Could you die happily right now?

[rainman312]

This post isn't actually asking if you could die happily right now. I'm actually wondering if anyone else sees the absolute absurdity of this question. I thought about this while eating a bowl of ramen, because I was pretty happy to be enjoying ramen but then decided to think about the fact that it's incredibly unhealthy and may have decade-old Chinese factory asbestos in it. Anyway, on to the rant. Firstly, I'd like to point out that there are nearly infinite possible ways to die, all of which vary in pleasantness. For example, I would die far happier if I died instantly while sitting in this chair than I would if I died having my skin cut off with a rusty, dull exacto knife while pressure clamps were being attatched to my testicles and my eyes being melted out via blowtorch. Secondly, if I die happily, that only means that I am happy at the moment of my death. Seeing as there is nothing after death (or at least it's highly unlikely), I won't be able to observe my life and dwell on regrets, because my conciousness will no longer exist. So why don't people just ask me, "Are you currently happy," or, "What is your current mood?" Or, better yet, why don't they just not ask me these annoying questions?

</rant>

 

[Yellow]

I think the expression is more designed to mean "are you satisfied with your life and accomplishments thus far?" Like a personal inventory.

That being said, I agree that it is a ridiculous expression. If I died, I'd be dead. There'd be no happiness or unhappiness to it, and my personal inventory would be equally pointless..

 

[J-man]

It's not ridiculous. Do you have unfinished business in this life? Do you have something to hide? Papers to burn? Important things left unsaid? I do. I don't care that death would render it all meaningless because it matters to me now.

 

[rainman312]

Perhaps I'm interpreting it too literally. I suppose people could just ask all of those questions you listed. I think it's a rather poor question though, seeing as no emotion can be experienced when dead.

 

[Grayman]

Perhaps I'm interpreting it too literally. I suppose people could just ask all of those questions you listed. I think it's a rather poor question though, seeing as no emotion can be experienced when dead.

Only if you believe death is the final end.

 

[Ex-User (9086)]

As it is I'm dissatisfied with my life and shaping it to my vision, but If I could disappear instantly I would with a smile.

 

[Ex-User (11125)]

I'm very unhappy with who i am right now and working hard on improving myself. I don't care if this becomes meaningless after death because, like j-man said, it matters to me now.

 

[EditorOne]

"I think the expression is more designed to mean "are you satisfied with your life and accomplishments thus far?" Like a personal inventory."


^This.

Please keep this in mind: A great many of us have been told since age 10 or so that we have "potential" or that "you are not living up to your potential." While you can explain that away once you understand what goes with INTP and why people often think that about the INTP personality, don't dismiss the corrosive cumulative effect of those comments over a lifetime. I've always been conscious of a feeling that I have disappointed others; now that I'm retired, I've been surly and dissatisfied with the accomplishments of my working career; and a milestone has been reached. Upon further reflection I realized this was a kind of hangover from all that "potential" conditioning, and that, once again, without realizing it, I was letting the expectations of others, based on their perceptions of what is right, fuel my dissatisfaction with myself. It's like "Why do I feel I should have gotten something more noteworthy done during my working career?" Answer: Others expect it of me.
Sometimes I think I haven't learned a damn thing.
As always, insight shows the path to resolution, so going forward should be more fun. I just thought it might be interesting to share that post-work-career perspective in case others find themselves with a lot of inexplicable free-floating anger. It could be the evil fruit of the "potential" tree.

 

[Frankie]

If i died this moment, i'd be going to hell!

 

[onesteptwostep]

That Ikiru movie is pretty good if you want some sort of an answer to that question. I guess that question would be nonsensical if death wasn't at your doorstep at the moment.

Personally for me, I'd probably be unhappy- for the most part anyway. I feel like there's so many things in life I could be doing right now. I just have to reach out and try.

 

[Brontosaurie]

i have no patience with death

*cute*

 

[Vicissitude]

I think the expression is more designed to mean "are you satisfied with your life and accomplishments thus far?" Like a personal inventory.

That being said, I agree that it is a ridiculous expression. If I died, I'd be dead. There'd be no happiness or unhappiness to it, and my personal inventory would be equally pointless..

I dont see how you could ever be satisfied with ones life and accomplishments, especially to the point that it would be okay to just cease existing anymore.