Pessimists - What Keeps You Going?

A common objection to pessimism is that its adherents are hypocrites because if life is so terrible, surely they are obliged to be consistent if they gripe about suffering constantly.

As naïve as this objection is, it does make one consider why on tolerates existence.

For me, two things: my love for the arts and sciences, and cowardice.

What about you, TLO?

	TLO THOMAS LIGOTTI ONLINE

[Revenant]

It is oft said that humans are not biologically "programmed" for suicide. I think this is true.

In my case, I hang on because I don't feel I am done exploring this world. I guess you could say that despite being a pessimist, my curiosity hasn't died.

[Michael]

Ideas. To me new ideas or even new interpretations of very old ideas (which may be really all there are) are like paintings or symphonies. They are not just instrumental or functional. I find a beauty in them that I can't find elsewhere. When I took Philosophy there were typically two groups of people in the courses. The first was by far the largest, the debaters. They make great attorneys. The second was my group, by far the smallest, the idea connoisseurs. We just liked playing with the ideas like a small baby plays with a mobile above their crib. And maybe that's all we're really doing or are, small babies playing with the shiny objects in front of us. But I'm ok with that. Keeps me going.

[Kevin]

Intertia. The self-preservation instinct. The few good moments among the sea of horror.

I've lived longer than some of you, and grown out of many of the things that used to keep me going. Nothing has taken their place. Things get worse, the only consolation being time goes faster.

I still love TL though.

[teguififthzeal]

Every pessimist who is in a relatively stable frame of mind knows that suicide has a horrible/traumatizing effects on everyone, because most of them have had friends who have committed suicide.

I wouldn't feel right doing it. And it's against the law.

[ToALonelyPeace]

Thinking of suicide has an invigorating effect on me, similar to how certain people think of rotting corpses before dinner to whet their appetite. Though I am often weary of life, I haven't stood on the steps toward the act yet.

Moreover, I am haunted by Cioran's dictum:
"Only optimists commit suicide, optimists who no longer succeed at being optimists. The others, having no reason to live, why would they have any to die?"

I certainly don't want to be accused of being an optimist.

[miguel1984]

Books, comics, art, movies, TV series, documentaries, music, theater, video games, sex, humor (usually of the black variety), cigarettes, coffee, food, friends and family. Probably in that order, too. Oh, and the wonderful folks here at Thomas Ligotti Online.

Quote Originally Posted by teguififthzeal

Every pessimist who is in a relatively stable frame of mind knows that suicide has a horrible/traumatizing effects on everyone, because most of them have had friends who have committed suicide. I wouldn't feel right doing it. And it's against the law.

I've not had any friends commit suicide. Most of mine have attempted it, however. For the most part all of them are very sympathetic towards the act: the end of that person's suffering justifies it. They would grieve temporarily, but would ultimately feel relieved.

The illegality of suicide in many countries is laughable yet irritating.

I cannot force myself in to non-existence as I have committed the sin and ecstasy of falling deeply in love with my own delusions.

I also hold out hope that some of Aickman's unpublished work may surface, and Tartarus may reprint Sarban's The Sacrifice and Other Stories.

[R.P.Dwyer]

Still awaiting our resident pessimists reply to this:

Maverick Philosopher: The View from Mount Zapffe: The Absurdity of Life and Intellectual Honesty