Poll: you only live once

[MetalMagpie]

You only live once, then why shorten your life with drugs?

If you only life once, shouldn't that be motivation to try make it last as long as possible?

If you try to live your life avoiding anything that might lose you precious months off your lifespan, you're missing the point. There's very little in life that's worth doing that doesn't (in one way or another) shorten your lifespan. Having children, playing sport, living in a city, eating burgers, and doing DIY all shorten your lifespan (or otherwise impair you in later life).

Maybe doing drugs (or playing sport, or having children) isn't your thing. Everyone has a different level of risk they're happy with in their life. And nobody's level is "wrong".

I don't do drugs. I do get wasted on alcohol (occasionally), eat ridiculous volumes of cake (very occasionally), and have casual flings (though not since getting together with my boyfriend). I spend the vast majority of my waking hours wearing out my eyes staring at a computer screen, and about four hours a week slowly wrecking my knees at fencing training/competitions.

I will mostly likely be long-sighted with two dodgy knees by the time I'm thirty-five. And the amount I travel means I probably have a higher-than average chance of getting killed in a car/train/plane crash. But I honestly couldn't care less.

I'd rather die at 50 with an exciting life to look back on, than die at 100 with nothing but regrets for what I missed.

Because you only live once.

 

[Mr Pantomime]

Maybe it hasn't spread my way. Im feel for you man, that sounds pretty fucking awful.

Yup, it's awful. I actually only learned about YOLO pretty late, my brother usually reads 9gag and it was the first place I actually saw it.

But at that point it already spread out. It's easy for me to just step away, but I understand that people might get fed up because they are surrounded by morons.

Im just confused as to how people get surrounded by morons. Is there some sort of Moron Apocalypse going on? I mean, I know plenty of morons who'd pick up on YOLO, but they tend to only exist in small groups. Is there a lot more morons per capita of something?

 

[Kermi]

Derp imma do something stupid but safe because YOLO!!!!1

But I won't ask out that cute girl I like because I couldn't cope with the embarassment if she said no!

People who need to spout off "YOLO" as justification for doing anything are idiots. You might as well say "Well, I'm going to spend all day playing Halo, because YOLO. Only have so much time to play Halo in, so I gotta make it all count!"

 

[ElPatron]

Im just confused as to how people get surrounded by morons. Is there some sort of Moron Apocalypse going on? I mean, I know plenty of morons who'd pick up on YOLO, but they tend to only exist in small groups. Is there a lot more morons per capita of something?

I defend the theory that anyone can become a moron in the right circumstances. Not "I-wish-there-was-a-zombie-apocalypse-so-I-could-dispose-of-you-and-do-society-a-favor" moron, but a plain moron.

I am not blaming social networking per se, but it has given people a chance to be all morons and not take it seriously. We are indeed surrounded by possible morons, sometimes they are just too smart to be caught in the trap.

Look at 4chan. There is so much racism there it's become a joke and totally okay in that website because the community gave people an excuse to be assholes in ways they can't be in real life.

 

[Evilpigeon]

I have exactly one life, I would like to fill it with as many different experiences as possible if you don't mind. That and mindless hedonism.

Life is meaningless, go have fun whilst you can

 

[someonehairy-ish]

I do plenty of stupid stuff but YOLO isn't my excuse or my reasoning for it.
My reasoning for it is 'I wanted to; it looked fun'. That's it.

...
[sub]Woo, mindless hedonism, like that dude said.[/sub]

 

[Starik20X6]

-snip-

No no no no, that's not what I was getting at at all. I should have typed more in my original response. I didn't mean people should spend their entire lives in sterile rooms doing nothing with their lives. Rather, I meant that you should simply enjoy it while you can. It's mainly coming back to the whole "suffer through life for an eternal paradise that probably doesn't exist" thing. Yeah I get trashed, I ride a motorbike, I play games for hours on end, and do other things that are probably shortening my life. I just meant I'd like more time to do all the things I want to do.

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

...it's meant to be ironic. Using it as a poor excuse to do stupid things. Other than that, it's also true. Seize the moment.

