jayseven Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 I walk around pigeons. Looking an animal in the eye is a dangerous, particularlyfor the active emphathologist or budding behavioral psychologist. Too readily I routinely try and hammer and wedge my human perspective into the theoretical existence of another being, and too often my head explodes with the insanity of the hard-wired incapacity to fully comprehend any existence besides mine. At the forefront of my delve, as I bridge the cusp between iris and pupil and truly gaze and connect the depth of the darkness of the inner-eye with mine, there's the question that I truly, honestly cannot stop myself from thinking; what if that was me? What if I was looking out from there? What would I make of it all? Besides the fact that it's three questions and not one, it's unavoidable for me to ponder. observing our 'close-relatives' at Monkey World a couple of months ago, it was all-too-easy to imprint my emotions onto the situation of theirs - and no matter how close or true or bonkers and wrong my thinking is, it still affects, ultimately, the way I behave. because the second (or fourth) question I ask myself tends to be what if that's what happens next? So I see a pigeon courting a packet of crisps and I steer around it, letting it carry on with its meagre existence in the belief that I shoud treat others as I'd wish to be treated. It's illogical to be reincarnated, but if you consider that much of the non-human life you aww in your day-to-day city life is ended due to human interception, it makes me sort of weigh up ..... Football's on now. I'll stop this essay of nothing here for now! ... Yeah. Thoughts? What would you be reincarnated as? How about if you had been bad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieColeslaw Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 I hope evil people/terrorists are reincarnated as spiders, because I kill each and every one I see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grazza Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 I'm happy with myself physically, and wouldn't want to be anyone else. Yes, I have many imperfections, but they're mainly with my personality and mind, which I could change if I wanted to enough. But OK then, if I was reincarnated, I'd like to be 6'5" to 6'8" with big muscles, better skin and a bit better looking. Might as well ask for it all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Peeps Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 I hope evil people/terrorists are reincarnated as spiders, because I kill each and every one I see. lol that's actually pretty good because so many people feel terrorised by spiders. I've often thought about what I'd like to come back as (if it were possible) and I always imagine I'd be a domestic cat. I love the lifestyle. Cats can roam the neighbourhood whenever they please and then come in for tea and affection. When have you ever seen a discontent cat? They're always lounging around in the sun. Also having cat-like reflexes would be great. There's no doubt in my mind. I'd be a parkour cat. No one would stick me in a damn wheelie bin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mad Monkey Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 When have you ever seen a discontent cat? When they are getting chased by a dog? I'd like to come back as a dog, with a nice owner obviously, no worries in the world, food when you want it, the power to jump on people and lick their faces without fear of repercussions. I always think dogs have such wonderful lives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyboy-the-Dane Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 lol that's actually pretty good because so many people feel terrorised by spiders. I've often thought about what I'd like to come back as (if it were possible) and I always imagine I'd be a domestic cat. I love the lifestyle. Cats can roam the neighbourhood whenever they please and then come in for tea and affection. When have you ever seen a discontent cat? They're always lounging around in the sun. Also having cat-like reflexes would be great. There's no doubt in my mind. I'd be a parkour cat. No one would stick me in a damn wheelie bin. I have often theorised that my cats (or at least one of them) are reincarnations of myself that have somehow instinctively retained the memories of my current life; the way they always kept me company during my late night homework sessions were both sweet and mocking at the same time. It's totally what I'd do if I had the privilege of being reincarnated as a cat in my own house. :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashley Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 lol that's actually pretty good because so many people feel terrorised by spiders. I've often thought about what I'd like to come back as (if it were possible) and I always imagine I'd be a domestic cat. I love the lifestyle. Cats can roam the neighbourhood whenever they please and then come in for tea and affection. When have you ever seen a discontent cat? They're always lounging around in the sun. Also having cat-like reflexes would be great. There's no doubt in my mind. I'd be a parkour cat. No one would stick me in a damn wheelie bin. Read 'I Am A Cat'. When they are getting chased by a dog? I'd like to come back as a dog, with a nice owner obviously, no worries in the world, food when you want it, the power to jump on people and lick their faces without fear of repercussions. I always think dogs have such wonderful lives. If a dog licks my face there will be repercussions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieColeslaw Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 (edited) To everyone interested in reincarnation, I highly recommend the chapter "Descent of Species" in the book Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives, by David Eagleman. It's basically an exploration into reincarnation, I'll try and summarise it as best I can (without the book/lended it to someone): basically imagine that we get to choose what we're born as after we die. One day a human decides that being a horse would be a much simpler existence, so he chooses that. He is reincarnated into a horse. However the problem is that the horse doesn't have the intelligence to understand what being a person is like, or remember why he became a horse, and he thinks that an ant would have a much simpler and nicer life, and chooses that, and so on. The desire for a simple life has doomed the human to an ant. The last line (or so) is excellent: it goes along the lines of "what kind of majestic/otherwordly creature chose to be reincarnated as a human on Earth?". (I hope that made sense...) tl;dr summary: are you sure choosing to be reincarnated as an animal is a smart decision? Edited May 22, 2011 by EddieColeslaw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ville Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 (edited) It's illogical to be reincarnated, I think it's perfectly logical, even probable...I mean how come we're all here? A consciousness somehow stuck in a body, all 7 billion of us, and the exact same thing is happening every second to countless others, not to mention to all the animals... Who says the same won't happen after death? Emerging in a body, be it human, animal, whatever...just like this time. Anyway, I'd pick human and a