DTM: Appendix 0
you're wrong. the point of life is to be happy.
no, the point of being happy is to do things. when you are depressed, the literal way you get out of depression is by forcing yourself to do things even when you don't want to. you go for a walk. you refrain from self-isolating. you force yourself to Do Anything. if you think the point of life is to be happy, you're flipping the causation.
you think being happy is a means?
when you do things, you're happier, and when you're happier, you have the motivation to do more things! when you do Nothing Ever, your brain naturally tries to curb the situation! we naturally hate doing nothing so badly we'd rather do something actively Harmful than simply do nothing. sounds like biology agrees with me, in my opinion.
so you think the point of life is productivity?
"productivity" is a wonderful little word that has been corrupted by capitalism. think about it. productivity: you produce something. creativity: you create something. these words, in their literal definitions, are nearly synonymous, yet their colloquial definitions are starkly different. "productivity" has come to mean "being a better mindless slave to the forces of unbounded inhuman progress" instead of meaning "doing things".
that's why i make a point out of never saying "productivity". i never want people (where "people" includes myself! i am flawed, too!) to think i mean the former when i genuinely mean the latter. there are things you can do that will guaranteed make you less productive. Taking Things Slowly makes you significantly less productive, but it lets you fully absorb the act of Doing Things more, so we value it positively.
tris, of no boilerplate fame, once said something that i feel is at home here: "The art isn't the art, the art is never the art! The art is what happens in you when you make it."
but Why do you want to do things so badly?
it is The Point! it is self-justifying. think of it like an axiom: "doing things is good, not doing thing is bad. if you aren't doing things for a very long time, try to do anything."
that doesn't make any sense. you only do things for a reason. you're conflating the act of doing things, which is neutral, with the result of doing things, which is making you personally satisfied. if you could be satisfied without doing anything, you'd jump at the opportunity.
that is a... very shallow definition of "satisfied"?
you are human. objectively, that's how the brain works. you get dopamine.
i personally wouldn't reduce myself to Merely being an artefact of neurology. like, that goes into "wireheadding" territory. i ought to be able to have Some metaphysical/cerebral values, as a treat.
what's so bad about wireheadding?
what's Good about wireheading?
infinite peace. it's definitionally the optimal situation to be in.
bletch, i'm not convinced.
are you basing all of the hypothetical questions on my beliefs?
yes. you're the only person whose takes weren't dogwater and actually made me paint myself into a corner.
wait, you seriously inserted Me into the page?
wait so you're literally just arguing with me but indirectly!
yes. this is how i constantly treat the people in my head. your greatest mistake is that you accidentally put half of yourself into my head, and you shall now suffer the consequences.
okay, fine. what do you suggest i do then?
figuring out what to do is a thing you can do!
well, then i've found it, and don't need to do it anymore.
firstly: you're confusing completion with the lack of necessity. In General, even if the result of an action is something you already have, you often still want to do the action regardless. the idea that having the result nullifies the action is, itself, because of the forces of Productivity™. why should i learn to bake bread when i already have sliced toast?
secondly: if you did it, you'd get more things to do, which is more good than only one thing to do (the act of searching itself). so, do it.
how do i figure out what to do?
if you find an answer, please show your workings.
i'm calling it: angelgirl coded behaviour.
...sina sitelen e- sina s- kulupu nimi li lon. nimi mute li kama lon kulupu. taso nimi li... toki ala? nimi li toki e a-la! sona pana li lon ala! ni li ijo ale toki! ijo ala tan ni li pona e kon toki! toki li ken ala sona!