15 questions I want to ask you and the world
In my posts I usually try to answer big questions that people are pondering. However, in this post I’m deciding to ask you and others questions about topics that I continue to think about. Whether it be war, money, success, or the environment. So here are 15 questions I want to ask you and the world. If you have any answers or have any questions for me, please leave a comment below.
1.) Is it better to donate money or to support a cause, organization, or person, in another way?
2.) Has the conflict and harm religion has caused outweighed the good it has produced?
3.) Will the greatest generation be the generation that doesn’t look to war or conflict for the solution to a major problem?
4.) Can all poverty and starvation ever be eradicated?
5.) Would you rather be born rich or poor?
6.) Why is it taking so long to switch to alternative fuels and energy?
7.) Why does the media profile so much negativity, as viewers, is that what we really desire to see and read?
8.) How come we continue to believe in politicians and their promises, when so many fail to follow through and keep those promises?
9.) Are most of your goals and dreams, wants or needs?
10.) Why is it so hard for people to be happy?
11.) Are we the only ones who exist in this universe?
12.) How do you plan on changing the world?
13.) Would you rather work 4 hours a week, earning $40,000 a month or would you rather work 40 hours a week, earning $400,000 a month?
14.) If you only had one more year to live, what would you do in that year?
15.) Have you found your purpose in life?
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Since time is limited i’ll shortly answer a few.
1.Support in another way so you can see your money doing what it is intended to do.
2.Poverty and starvation cannot be eradicated as yet due to many political and economic factors,same goes for question six.
1. The true benefit is in the eye of the gifter. If you do not have time to spare but money is no object, then it would make sense to gift money, but if you are barely making ends meet, with more time on your hands, the obvious choice would be to give your time.
2. Definitely
3. The real question is, with humans only being humans and not really in control of their emotions, will there ever be a generation that doesnt look to conflict to solve their issues?
4. As long as corrupt individuals run governments, their will be no end.
5. Cant answer, there are too many variables.
6. Oil companies are too wealthy to sit back and allow the government to approve alternative fuels. Also, the mentality of the average joe wont allow change to just happen.
7. People are naturally negative, it is a chore to stay positive if you are not properly trained. Negativity breeds negativity.
8. We have no other choice but succumb to the politicians. As a democracy we have to choose a politician to represent our country, we just choose who we think will do less damage.
9. All my goals and dreams are wants, my desire to want is my desire to succeed.
10. When you are born into a negative society and its what you watch, listen, and learn growing up, you have to WANT to be positive. Its something you have to work on, it doesn’t come naturally to most people and as we can all see in our society, most people do just enough to get by. People don’t want to put forth the extra effort to change (its a travesty)
11. I believe there are plenty of other living beings in the universe and beyond.
12.
13. 40 hours at 400k/month, i am a huge advocate of working hard and making as much money as humanly possible.
14. In my final year i would settle all my conflicts, internal and external. I would try to see as many different countries/cultures/ lifestyles as possible. , surround myself with the people whom i love the most.Lastly
15. My purpose in life is to create excess wealthy,which will allow me to become a true philanthropist.
Great answers Sj and danny. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. I really appreciate it and look forward to some other people’s opinions.
-Andrew
1.) It depends on individual, for some seeing results is important, it doesn’t really matter,the act of giving is the important part.
2.) I don’t think you can underestimate the good of religion, esp. group prayer
3.) Huge lessons are learnt in conflict, but I long for the Eden of gentle feminie rule
4.) Can all poverty and starvation ever be eradicated? Definitely
5.) Would you rather be born rich or poor? Poor, lower excepctations
6.) Why is it taking so long to switch to alternative fuels and energy?
Power struggle, it will happen though, for the greater good
7.) Why does the media profile so much negativity, as viewers, is that what we really desire to see and read? Bad news sells better than good
8.) How come we continue to believe in politicians and their promises, when so many fail to follow through and keep those promises? I don’t know!
9.) Are most of your goals and dreams, wants or needs? Both
10.) Why is it so hard for people to be happy? Because it takes work, it’s finding balance and that is not easy
11.) Are we the only ones who exist in this universe? Nope
12.) How do you plan on changing the world? By living my life true and being a voice among voices
13.) Would you rather work 4 hours a week, earning $40,000 a month or would you rather work 40 hours a week, earning $400,000 a month?
14.) If you only had one more year to live, what would you do in that year? Travel, appriciate family and friends, appriciate life
15.) Have you found your purpose in life? In a way, my relationship karma, is balanced, money karma is balancing and working on ego karma…
Thanks for taking the time to respond Megan. I was intrigued by your answer to number 5, “Poor, lower excepctations” that’s an interesting point.
-Andrew
1. Who’s to say what’s better?
2. What good? Morality? People had that before religion.
3. No. The greatest generation would be that which is most evolved. Everything, I repeat, everything looks to conflict to solve problems.
4. No.
5. Rich.
6. Are you really that naive?
7. Yes. Yes it is.
8. Simple psychology. Human nature.
9. Most are wants.
10. Because humans are naturally masochistic. Not me though, I’m pretty happy.
11. No.
12. I don’t plan on changing the world. The world changes with everything I do. For example, when I eat an apple, the world has one less apple. I don’t really plan those things.
13. 4 hours a week. 40,000 dollars a month is more than enough.
14. Live.
15. Yes. It has nothing to do with money, politics, charity, morality or religion.
Hey FMDC,
Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. You have some interesting thoughts. As for “6. Are you really that naive?” No I don’t think I’m naive at all. I’m just curious to see what other’s have to say.
-Andrew
First, I would like to apologise if my English is not that good. These are my answers:
1. I would rather support a cause or an organisation because I feel that I would be able to help a greater number of people in that way. However, I would finance a project I would be able to supervise.
2.It depends on how you look at it. Religion has brought a lot of harm on an international scale, but it can bring so much good to an individual (in terms of internal peace, self-improvement, finding strength when one needs it etc.)
3.It probably will. However, I believe that is just a dream.
4.It is theoretically possible but hardly achievable. The problem lies not only in governments but also in the fact that all people should accept and learn to share with others. If everyone tried to help at least one person the world would much better place. But as I said, it is just a dream.
5. Well, rich. I don’t see what greater good I would be able to do to myself or the others as poor.
6. I wouldn’t really know.
7.It probably is. Television works that way, it gives people what they want to see.
8. maybe in your country you believe. We are completely disillusioned.
9. This is difficult to answer. Now that I have thought it trough, I realise that I have both, more wants though.
10. They do not try hard enough. It is a popular misconception that happiness comes by itself. Another, maybe even more important reason is that people are not really sure what they need to be happy, what is that that would make them happy. Sometimes they search for happiness in unimportant things, and they take real values for granted.
11. Who can really tell?
12. I’ll start from myself and mu family. It is not much, but it is a start.
13. It depends. It wouldn’t be solely my decision.
14. Spend as much time as possible with my friends and family.I guess that life would look differently from that standpoint- days would seem shorter, the sun would seem brighter, smells and colours would seem more intense when you know you are experiencing them for the last time
15. Just to share my love and happiness with people I meet om my life track hoping that some of it would pass onto them and that they would accept being my companions on the travel.
Hey Ivana,
Your english was fine. Your answer to number 2 is very intriguing: “2.It depends on how you look at it. Religion has brought a lot of harm on an international scale, but it can bring so much good to an individual (in terms of internal peace, self-improvement, finding strength when one needs it etc.”
-Andrew
1) money can be used or misused, support in other ways is more likely to make a difference.
2)yes, probably about 500 years ago, religion is just an outmoded way of controlling the masses and getting them to work with a common aim, the enrichment of their particular brand of religion.the next great leap necessary for the advancement of human consciousness is for the people of the world to transcend religion.
3)Not necessarily, when the bad people are running with guns and massacring the innocents, it does little good to say “can we stop and talk about this” arms and war should be used to force people to stop and talk. The people of the world need to agree to be different, and to live in peace.
4)yes, there is no shortage of food, it is just in the wrong place. America throws away enough every day to feed the third world. It is mainly third world corruption as in Zimbabwe, which was farmed very efficiently by the Afrikaans, but now the people are “liberated” and their “stolen farmland” has been returned to them, they are starving. The west also must take a large amount of blame for encouraging cash crop monoculture in third world countries, where the people should be growing food for themselves.