western country, Scandinavia perhaps...prob male since we have no periods and less fear of rape. Animals don't really have it that good...I mean pure luck if the owner is good or not, no way of communicating what exactly is wrong if something happens to you, short life span, limited understanding, the possibility that someone somewhere is interested in eating you be it a minority or the majority etc...Humans, however, have intelligence, kindness, self-awareness, passion to develop themselves and create progress on all levels...I.e. just what I want Edited May 22, 2011 by Ville Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dyson Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 I remember convincing myself I was a survivor of the Titanic, who died on a lifeboat. No, I have no idea where I got this thought from. I can logically only put it down to residual memory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grazza Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 The last line (or so) is excellent: it goes along the lines of "what kind of majestic/otherwordly creature chose to be reincarnated as a human on Earth?". That's very thought-provoking. Who knows if there are superior beings? If there are, would they be something we'd want to become? Hmm... This is not to say I look down at dolphins or other animals as inferior. After all, I've never seen them be cruel or start wars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayseven Posted May 22, 2011 Author Share Posted May 22, 2011 Andy Weir - The Egg is a short story I've posted a few times that gives a really charming idea of reincarnation. Ville; you've not presented a logical argument at all contrary to mine :P It's a nice theoretical musing on an unanswerable question - but there's no logic in what you say, just supposition :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieColeslaw Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Andy Weir - The Egg is a short story I've posted a few times that gives a really charming idea of reincarnation. Wow, thanks for sharing. Short, but a powerful idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 ah! That infamous story I once posted accidentally after you had. It's a great story. Please, spare 2 minutes to read it (referring to fellow N-Ers) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyboy-the-Dane Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Andy Weir - The Egg is a short story I've posted a few times that gives a really charming idea of reincarnation. Ville; you've not presented a logical argument at all contrary to mine :P It's a nice theoretical musing on an unanswerable question - but there's no logic in what you say, just supposition :P I really must thank you for posting that before. I've often reread it because of its brilliance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ville Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Ville; you've not presented a logical argument at all contrary to mine :P It's a nice theoretical musing on an unanswerable question - but there's no logic in what you say, just supposition :P Yeah, of course. That's what I was wondering, the "logicality" of the other supposition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayseven Posted May 22, 2011 Author Share Posted May 22, 2011 The illogic of there being no reincarnation? Man, it's too late to go into that right now :P I was going to make a soul thread next weekend, dammit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raining_again Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 I would like to be reincarnated as my own cat, because he's spoiled :p Cats don't get chased by dogs, they tease them mercilessly by sitting just outside of the dogs boundary... I think I may well have been a bad person in a previous life... would explain a lot lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ville Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 The illogic of there being no reincarnation? Man, it's too late to go into that right now :P I was going to make a soul thread next weekend, dammit! Heh, no sweat man Actually, I'm more interested in finding answers to these questions than just speculating...I mean thinking will only get us so far... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paj! Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 *ahem* How beautiful do the words have 2 B Before they conquer every heart? How will U know if I'm even in the right key If U make me stop before start? If came back as a dolphin Would U listen 2 me then? Would U let me be your friend? Would U let me in? U can cut off all my fins But 2 your ways will not bend I'll die before let U tell me how 2 swim And I'll come back again as a dolphin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diageo Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 I don't get what people see in reincarnation. Especially if you have no memories of your former self. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnas Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 I like to believe our past lives come to us in the most vivid dreams. Assuming this is true, in a past life (or past lives), I must've been an outlaw, desperately hiding from the authority (my most memorable dreams involve a looming, inescapable chase) and eventually dying via drowning or suffocation (once again, many nightmares involve me losing air). There was a beautiful red haired girl somewhere in there, too. I also like to think I'll become a cat in a future life. It just feels right Thoughts of reincarnation are awesome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eenuh Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 I way prefer the thought of reincarnation over immortality. At least then you start over with a clean slate again and again, every life being a new experience. Immortality just seems a bit boring heh. Of course the downside of reincarnation is not remembering your past lives, but yeah. If I had to pick an animal I'd love to come back as, it'd be a hawk. Love those birds! If I had to pick a human, it'd be a western, white male I guess. Don't know. Just to experience being the opposite sex. Even though then I will have forgotten what it feels like to be a girl, so I'll go all "Oh god I don't understand girls! Why don't they come with a manual?! They're fucking insane!". =P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diageo Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 If you have no memories of you previous life, aren't you essentially a different person and not reincarnated at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyboy-the-Dane Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 I like to believe our past lives come to us in the most vivid dreams. Assuming this is true, in a past life (or past lives), I must've been an outlaw, desperately hiding from the authority (my most memorable dreams involve a looming, inescapable chase) and eventually dying via drowning or suffocation (once again, many nightmares involve me losing air). There was a beautiful red haired girl somewhere in there, too. I also like to think I'll become a cat in a future life. It just feels right Thoughts of reincarnation are awesome Maybe your previous life is what makes you so awesome at making mafias. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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