 

[MetalMagpie]

-snip-

No no no no, that's not what I was getting at at all. I should have typed more in my original response. I didn't mean people should spend their entire lives in sterile rooms doing nothing with their lives. Rather, I meant that you should simply enjoy it while you can. It's mainly coming back to the whole "suffer through life for an eternal paradise that probably doesn't exist" thing. Yeah I get trashed, I ride a motorbike, I play games for hours on end, and do other things that are probably shortening my life. I just meant I'd like more time to do all the things I want to do.

Sorry. So many people on this thread are sneering at the idea that I guess I read your comment in a negative light.

(The whole "you only live once" idea is actually something I'm quite passionate about.)

On a slight tangent, why are so many people so strongly binding this idea to taking drugs? It's a little puzzling.

 

[BENZOOKA]

First of all, it is true. I find the thought more motivating than else.

It's appropriate motivation for someone to find the courage to do the right thing.

It's inappropriate for someone to use an excuse for selfish wrongdoings.

 

[Vegosiux]

"If I only live once, why the hell should I listen to someone else telling me how I should live?"

From my experience people take the idea completely the wrong way.

YOLO should give you motivation to use your life to actually do something MEANINGFUL and FULFILLING with it!

Instead everyone uses it as an excuse to get shitfaced, do drugs, and act like assholes.

Also pretty much this. With the added bonus, that I'll decide what's meaningful and fulfilling for me, muchos gracias.

 

[Relish in Chaos]

The only time I ever hear it being used is as a joke by my friends, so thankfully, I don?t have the problem you guys are facing.

Anyway, it basically means the same thing as ?Seize the day? or "Live life to the full", but many people seem to simplify it without acknowledging the consequences or just using it as a justification for stupid shit that they die. I'm just snowballing here; luckily, I don?t hang around with idiots that use that acronym seriously just because some rapper said it.

 

[Starik20X6]

Sorry. So many people on this thread are sneering at the idea that I guess I read your comment in a negative light.

(The whole "you only live once" idea is actually something I'm quite passionate about.)

On a slight tangent, why are so many people so strongly binding this idea to taking drugs? It's a little puzzling.

That's ok, it was a pretty vague comment.

I noticed the drugs thing too. Somehow a wire has been crossed between "enjoy life, you only get one turn" and "drugs are bad, mkay". Enjoying life does not mean becoming a junkie.

 

[Kiardras]

Jack Black said it best - YOLO is carpe diem for dumb people.

 

[BlackStar42]

Why does YOLO exist? What was wrong with Carpe Diem?

 

[Strazdas]

You only live once, then why shorten your life with drugs?

If you only life once, shouldn't that be motivation to try make it last as long as possible?

If you try to live your life avoiding anything that might lose you precious months off your lifespan, you're missing the point. There's very little in life that's worth doing that doesn't (in one way or another) shorten your lifespan. Having children, playing sport, living in a city, eating burgers, and doing DIY all shorten your lifespan (or otherwise impair you in later life).

Maybe doing drugs (or playing sport, or having children) isn't your thing. Everyone has a different level of risk they're happy with in their life. And nobody's level is "wrong".

I don't do drugs. I do get wasted on alcohol (occasionally), eat ridiculous volumes of cake (very occasionally), and have casual flings (though not since getting together with my boyfriend). I spend the vast majority of my waking hours wearing out my eyes staring at a computer screen, and about four hours a week slowly wrecking my knees at fencing training/competitions.

I will mostly likely be long-sighted with two dodgy knees by the time I'm thirty-five. And the amount I travel means I probably have a higher-than average chance of getting killed in a car/train/plane crash. But I honestly couldn't care less.

I'd rather die at 50 with an exciting life to look back on, than die at 100 with nothing but regrets for what I missed.

Because you only live once.