5)I have been both, rich is better.
6)because we are geared to oil, conspiracy theories aside, any industry will bury news and ideas that will have a negative effect on their business if they can. Example? drug companies recent admission that they play down (bury) negative trial results. (see “Seroxat” antidepressants) it’s been going on since Ned Ludd smashed looms(QV) Oddly, in the UK, if you want to build a coal, oil or nuclear power station it comes under essential infrastructure, and is done with very little or no planning permission, but if its a wind farm or a biogas digester, it’s different. We have some of the highest tidal estuaries in the world here, but virtually no tidal barriers with hydroelectric plants, It could be done, but there isn’t the political will or the industrial incentive to make it happen soon enough. Nuclear is not the answer, it is the most expensive way of generating electricity on the planet, and its only carbon neutral if you forget about the thousands of tons of cement and other materials that go into every one.
7)people like gossip, it sells papers, and most gossip is negative. It varies from country to country, the English love to hear about the sex lives of politicians, the French say that if they printed the sex lives of their politicians, there would be no room in the papers for anything else. If you think about this it does contain an element of boastfulness as well as satire!
8)Does anyone with half a brain really believe in politicians any more?I agree with Danny, as long as corrupt individuals are involved, we are going nowhere, and the very nature of politics, it attracts the morally corrupt. We could rule by referendum, as we have the perfect tools to vote on everything, but there would be millions of unemployed politicians, (shame). Of course we would have to make sure that the referendum was fair and on a 1 man 1 vote basis, oops, here we go again.
9)They are wants, and I am at choice as to whether I reach them or not.
10)It is not any harder to be happy than it is to be unhappy, just decide.
11)In an infinite universe with an infinite number of planets it is almost impossible to believe that there isn’t some sort of life elsewhere. It may not look anything like us.
12)By working diligently for my own salvation, and protesting for integrity in all things.
13)Tough one because I work 40 hours a week and get bored at weekends, I love working, the money isn’t that important. We all have to work to improve the planet and the lot of its inhabitants (that does not mean selling them consumer goods!)one of the problems is that far too many people earn too much for doing too little.
14)Travel
15)Yes, to try to leave the world better than I found it, to create order from chaos.
found you on stumble upon. I love your site, I will be back!
Hey FMDC,
Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. You have some interesting thoughts. As for “6. Are you really that naive?” No I don’t think I’m naive at all. I’m just curious to see what other’s have to say.
-Andrew
Oh, I thought you actually didn’t know why it’s taking so long.
Hey phil,
“found you on stumble upon. I love your site, I will be back!” Thanks so much. Look forward to seeing you. And thanks for taking the time to think and answer my questions.
-Andrew
Ansa to eech yor kestion is:
It depends on your perspective.
2. It is not the religion that commits atrocities. It is the people in the religion who would do harm regardless. Take away their religion and they will use nationality, ethnicity, political party, sports team, make of car, etc… as reasoning to do harm in the world.
You have a very good point Joey.
-Andrew
Hi..here’s my perspective on some of the questions:
1. I think it is better to donate to a person. When you see first hand the difference that you are making in an individuals life, it will encourage you to donate as much and as often as possible.
2. i think that religion has produced a lot of good because it has given people faith, hope and spiritual motivation. People, in the name of religion, have also done a lot of harm….but i don’t think that any religion is the root cause of this…i think that one of the main causes of evil is extreme poverty, hunger, and starvation. i really belive that if hunger and starvation are ever eradicated, then all strife (in the name of religion or not) will begin to disappear.
3 and 4. I think the greatest generation will be the one that eradicates all poverty and hunger.
5. I know this doesn’t answer the question directly….but i would rather be born to parents that are content with their lives whether they are rich or poor.
6. I’m not one for conspiracy theories, but as far as the US is concerned, i’m pretty sure that Big Oil has a lot to do with it.
7. I’ve been thinking about this one myself lately…they say that negativity sells…but i don’t agree and i really don’t think that is what most viewers want. If one major network/station took the initiative to strictly limit the violence/negativity from their lineup, i’d like to think that more people would tune in–thereby encouraging other media stations to follow suit.
9. i think that the only true needs are basic food, shelter, and clothing. So,if i’m well off enough to have access to the internet, then most of my other goals must be wants…
13. By far the easiest question!– i’ll take 4/hr a week at $40,000/month any day!
14. Spend as much time with my son and my family as possible. Quit my job and go live somewhere close to nature…and exercise, eat right, and pray every day in the hope of beating the one year mark!
15. no
Hey Devanshi,
I really like your answers. They are very much like mine.
-Andrew
ok, so its 12am and i misread the first question…so i will try to answer it again…i think that donating money might be better, since raising money is the end goal of most charities/organizations in need. However, for people that aren’t able to donate money, donating their time/energy is the next best thing.
Just found your site via a link from the english version of Pravda. Interesting questions.
1) Donating Money is easier for most people because it’s emotionally satisfying. Supporting the cause requires dedication and effort, frustration and despair at times. It can yield more emotional satisfaction, but as typical, the cost yields the benefit.
2) Religion was okay when it was a concept of God. People aren’t willing to die for an idea, whereas once God(Allah etc) became a belief, people would die for a belief.
3) Conflict is inherent in interpersonal relations. Absence of conflict is only possible through absence of people. Communications and open thoughts can avoid a lot of war, but not for ever.
4) No, poverty and starvation can never be eradicated without strict population control and hitlerian genetics which are anathemic.
5) The financial status at birth might have some minor advantages, but often the adversity of poor creates stronger moral fiber when overcome.
6) Money and efficiency are the two hurdles to alternative fuels. There’s also a potential negative side to wind and solar capture, removing energy from a system leads to imbalance.
7) Negativity catches attention. Positivity is probably the expectation so reporting the positive doesn’t gather attention.
9) I doubt that people dream much about needs. Food, Shelter, minimal clothing are primal needs and their absence doesn’t allow much time for dreams.
10) It isn’t hard to be happy. Many who are miserable are perfectly content because they have something to complain about. America has a cult of Unhappiness. You have to compare yourself with the Joneses. You have to wear certain clothes, purchase your way to happiness, overwork yourself to demands usually created by inefficiency. Because of the Puritan roots of denial of worldly pleasures, America is just a bit twisted in the definition of happiness.
11) No, we are not the only ones who exist in the universe, but I doubt that anyone else is a bipedal humanoid.
12) I don’t want to change the world, I just want to help it survive mankinds self-destructive nature.
13) Depends on how long I’d have to work the high paying job. I’d put up with it for a few years to then be absolved of the entire work responsibility.
14) With only one more year to live, I’d stop wasting so much time in a dead end, but well paying job.
15) No sign of my purpose so far.
1.) As a musician, I understand that it takes money to get places sometimes. On the other hand, I don’t always trust big businesses or necessarily the people that run other kinds of organizations. If you really want to help, I would try doing other forms of aide, such as promotion or something to spread the word. If you don’t have the money to give, maybe you can help in other ways!
2.) I’ve battled this one for years, and after all my research, I’ve dropped religion as a course of action. There’s way too much debate over earthly creations and doctrines. I’m not saying that annoyance is the reason. I’ve just found too much evidence against religion as a whole. Nested as a method to control populations and mass opinions, I need not say how many wars “beliefs” have caused. “God” is one of the the hardest words to define. I’ve found that concentrating less on that mystery, and more on self-improvement and understanding Love and Truth have definitely done more for my headaches and disappointing open-prayers.
3.) I certainly hope so. At times, war is necessary. But only because some people(s) aren’t easily swayed to be “peaceful” and “understanding”. I hope Atheism is looked at as a more intelligent way of looking at things, to where people can agree to disagree and get along based on the idea of our Human Race as a whole.. not limited by genre, class, creed, color, etc…
4.) Only as much as we’re willing to pull together and reface our governments to do so.
5.) I’ve been perfectly happy being lower-middle-class. I think it’s a good starting point to the understanding… *ahem…* “You can’t always get what you waaant… but if you try sometimes… you get what you need”.
This is not an excuse to limit yourself, though.
