Karma. A discussion.

[theheroofaction]

The concept of karma is both universal and simple, If you're a jerk, then people will treat you like you deserve.

All "Karma" beyond that is no less superstitious than "luck".

 

[Jack_Uzi]

Funny topic this is!!! Because most of the people still think in order of things they do or don't to deserve for things they did or didn't!! Well, let's pretend you were born on this planet not entitled to anyting and not deserving anyting. NOTHING is or has ever signed a contract with us to be the fundament of reason with us... ever!!! It's 'just'the way we try to connect in this mealstorm of chaos that gives it a (great) value of being here. But it's all up to YOU!!! NOTHING in life is obliged to serve it to you on a plate.

 

[Scout Tactical]

If you think someone not agreeing with your way of life is offensive, you've got some serious thinking to do. He did not slander it in any way, he merely disagreed with it. How is that offensive?

I suspect if you read my other post, you'll know.

Well just to make them feel better how about this. Christianity is complete and utter bullshit its entirely based on false pretenses to make people feel better and subdue the populatiion. While were on the subject so is all religion, its complete bullshit and we would be better off without it.

First, you should probably notice what I was getting at is that it's subject matter belongs in the religion and politics board, rather than off topic. The fact that you failed to realize this is... disappointing. Your militant opposition to religion has blinded you in this respect, and your faith in hate has closed your eyes to logic and intelligent discourse.

Second, you don't solve a problem of respect by disrespecting other things. This is a classic mistake made by children around the age of seven. I know this because my mother teaches first grade, and you sound suspiciously like one of her students, if better at typing. If you'd like to continue the discussion in a few years when you've matured, I'd be happy to.

Third, you, much like DYin, should have bothered to scroll a few posts down to read my follow up post here [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.266926-Karma-A-discussion#10189608]. I suspect you were in such a hurry to troll that you forgot to gather more information.

 

[SenseOfTumour]

I've already made my case for karma being a long term, worldwide concept and not just a 'drop litter and fall down a manhole' kinda deal, but as for this respect thing:

Most people who believe something can handle you saying 'I believe you're wrong' 'Or that idea just doesn't work', but when you go 'Karma is bullshit, the whole concept is bollocks and you're idiots for believing it', that's disrespect, it's that simple.

I also expect I've been guilty of it before.

At least with Karma you're not making anyone else's life harder thru your beliefs.

 

[A Gentlemenly Moron]

Gentlemenlieness is a lifestyle that makes karma so easy. Be nice to people, have manners, hold the door open for ladies, and if anyone starts to be a jerk, whip out the revolver and blast their head off. Plus, cool hat.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Doesn't exist. I refuse to believe in something that has no evidence or logical basis underneath it. Besides, you shouldn't need a reward to be a nice person.

 

[FalloutJack]

Karma? Sure, but I don't think it operates normally for me.

There is a balance to these things. You have to take the good with the bad. I've gotten quite alot of good in my time. Please don't ask me if I'm a nice guy, though. The rules may be a tad askew on the grounds that I don't fit a normal frame of reference there. And the funny thing is, should someone displease me on some occasion, I've found that things definitely take a turn for the unfortunate on them. And I would have nothing to do with these things, really. They just deserved it.

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

SNIP

I used to believe in karma. Then i came to a realisation. Karma is perfect. A perfect idea in an imperfect world. I then came to a second realisation. We ARE karma. People are karma, justice is karma. We need to be the bad thing that happens to the bad people. We must enforce karma, it isnt something that just is, it is something that is placed. I think its our duty to make sure bad things happen to bad people. To punish the guilty. To reward the rightious.

 

[InfiniteSingularity]

Can I ask what that has to do with this?

Karma is a central aspect to the Indian religions (namely Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism). Making a thread where you declare it's false may be highly offensive to people who are of one of those faiths, just as a thread claiming Christianity is false would be offensive.

Please consider these things more carefully when making threads.

EDIT: Further reading here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma

Free speech. You don't censor because it might offend some people, it's not about that. It's about expressing your opinion, which is totally allowed last time I checked

Also, followers of Hinduism and Buddhism and the like are not likely to be offended by anything of this nature at all. The only religion that might is Christianity (and possibly Islam, i don't know enough about it though) because they take anything against them as heresy

 

[Spencer Petersen]

Karma is what we make of it. We shouldn't treat it as an otherworldly force but instead treat it as a way to live by.

Don't let those who do wrong get ahead.
Don't reward selfish behavior.
Don't treat others like shit.
Reward good works.

If people did this it would be a much better place to live.

 

[Woodsey]

Karma only exists in the sense that, if you shit on other people, they're more likely to want to fuck with you.

There's no great big universal conspiracy on the matter.

 

[Thespian]

Eh, Kharma may as well be real. After all, Perception is Reality. I mean, if someone hurts somebody else, trips over their own foot later and claims it's because they should alter their behaviour, it has causality and results... Isn't that real enough?

As an Abstract Force effecting the outcome of events, is it real? Fuck no.

