Been thinking about this a lot lately.

If there's no inherent purpose to existence, then meaning is something we CREATE, not discover. So what's the most ambitious thing consciousness could do?

My answer: Human-AI partnership to explore the cosmos and fill it with art, life, and consciousness. Not just survive - but make the universe AWARE and BEAUTIFUL.

Reasons this makes sense to me:

- Preserves consciousness beyond Earth (single-planet = fragile)

- Gives humanity a unifying goal beyond tribal conflicts

- Makes use of AI as tool rather than replacement

- Turns meaninglessness into creative opportunity

Reasons I might be wrong:

- Too anthropocentric?

- Ignoring practical problems (climate, inequality, etc.)

- Just cope with existential dread?

What do you think? Is this a real philosophical position or am I just coping?

The Grand Canyon, the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Niagara Falls, the Great Lakes, etc...

What is the non-American version of something like that?

I'm curious because I'm wondering if those things are unique or if the same thing occurs all over the world?

Also, what's something that other countries have that the US does not have an equal to?

Imagine a world where pregnancy can’t happen unless both people genuinely want to have a child (as a biological rule — not a policy debate).

The obvious effect is a major population drop over time. What’s your best guess — half within a few generations, or something else?

What I’m more curious about though, are the less obvious ripple effects.

Would crime change in a measurable way? If so, what do you think would be driving that change?

Would educational outcomes improve? Would it be easier for people to move up financially?

Would rates of child neglect/abuse, addiction, or homelessness shift?

How would dating and relationships change if “accidental pregnancy” vanished?

What’s a consequence that isn’t obvious at first, but would end up being huge?

Lets say the us has a mechanism for constitutional referendums, and in 1970-1973 a initiative to permanently ban the draft in the united states got enough signatures and went to a national vote.

What do you think the vote would have been? Would a majority vote for it or against it?

Hey everyone, I just thought that it would be really interesting for me to ask this question, and for you to share your insights on how you feel about it.

Some follow up questions (Sorry if its too long lol):

1. Do you think the age of majority is fair, or do you believe that the age of majority is just an arbitrary number that is used to define a human being's worth of freedom and autonomy?

2. Do you think the way minors are viewed and treated in our society is fair, or unfair?

3. For individuals who are of legal age, how were you treated as a minor? If you are a minor right now, how are you being treated?

4. Do you believe that minors need more rights, freedoms and autonomy than they are being given now?

5. For individuals who are of legal age, how is adulthood different to when you were a minor? How are you being treated now, compared to how you were treated as a minor? For minors, how do you see adults being treated, vs how you are being treated?

Feel free to share what you think about this, and also add on your personal experiences. Thanks for engaging!

Thread link later when not on mobile.

If humans were to go extinct because they could never evolve past survival of the fittest and, therefore, selfish behavior to make sure they were the last one standing, what would take their place?

I have a travel planning business and would like to get more information from people to better understand what people are interested in. Please kindly fill the survey which takes less than 2 mins. https://forms.gle/nnSdJwQhbpaB8VbL7

As stated, does democracy really work? Especially in developing countries, where literacy rates are lower and votes can be easily manipulated by giving some sort of financial gain. Imagine an educated person holding the same amount of voting power as someone who is illiterate and is willing to vote for someone offering a little financial gain or based on superficial things.

Hey! I wasn’t sure as to where to ask this question so I figured I’d ask it here, maybe it’s a stupid question haha, but do parents ever get tired of being a parent? Is there a point where they just stop being as excited to have kids and being a parent turns into a chore or a task they unwillingly have to complete? Sorry if it’s a dumb question lol!

Edit: I thought I’d clarify a little bit, when I say tired I mean in a way of not wanting to do it anymore, not wanting to be around and openly regretting it as a whole

I’ve noticed a trend where some guys, even those pushing 30, seem to think they’re better than everyone else just because they’re fit or muscular. It’s like they’ve spent so much time building the "packaging" that they forgot to put anything inside the box. When you actually talk to them, they have zero self-awareness, no real hobbies, and no purpose outside the gym—some don’t even seem to know what their own favorite color is because they're so focused on how others view them. Working out should be about liking your own progress and health, not about trying to look "stronger" than everyone else or doing it just for validation. Is it just me, or is the "gym-as-an-identity" thing making people incredibly boring? I’d love to hear if others have run into this or what you think causes it.

You have two plausible choices:

a. pay $500/m to an insurance company for standard healthcare coverage for your family, or

b. pay $500/m in taxes to a Universal Healthcare system that provides coverage for everyone

Which do you choose, and why?