6.) Too much money involved. International bankers, Oil Tycoons, etc have the game on lock-down. They don’t want to change. That’s why they own basically everything and have their hands in every possible outcome.. from the war in Iraq to “Global Warming”.. it doesn’t matter. Truth is, we’ve not told them “Guess what.. we’re changing.. like it or not…”
People need to remember their will to rule their own lives.
7.) No, it’s really not. But we make it so by allowing it to continue. I’ve heard that in a few years they want to make the internet much like cabel and satellite subscriptions. They want us to “buy” our way to view sites. They want to discourage you, bring you down, advertise weight and sleep pills and tell you something wrong with you to convince you that you NEED these things… I watched an Ally (weight loss pill) and McDonalds commercial back-to-back and thought to myself.. “my word… what are they doing to people…” They have you all confused. You love that little box called a “TV”. Life is yours to control.. go out and change your world, people!
8.) Because they’ve been part of groups like the Illuminati, Masons, and Skull & Bones organizations that wish to enslave us and wether we allow them or not, they will do whatever is in their power (which is far more than you as an individual) to do so. They do not wish for a society that is capable of Critical Thinking. They want to dumb you down… dumb down your schools.. so your children aren’t well educated to think for themselves… It’s a shame, really.. we have to wake up…
9.) Wants. I want to be a big musician. I want to enlighten people. I wish to attempt to change the world. These are not things we “need” per se. But in a sense… they are more of a need than mediocrity could ever be… why settle for less?
We all die. You are no exception.
Fearful or fearless.. your life has value. You decide if you live up to it.
10.) It’s all in your head. We’re all capable of happiness.. we let this world we live in “make up our minds” for us. We don’t think.. meditate.. take the time to see things from a different perspective. We can all be happy… if you let yourself.
11.) Ask a Scientist, then ask a Reverend… Then draw your own conclusion.. because regardless of how accomplished either one is.. THEY DON’T KNOW.
12.) One person at a time if that’s what it takes. Through music, blogs, influence, or even just taking the time to answer someones questions..
13.) 40 hours a week. Simply because I do that now, and if I was payed $400,000 a month I’d be doing well enough to change the world… faster.. lol…
14.) I’d try to have lots of sex.. lol.. I would enjoy time with strangers discussing all the wonders of the world. I’d try my hardest to smoke a fat ass blunt with all my favorite musicians and see if I could push out an album before I croak. Have a few dozen threesomes with the hottest ladies that were down for it.. haha.. and then maybe even write a short book. Or a long one.. depending.. I know I’d have soooo much to say… And then.. get ready for that question to be answered.. “what happens when you die?”..
*gulp*.. lol
15.) I discover it more and more each day.
Thanks for responding Kizzle. I really like some of your answers.
-Andrew
1.) Is it better to donate money or to support a cause, organization, or person, in another way?
I’d go for non-monetary support.
2.) Has the conflict and harm religion has caused outweighed the good it has produced?
Yup. But it’s because of people and not because of religion itself.
3.) Will the greatest generation be the generation that doesn’t look to war or conflict for the solution to a major problem?
Nope. It will be the generation before that one.
4.) Can all poverty and starvation ever be eradicated?
Can stupidity and greed ever be eradicated?
5.) Would you rather be born rich or poor?
Rich and without money.
6.) Why is it taking so long to switch to alternative fuels and energy?
Because of greed… what else?
7.) Why does the media profile so much negativity, as viewers, is that what we really desire to see and read?
It seems that’s what we want.
8.) How come we continue to believe in politicians and their promises, when so many fail to follow through and keep those promises?
I have no idea.
9.) Are most of your goals and dreams, wants or needs?
Not most, but quite a few.
10.) Why is it so hard for people to be happy?
Because “happiness” does not exist. There are moments of happiness, but no an absolute state of happiness.
11.) Are we the only ones who exist in this universe?
Probably not.
12.) How do you plan on changing the world?
Do I?
13.) Would you rather work 4 hours a week, earning $40,000 a month or would you rather work 40 hours a week, earning $400,000 a month?
4 hours a week. Life’s too short.
14.) If you only had one more year to live, what would you do in that year?
The same as I’ve been doing before.
15.) Have you found your purpose in life?
Yes. My purpose in life is finding my purpose in life.
Thanks for the responses Nahuel! You made some interesting points, especially this one: 2.) Has the conflict and harm religion has caused outweighed the good it has produced?
Yup. But it’s because of people and not because of religion itself.
-Andrew
1. Depends, but probably in another way.
2. The only good I see from religion is the personal gain that some people get from it, overall it’s only caused destruction.
3. Hard to say. I don’t think there ever will be a “greatest generation”, to be honest.
4. Maybe. I read an interesting idea in a book called “Ishamel”, by Daniel Quinn. He said that, if people were to allow countries that are starving to just starve, then the population would dwindle until it came down to a number that it can actually support, and in that way the starvation would end. However, most people see this as evil, just letting them starve.
5. Rich.. I know that I’d probably be a strong person with lower expectations if I were poor, but I can’t help but to think that being rich would be less of a struggle.
6. Because people find comfort in sameness. We don’t like change.
7. Because it sells, and yes, that’s what we want to see and read apparently, or else it wouldn’t sell.
8. Because it brings the people hope, for a short period of time.
9. I’m assuming this is meant to read “Are most of your goals dreams, wants or needs?”
Good question.. Most likely dreams, but needs comes very close to that.
10. A few reasons. The first being that everyone always wants more, we’re never satisfied with what we have.
But I think there’s a bigger reason. I think the biggest reason as to why we’re so unhappy is because we complicate things too much. You never see animals or pets (unless they’re being abused) that are unhappy, because to them everything is SIMPLE. My birds really don’t have a particularly exicitng life, but they’re so happy with it. We need to learn to stop over complicating things.
11. I don’t know, no one does for sure.
12. I don’t know, I’ve been thinking about this for a long time and I have no idea yet.
13. 4 hours a week by far. I’d have more time to enjoy life, and 40,000 dollars a month is a lot of money for me!
14. Find love, quit my job, start living.
15. I don’t believe that we have a purpose. Our purpose is to live and then to die, just like any other living thing. As much as we’d like to believe otherwise, we aren’t special.
Hey “Anonymous”
“I think the biggest reason as to why we’re so unhappy is because we complicate things too much. You never see animals or pets (unless they’re being abused) that are unhappy, because to them everything is SIMPLE. My birds really don’t have a particularly exicitng life, but they’re so happy with it. We need to learn to stop over complicating things.”
- This is very true! I was just thinking about this yesterday. People make big problems out of small, unimportant things.
“I don’t believe that we have a purpose. Our purpose is to live and then to die, just like any other living thing. As much as we’d like to believe otherwise, we aren’t special.”
I don’t really agree with you here, but you make a valid argument.
-Andrew
1.) I would say in person, because money can only do so much. Sure, it’s nice to have a little certificate hanging on your wall saying “On behalf of [insert organization/cause here], we thank you, John Doe, for donating to us, blah blah blah.” Sure, every little bit counts, but it’d be better if you went out there in person and showed your support.
2.) Yes, it has. Instead of unity, there is now tension everywhere you tread. No one can say or do anything anymore without worrying who they’re insulting. It’s just crazy.
3.) As much as I’m against war, I will have to say no to that, because then that generation will be criticized for not going to war, and may ultimately have to cave in and spark some sort of mega war.
4.) Unfortunately, no. It cannot. So long as there are people living, there will always be unfortunate realities.
5.) Born poor. It sounds sick, but I’d rather have to work for everything in life rather than everything be handed to me on a silver platter. I kind of regret that I was adopted into the latter. I never had/have to work for anything. And honestly, it makes me feel useless sometimes.
6.) Money.
Money.
Money.
End of story.
People in the big gas and oil industries don’t want to lose theirs. The other people are ready. The big makers aren’t.
7.) Just think about it for a moment, if all we saw on the television, or read about in the papers was how a kitten was rescued from a tree, or a young boy saved an elderly man’s life, day after day after day, wouldn’t it become repetitive and boring? Everything would just repeat itself. We as humans need the negativity to feel good about ourselves. We need to know that things could always be worse. We need to have that comfort that even though you could be in the worst situation of your life, financial, emotional, physical, etc., that there’s always someone else who has it worse. The media is just the fastest way to get the point to us.
