Lightning Rod wrote:clarification:
I hope nobody mistakes my discourse here as being self-righteous
I'll lie to you in a heartbeat if it's necessary
As they say, to err is human, so we all do it, from time to time, and there may even be times when we can justify the occassional lie, but I think the journey we set out on should be one where we seek to rise above our base urges, to improve ourselves, and to evolve, after all, we sit typing on these computers of ours, discussing these things, only because we can, because the men who came before us, sought to push barriers, and to improve themselves.
By improving ourselves, and improving the world we live in, we're creating a legacy, for our children (for those who have them) and for their children.
On another thread someone said life was pointless, or some drivel like that, but there, in that quest, is a point to life, a simple point, that we can all aspire to, and part of the journey, to that destination, part of that process, of creating that legacy, for our children, and their children, and the all the children of the world, is self-improvement.
We can stay as selfish individuals, cowards, afraid of the "pain", or we can rise as men of courage, and better ourselves, so that we can better the future, for those who follow.
Maybe I'm young, maybe I'm idealistic, but if I am, it's still nice to have a point, to have a purpose, and to know that I might just be putting a smile on someones face, in the future, by what I'm doing today.
I guess it's also the path to immortality, what greater way is there to live forever, than by living on as a positive influence, on the future?
If my names not remembered, I don't think I'd be to bothered, but if I know that generations from now people will smile, because of something I said, or did, even if I don't get credit for it, then I'd be a happy man, and I'd know I'd have achieved true immortality.
I guess it's sort of like Buddhism, you know, reincarnation, karma, and the quest for Nirvana, and I think part of that process is a journey of improvement, and evolution, and part of that journey is learning to grow from the lying child, into the honest, selfless adult, no longer afraid of the "pain", but instead standing strong, tall, and courageous, for the greater good of everyone.
(and yes, I am aware I can go on, and on, and on sometimes, and that I'd make a good entrant for the talking Olympics :p)