Seal clubbing is no less humane than any other method. If done properly, the seals don't go through anything, they die from the first hit.

"Death is nothing to us, since when we are, death has not come, and when death has come, we are not." -
-- Epicurus

My first thought on the subject of death, always.

There's alot more to fear of death than meets the eye. On the surface, there is the fear of physically dying and the fear or uncertainty of what follows that physical death. But, there's more imo.

For the unaware, every time our identity is threatened, the idea/story/dream of who we believe ourselves to be, when that is threatened our fear of death kicks in and inspires/compels us. It's all about the image that we have of ourselves and preserving that image in front of the world.

Insulted? We must preserve our identity. If we allow this insult to stand it threatens a tiny part of our identity and that part will die, and because we fear death, we insult right back. Same with anger.

Someone says we are wrong? Well, I have a system of beliefs and I live my life by that system, and if I'm wrong, part of my identity dies; I must defend that to the hilt, all compelled by fear of death. The whole RGT forum is the fear of death in athiests arguing with the fear of death in theists.

Dude, you have clearly thought about this a lot, and but this whole thing seems really odd. Are these your own private views, or is this part of a greater framework that we're seeing in these posts you have started making?

In any event, you can't be saying that we must defend our beliefs to the hilt, ignoring arguments other people make, because otherwise some part of our identity will die? What is so sacrosanct about this "identity" of yours that we should want one that does not evolve, mature, grow. Why is it a given that we must protect this "identity", whatever that means.

Not afraid of death, but dying is a little scary.

Age affects how you think of death.As you reach old age you realise that you have little time left.
So enjoy your life to the full now, dont hang around,go for it.
When the time comes I will have my fingers crossed, I've always liked a long shot!

When I say identity, I am saying that image you project to the world and how you think of yourself. For example, I'm a cool dude who's got my act together; I'm smart, so I speak truth; and you should like me because I'm a pretty neato. You don't try to protect that image?

Those aren't identities, they are facades. And sure we protect them, but they evolve to, all the time. And they certainly aren't sacrosanct.

Those aren't identities, they are facades. (OK, call it what you will; facade, image) And sure we protect them, (I'm just pointing out why you protect them) but they evolve to, all the time. (I agree, I never said they didn't) And they certainly aren't sacrosanct. (I never said they were )

Projecting an image to the world seems like quite a bit of effort especially considering that no two people will perceive the exact same image of you and whatever they perceive will probably conflict with what you are trying to project.

As far as being smart, people who are truly smart usually realize that they don't know far more than they do know. They also don't concern themselves with trying to convince others of their wisdom.

I guess he means people do that instinctively. 'Smart' people can control their instincts to a certain extent and think more about the consequences of their actions and such. I always wonder whether living a life more impulsively rather than contemplatively (is that a word) would be more fulfilling. I assume there are pros and cons to each and the best possible life would balance the two? I don't know I"m rambling and going off topic so I'll stop.

Snap call. Death is a natural part of life. We're all going to die - it's a fact. I fear it about as much I fear getting an itch. The reason I pick the second option is not because I fear death, but because I simply want to live to see how the rest of human history plays out. How far do we get technologically? Would we finally be able to manipulate space-time and traverse extra-planar dimensions physically? Do we end up evolving something like a second heart or 6th finger? Do we finally solve our human problems before we meet our destined end? I'd like to know the answers to these questions, but the only way to find out is to a) have your soul wait on the sidelines and find out afterward, or b) be immortal.

I will freely admit two things:

1. I am afraid of death.
2. I think that fear is irrational.

Death is the great unknown and fear of it is natural. The thing is though, if I think about it, I realize when I'm dead I won't know it, just as I didn't know it before I was born.

Not only didn't you know it before you were born, you likely didn't know it as an early infant.

Which emotion isn't?

this is awesome.

i don't fear death in the slightest. i figure if the universe is truly infinite, eventually all the atoms that made up the necessary conditions to produce me will align again and i will be reborn. living my life, or an altered one, over and over again, twisting and turning, into the never. this is the reason for deja vu. "death" is simply a long nap.

Except for that sudden involuntary fear (adrenaline rush) you get when the car stops suddenly or you get startled I'd say no. No fear of death and no worry about it at all really.

Unrelenting physical pain is harder than death imo.

Never thought of it that way. Cool post.

totally agree.

i'm far more afraid of torture or crazy ass physical pain than nothing.

christians have harps and wings.

atheists have nothingness.

imo, both are preferable to enduring pain.

yah,yah,yah, of course if i'm wrong i'll have eternity of enduring pain yah,yah,yah.

I don't get it. How can you not fear death? Are you really that confident you will be accepted into heaven and not burn in hell forever? And if you are, isn't that a bit presumptuious on your part? Surely, you may have done something at some point in your life, even unknowingly that will displease god enough to shun you at the pearly gates. And even if you are 100% sure (although, it's not reasonable to be 100%)....

Surely, you have loved ones or know people you care about that will NOT be accepted into heaven and/or will burn in hell for eternity. How can that give you "no worries at all really"? Can you really enjoy yourself up there on some pristine cloud or whatever you think heaven is, knowing that loved ones aren't there to join you?

If I really did believe in this fairy tale, I'd be worried silly. To not be, seems to me, almost arrogant and selfish.

I just never worried about it even before I ever formed a belief and I sleep like a baby. I suspect I'm different from most people and prioritize differently.

I do wonder if certain people will make it to heaven but I don't ever say definitively to myself they won't be there even if it looks like they are on the "fallen forever" list. I just try to put in a brief prayer or hopeful thought for them.

I do have a lot of confidence in God so while I'm aware of the need for self improvement I don't try to second guess him. I simply accept the state we are in. Most of my problems come from people who are oblivious to God so I don't worry about the next world there are enough problems in this one. I only recently focused on the live one day at a time thing that Jesus recommends. I used to live and plan too much for the future but I decided he's right and that that's biting off more than most people can chew. I focus more on one day at a time now which I think is a kind of incremental extension of the Zen living in the moment thing and it teachs you to enjoy life more.

Lol..I really am different. I know a lot of people get fazed by visiting the hospital but I could never relate to these strong fears and negativity they have. To me its just another place. Then a week or so back I realized its connected to some internal recognition of mortality (at least I believe it is.) But I just never had this common type of mortality anxiety many suffer from.