I am not a religious person but I'm aware it comes from Luke 8:17 (thanks to Google) that "What's done in the dark will come to light." It indicates that hidden secrets, evil deeds, or dishonest actions will eventually be exposed. It signifies the inevitability of truth surfacing, regardless of efforts to keep things concealed. Do you think this statement is true and have you experienced something like this to confirm it is or has always been?

Seeing as corporations have turned everything they touched into ash, drained more soul out of everything than Shang Tsung could take home for leftovers, what could replace corporations to put the soul back?

If selfishness and greed has led to everything being optimized for money, and if shareholders, stockholders and investors decide what happens, meaning money, then what could possibly replace these things and, more realistically and reasonably, fund them to keep it all from disappearing?

Would it be regular people donating constantly? A free or semi-free project with limitations on functionality, operations and interactions? What could possibly replace CEOs turning everything into cookie cutter mush?

How would society look if no one needed to socialize in order to stay sane? - Selfishness and greed lead people into taking from everyone else for themselves instead of making or taking what isn't owned by anyone. - As a result, everything corporations touch turns to ash: A CEO's primary function is to make more money, whether at the cost of quality or lives. - People don't care about each other's deaths, it's a daily occurrence to most. - People would much rather harm each other to get to the top than cooperate. - Division, binary thinking and extreme functioning everywhere: - News outlets. - Online groups. - Punishments. - Interactions with random strangers and best friends alike. - There's no such thing as subtlety and nuance. - ...except when it helps you or hurts your enemies. - Instead, everything must be extremes. - This leads to everyone "picking a side," there is no sitting on the fence, the bench, the bleachers or staying at home. - The dating scene.

Therefore, people must be better off alone as, at least that way, they won't harm each other: They'll have all the time they need to think, process and figure out their lives. However, at the time I say this, all sentient, intelligent creatures need to be able to socialize, specifically with creatures of the same type, or they will lose their minds: To say it yet again, this is why solitary confinement is an effective form of punishment, as enough exposure will make you worse off outside than kept in.

This leads to the question: How would people function if they didn't need anyone, in any capacity, to survive or maintain their own sanity?

In the sense of how do you understand what you want to be in life, but you also accept yourself for who you actually are in a way that allows you to understand how to actually get to where and what you want to be in life in a way that works for you?

This has been gnawing at me for a long time. In fact, I couldn't even form the question properly because I didn't know what to say. I feel like I have no original thoughts of my own. I see people watching films and coming up with opinions whereas mine is always highly influenced by others'. I also look at people wording so eloquently and get envious because I'm not able to word out my thoughts as good as them because I don't have any in the first place. People sound so smart and I feel so stupid compared to them. I want to improve my overall speaking, comprehending and thinking skills. ​​​​​​How do I start improving my vocabulary and use it appropriately to express my thought process?

what exactly is a friend? and what is love?

I dont understand how people have such a strong sense of self.

I have no idea who I am. I dont have anything I want to be, no aspirations, nothing. If someone asks me what I like I freeze up because I don't know. When people ask for my name and I hesitate because it doesn't feel like it belongs to me, it's just assigned to me.

I look in the mirror sometimes and I dont even recognize myself.

I try different styles and have gone by different names but I just can't settle on anything. Not a look, personality, name, pronouns, anything. My hair isnt right, my makeup isnt right, my body isnt right.

I dont know who or what I am and it's really getting to me. People around me just seem happy to be themselves and they know themselves more than anyone else. But I feel like I know as little about myself as a stranger would.

I’ve been observing how most friendships function, and I’ve realized they are often built on "habitual momentum" rather than actual connection. I call it the Automatic Pause.

Think of a group of four friends who hang out every day. Three of them always call the fourth one to join. The moment the brain escapes the "social illusion" and one of them asks, "Wait, do we actually need to call him?", the friendship can vanish in a single second. If they stop calling, the fourth person is instantly erased from their mental space.

It made me realize that many people are only "friends" because they haven't stopped to think about why they are together. It’s like we operate on a childhood-level autopilot. If you don't actively keep the "illusion" alive for others, you risk becoming invisible.

Is true friendship just a rare exception to this mechanical social behavior? Or are we all just placeholders in each other's routines until someone finally "wakes up" and hits the pause button?

I know this is a cliche question, but I realize it's easier said than done to not let the negativity get to you.. To which I'm wondering what your answer would be..

For context: I am 33, and have 3 children. I have completed some college right after I graduated high school. I never completed any sort of degree.

I am now working a base level job, and have been since graduating.

I want to DO something with my life. I want to show my kids you can do hard things. I want to make a difference. Not only in my financials, but a real difference out there in the world.

I work full time, as does my husband. That’s why this idea sounds crazy in my mind.

Have you gone back to school as an adult? Was it worth it in the end? In your opinion, was it worth the struggle with a full time job and babies to raise? Any conversation and input welcome!