8.) It’s like a baby and their blanket, or other prized possession. They need that security, it makes them feel good. If we can be assured something for even a moment, we feel better.
9.) They’re a combination. Some of them I want because I need them to be happy in life. Others are just luxury and some are needs just for convenience.
10.) People tend to focus on the bad. For instance, I once did an exercise for a class once where we plotted out the timelines of our lives with certain memories/milestones that stuck out to us like a line graph. The good ones were above the center line, the bad ones below. My instructor then said something that I realized was true: most of the bad things, the negative things, the things that made us unhappy, were out of our control. Most negative things that happen to us, we don’t have any control over how they play out. We feel unhappy because a part of us feels as if we should’ve been able to prevent that, but the other knows we had no chance and just had to let things play out.
11.) Well, we like to think we are, but I’m not too sure. Sometimes, I’m convinced there’s more out there, but others, I’m convinced that it’s only us and this somewhat-green Earth.
12.) My main goal in life is to become a writer. I want to change the world by giving people something to believe in. I want to give them a place they can escape to as many times as they want, whenever they want. I don’t mean a religion, or a cult, just something that can help them through things and let them just get away for a while, but all the while, keeping them grounded.
13.) I guess it depends on what work I was doing. If I was happy, extremely happy, and I enjoyed what I was doing, I’d put in the extra hours. But if I was miserable, and didn’t care, I’d choose the 4 hours. I’m lazy and I admit it.
14.) I’d write like crazy, get wild, do things I’ve always wanted to do, and just live.
15.) I believe I have. The only thing now, is convincing my parents (I’m only 16) that I know what it is.
Hey Anjelica,
“5.) Born poor. It sounds sick, but I’d rather have to work for everything in life rather than everything be handed to me on a silver platter. I kind of regret that I was adopted into the latter. I never had/have to work for anything. And honestly, it makes me feel useless sometimes.”
I don’t think it sounds sick at all. It’s great that you want to work for what you get. I feel the same way about the lottery. I never want to win it. I rather work for the money I earn.
Don’t think that you’re useless. You will have to work for a lot as you get older. When you’re younger it’s not usually the case.
“7.) Just think about it for a moment, if all we saw on the television, or read about in the papers was how a kitten was rescued from a tree, or a young boy saved an elderly man’s life, day after day after day, wouldn’t it become repetitive and boring? Everything would just repeat itself. We as humans need the negativity to feel good about ourselves. We need to know that things could always be worse. We need to have that comfort that even though you could be in the worst situation of your life, financial, emotional, physical, etc., that there’s always someone else who has it worse. The media is just the fastest way to get the point to us.”
I think stories of kittens stuck in trees would be very boring. But positive news does not need to be like that. What about all the people doing charitable causes, fighting for what they know is right, helping people during disasters? There are plenty more positive stories that are compelling.
I like what you said about the negativity; that it puts things in perspective. Interesting point.
-Andrew
1. support them in a personal way than donate blindly.
2. definitely yes, Isn’t it amazing that we don’t hear this question quite often ?
3. the greatest generation will be the one of free and critical thinkers.
4. yes, it can be done locally, and eventually in the world.
5. born rich ( i have learned so much this way )
6. because alternative fuels are hyped too much, we simply don’t have the capital or the research to get a substantial alternative yet. sad, but the truth.
7. yes, sadly the majority of us do. media does this coz it makes profit coz of us.
8. we humans want someone to make sense of everything and we get deluded too easily.
9. wants and needs.
10. jealousy, the genetic urge to survive and have food is transferred into an urge to succeed in everything.
11. most probably not.
12. technology changes the world, and i wanna control the technology to better this world.
13. 40 hrs, not for the money, but the love of what i do.
14. spend my time with my gf and family, friends. n try to make this a better place before i leave
15. no not yet, i am very close.
11. sorry i meant most probably yes. even if the probaility of a planet to ave a life is one in a billion, there still can be about a billion planets hosting life.
Hey “jsg10″,
I found this response to be most interesting:
“5. born rich ( i have learned so much this way )”
That’s great you’ve learned a lot from being so fortunate. Most people born rich are isolated and don’t understand how others are living.
-Andrew
1.) Is it better to donate money or to support a cause, organization, or person, in another way?
Give money when that’s needed or you are far away, give time,goods or advocacy when that is required.
2.) Has the conflict and harm religion has caused outweighed the good it has produced?
The conflict and harm has been done by those who’ve subverted religion to their own benefit, religion, by definition is for our good and the good of others.
3.) Will the greatest generation be the generation that doesn’t look to war or conflict for the solution to a major problem?
There have been peaceable societies that self-destructed nevertheless.
4.) Can all poverty and starvation ever be eradicated?
No, even Jesus said the poor would always be with us. Even though there is sufficient food, resources, there are always those who for greed, control or power (such as corrupt governments)keep it from the needy.
5.) Would you rather be born rich or poor?
That’s not the whole ballgame. There have been very happy people who were born poor, and very unhappy ones born rich.
6.) Why is it taking so long to switch to alternative fuels and energy?
We take the path of least resistance, and the big guys who profit from fossil, don’t want to lose that.
7.) Why does the media profile so much negativity, as viewers, is that what we really desire to see and read?
Sensationalism seems to sell-No one, myself included wants to see and read that though, but most are not vocal enough or demonstrative enough to get the word to who controls those decisions.
8.) How come we continue to believe in politicians and their promises, when so many fail to follow through and keep those promises?
What choice do we have?
9.) Are most of your goals and dreams, wants or needs?
Primarily wants.
10.) Why is it so hard for people to be happy?
Our skewed idea of what happiness is.
11.) Are we the only ones who exist in this universe?
Probably not.
12.) How do you plan on changing the world?
By not messing it up.
13.) Would you rather work 4 hours a week, earning $40,000 a month or would you rather work 40 hours a week, earning $400,000 a month?
Four hours a week.
14.) If you only had one more year to live, what would you do in that year?
I hope I’m doing it now.
15.) Have you found your purpose in life?
Not entirely
Hi Diana,
Thanks for posting your answers. I really like your answer to number 14. It was simple but actually really powerful.
-Andrew
First, nice job on having some interesting questions!
1.) Is it better to donate money or to support a cause, organization, or person, in another way?
-Support in your own way. I am a student, so I donate my time. One of our benefactors is a multi-millionaire, so makes more sense for her to donate $90,000.
2.) Has the conflict and harm religion has caused outweighed the good it has produced?
-I think this question is flawed. Religion typically produces neither harm nor good. Rather, it’s simply an avenue that is used for other desires. People who wish to be racist use God to justify it, people who wish to make war use God to justify it, people who wish to feed the hungry use God to justify it. Overall, I think religion has an uplifting effect on the human spirit, however.
3.) Will the greatest generation be the generation that doesn’t look to war or conflict for the solution to a major problem?
-The idea of a “greatest” generation is a bit odd, but if a generation was to not use war as a primary conflict resolval means, that would be pretty neat.
4.) Can all poverty and starvation ever be eradicated?
-Of course, we already possess the resources to feed everyone. All it takes, then, is the proper distribution
5.) Would you rather be born rich or poor?
-Again, I’m not sure I agree with the premise. I’d rather be born into a life that encourages me to grow. This means good parents, good teachers. What has wealth got to do with it?
6.) Why is it taking so long to switch to alternative fuels and energy?
-The solution requires looking past our current problems to create a better future. The vast majority of us are not great at planning for the long term. Yet inevitably, we’re fast enough. I think we’ll get there in time.
7.) Why does the media profile so much negativity, as viewers, is that what we really desire to see and read?
-I don’t think the media profile is all negative. Perhaps you simply are viewing it negatively.
8.) How come we continue to believe in politicians and their promises, when so many fail to follow through and keep those promises?
-The political environment requires giving a promise that cannot be meant- that we will be saved by our leaders. In reality, all a leader can do is lead us to salvation, they can’t bring it to us.
9.) Are most of your goals and dreams, wants or needs?
-My goals that involve myself are needs, to improve myself to accomplish my dreams. My dreams are wants, to leave this place better than I found it.
10.) Why is it so hard for people to be happy?
-It’s not. People are happy sometimes, they are unhappy sometimes. They live in a full range of animal emotions, gloriously alive. Nothing feels worse than that empty feeling where you feel nothing at all.
11.) Are we the only ones who exist in this universe?
-While there is a great deal of debate that could surround this, why does it matter? The whole world is enough for me.
12.) How do you plan on changing the world?
-Read a biography of me in a few decades
13.) Would you rather work 4 hours a week, earning $40,000 a month or would you rather work 40 hours a week, earning $400,000 a month?
-People seemed to answer 4 hours a week. To those people, I ask what sort of work do you do?! Most of the work I do is unpaid; there are things worth doing in this world, why does it matter if you get paid $0 or $400,000?
14.) If you only had one more year to live, what would you do in that year?
-I would accelerate my plans to change the world. It would not be as powerful an effect if I had the few decades that I would like, but you work with what you have.
15.) Have you found your purpose in life?
-Of course and not at all. Each day is a new discovery of what it is to live, but the overall goal is always to smile.
Thanks for the answers Shanti. I enjoyed reading them. This attitude was great:
“12.) How do you plan on changing the world?
”
-Read a biography of me in a few decades
-Andrew
1. Donating money is probably more efficient.
2. Both sides are unquatifiable and even undefinable (what counts as a benefit) so the question is impossible to answer. The lack of exclusivity to religion of many if not all the benefits makes the question somewhat redundant anyway.
3. A generation is too heterogenous a group for such a label to be applicable. Assuming it is, then the question depends on the problem. For some problems war is necessary and a generation that avoids war is more likely to be lucky to avoid such a problem that ‘great’.
4. Probably not. Resources are finite and though efficiency improvements can work wonders (just consider that we produce enough food to sustain nearly 7 billion people on the same planet that a few centuries ago struggle to sustain less than a billion) any increase in production stimulates a population which perpetuates the burden on resources.
5. Rich. There is no nobility in being poor.
6. Of all the problems vested interests is probably the least worrying. For a start current energy companies are one of the biggest if not the biggest investors in alternative energy. If they crack the problems then they will gain a massive competitive edge and make a mint. Or if they are unwilling it would be in someone’s interest to finance an outsider to come in and make the incumbents redundant and make themselves and their financiers a packet. The main barrier is technological. Currently we just cannot produce and distribute in a manner scalable, efficient and practical enough to supersede standard energy sources. In reply to one of the above posts to say that no planning permission is required for conventional power plant is just patently ridiculous. Also if you take into account carbon emission during construction then a source like wind power comes out much worse than nuclear as you would require so many more turbines (with attendant concrete bases, etc) to produce an equivalent amount of energy.
7. Yes.
8. People like to blame politicians for being greedy, corrupt etc. However, a large portion should fall on voters and the democratic system itself. In general although you may find clever persons people en masse are incoherent, fickle, ignorant and parochial. Real world problems are complicated, an individual may sit down, take a deep analytical approach before inevitably reaching some kind of probabilistic equivocal conclusion. People will just apply some simple pithy maxim, corporations are evil, socialised x is evil. People tend to also start with their conclusion and work back, e.g. I vote liberal\conservative\labour\tory therefore I should support policy x rather than figure out if they support x and then consequently vote for the relevant party. Politicians have no incentive to moderate expectations or give complicated compromises as answers because voters give them none.
9. Wants.
10. Not sure.
11. Probably not
12. Don’t really plan on doing so.
13. 40 hours at $400K. 40 hours isn’t really that much to work, I would get really bored with no work and the opportunities available for you and your loved ones at that income level are many times an order of magnitude than the alternative.
14. More sex and drugs probably.
15. Nope.
1.) Is it better to donate money or to support a cause, organization, or person, in another way?
i prefer to directly support, using my own two hands. so i see how much help i’m actually providing to the cause instead of a middleman, which eventually motivates me to help more.
2.) Has the conflict and harm religion has caused outweighed the good it has produced?
organised religion, yes. it seems as though the more structure the religion acquires, the more corrupt (and later, tyrannical) it eventually becomes.
3.) Will the greatest generation be the generation that doesn’t look to war or conflict for the solution to a major problem?
no, for without conflict; differing viewpoints, it means we have ceased evolving creatively as a species.
4.) Can all poverty and starvation ever be eradicated?
surely, but a better plan would be to prevent it in the first place by limiting reproduction or allowing “survival of the fittest” come into play.
5.) Would you rather be born rich or poor?
poor, hands down. causes one to think and work for themselves.
6.) Why is it taking so long to switch to alternative fuels and energy?
because the “higher echelons” of society turn a huge profit off of the current methods used for energy.
7.) Why does the media profile so much negativity, as viewers, is that what we really desire to see and read?
to desensitise the masses to violence they may experience.
8.) How come we continue to believe in politicians and their promises, when so many fail to follow through and keep those promises?
because we are conditioned to believe that our current government is the optimal form of ruling, and it can’t be changed.
9.) Are most of your goals and dreams, wants or needs?
wants; i’m human.
10.) Why is it so hard for people to be happy?
because we are conditioned to be consumers, which goes against thousands of years of evolution and human biology.
11.) Are we the only ones who exist in this universe?
who am i to say?
12.) How do you plan on changing the world?
i don’t. i simply want to live my life.
13.) Would you rather work 4 hours a week, earning $40,000 a month or would you rather work 40 hours a week, earning $400,000 a month?
4/40k. i wouldn’t know what to do with 400k.
14.) If you only had one more year to live, what would you do in that year?
i don’t need a record
15.) Have you found your purpose in life?
we have no purpose but to learn.
Thanks for your answers Tim and Augustine!
I really liked your answer to the rich or poor question Augustine:
“5.) Would you rather be born rich or poor?
poor, hands down. causes one to think and work for themselves.”
Great way of looking at poverty.
-Andrew
1. Depends on your abilities. If all you have is money to offer, that is your gift. If you have skill or talent, offer that as your gift. If you can do both, do so. I donate both my time and my money to my causes – though it is tailored to the charity. Some get only my money; others, only my time – which can be substantial. Never hesitate to volunteer when asked; you’ll be devastated to learn too late that no one else answered the call.
2. Way too broad. Religion is people. Some sects of Christianity are just plain evil. Some answer the genuine call of Jesus by welcoming everyone and going beyond “evangelism” to do real community work. My own little church does the latter, A LOT. I wish everybody did!
3. Yes.
4.Yes, but only when the rich can no longer stomach walking by the poor and no longer feel unmoved. One of Jesus’ primary messages (why the rich don’t easily go to heaven.) But to quote Gene Robinson (gay Episcopal bishop), “you’ll never hear Jerry Falwell talk about THAT.” Rich is a relative term: it’s whether or not YOU have the ability to help the poor that makes you rich, not money, which any idiot can have, versus compassion, which is precious beyond all else because it is so very rare.
5. Poor. I pity the rich, actually. I’ve known too many wealthy people with hearts of stone that have no compassion whatsoever for the poor – what a complete loss of their humanity for mere gold.
6. Because vested interests in the energy business will put us all at risk before they risk their wealth.
7. It’s what’s easy to produce; it requires no thought at all. Joy takes a lot of energy to find, but the rewards are fantastic. Just learn to appreciate all that you have, then consider all that have less than you do. Feeling pretty wealthy now, huh!
8. I’m a political junkie, but I don’t trust any politician. I warn friends on both sides of the political spectrum not to put any real faith in their chosen candidates – they don’t know them from Adam.
9. To be useful to humanity; to serve others; to be of some help to others. It’s amazing how when you live a life inside out – with others at your center – your own needs just seem to get filled without much effort on your part. Try it – it works! Needs: to learn, to teach, to love by helping.
10. Because they never choose to help others. If you want true happiness, it is never in owning stuff. It is in the incalculable reward of seeing someone you helped succeed beyond your wildest dreams; it is giving what you have – whatever skill, knowledge, knack, etc., you have, not just your money – to those desperately in need of it. That is true happiness. Owning some high priced piece of junk can never do that – and what else is money really good for, beyond that?
11. I can’t believe this is the be all and end all of God’s creativity. Absolutely we are not alone.
12. I can’t change the world. But I can change pieces of it. I can teach, I can help, I can create for others. I have touched hundreds of lives in my 50 years on this earth; I will touch many more before my time is ended. THAT is how you change the world: one person in need at a time.
13. Ha! I’m a truck driver. I go nuts with less than 50 hours a week. If I don’t volunteer for something even after a full 70 hour week, I feel useless! No, money doesn’t enter into it. I work because I love what I do.
14. My Dad died when I was 26, after a 14 year battle with cancer. I have lived my entire adult life assuming I would not be here forever. I’ve seen every part of the US and most of Canada. I’ve trained a generation of driving students in the trucking industry. I volunteer for two AIDS organizations, a church, and a gay pride group. I do that because I live like I only HAD a year to live. I take care of my 82 year old mother on a daily basis; I assume each and every year is her last, and I want to live it with her to the fullest. I did that with my father and it was the best time I ever spent.
15. Have I found my purpose in life? I’ll let you decide after reading the above. (I have found life in abundance. I cannot begin to tell you how much joy a life devoted to others brings.)
Hey Craig,
Thanks for posting your answers!
I love what you said in your answer to number 5, “I pity the rich, actually.” I’ve never heard anyone say that but I feel the same way. I also agree with what you said for number 9:
“9. To be useful to humanity; to serve others; to be of some help to others. It’s amazing how when you live a life inside out – with others at your center – your own needs just seem to get filled without much effort on your part. Try it – it works! Needs: to learn, to teach, to love by helping.”
“12. I can’t change the world. But I can change pieces of it. I can teach, I can help, I can create for others. I have touched hundreds of lives in my 50 years on this earth; I will touch many more before my time is ended. THAT is how you change the world: one person in need at a time.”
This is exactly what changing the world is; changing one person at a time. People believe it has to be one large scale, but it starts at home.
“15. Have I found my purpose in life? I’ll let you decide after reading the above. (I have found life in abundance. I cannot begin to tell you how much joy a life devoted to others brings.)”
I definitely think you have Craig and you have changed the world. Don’t underestimate what you’ve done.
-Andrew
I have found my purpose in life in knowing that there is no point to life, ultimately, so it doesn’t matter one bit what you do.
“I have found my purpose in life in knowing that there is no point to life, ultimately, so it doesn’t matter one bit what you do.”
That’s a sad way to think. Sorry you feel that way. If I felt like that I wouldn’t even be able to get out of bed in the morning.
-Andrew
1: Personally, I donate my time which I feel is more valuable than money could be. Such as the hours I spent walking for the American Cancer Society, or the times I visited my little for Big Bros. Big Sis.
2: Without a doubt
3: Yes
4: As long as there is government, bureaucracy (sp), capitalism, communism, greed, hate, pretty much if people keep human nature, then there will be hunger and poverty.
5: Considering I haven’t been born rich and that I cannot be reborn with memory of a previous life I cannot adequately answer this question. I am however grateful for the life i’ve been given and the parents who have raised me.
6: Capitalism
7: First part – Negative sells. Second part – everyone deserves better, will we get it? probably not.
8: It wouldn’t be democracy (or perceived democracy) without our dishonest politicians.
9: Wants. the want of a mate. the want of being a teacher. breathing is taken care of under the right conditions. needs: water and food and other things Maslow had in his hierarchy.
10: Its a cliche, but they don’t stop to smell the roses.
11: Probably not, I don’t have evidence, but I want to believe.
12: One child at a time.
13: If I didn’t need to pay bills, rent or a mortgage, pay for food and utilities i would teach for free.
14: Marry my wonderful gf. Love her every day. Work with kids in schools and hopefully get them excited about learning. And if I am blessed with a boy or a girl I would show all my love to that miracle. I would live for others as I plan to now. To see smiles and to hear laughter even if the world around all of us is an scary place. All we have is each other and the hope and love we can release into our world.
15: To live for others. To teach. To spread love. To try to understand every single person I see on the street. To help anything or anyone.
Hey Tajin,
Thanks for sharing your answers. This one really struck me:
“13: If I didn’t need to pay bills, rent or a mortgage, pay for food and utilities i would teach for free.”
That’s amazing! You’re going to be an excellent teacher.
-Andrew
Short and to the point, like me!
1. you should always volounteer your help, since money rarely solves any problems.
2. Without question.
3. The greatest generation is always the present.
4. No!
5. Rich.
6. Politics.
7. Yes it is, people stop at traffic accidents, not to help, but to catch a glimpse of their own mortality.
8. we hope for a better tomorrow.
9. Wants.
10. It isn’t.
11. No.
12. I don’t.
13. Neither.
14. I would travel, first to see my friends and family, and if time permitted some of the wonderful places I have never been.
15. I haven’t looked and doubt there is one, so no.
I hope this answers some of your questions, although some of them are fallacies (10. happieness is a very strange thing to quantify 11. Changing the world is not by definition a good thing, Hitler chaged the world, so did Stalin 12. Purpose and meaning or laden words and points to destiny and foresight).
Thanks so much for your answers! Short and sweet is great.
“1. you should always volounteer your help, since money rarely solves any problems.”
I agree that money rarely solves any problems. That’s why all these government bailouts make me concerned.
-Andrew
1.) What matters is not how you help but what cause you help.
2.) No.
3.) War is only a symptom. Collectivism is the disease. The greatest generation will be the one that overcomes collectivism.
4.) It could. What is missing is the will to do so.
5.) rich
6.) Because there is no demand for it.
7.) Yes. People feel miserable about themselves and need something more miserable to feel better or at least have a reason to feel miserable that is not their own fault.
8.) I don’t. I don’t know about others.
9.) “need” is a relative term. You need something *for* something, there is no absolute need.
10.) Because they have wrong assumptions about reality.
11.) Who cares? It is a sign of our times that we chat with people all over the world and look for live on other planets yet hardly know our neighbours.
12.) By educating people.
13.) $40,000 a month is more than enough.
14.) Research a cure
15.) Not yet.
.) Is it better to donate money or to support a cause, organization, or person, in another way?
It is better to donate money, everyone does not know exactly how to support everything they would like to support. but there are also ways to both support and donate but in my opinion donations are better.
2.) Has the conflict and harm religion has caused outweighed the good it has produced?
Religion has caused much harm, but the good it has produced will outweigh the bad in every circumstance. Just walk through a christian church and see how many happy people there are, religion isnt a bad thing, it makes people feel good, it has a set standard of laws and rules that dont hurt anybody.
3.) Will the greatest generation be the generation that doesn’t look to war or conflict for the solution to a major problem?Yes, this generation will not come for many many years, when this does happen the human race will be much more advanced and after the first generation that has it every generation afterwards will have it too, what It is is a Golden age of man. IMO
4.) Can all poverty and starvation ever be eradicated?in a golden age yes, but in the world we live in now no. even though there is food all over the world in plentiful abundance, people are too greedy to just give away everything they have, or anything for that matter.
5.) Would you rather be born rich or poor? i’d rather be born rich, i was born poor and the grass is always greener.
6.) Why is it taking so long to switch to alternative fuels and energy? The governments of the world own most of the fuel and energy companies, they arent going to lose that any time soon. If something doesnt make sense most of the time its somebody greedy that is unwilling to change because of his greed.
7.) Why does the media profile so much negativity, as viewers, is that what we really desire to see and read?
The government also owns the media
8.) How come we continue to believe in politicians and their promises, when so many fail to follow through and keep those promises? nobody can tell the future, we dont know politicians are lying until after they have lied. we just do the best we can, we pick the better person for the job even though he may be lying everyone just hopes that they arent. this is a silly question imo
9.) Are most of your goals and dreams, wants or needs?
my dreams are all wants, nobody dreams for needs and if they do they are close to death.
10.) Why is it so hard for people to be happy?
there’s so much pressure on every person that most people are overwhelmed by it and nobody is willing to change.
11.) Are we the only ones who exist in this universe? no, in the billions of galaxies that are just like this one there are trillions of planets just like earth. there is life in every depth of every part of the earth, the deepest ocean has life on it, if its possible for life to be so vast and teeming on our planet, there has to be life on other planets.
