutes. Just not all of these, particularly.

One can have dreams and aspirations, certainly. But if your dreams are only to have your name live on... well, it has its criticisms.

Chagen

Gelzo: That's not what I'm intending to give off. I'll work to be known, and I know it's not gonna be easy in any case.

But more importantly, how many famous people actually knew thst they were gonna hit it big? Google was started by 2 random guys in a garage. Facebook was started by a college student. People can rise above their birth and become great things with work and dedication.

Finally, there's a difference betweeb stating that you are objectively great and saying that you want to be great through hard work.

Baron: I intend to have my name known through the things I make. People remember Shakespeare (I'm not comparing myself to him, just giving an example) for the plays he wrote. I want to be like that.

BaronGrackle

Pffh, I can't even name the guys who created Google without looking it up. I can't even name the Facebook guy, and they made a movie about him. Which I didn't care to see.

EDIT: As for Shakespeare, my point is that his fame nowadays does absolutely no good to him directly, right now.

Chagen

That may be true, but I have a fear of death in a way. The idea that one day, I'll be gone and no one will ever remember me kind of horrifies me. So I'd prefer having a legacy.

What's so wrong with that?

BaronGrackle

Here's something to think about. As you probably know, there are some people who suspect that there was no person named William Shakespeare. They suggest that Shakespearian works were actually written by other English writers of the day, such as Francis Bacon, and the identity of Shakespeare was invented as a pseudonym.

Now, here's my question. Assuming that Shakespeare actually did exist... do you think it bothers him that we in the modern era are questioning his existence? Do you think he'd be able to rest better in the afterlife or in the grave if everyone accepted that he was indeed an actual person?

I'll tell you my answer. I don't think it'd matter to him, not at this point.

Noimporta

People can rise above their birth and become great things with work and dedication. 

Certainly... What is your goal? What do you think you can do? What will you do to achieve it? What are you doing to achieve it now?

Myrmidon

Everybody believes that there was a Shakespeare, because we have various sources and legal documents corroborating his existence. It's just that not everyone believes that he wrote the plays that are attributed to him.

Chagen

Baron:Look....I get what you're saying, but you keep acting like you are objectively right and your belief is The One True Way(tm). Some people believe differently. Clearly we disagree on this matter.

Noim: I'm trying, but I'm not even sure what career I want to do in the first place....

Noimporta

Well then, get to it. When there's something you want to achieve, and you've set your mind to it, feel free to bore us to death with friendship speeches. But if you're still in the "I like everything" stage, you'll have to excuse us for being cynical.

Vorpy

^ [incorrect use of cynical]

BaronGrackle

@Chagen: Ah, we disagree about the conclusion, but we agree about the premise. You are not saying that you will care in a thousand years after you die. You are saying that you care now, and that's enough so that it doesn't matter how you'll feel a thousand years after your death. Let's not confuse which parts are opinions and which parts are objectively true or false. :-)

Noimporta

^^Is that so?

Gelzo

Skeptical would be a better word.

BaronGrackle

Another spin on what I'm rambling about... if you had to choose between one of these options:

Option A) Living a pleasant, fulfilling life amongst loving friends and family
Option Becoming famous for assassinating a celebrity or politician, dying unhappy and alone, but being remembered for generations hence

Which would you choose? Now, I'm not saying that you can't have a fulfilling life AND become famous. I'm just questioning priorities here!

Gelzo

I think it's best to prioritize having a lasting, positive effect on the world over being famous. The two can have some overlap, but they are most certainly not synonymous.

Chagen

Gelzo said it. I want to make a positive effect on the world, even if it's just entertaining people, before I get famous.

Gelzo

If you're already having a positive effect on the world, would there a reason you'd want to become famous other than to satisfy your ego?

Chagen

I'm more intending to be famous from the positive effect.

And I am a materialistic person. I love money, and I love spending it on shit. At the very least, I want a very good source of income.

BaronGrackle

Off the top of your head, I'd like you to think of a list of people who are famous and also value material wealth above most everything else. Famous people who love money and love spending it on shit.

Then, think of a list of people who are famous for having a "positive effect" on the world.

See how many people are on both lists, and how many are only on one list or the other.

TheMightyAnonym

Wait, I thought this would be someone talking about Chaggy, but it's actually Chaggy who started it.

PLOT TWIST.