What's your definition of futility?
Do you ever feel it? When? Why?
Is futility a valid feeling?
Or is it a bogus one?
Or maybe it's not a feeling at all.
Maybe it's just futile to attempt to define it.
What do you think?
Do you ever think about futility?
If so, why do you bother?
I mean, do you think it's rather a futile topic?
Where will it get us talking about it?
Futility
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Doreen Peri
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i find on-line discussion futile, if the purpose is to change the others' mind on something...i don't find the medium conducive...one needs eye contact, and the like...
but on-line discussion works well for plain old discussion...and listening...maybe one's mind can be massaged somewhat that way
but the back-and-forth arguments are pretty futile...
but on-line discussion works well for plain old discussion...and listening...maybe one's mind can be massaged somewhat that way
but the back-and-forth arguments are pretty futile...
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Doreen Peri
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I see that. I agree, for the most part, knip. But they also can be enlightening. Any discussion can be enlightening and if the method of communication is limited to text, it certainly *does* lack the eyes and touch and realness of a physical world and body language and all that. It's futile in that respect, yep. For sure.
I was more thinking, though, of a bigger definition. Of the definition of the word itself, so when you apply it to your life, your *real* physical, human, alltherelife, well, what does it mean to you?
Forget the internet for a minute....What's really futile to you in your day-to-day breathing? Anything?
When do you find you experience the *feeling* of futility? And are feelings important? Does it matter what you feel? Isn't it futile to *feel* anything? Or ??
What IS futility? I'm struggling with a concept... I'm trying to figure something out and I'm curious what others feel about this concept....
Do people conceive of futility at all and if they do, how often? What does it mean?
I was more thinking, though, of a bigger definition. Of the definition of the word itself, so when you apply it to your life, your *real* physical, human, alltherelife, well, what does it mean to you?
Forget the internet for a minute....What's really futile to you in your day-to-day breathing? Anything?
When do you find you experience the *feeling* of futility? And are feelings important? Does it matter what you feel? Isn't it futile to *feel* anything? Or ??
What IS futility? I'm struggling with a concept... I'm trying to figure something out and I'm curious what others feel about this concept....
Do people conceive of futility at all and if they do, how often? What does it mean?
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BuddhistPunk
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Futility !!
Just last Friday I was consumed with dark thoughts about the futility of life and the inevitability of death. It seemed as though guilt crept through every pore of my body and I had cramps in the pit of my stomach. Then I farted and realised it was only wind.
Who are you and how did you get in?
.
I'm a locksmith and I'm a locksmith!
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I'm a locksmith and I'm a locksmith!
from that perspective, i'd agree futility might be a self-generated state...well, given its roots are in an individual's perceptions of the possibility of hope, this makes sense...if one loses one's sense of hope, one accepts futility...maybe this is the true atheist...the futilitist...otherwise, one has faith, yes?
i don't think the millenialist or rapturist is accepting futility
i think it can also be binded by time, in that short-term futulity does not necessarily imply long-term futility, and vice-versa
i don't think the millenialist or rapturist is accepting futility
i think it can also be binded by time, in that short-term futulity does not necessarily imply long-term futility, and vice-versa
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Doreen Peri
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OK. Here's my take on it, too.
There's absolutely nothing valid about a "feeling of futility" except as an impetus for change.
Sure, some things can be futile, like if you were going to try to empty the bathtub using a bottletop as a tool, while the water was still pouring in from the tap. Efforts like that can be futile. But common sense usually works quite well in order to determne which efforts are futile and which aren't.
Feelings of futility are useless unless they are used as an eye-opener.... To embrace such a feeling is futile itself.... because, for the most part, nothing is futile. Everyone's lives are worthwhile. Everything they say, everything they do effects the lives of others....What could be futile about that? It's all LIFE and Life can't be futile.
BuddhistPunk - I think you said it quite well. Feelings of futility are oftentimes hot air, gas, stinking up the air other people have to breathe.
knip - What's the millenialist viewpoint? Are they doomsdayers? I'm not familiar with that term. The rapturists live in a fictional fantasy world which is exactly the opposite of believing in futility. They believe in a hope which saves them and places them in some idyllic heavenly spot where beauty and love abound. I agree that short-term futility does not necessarily imply long-term futility. I think people can get into a slump and feel like everything in their lives is futile, past and present, but this type of feeling is usually a wake-up call to make a change, to move forward, to grab onto one of the endless possibilities and run with it. Feelings of futility are sub-conscious slaps in the face. It's people telling themselves that they need to move... to change... to redirect some part of their lives, or all of it. These feelings can be the impetus for a new direction.
That's my take on it.
Thanks, all, for your input.
There's absolutely nothing valid about a "feeling of futility" except as an impetus for change.
Sure, some things can be futile, like if you were going to try to empty the bathtub using a bottletop as a tool, while the water was still pouring in from the tap. Efforts like that can be futile. But common sense usually works quite well in order to determne which efforts are futile and which aren't.
Feelings of futility are useless unless they are used as an eye-opener.... To embrace such a feeling is futile itself.... because, for the most part, nothing is futile. Everyone's lives are worthwhile. Everything they say, everything they do effects the lives of others....What could be futile about that? It's all LIFE and Life can't be futile.
BuddhistPunk - I think you said it quite well. Feelings of futility are oftentimes hot air, gas, stinking up the air other people have to breathe.
knip - What's the millenialist viewpoint? Are they doomsdayers? I'm not familiar with that term. The rapturists live in a fictional fantasy world which is exactly the opposite of believing in futility. They believe in a hope which saves them and places them in some idyllic heavenly spot where beauty and love abound. I agree that short-term futility does not necessarily imply long-term futility. I think people can get into a slump and feel like everything in their lives is futile, past and present, but this type of feeling is usually a wake-up call to make a change, to move forward, to grab onto one of the endless possibilities and run with it. Feelings of futility are sub-conscious slaps in the face. It's people telling themselves that they need to move... to change... to redirect some part of their lives, or all of it. These feelings can be the impetus for a new direction.
That's my take on it.
Thanks, all, for your input.
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perezoso
Kapitan SquidKnipple: i don't think the millenialist or rapturist is accepting futility
Ja, Herrr Kapitan SquidKnipple! IN addition to your miltiary career and "poetry:, u are a Mensch of FAITH!!
My Kapitan, the precious blood of Jeeee-susss will save us from the Fiery Furnace, and Rapture ..why in the blinkin' of an eye, it'll be here and all the Chosen Folks--(like you right Kapitan) will be whisked Up Yonder!!! yass my bruuthurrrr,,,amen....can I get a Witttnesss?
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Dave The Dov
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Dave The Dov
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Doreen Peri
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knip, he's just being this guy again, I guess. 
I love peresozo's input when it's constructive but the slams remind me so much of Don Rickles, I was thinking perhaps he'd like me to change his avatar for him.
What do you think, peresozo? Would you like a new face on the boards?
Nah, that would be an exercise in futility. You'd probably change it back to your *real* face as soon as you saw it. heh
I'm just messin' with ya, Mister Pere. Don't mind me. Carry on. Be nice, ya hear?
I love peresozo's input when it's constructive but the slams remind me so much of Don Rickles, I was thinking perhaps he'd like me to change his avatar for him.
What do you think, peresozo? Would you like a new face on the boards?
Nah, that would be an exercise in futility. You'd probably change it back to your *real* face as soon as you saw it. heh
I'm just messin' with ya, Mister Pere. Don't mind me. Carry on. Be nice, ya hear?
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perezoso
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Dave The Dov
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I love Don Rickles!!!! He was good in the movie "Casino".
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