12.) How do you plan on changing the world? i dont plan on it, the earth will be changed because of me, everybody who lives changes the world somehow. i’m more of the person that watches and reports what happens. but if the answer ur looking for is “Life is insignificant” i dont belive that because if someone believes their life means something and so do 2 other people then that means at least 1 MIND believes someone’s life matters, and then this means my life matters.
13.) Would you rather work 4 hours a week, earning $40,000 a month or would you rather work 40 hours a week, earning $400,000 a month? i’d rather work less.
14.) If you only had one more year to live, what would you do in that year? try to crush every grudge i ever had and try to live a normal life. nothing truly extravagant, just spend more time with friends/family
15.) Have you found your purpose in life? no, i dont think i’m going to “Find” it, i think i’m going to live and die not knowing what my purpose was
2. Religion is the excuse, not the cause. If there was no religion we’d find something else to fight about.
1.) Is it better to donate money or to support a cause, organization, or person, in another way?
Better for who? I think it would be better for me to support a cause, organization or person in different ways in different situations.
2.) Has the conflict and harm religion has caused outweighed the good it has produced?
That’s dependent on your definition of “good” and “harm.” I’ve never been a huge fan of religion myself.
3.) Will the greatest generation be the generation that doesn’t look to war or conflict for the solution to a major problem?
as with the last two, the concepts in question are subjective. If all life is one, then all violence is just masochism.
4.) Can all poverty and starvation ever be eradicated?
sure. if nothing else, humanity can be eradicated.
5.) Would you rather be born rich or poor?
It doesn’t matter, either option is arguably superior.
6.) Why is it taking so long to switch to alternative fuels and energy?
Power of lobbyists in government/economy.
Changing takes more effort then staying the same in the short run, even if it yields more efficiency in the long run.
7.) Why does the media profile so much negativity, as viewers, is that what we really desire to see and read?
Two reasons, one, in a capitalist system, the media will profit from showing people what they want to see, and two, in a system with a government, the government profits from media that keeps the people in a perpetual state of fear (e.g. 1984)
Who can say what we really desire
8.) How come we continue to believe in politicians and their promises, when so many fail to follow through and keep those promises?
People are sheep. They like being told what they want to hear. Depending on others for solutions absolves one of responsibility. The government doesn’t exist as a physical entity, only a concept in the minds of individuals, and each individual has a different concept of the government. Politicians are all psychotic because they have devoted themselves to an entity that doesn’t exist outside of their minds.
9.) Are most of your goals and dreams, wants or needs?
I would say dreams, but could just as easily define them as wants or needs.
10.) Why is it so hard for people to be happy?
Probably different reasons for everybody.
11.) Are we the only ones who exist in this universe?
Dependent on the definition of “ones” and “existence”. I would think its probable
12.) How do you plan on changing the world?
How can I avoid it? What am I but an integral piece of the world, and what is the world but an integral part of me?
13.) Would you rather work 4 hours a week, earning $40,000 a month or would you rather work 40 hours a week, earning $400,000 a month?
I would rather work for things I would like to get done, money is another one of the concepts that doesn’t exist outside of the human mind.
14.) If you only had one more year to live, what would you do in that year?
Live, I don’t see how it should make any difference.
15.) Have you found your purpose in life?
Lots of times. Different purpose almost every time.
1.) support a cause in another way
2.) no
3.) no, premise is flawed
4.) there’s no cure for stupid
5.) rich
6.) won’t matter eventually.
7.) sadly yes
8.) term limits baby
9.) needs
10.) not why we’re here
11.) doubtful
12.) gotta be rich
13.) 40 hours a week, earning $400,000 a month?
14.) travel
15.) nope
1.) Is it better to donate money or to support a cause, organization, or person, in another way?
Support everyone else in the world you can, because it’s more than just about yourself. Money has nothing to do with giving and caring.
2.) Has the conflict and harm religion has caused outweighed the good it has produced?
Look at the middle east and what they are fighting about. Look at the old way Christianity used to manipulate and dictate the lives of millions of people through history. If God is God, he would not want the suffering of people so they can be apart of religion. I believe in God, I believe in the goodness of religion, but simply put, religion is not god, and not all good.
3.) Will the greatest generation be the generation that doesn’t look to war or conflict for the solution to a major problem?
YES, the greatest generation will be the stronger people who decide we can exist with each other and benefit from our strengths, rather than fall upon what we are unable to do. War doesn’t solve problems, in most cases in brings upon more problems. Only Peace can truly solve conflict.
4.) Can all poverty and starvation ever be eradicated?
Yes, we have all the resources and capabilities to do so, but its not people’s needs that rule the world, it’s the needs of whoever has the dollar- Whoever can make the dollar
5.) Would you rather be born rich or poor?
Doesn’t matter, I was born the way I was born.
6.) Why is it taking so long to switch to alternative fuels and energy?
Money money money money money. If it wasn’t about the dollar bill then we’d start caring about what we really need, nurture ourselves instead of our bank accounts, and help the world become a better place, but currently those in power seek more power and more money.
7.) Why does the media profile so much negativity, as viewers, is that what we really desire to see and read?
People’s interests will lie in whatever it is that they are interested in, and that’s harder to govern than anything else, if they find entertainment in negativity, then they will read it, and buy it. However I do believe we all need to have our eyes opened the truths of the world, so that we can become less ignorant of the things that surround us, if there is negativity, being informed of it is what will help us overcome it.
8.) How come we continue to believe in politicians and their promises, when so many fail to follow through and keep those promises?
We feel like we don’t have a choice and are subjected to the power of those in power, we don’t realize the power we all hold within ourselves to make the world and better place, we simply need to fill our own promises that we have in our hearts. Quit giving power to those who have always abused it.
9.) Are most of your goals and dreams, wants or needs?
Hah, that’s an awkward question. I want a better world, if God chooses that he needs a better world, he will create it. I’m too small a puzzle piece to honestly need or want anything, because I truly feel like I don’t need anything more than what I have.. <- Which was given to me by God.
10.) Why is it so hard for people to be happy?
Human imperfection, they've constantly deceived themselves into believing something that isn't the truth, and it's reinforced by those who are unhappy, if you choose to be happy, you can be happy within the confines of your mind, you need nothing else. Even in the worst times people can praise and be happy for everything they have.
11.) Are we the only ones who exist in this universe?
No. Dumb question. The universe in also existing in the universe. Is there other life? I believe so but i don't know so, but God is the spirit and the entity of the entirety of the what is, and what isn't.
12.) How do you plan on changing the world?
Make those who are ignorant more aware of the world they live in, educate the world on how we could live better, by not forcing upon anyone anything they don't want to believe. You just prove to them there is something better, and show them the path to finding it themselves. Find the unity of man, use our strengths and not our weaknesses, come together to benefit each other with what we are truly good at doing.
13.) Would you rather work 4 hours a week, earning $40,000 a month or would you rather work 40 hours a week, earning $400,000 a month?
I will work as much as is necessary. Money doesn't mean anything to me.
14.) If you only had one more year to live, what would you do in that year?
Write my thoughts and help the world live more peacefully. Give everything I can give, and take nothing I don't deserve.
15.) Have you found your purpose in life?
I believe so. However, there is always more to learn.
Really thoughtful and great answers Austin. I enjoyed reading them!
Thanks for taking the time to respond.
-Andrew
1. The both are needed. Decide what is more available for you and donate.
2. Depends on which religion you mean.
3. That is an utopia. Conflict is essential part of life.
4. No, there must be someone poor and someone rich.
5. Rich.
6. Because alternative fuels are not so effective. When the time comes, we will switch.
7. Yes, most people want to read/listen to/see negative things.
8. Politicians are people. Of course they are not perfect.
9. Wants. I will get everything I need.
10. You can be happy only in particular moment, not forever.
11. Nobody knows.
12. I don’t plan to change the world.
13. 40 hours a week.
14. The same as till now.
15. There is no purpose in any life.
1. another way
2. yes
3. no
4. no
5. rich
6. inertia
7. no one reads happy crappy
8. the stupidity of hope
9. wants
10. they don’t recognize it, even if it bites them in ass
11. no
12. with a really big diaper
13. 4 hours
14. Live harder
15. Every time I find it, it runs away from home
1.) Is it better to donate money or to support a cause, organization, or person, in another way? Another way.