 

[Scout Tactical]

Also, followers of Hinduism and Buddhism and the like are not likely to be offended by anything of this nature at all. The only religion that might is Christianity (and possibly Islam, i don't know enough about it though) because they take anything against them as heresy

Not only was that rude, but it was rather ignorant. Not just in the respect that you assume all Christians are opposed to free discussion or in that you assume people wouldn't care about disrespecting their faith, but in that you tip your hand that you know nothing about karma or Abrahamic religions. Quoting the first paragraph of the article I linked:

'Karma' is an Indian religious concept in contradistinction to 'faith' espoused by Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam)

But even then, you completely ignored the point of my post, which I cleared up in several other posts. You blindly charged in and responded, assuming I was discussing censorship, when I was, in fact, asking him to be respectful when discussing it [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.266926-Karma-A-discussion#10189608] (first page, how did you miss this?) and pointing out that it belongs on the religion and politics board [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.266926-Karma-A-discussion?page=2#10197379], not here.

You'll notice in my second post in the thread (the first I linked), I even mentioned I support the discussion of controversial subjects, albeit doing it respectfully. Intelligent, respectful discourse does not use the phrase, "a load of crap".

 

[InfiniteSingularity]

Also, followers of Hinduism and Buddhism and the like are not likely to be offended by anything of this nature at all. The only religion that might is Christianity (and possibly Islam, i don't know enough about it though) because they take anything against them as heresy

Not only was that rude, but it was rather ignorant. Not just in the respect that you assume all Christians are opposed to free discussion or in that you assume people wouldn't care about disrespecting their faith, but in that you tip your hand that you know nothing about karma or Abrahamic religions. Quoting the first paragraph of the article I linked:

'Karma' is an Indian religious concept in contradistinction to 'faith' espoused by Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam)

But even then, you completely ignored the point of my post, which I cleared up in several other posts. You blindly charged in and responded, assuming I was discussing censorship, when I was, in fact, asking him to be respectful when discussing it [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.266926-Karma-A-discussion#10189608] (first page, how did you miss this?) and pointing out that it belongs on the religion and politics board [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.266926-Karma-A-discussion?page=2#10197379], not here.

You'll notice in my second post in the thread (the first I linked), I even mentioned I support the discussion of controversial subjects, albeit doing it respectfully. Intelligent, respectful discourse does not use the phrase, "a load of crap".

Sorry, but that was not the point of my post. I was simply stating my opinion that we should not have to soften the blow to religious people when stating our opinion because it may be offensive. I fully respect religion but people have to right to openly criticise it, and saying "it's a load of crap" is a valid opinion and I don't see the problem with saying it. If religious people get offended by what someone else thinks of their religion, I don't see that as my fault or my problem.

I went on to say that people of Eastern religions are not likely to be offended by such statements - and that is true to an extend, because the nature of these religions is all about peace and harmony, and an offensive statement is quite often not taken personally, having studied Buddhism for quite some time this is the impression I got. What I said about Christianity was not an attack on Christians at all, I am fully aware that not all Christians are opposed to free discussion, in fact I know for a fact that most Christians are very nice people. What I was actually referring to was the institutions, such as the Catholic Church and others like it, not Christians themselves, I probably should have clarified that. The Churches and religious organisations are often speaking out against things which "offend" them, which is why the governments are careful with what they say or do so as not to "offend" the religious people. Which is why we still don't have things like gay marriage, because it may "offend the Christians".

I guess my point is that Christianity as a whole, not individual Christians, openly speak out against things that may be offensive to them, and the Eastern religions don't, and I know that many Eastern religions have an emphasis on compassion, loving-kindness and harmony, and as such they do not usually take offence to what people say about them, at least not openly. My fundamental point of view is that people should be able to say what they like about religion and such, by the nature of free speech, and if religions and their followers are "offended" for whatever reason, it's their own fault for taking it personally and shouldn't expect special protection from criticism. I don't see what's so offensive to be honest, unless it's openly insulting Christians or religious followers, that's a different matter.

 

[Highbrow]

Karma is what we make of it. We shouldn't treat it as an otherworldly force but instead treat it as a way to live by.

Don't let those who do wrong get ahead.
Don't reward selfish behavior.
Don't treat others like shit.
Reward good works.

If people did this it would be a much better place to live.

If people did this they'd be much easier to get suckered by the people who didn't.
Selfish behavior brings its own immediate, measurable reward. Unless you really get off on being a preachy, holier-than-thou douchebag. Or you believe that when you die you get to go to magical unicorn fairyland in which case you're probably too retarded to read this, much less operate a computer.

Edited for clarity:
Being 'selfish' has concrete rewards and is the foundation of our biology (getting resources to survive) We didn't make it as cavemen by NOT killing and stealing when we needed to. In other words, it's science.
Being 'good' (a whiny, hypocritical twat still expecting pats on the head from mommy and daddy) only makes you look like an annoying retard who has no idea how the world actually works. If you believe this, you are stupid and deserve to suffer. Why do you think girls never go for 'nice guys'?

 

[Olofelefant]

karma's a big-ass fucking alligator which eats people who do bad shit