Is life merely about distracting yourself from....life?

[Svenparty]

Because from my perspective it seems like the majority of people(not excluding myself) would be completely bored to the point of desperation without Television or the Internet. This concept is as old as Entertainment itself but I feel the majority of people are becoming so immersed as entertainment mediums evolve that the Human instinct is being rubbed away and I see no other outcome but a future where we have devolved into Rebecca Black loving Robot People.

So what is the solution? Is life merely about distraction from life and the mundanity of it all or is there any real reason to be here? At the end of your life will you feel you wasted yours on distraction?



(I am fully aware of the irony of posting about Humanities Distraction while posting on an Internet board)

 

[Ekonk]

I don't know about you but I don't know a single person who loves Rebecca Black.

 

[KeyMaster45]

Pretty much, we muddle our way from point A to point B and work on make it easier for people to distract themselves from the fact that they will eventually die.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a Creeper infestation that needs tending to. *dons diamond helmet*

 

[Radeonx]

Yes, but my distractions aren't and never will be restricted to internet/electronics.
I distract myself with tons of random shit.

 

[JoJo]

If television or the internet didn't exist, people would just go back to enjoying each others company more, and doing activities such as telling stories, I don't think you would be bored as such, just learn other ways to avoid boredom. I personally think that life is for bettering the world whilst enjoying yourself along the way, so if you enjoy distractioning yourself, then there's no problem there.

 

[jakko12345]

It's just the way society is evolving. We are becoming one with virtual mediums. But eventually, technology will become self aware AND DESTROY US ALL...

 

[MisterGobbles]

Given that life, at it's core, is just finding food, water, and shelter, and reproducing so that life carries on, yeah, I think life is merely about distracting yourself from life.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Somewhat although you make distracting as a bad thing. Ok while I can see why it is bad but surely as long we are enjoying on the internet or got something out of it then that should only matter? Well ok I would rather have some fun that isn't on the internet but that is a part of me.

 

[Freechoice]

If you do anything for too long, it becomes boring.

This includes living.

 

[Svenparty]

.

If television or the internet didn't exist, people would just go back to enjoying each others company more, and doing activities such as telling stories, I don't think you would be bored as such, just learn other ways to avoid boredom. I personally think that life is for bettering the world whilst enjoying yourself along the way, so if you enjoy distractioning yourself, then there's no problem there.

Yes, I find it a shame that the majority of people these days discuss pop culture and freaquently quote it over having a meaningful conversation a warning of things to follow. I like your outlook on life about bettering the world although I feel life has to be about some personal goals too: If you aren't truly fullfilled with certain personal aspects then helping people can feel like a complete drain.

Somewhat although you make distracting as a bad thing. Ok while I can see why it is bad but surely as long we are enjoying on the internet or got something out of it then that should only matter? Well ok I would rather have some fun that isn't on the internet but that is a part of me.

Sure distraction is a necessary part of life and from your point of view we should enjoy it in a hedonistic sense but where does that leave us at the end of it?. It would be horrible to look back on a life and find it merely was all about distraction that really there were no defining moments that would be more painful than all the moments of joy that you got out of being entertained

 

[CrysisMcGee]

Life is self-fulfillment, and literally nothing else. That's what you need in life. Find it wherever you please, everyone needs it.

What I'm saying is as fun as entertainment is, its a distraction. YOU need to accomplish something in life to give yourself fulfillment. And I can tell you first hand that this is true for every single person on earth. We're all wired the exact same way. Even if 95 percent of us aren't even aware of what gives them fulfillment.

I became self-aware not too long ago. That means that I'm completely in-touch with my feelings, and exactly how they work. Trust me when I say you're life gets a lot easier when you are aware of everything you say, do, and feel.

 

[Seives-Sliver]

We live and work, we're gifted with being able to make new things and have our own ideas, it's not not normal for someone to become desperate when common comforts now are taken away. It'd be the same thing if suddenly old-style farmers could only make their tools from stone, like having to actually make them by hand, or you had to light torches again instead of candles, as we move on our comforts change, recently I went a month without electricity, water, or AC, it was uncomfortable and I didn't like it at all, it was because what was normal for me was taken away and I had no way to get it back. I dunno where I was going, but basicly life moves on and we have no choice but to change and develop along with it.

 

[JoJo]

.

If television or the internet didn't exist, people would just go back to enjoying each others company more, and doing activities such as telling stories, I don't think you would be bored as such, just learn other ways to avoid boredom. I personally think that life is for bettering the world whilst enjoying yourself along the way, so if you enjoy distractioning yourself, then there's no problem there.

Yes, I find it a shame that the majority of people these days discuss pop culture and freaquently quote it over having a meaningful conversation a warning of things to follow. I like your outlook on life about bettering the world although I feel life has to be about some personal goals too: If you aren't truly fullfilled with certain personal aspects then helping people can feel like a complete drain.

I find it's best to find a way to help other people while enjoying yourself. For example, I enjoy the company of children so I volunteer with disadvantaged kids, one of my friends on the other hand likes making things so he volunteers with a charity that repairs broken furniture and then gives it to poor people who can't afford their own. Helping other people whilst enjoying yourself... one of best feelings imaginable as you're walking home afterwards...

Not to say that fulfilling personal goals isn't important too, a balance is what's really healthy.

 

[priestswearseatbelts]

I think this is, solely, a first world problem.

 

[JUMBO PALACE]

Well that's certainly how I've been living my life for the past few months this semester. Mon-Wed are just chores I have to get through to get to the weekend and head home from Uni.

 

[Svenparty]

.

If television or the internet didn't exist, people would just go back to enjoying each others company more, and doing activities such as telling stories, I don't think you would be bored as such, just learn other ways to avoid boredom. I personally think that life is for bettering the world whilst enjoying yourself along the way, so if you enjoy distractioning yourself, then there's no problem there.

Yes, I find it a shame that the majority of people these days discuss pop culture and freaquently quote it over having a meaningful conversation a warning of things to follow. I like your outlook on life about bettering the world although I feel life has to be about some personal goals too: If you aren't truly fullfilled with certain personal aspects then helping people can feel like a complete drain.

I find it's best to find a way to help other people while enjoying yourself. For example, I enjoy the company of children so I volunteer with disadvantaged kids, one of my friends on the other hand likes making things so he volunteers with a charity that repairs broken furniture and then gives it to poor people who can't afford their own. Helping other people whilst enjoying yourself... one of best feelings imaginable as you're walking home afterwards...

Not to say that fulfilling personal goals isn't important too, a balance is what's really healthy.

I agree with this sentiment and although it may not be as giving as working with disadvantaged children, I like helping people in the form of: helping out some people with personal problems or work problems that need creative input. In the grand scheme of things these may not answer the question of how to deal with the information overload and means of distraction but I can see how this could give meaning and some fulfilment.