2.) Has the conflict and harm religion has caused outweighed the good it has produced? Yes. And it continues to, too.
3.) Will the greatest generation be the generation that doesn’t look to war or conflict for the solution to a major problem? Yes.
4.) Can all poverty and starvation ever be eradicated? It is possible. I don’t think it is probable.
5.) Would you rather be born rich or poor? Rich, if I had a choice. In my life, I have been both, at different times. Both states have much to offer in the way of personal growth.
6.) Why is it taking so long to switch to alternative fuels and energy? Money. There are certain people whose interests are served by keeping our world dependent on oil.
7.) Why does the media profile so much negativity, as viewers, is that what we really desire to see and read? It actually makes some people feel better to know there are others who are worse off than they are. Sad, but true.
8.) How come we continue to believe in politicians and their promises, when so many fail to follow through and keep those promises? Hope. And also because this is the only system we have, even though it is flawed. One alternative is to get into office ourselves, and not many of us want to do that, for various reasons. Another alternative is a revolution and anarchy.
9.) Are most of your goals and dreams, wants or needs? Most are wants.
10.) Why is it so hard for people to be happy? We are not aware of what happiness is. We are sheep, and are too busy listening to what others/media/church/friends tell us happiness is supposed to be, without getting to know ourselves and what makes us personally happy.
11.) Are we the only ones who exist in this universe? I don’t know. Until I have visited every corner of the universe and found it devoid of anyone else, I can’t say yes or no.
12.) How do you plan on changing the world? By living in it.
13.) Would you rather work 4 hours a week, earning $40,000 a month or would you rather work 40 hours a week, earning $400,000 a month?
In today’s economy, $40,000 a month/4 hours of work would suit me fine.
14.) If you only had one more year to live, what would you do in that year? What I am doing now: Being with the people I love.
15.) Have you found your purpose in life? No.
@Jarek @fermatsenigma Thanks for sharing.
@Interested – Thanks for your answers as well. I think that you really understood these questions well and put a lot of thought into them.
-Andrew
Interesting questions and some really thought provoking answers… I just couldn’t resist – here’s my go at it.
1.)Is it better to donate money or to support a cause,organization, or person, in another way?
We often throw money at problems we want to ignore and so make them go away quietly… Either is fine if you do it for the right reason rather than a tool to look good to others.
2.) Has the conflict and harm religion has caused outweighed the good it has produced?
You have to admit that religion has helped and continue to help millions around the world. I don’t believe in religion any longer but I do believe that it has a place in this world and besides the much conflict and harm, there is still good to be found.
3.) Will the greatest generation be the generation that doesn’t look to war or conflict for the solution to a major problem?
Every generation is greater than the last simply because each generation questions the mediocrity of the previous and so allows us (the human race) to grow. Peace will be achieved in the world when we achieve it within ourselves…..
4.) Can all poverty and starvation ever be eradicated?
I’ll go with a previous answer….possible not probable.
5.) Would you rather be born rich or poor?
Each state brings with it its own lessons. I was born middle-class…..neither rich nor poor
6.) Why is it taking so long to switch to alternative fuels and energy?
Too many of accept mediocraty and wait for others to make a difference.
7.) Why does the media profile so much negativity, as viewers, is that what we really desire to see and read?
Misery loves company. It is easier to feel sorry for someone than to celebrate their successes with them.
8.) How come we continue to believe in politicians and their promises, when so many fail to follow through and keep those promises?
Because we don’t believe we can make a difference ourselves. BTW another side effect of religion is not believing in our own ability but to rather seek God through a “medium”. The same happens with politicians….
9.) Are most of your goals and dreams, wants or needs?
I have heard that for a dream to come true you should need what you want – this increases your desire which increases your ability to attract it. Is either bad?
10.) Why is it so hard for people to be happy?
Because we look to others for our happiness instead of realising it is within us. Maybe its another spin-off of religion….
11.) Are we the only ones who exist in this universe?
nope…i don’t think so
12.) How do you plan on changing the world?
By being the change I want to see in the world
13.) Would you rather work 4 hours a week, earning $40,000 a month or would you rather work 40 hours a week, earning $400,000 a month?
Although I would love to work less hours I also know that I would love more money – so in reality the second option is more probable. What I would really want is 4 hours a week for $400 000 a month.
14.) If you only had one more year to live, what would you do in that year?
I used to think make as much debt as possible to screw the system, but lately I’m thinking more in the lines of “be happy with who I am and not care about what others think or say of me”.
15.) Have you found your purpose in life?
I’ve decided my purpose in life is to live life as a human and all that goes with it. But perhaps your life purpose is better defined as your purpose for now
Hi Madeleine,
Thank you so much for sharing your answers. They were great! This one really jumped off the screen at me:
“Misery loves company. It is easier to feel sorry for someone than to celebrate their successes with them.”
It’s so true.
-Andrew
1) Both ways could work, Depends on amount of time a person can spare. But personally, I believe the personal touch makes it all the more fulfilling.
But ideally, it would be great if a generation could think like that. I wrote a story on those lines as a kid. Conflict, yes. War, no.
2) Religion in the hearts of people never does bad, when used as a tool, that’s when the problem begins. I guess, like the way it is with science. We used to be asked this question in school: “Is Science a force of evil or good?” To look at it in another way, if there was a world without religion, people would need something, some sort of support – call it religion or anything else.
3) Nah. Without conflict, how would we have great drama? Shakespeare and the like?
4) Yes, I hope so.
5) Middling. with parents who gave me firm ground below my feet and gave me wings to fly.On second thoughts, rich, well, at least rich enough to have a buzz about myself and by being confident in myself, create positive vibes around.
6) The switch will happen. It has to. There are lots of forces at play – political, economic, and I really don’t have the answer.
7) There should be a ‘Happy Hour’ on news channels. If people didnt crave positivity, why would they be reading and commenting on your blog?? Sometimes, negativity does make one feel better that someone else is worse off than me, but in the end, that feeling doesn’t last. I think everyone would love to see lots of positivity profiled. Genuinely human stories. Maybe that’d make us all think better thoughts. But I hope not at the expense of covering up truths. Ugly though they may be, truths need to come out.
8)Um, do we really believe in them? Not really. But we hope against hope there’ll be someone with true vision, and we always want someone to be inspired by.
9) Wants, mostly.
10) Well, with so much of negativity profiled everywhere, what do you expect? Sometimes they may even be happy without being conscious that they are.
11) At the moment, as far as we are aware, yes. (Now who knows what some other species may be thinking, and posing the same question?:-D)
12) Sharing some of my talents without self-consciousness or pridefulness, without ego, passing on happy messages to lots of people
13)4 hours a week, if I was getting bored and stifled.
14) Travel, take lots of photos, share them around with people, friends, family, interact with strangers, know more about their lives, write about stuff, and live with a sense of wonder and urgency.
15) Not yet
Now, I have only one question for you. I read the comments of most of the people commenting on your interesting question list. Most of them said ‘No’ about finding their purpose? So which do you think is tougher? Finding your purpose, or being happy? Or are they interrelated (you get one, the other follows?) And then maybe when you are least thinking of it, your purpose will come calling for you, and you will know what exactly you are here for! How wonderful if that were true. But I really wonder, why have so many people out here not found their purpose yet? And does it bother them that they haven’t?
Thanks so much for sharing your answers! They really made me think.
I’d have to say that finding your purpose is probably harder. Often times happiness can come from the smallest of things. But I also believe that people would be so much more happy once they do find more purpose.
I think that a lot of people haven’t found their purpose, unfortunately, because they don’t want to. But I think more people haven’t found purpose because it can take a lot of time and work. I hope that they can eventually figure it out though.
-Andrew
Being born rich or poor is irrelevant.One is used to whatever one is familiar with, so whatever circumstances one takes birth in one learns to deal with that.What is important is that we be born with inherent desire to be spiritual, happy and have peace of mind.Then money and material success become secondary.The goal in life should be to let your soul develop to its best potential by having some purpose in life.
So true Anjali! In life everything seems to come down to be happy and peaceful.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts,
-Andrew