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Comment by resu_nimda | Hacker News Reader

The article seems to have been edited, previously it ended with "It makes me want to not keep living" or something to that effect, instead of the quote from Ecclesiastes.

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Yeah, I didn't expect it to blow up that much, and that line left me feeling a bit too vulnerable than I would've liked to be.

No worries, though I would be interested to hear your thoughts on my position...do you see yourself ever "embracing nihilism" as another commenter put it, and using it as a source of encouragement rather than depression?

Hum, I think I do interpret it in a positive way most of the time, though there are other times, esp when I see otherwise fine people struggling to get this badge or that validation(plus comparing it to other people's), and beating themselves over it. Its less me having difficulties embracing nihilism but more wishing that it was a more accessible and talked about idea, so that you wouldn't see these amazing people killing themselves over a failed exam and falling into depression comparing themselves to others who seemingly have 'made something of their life', good for them. It's like the race has become the existing reality that we forget it's just that. I was inspired to write the article just after this conversation with a friend, who is an insanely talented coder, who has decided that since he was already 25, it was too late for him to 'accomplish' anything, and he was thereby a 'loser'. I find my brother in a similar situation of angst for not 'accomplishing' something (he's 22). Countless otehr very close friends echoing similar sentiments (maybe it's a 20's thing?). I understand wanting to discover cool stuff, getting closer to the absolute truth, but I don't understand beating yourself up because you did not meet a randomly assigned deadline, and assuming that some-one is a loser by default unless they can prove otherwise (Remonds me of how religion works, you are a sinner now do these things and give us all this money). That's what takes me down in the end.

Fully agreed there. It's easy to get caught up in the rat race when everyone around you is doing the same, and it can make you feel crazy to be the only one saying "guys, what are we actually doing all this for?" But ultimately, you can't beat yourself up over others beating themselves up.

Another way to think of it is: I don't like Donald Trump. I think what he does is wrong and bad, and it saddens and angers me if I let it. But, if I hold true to my beliefs, then he's just another part of the universe playing itself out, which will continue inexorably regardless of how I feel about it, so there's no sense in getting mad about it.

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