No. There is a lot in life worth doing that does not shorten your lifespan. All the things you mentioned (save for children) is only dangerous if exessive. Living in a city does not shortern your lifespan, unless you lifve in a few cities where fumes are a real danger. Playing sports does not shorten your lifespan, unless you overtrain, which most "professionals" do. Same goes for burgers. Not sure what a DYI is, so cant comment on that.
Yes, there are levels that are wrong. And those are the ones that gives you high risk of a problem. That incudes drugs, steroids, masive overeating and many other things. World would be much better place without them. Not to mention that you are making problems not only for yourself, but also for OTHERS.
If you get wasted on alcohol and are happy about it - your a miserable human being (and before you start to argue, yes you are, there is no discussion there). Staring at computer does no damage your eyes if you do it the right way.
If you dont care about your health, im sure you wont care about other peoples wallets that has to pay for your healthcare either. but just because you like to die young, it does not make it the right thing to do.
Id rather die at 100 and happy than at 50 and thinking "why was i so stupid".
If i were to die today, i would be dieing a happy man, and not because i am wasting my life away, but because i enjoy it without crippling my future.

 

[Right Hook]

"I'm gonna jump off this building, YOLO!!! Oh wait...you only live once?! Oh shit, I don't want to risk death if I only live once! I should probably stick around and get the most out of my life because, you know, Yolo."

I want to start using it to mean the reverse. The statement is really stupid. Not taking risks doesn't mean you aren't living, it means you aren't a dumbass and you weigh the risk vs reward beforehand.

 

[WolfThomas]

Spoiler: This accurately sums up what YOLO should be and what it is

 

[MetalMagpie]

You only live once, then why shorten your life with drugs?

If you only life once, shouldn't that be motivation to try make it last as long as possible?

If you try to live your life avoiding anything that might lose you precious months off your lifespan, you're missing the point. There's very little in life that's worth doing that doesn't (in one way or another) shorten your lifespan. Having children, playing sport, living in a city, eating burgers, and doing DIY all shorten your lifespan (or otherwise impair you in later life).

Maybe doing drugs (or playing sport, or having children) isn't your thing. Everyone has a different level of risk they're happy with in their life. And nobody's level is "wrong".

I don't do drugs. I do get wasted on alcohol (occasionally), eat ridiculous volumes of cake (very occasionally), and have casual flings (though not since getting together with my boyfriend). I spend the vast majority of my waking hours wearing out my eyes staring at a computer screen, and about four hours a week slowly wrecking my knees at fencing training/competitions.

I will mostly likely be long-sighted with two dodgy knees by the time I'm thirty-five. And the amount I travel means I probably have a higher-than average chance of getting killed in a car/train/plane crash. But I honestly couldn't care less.

I'd rather die at 50 with an exciting life to look back on, than die at 100 with nothing but regrets for what I missed.

Because you only live once.

No. There is a lot in life worth doing that does not shorten your lifespan. All the things you mentioned (save for children) is only dangerous if exessive. Living in a city does not shortern your lifespan, unless you lifve in a few cities where fumes are a real danger. Playing sports does not shorten your lifespan, unless you overtrain, which most "professionals" do. Same goes for burgers. Not sure what a DYI is, so cant comment on that.

Living in cities does statistically lower your lifespan due to a combination of pollution (causing greater risk of lung cancer) and traffic. In the UK, 8 people are killed on the roads every day (almost 3000 a year). DIY stands for "do-it-yourself" and means any type of home improvement (such as decorating) done by the home-owner (rather than a professional). 70 people die in the UK every year due to DIY accidents (and another 250,000 are injured).

Use of the contraceptive pill brings with it an increased risk of breast cancer, and even moderate sporting activity increases likelihood of joint problems (tennis elbow, fencer's knee, etc.) at some point in life. A lot of fencers at the competitions I go to have at least one knee strapped up. These aren't professionals, just people who love their sport. but who says there's anything wrong with being a professional sportsman (and wrecking your body through over-training) anyway? If it's what you love, then do it!

If you really believe that it's quantity that counts in life rather than quality, you should live in the countryside, never attempt home improvements, never play any sport, never travel by train or plane and especially not by car (which causes more deaths than the previous two combined). You shouldn't have children or drink more than a small glass of wine in a day. You shouldn't use stairs (they injury 100,000 people a year in the UK) and you shouldn't keep dogs or cats (among many other things, they vastly increase your chance of aforementioned stair-related injury).

Life is full of risks. Only you can decide what level of risk you're happy with. but you're always going to have to take some risks, or you won't do anything!

My point is not that you should take drugs (as that's clearly beyond the risk you and I are happy with) but that I do believe in saying "you only live once".