United Earth
Why are there two of this thread? Is there a way to accidentally doublepost a thread?
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
The add post/thread function sometimes goes wonky and makes two or more posts/threads. Nothing to worry about, really. I figured you'd seen it before Handle.
This Mann guy sounds pretty nihilistic.
United Earth
Not quite; he's still hopeful enough to be able to tremble and convulse with frustration and despair. Genuine nihilism doesn't even consider the possibility. It's like how it's when a depressive is starting their treatment that they are at the most risk of killing themselves, because they aren't numb anymore; they feel just not-terrible enough to be able to do something about their situation. Which, before, they couldn't. But indeed he certainly takes more after Schopenhauer than my boy Nietzsche.
edited 4th Apr '15 2:22:39 PM by TheHandle
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Recently I saw a magnificent ballet adaptation of Thomas Mann's Death in Venice, which impressed me very dearly. (A few years ago I starred in a play adapting The Magic Mountain).
I bought a collection of short stories of his, which included Death In Venice, and started reading them in preparation for writing my own adaptation to another format.
I just read Little Herr Friedemann
. With growing horror and yet unbearable fascination. Tried to put it down, but I just couldn't sleep, it was just hitting so close to home, and the sheer horror of it.
And then I finished it.
And I wept.
It's like the story was telling me, "all of your insecurities, your weaknesses, your fears, which you've worked so hard to patch, mend, even overcome... it's all pointless. One day you'll meet someone unique. It will not be a good thing. It will just unmask the lie that is your happiness. Your life is worthless, your desperate efforts aren't even beautiful, they barely rate 'cute'. You, who are different, who doesn't quite fit no matter how hard he tries, might as well die. The greatest joy in life, that of being accepted and loved for who you are... you'll never have it. Ever."
Or, as the girl in XKCD so eloquently said...
Hopefully, soon sleep will overpower existential horror, and I'll look back and say "How silly of me."
Right now, though, I just want to curl up in a corner and indulge in fungiculture.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.