Burnout

[-1-]

I feel I've emptied myself of things to say philosophically.

Three years ago (I think that's when, but could be wrong) when I first discovered philosophy forums, I was ecstatic. I left posts everywhere. I was enthusiastic, my mind was agile and ready to pounce on topics.

Then over the three or however many years, I realized that our discussions boil down to a few topics, and variations of the few topics exist only. God-atheism, will-no-free will, abortion, gun control, solipsism, consciousness (this one is big), the universe.

I have said I think all that I have ever wanted to say on these topics.

I feel the process I am experiencing is similar to the map-boom of the mid-to-late nineties. There were many people who collected antique maps. We traded with each other on eBay. Then came the crash following 9-11, and the antique map market crashed, too. Nobody bought them any more, because we have satiated ourselves with the collections we built. Interest waned due to the simple fact that everyone got what they wanted, and they got it in a relatively short, albeit incredibly and hitherto unimaginably busy and active period.

Same with photography. I have taken more pics of roadkills than true Scotsman could ever handle.

Same with Internet porn. I told my girlfriend yesterday, that I had just downloaded 35000 pics in one day. That's about a thousand too many.

Same with philosophy. I have had my fill, I think.

What to do next? I'm retired, nothing much to do. I have no family.

Maybe I should set up a brothel for sewage workers, street cleaners, and public toilet attendants. Or a volunteer-based celestial telescope service for left-handed dental assistants. Or I could become a certified boxing promoter. Anything but philosophy.

[Age]

I feel I've emptied myself of things to say philosophically.

Three years ago (I think that's when, but could be wrong) when I first discovered philosophy forums, I was ecstatic. I left posts everywhere. I was enthusiastic, my mind was agile and ready to pounce on topics.

Then over the three or however many years, I realized that our discussions boil down to a few topics, and variations of the few topics exist only. God-atheism, will-no-free will, abortion, gun control, solipsism, consciousness (this one is big), the universe.

I have said I think all that I have ever wanted to say on these topics.

I feel the process I am experiencing is similar to the map-boom of the mid-to-late nineties. There were many people who collected antique maps. We traded with each other on eBay. Then came the crash following 9-11, and the antique map market crashed, too. Nobody bought them any more, because we have satiated ourselves with the collections we built. Interest waned due to the simple fact that everyone got what they wanted, and they got it in a relatively short, albeit incredibly and hitherto unimaginably busy and active period.

Same with photography. I have taken more pics of roadkills than true Scotsman could ever handle.

Same with Internet porn. I told my girlfriend yesterday, that I had just downloaded 35000 pics in one day. That's about a thousand too many.

Same with philosophy. I have had my fill, I think.

What to do next? I'm retired, nothing much to do. I have no family.

Maybe I should set up a brothel for sewage workers, street cleaners, and public toilet attendants. Or a volunteer-based celestial telescope service for left-handed dental assistants. Or I could become a certified boxing promoter. Anything but philosophy.

Do you think a philosophy forum is the best place to ask for advice in regards to doing anything, other than philosophy?

If you have already been filled in philosophy, then here is not the place for you.

The only thing that I would suggest is to find some thing that you enjoy doing.

[-1-]

The only thing that I would suggest is to find some thing that you enjoy doing.

Age the Sage Spake.

That's the perfect advice, Age. Unfortunately it's easier said than done.

At this poitn I'd even settle for something that I don't enjoy per se, but which would not irritate me, either.

[Age]

The only thing that I would suggest is to find some thing that you enjoy doing.

Age the Sage Spake.

That's the perfect advice, Age. Unfortunately it's easier said than done.

At this poitn I'd even settle for something that I don't enjoy per se, but which would not irritate me, either.

Well only you can answer that. So, what does, or does not, irritate you?

Also, are you sure that there are no questions left that you are still wondering about what the answer is, or at least could be?

If there are any, and you can not find an answer anywhere else, then just maybe a philosophy forum might help.

