Do you think that life is fair?

Life is neither fair nor unfair.  It's just life.

zappaholic wrote: Life is neither fair nor unfair.  It's just life.

This.

It's all about enjoying the joys of your existence before (and during) your periods of suffering.  Regardless of personal perspective or status we are all going to suffer in profound ways.  Those with more have more to lose.  The well-offs only temporarily escape because they had a cushier life.......and even those blessed with the love of a family and children will have to suffer the loss of them......there's a few lines in the film Shadowlands that say it quite well.  Enjoy every moment for all you can. 

Oh, and don't overthink it.  It won't help anyway.   


Edited by Finnforest - April 23 2012 at 19:05

Textbook wrote: I know it may be tiresome to bring religion into the thread but the fact is this is essentially a religious question.   If life is "fair", it means it is being governed by some sort of intelligent force that controls things and makes sure they all balance out and people get what they deserve etc, so whether you're religious or not answers this question automatically. If you're not religious, there is no such force so life is not fair and if you are religious then your god sorts it all out as it should be and life is fair.

You know, one can be religious and not believe in a god.

RoyFairbank wrote: ^your point? They still believe in an irrational element to reality, in which they can stuff all kinds of expectations, like reincarnation, or nirvana, or whatever else makes Buddhists horny.

My point was clear enough, and not meant for you: Religious =/= theist.

RoyFairbank wrote: Epignosis wrote: RoyFairbank wrote: ^your point? They still believe in an irrational element to reality, in which they can stuff all kinds of expectations, like reincarnation, or nirvana, or whatever else makes Buddhists horny. My point was clear enough, and not meant for you: Religious =/= theist. Oh I thought Equality posted that. I don't like about picking on Epignosis. But, nonetheless, Religious =/= Theist is a stupid, pedantic argument which signifies nothing. An argument against a theist can be substituted for an argument against religious people in general like margarine for butter.

I am a champion of clarity. 

I could name many arguments against theism that would not be applicable to a Buddhist.

RoyFairbank wrote: Oh I thought Equality posted that. I don't like about picking on Epignosis.

But you like about picking on me?

Yes. I'm not religious and I used to think life wasn't fair. But in the last few years I've finally realized life isn't fair, it isn't unfair either. Only people can act fairly or unfairly. Life is just that: life. 

In short: no.

Edited by Ambient Hurricanes - April 23 2012 at 23:37

Textbook wrote: "Life isn't fair" doesn't mean "life is unfair". "Life is unfair" is again quasi-religious, suggesting there's some sort of pervasive force that goes around making sure everyone gets screwed. (Insert joke about government here.)   I think most people saying "life isn't fair" actually mean "life is neither fair nor unfair, it simply is."

Man people will use those two expressions trying to convey the same meaning. You're just trying too hard to tie this to religion, and even though there might be a link in many cases, it's not always that way.

I may or may not have chugged a half bottle of wine after a really sh*tty night, so assuming I did, please excuse the following: