Why are you here?

Social Forums Non-Philosophical Chat
1

If you had to pick one of these, why are you here?

  • People
  • Communication
  • Writing
  • Intellectual stimulation
  • Learning about philosophy
  • Endless bickering
  • Emotional fulfillment
0 voters

hmmmm.

Hello everyone. Frankly, I have an obsessive compulsive personality. If I drink, I drink too much … if I have an ice cream sandwich, I want three. When I write, I am up for hours at night and when I read, I will compulsively read through day and night until a book is finished through meals, ringing phones and daily tasks.

What is the deal? And now, I have tried to leave here for a month, and I can’t. Again the impulse kicks in to have one teensy little look, just one - and bam, I am on for (too long). And now, as much as I am entertained, I am becoming a slacker in the things I like to do. I love reading what you all write - I even love the crazy, angry people and the religious or political fanatics. Hugely entertaining to me. And (sorry mods, but God do I love the wild arguments.) And then my friends here. Well, I simply can’t give them up. Damnit.

So, I know many of you aren’t very personal about yourselves, and then there are those who have given us every blow by blow description of their depression. (as you know, more my style, but I am working on that.)

So, if you had to choose (not a variety) but one reason… what would that reason be to describe why you are here? I will start.

PEOPLE (people fascinate me.)

I had to really think about this because there are many of these that fit why I am fascinated by this place. But for me, it came down to my interest in knowing the truest feelings of people I would never otherwise have the opportunity to have in my company. A butcher, a baker and a candlestick maker and, yes - a Philosophy Girl.

2

Hi Bessy:

I chose intellectual stimulation, but a close second is learning about philosophy.

Actually that is only why I stay here. Really I am here because my wife wouldn’t let me watch the Disney channel any more. (That’s for real)!

3

No one will admit to lonliness, so I asked to dump it.

4

I’m here because I have fat fingers… and I try to excersize them as much as I can.

5

I am senile. I have read this thread before.

I think I wrote it back in March… carry on.

6

It’s okay! We don’t mind at all. In fact, I never even thought I saw this thread.

/lookotherway

:wink:

7

I’ll admit to lonliness.

8

EC,

Most people won’t admit it.

PXC,

Then I wrote it for you newbies. I welcome you both. :wink:

9

Pssh… newbie? :unamused: I registered not too long after you. I discovered the site around december of '04. I just don’t actually, ya know, post.

10

I am here to encourge my own writting when I have the spare time. I am trying actually to force in some spare time for just writting for the sake of writting.

Oh that sounded silly, but you probably get my point.

11

pxc… sorry, you have been here awhile!!!

Aberrant: Writing is actually tied for me with people, which is why I included it. If you like to write you can keep yur skills going if you take it seriously. Have you discovered answers.com and wikipedia.com?

12

Communication.

A

13

Hi A,

I pm’d xander and asked him to switch lonliness to communication. He never did, but maybe he is traveling or stuck under a piece of heavy furniture. :wink:

14

Bess,

Leave lonliness it’s valid.

A

[size=75]P.S. I think Xander is still sleeping.[/size] :wink:

15

Hi Bess,

A month ago I would have said I was here for intellectual stimulation (and lonliness as well), but lately I am seeing that intellect is vastly over-rated. I think I’m here looking for intelligence.

JT

16

:laughing: On ILP you don’t get intelligence - only definitions of ‘intelligence’…

So many threads running concurrently - debating the worthiness of everything from philosophy itself, its practitioners, and foundations - to the site itself, and the characterizations of the people that post here… I feel if these threads were people, they’d all be unshaven and staring, carrying sandwich boards bearing the legend… “The End is Nigh.”

I think we are coming to a realization of the pitfalls of taking ourselves, and ILP too seriously, of looking outside for things more easily found within the seeker.

We all came here because we had things to say, perhaps things we could not in real life find an audience for, and in saying them, purging them from ourselves, created a hollow which could only be filled by yet more words. We post, and post, furiously spawning the offspring of our minds, so new and bright and shining - only to have them claw at us for release as soon as they are whole, to leave us once more bereft and empty.

Perhaps the final lesson of ILP is to know when to shut up. Though admittedly - it’s a toughie.

Tab.

17

Of course, and dictionary.com

I spend for to much time on wikipedia though.

18

Hi

I don’t know why I’m here.

EZ$

19

i am here because you never know where you will see me next $_$

20

Where is the option for community service?