[Nick_A]

-1-

I think you've experienced something important. IMO we all have the need to experience something which nourishes our need for meaning. We believe that this need is satisfied by the goods of the external world. We get involved with this and that and buy this and that ll in the attempt to satisfy this need for meaning that is not satisfied by the world. We become disappointed. Now what? What do we do when we come to see that like Socrates, we know nothing? I've gone through it so know the experience.

You will never see the thread "What do we do when we realize we know nothing" taken seriously. It is too offensive and will quickly be deleted because of the nasty remarks it will inspire. But if you, like me, have experienced a need for "meaning" that transcends what the world offers and makes you feel disappointed it may be the beginning of a path to "understanding."

[Scott Mayers]

I feel I've emptied myself of things to say philosophically.

Three years ago (I think that's when, but could be wrong) when I first discovered philosophy forums, I was ecstatic. I left posts everywhere. I was enthusiastic, my mind was agile and ready to pounce on topics.

Then over the three or however many years, I realized that our discussions boil down to a few topics, and variations of the few topics exist only. God-atheism, will-no-free will, abortion, gun control, solipsism, consciousness (this one is big), the universe.

I have said I think all that I have ever wanted to say on these topics.

I feel the process I am experiencing is similar to the map-boom of the mid-to-late nineties. There were many people who collected antique maps. We traded with each other on eBay. Then came the crash following 9-11, and the antique map market crashed, too. Nobody bought them any more, because we have satiated ourselves with the collections we built. Interest waned due to the simple fact that everyone got what they wanted, and they got it in a relatively short, albeit incredibly and hitherto unimaginably busy and active period.

Same with photography. I have taken more pics of roadkills than true Scotsman could ever handle.

Same with Internet porn. I told my girlfriend yesterday, that I had just downloaded 35000 pics in one day. That's about a thousand too many.

Same with philosophy. I have had my fill, I think.

What to do next? I'm retired, nothing much to do. I have no family.

Maybe I should set up a brothel for sewage workers, street cleaners, and public toilet attendants. Or a volunteer-based celestial telescope service for left-handed dental assistants. Or I could become a certified boxing promoter. Anything but philosophy.

I get burned out too. Mine are about knowing how tech is effectively isolating people. Even though it seems that we are more 'connected' online, much of our communications are now muted and what gets through is to the lowest common denominator. Places like Twitter are more popular while that platform actually only serves to make people think they are being heard when it is most useful for those already popular or in power. You have no means to be sure others are hearing you and can't tell when or where people are blocking your communications. Forums like these are intended for those who might want more in depth discussions but there are a lot of technical problems that also diminish the power of quality effectiveness. For example, if you had some brilliant insight and input, you are most likely going to 'close' the issue and then, contrary to the potential virtue, it gets buried for being 'closed'. You cannot tell if you actually DID have anything effectively powerful you said because such 'closure' could be due to being ignored (one reason I am against this type of feature) or universally unliked. Thus, what gets 'favored' may be more to those who argue against others based merely on personality differences.

I don't know what the solution is nor if there IS one. I'm wanting something more that I cannot seem to get out of forums but have no other apparent options. You can try local groups to meet up with. One way I discovered a while back was through a company called, "MeetUps". But while it was interesting at first, I started to notice that through the online platform used to link and communicate with our groups, these too are being manipulated in ways that you cannot determine what is actually happening. I signed out of it permanently when I discovered that I was being censored....and can't tell from WHERE?!!

Maybe isolation BY OTHERS is becoming more successfully applied through tech, ....especially BY those who favor isolation of people. This seems to explain why we are getting more extreme politics worldwide these days. Those who favor distinct groups isolation, like those with Nationalistic interests, have the advantage today. This is even creating a problem within more 'global' interested people as they are recognizing that in order to compete, they feel they too have to advocate with isolationist interests: like how the left today tends to embrace 'advocacy' with extremes normally unacceptable in the past.

Maybe take a break. I don't want to contribute to a defeatist attitude but can't help it affecting me also. It could just be a temporal thing that needs some time to adjust.