Thread: Why can't people rationalize randomness?

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

The idea that "everything happens for a reason" is false.

I don't understand why this preposterous thought is even mentioned in this day and age.

Why can't people rationalize randomness?

Everything does happen for a reason, this doesn't mean people know what reasons things occur from.

Obviously the universe is a thing set in motion, with an unfathomable amount of factors constantly mingling with each other to significant or not-so-significant degree.

Sounds rational to me!



Whether or not "God" is involved, I think that is what you mean.

of course, I'm talking about the God aspect of it.

Everybody on this board should know that God can suck my cock.

I still don't understand why people are like "my boyfriend fucked my sister and now my marriage is over and the kids are pondering suicide, but it's okay! everything happens for a reason!"

if she's married why does she have a boyfriend? hmmm? maybe it happened cuz she's a dirty whore.

i think random is too scary for people so they choose to believe in something more comforting, that they have someone or something there to watch over them.

Originally Posted by Little Wing

if she's married why does she have a boyfriend? hmmm? maybe it happened cuz she's a dirty whore.

ha. well said.

bad analogy.

Originally Posted by Little Wing

i think random is too scary for people so they choose to believe in something more comforting, that they have someone or something there to watch over them.

gotta face fear though, no?

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

of course, I'm talking about the God aspect of it.

Everybody on this board should know that God can suck my cock.

I still don't understand why people are like "my boyfriend fucked my sister and now my marriage is over and the kids are pondering suicide, but it's okay! everything happens for a reason!"

That isn't rational thought in the first place. That is a self defense mechanism at work. It is less painful to delude one's self into believing that bad things happen as part of some great plan that ends in eternal bliss, or retribution, or whatever the fuck they want out of it.

The alternative is the realization that bad things just happen, and that puts the responsibility onto us to deal with. Without the safety net of blaming fictitious super powers, we are left to face the reality that bad things happen to good people for no reason. Even worse we have to face the reality that bad people usually never face any justice for the evil they did in their lifetime. It is a sad fucking reality. The people who can see this are blessed with wisdom to perceive the world, yet cursed with it's implications.

Originally Posted by KelJu

That isn't rational thought in the first place. That is a self defense mechanism at work. It is less painful to delude one's self into believing that bad things happen as part of some great plan that ends in eternal bliss, or retribution, or whatever the fuck they want out of it.

The alternative is the realization that bad things just happen, and that puts the responsibility onto us to deal with. Without the safety net of blaming fictitious super powers, we are left to face the reality that bad things happen to good people for no reason. Even worse we have to face the reality that bad people usually never face any justice for the evil they did in their lifetime. It is a sad fucking reality. The people who can see this are blessed with wisdom to perceive the world, yet cursed with it's implications.

okay... looks like Kelju has wrapped up another pondered thought of mine.

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

The idea that "everything happens for a reason" is false.

I do not subscribe to such nonsense and it pisses me off to when people say it....it would appear that many need to brush up on the definition of causality

I believe in free will not determinism, but I do believe in karma to an extent. If you do good typically good things will come back your way, if you do bad that is usually what comes back to you.

Originally Posted by Prince

I believe in free will not determinism, but I do believe in karma to an extent. If you do good typically good things will come back your way, if you do bad that is usually what comes back to you.

Why?

What statistics do you have that indicate performing good deeds will come back your way?

It's impossible to gather such data but I still don't get why you think that this typically happens.

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

Why?

What statistics do you have that indicate performing good deeds will come back your way?

It's impossible to gather such data but I still don't get why you think that this typically happens.

absolutely none, its just a belief I have based on life experience, my own and others.

fair enough. i happen to think you think this because you point it out every time something good happens, where as when you do a good deed and then step in dog shit, you don't link the good deed to the act of stepping in shit.

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

The idea that "everything happens for a reason" is false.

I don't understand why this preposterous thought is even mentioned in this day and age.

Why can't people rationalize randomness?

I don't believe everything happens for a reason. I believe everything happens because of a reason. The reason is the cause that caused that something (whatever it is) to happen. Things doesn't just happen out of nothing. Something cause something to happen. For example: 1. People build big muscles because they produced causes (diet, trainning and rest) to build it. 2. People are happy because something (won a jackpot) caused them to be happy.
If you have time you should read a book titled "How Karma Works".

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

gotta face fear though, no?

i don't think all the myths, legends, beliefs have their origin in fear. maybe some started as mere entertainment to amuse a child as a family gathered by a fire long before television. even if you choose not to buy into a single one there is an amazing richness to the collection and fascinating revelations about the people who created and told them. creativity is no crime neither is believing in a thing that gives you hope or comfort or just a fun time to tell each other like childhood ghost stories on a spooky windy night. maybe the boogy man was created to get kids to stay in bed and go the fuck to sleep not wander outside the cave at night, who knows. why let it bug you? to each his own.

i think many of us know bad things happen for no reason and can possibly happen to us at any time. we just don't dwell on it.

Originally Posted by Little Wing

why let it bug you? to each his own.

Because, people eventually start legislating laws and morality based on mythical boogiemen. If people could keep their fantasy worlds to themselves, I wouldn't give a shit, but they never do.

Originally Posted by KelJu

Because, people eventually start legislating laws and morality based on mythical boogiemen. If people could keep their fantasy worlds to themselves, I wouldn't give a shit, but they never do.

good point and yes that is unfortunate. the real boogey men are out there but they aren't what we think. no man with a red tail... just p's os like this guy

CTV British Columbia - Amber Alert extended into Alberta - CTV News

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2160769/


I doubt very much the parents of this boy are telling themselves everything happens for a reason but in other situations it's just human nature to try and find words or ideas to offer comfort and hope to yourself or someone you care about that's going through a tragedy.

Originally Posted by Prince

I believe in free will not determinism, but I do believe in karma to an extent. If you do good typically good things will come back your way, if you do bad that is usually what comes back to you.

What you talk about can be explained by choices. By making good choices makes you less likely to be hit by a random act of shit. "bad" people, make bad choices, position themselves in such ways as they are more likely to be in the way of malice. The choices you make only influence probabilities, I can not smoke and be less likely to get cancer.. it still might happen though.

Its not karma, the universe rewarding you. Its the fact you positioned, or removed, yourself within, or outside, of a certain realm of possibilities.

Originally Posted by Gissurjon

What you talk about can be explained by choices. By making good choices makes you less likely to be hit by a random act of shit. "bad" people, make bad choices, position themselves in such ways as they are more likely to be in the way of malice. The choices you make only influence probabilities, I can not smoke and be less likely to get cancer.. it still might happen though.

Its not karma, the universe rewarding you. Its the fact you positioned, or removed, yourself within, or outside, of a certain realm of possibilities.

The law of Cause and Effect,no?

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

The idea that "everything happens for a reason" is false.

I don't understand why this preposterous thought is even mentioned in this day and age.

Why can't people rationalize randomness?

Have you read FOOLED BY RANDOMNESS BY Taleb?


I recommend this book to anyone.