[gammafactor]

I'm sorry but this is garbage in my view.

We need to use the time we have in order to do the things that are important to us, not to enrich "others" whoever they may be. This obsession about society and socializing and following norms and "fitting in" is one of the things that are seriously fucked up in the western world.

We need more people who have gone sideways, more recluses, more geniuses, more people who do not fit in and do things their own way. Otherwise what's the point?

I understand that this may sound alien or maybe crazy to people who have grown up in western societies and therefore been indoctrinated to an extreme degree to seek the approval of others and so on, but that's all there is to it really, social conditioning. Nobody will remember you 200 years after you die, you better use the time you have to do something meaningful with your life and to me that does not include idle socializing so that some sacks of blood, meat and bone will "feel" sad when you're gone.

[rpgmaker]

"Nobody will remember you 200 years after you die"

It would be good to be "remembered" in 200 years but it would make little difference to you: you'll be dead. It won't matter anymore to you and to the extent that it matters to anyone else that interest maybe closer to "fun trivia things to know" than as someone they would aspire to emulate. How many people care about most roman emperors? How many people care about the vast swath of past US presidents? They were at the top of their game during their time (to varying degrees of course) but even the vast majority of them are still relegated to historical footnotes. In the big scheme of things that happens to even the greatest of men/women. Two decades ago Thomas Edison was the face of American inventiveness (deserved or not) but now to many people it has been supplanted by Steve Jobs (deserved or not). In a couple of years the same thing will happen to him.

Living with that idea as your ultimate goal is the vainest thing that you can do.

[gshrikant]

I don't know about the post you're reading but the GP doesn't talk about fitting in or following norms. Living with people is an important part of the human experience. Sure, it is less important for some and more so for others but necessary nonetheless.

>> We need more people who have gone sideways, more recluses, more geniuses, more people who do not fit in and do things their own way. Otherwise what's the point?

What is the point of what. Different people want different things from life.

>> I understand that this may sound alien or maybe crazy to people who have grown up in western societies and therefore been indoctrinated to an extreme degree to seek the approval of others and so on, but that's all there is to it really, social conditioning.

I come from an 'Eastern' society and living well with others is as fundamental to my society as it appears to be in the west. Not everyone wants to live their life in solitude to be remembered in eternity. Calling it 'indoctrination' is generalizing what is essentially your opinion to a serious degree.

[jodrellblank]

There is literally nothing objectively "meaningful" to do that we know of. At all. Anywhere. Ever.

The concepts of "meaning" and "meaningful" come from the human mind, it's subjective. Anything can be 'meaningful' to someone and not to someone else.

The point is not to make other people sad when you're gone, the point is to make other people (and yourself) happier while you're alive.

[alashley]

Agreed, and there's no guarantee that pursuing what we deem to be meaningful at the expense of interpersonal relationships will leave a mark on humanity. As a matter of fact, a lot of great men and women are/were the product of investments (not necessarily monetary) from their parents, teachers, friends, and family.

[noobermin]

Someone already replied to you about norms, although you could, in an extreme case, consider people liking you as having attached to it some expectation (like you liking them back) as a norm. At the end of the day, you have freedom to choose your own values and live by them.

The idea that society will out live us as individuals is a fact, however. That does not need to bother you, and if it doesn't, I can disagree but I can do nothing to stop you from enjoying yourself.

Mr. George, at least in some capacity, enjoyed the company of others. He was not a complete introvert then, so he might not have had your extreme aversion to people. Moreover, his death was clearly felt in some people, so unless we are only allowed to consider his feelings, his aversion to others had negative effects on at least one or two other people.