[fsloth]

"One of the ironies for me of people who slave away with the hope of scoring the jackpot,"

There are other reasons as well to work hard. Some people enjoy the prospect of potentially denting the universe a bit. But yes, if financial gratification and financial gratification alone is the goal it's a tad silly.

[ErikAugust]

Is a “dented universe” an admirable goal? Seems vague, and selfish. I get people want to make some sort of impact while they are here, but let’s also admit that that is driven by the ego.

[xaedes]

Yes. Purpose and meaning needs an ego. When you maximally zoom out you get a purposeless, meaningless universe that doesn't care about its birth, its transformations and (maybe?) its end. Individuals are necessary for meaning and purpose. Otherwise, everything just is as it is and nothing makes any difference. Egos make (the) difference.

Your question is very valid. Sometimes I also wonder whether it really is an admirable goal to change the world. The world certainly doesn't care. Some groups or individuals may do. So I do it for them (including me).

Another way would be to neglect and ignore all purpose and meaning and just do whatever the frak you want. Go with the flow.

I think both results in the same

[newen]

Yes? Isn't making a dent in the universe what everyone is trying to do? What else is there in life? Just surviving until you die?

[iamcasen]

The purpose of life is to enjoy your time alive in this world. Typically one does this by connecting with other living beings and balancing a life in service of self with a life in service of others.

Will the founders of Snapchat be revered by humanity in the future? Highly doubtful. The way to be remembered is to live a life worth remembering after all.

[newen]

>The purpose of life is to enjoy your time alive in this world.

You don't get to decide what the purpose of life is. And wanting to leave your mark on the world is just as validation a purpose of life.

>The way to be remembered is to live a life worth remembering after all.

Yeah that doesn't actually mean anything. There are plenty of people forgotten by time and their ancestors who lived perfectly fulfilling lives with their friends and family. They never got remembered in history books. Not that I'm saying their choices were worse but if you want to be remembered in history books, you don't just sit around making friends and family.

[notyme]

Nicely put and here is a tweet from one who has put one of the largest "dents" of our times Jeff Bezos[0] who quotes Ralph Waldo Emerson as:

>Love this quote. It’s been on my fridge for years, and I see it every time I open the door.

>"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." – Ralph Waldo Emerson.”

And for the post below by @newen, I had to dig up my bookmarks to find this excellent article by a high schooler[1a,1b] about Charles Stover, quoting from article:

1> Under his name a simple inscription proclaims him “Founder of Outdoor Playgrounds.” When I read that for the first time, I laughed. How could one person be the founder of playgrounds? And shouldn’t he get more than a bench?

He worked selflessly for the poor, marginalized and children and setup many parks and housing facilities.

2>So why has Stover been forgotten? Although a prominent and influential figure, he did not seek fame or fortune. In a letter to a friend in 1927, he wrote, “My real preference is to be writ in water — just such complete obliteration as the poet Keats feared would be his fate.” He never married and kept no house of his own, preferring instead to live at University Settlement. He was a very private person, prone to bouts of depression, and was known to vanish occasionally with no explanation.

"On a long enough time line, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.― Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club "

Eventually history will forget us all, IMHO instead of optimizing for global immortality we should strive locally to serve those around us as best as we can.

I am reminded one of the last scenes of the Godfather 3,the retired mafia boss,an old Michael Corleone is seen contemplating life{?) on a wheel chair, when suddenly he slumps and dies, possibly regretting all the violence and wrongs heaped on others.

I suspect on one's death throes, no one contemplates on wealth,fame or power they acquired in their lifetime but whether has their life been meaningful or made a difference for the better. Just my thoughts.

[0] https://twitter.com/JeffBezos/status/992765968182001665

[1a] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/25/opinion/charles-stover-pl...

[1b] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15111433

Edit: formatting

[kickopotomus]

Your phrasing makes it seem like you do not believe in altruism. Sure, perhaps ego has something to do with it for most people but so what? Bill Gates has made a lot of progress cutting down the spread of AIDS and Malaria in Africa. Does the fact that he may want to be remembered for it diminish the accomplishment?

[fsloth]

I don't think there is anything wrong in being driven by the ego.

Being ego driven is not pathological alone and in itself and I think is necessary for achieving most great things.

What would 'non-ego driven' achievement look like? Are there any concrete well known examples of such a thing?

[NathanCH]

Having the next big startup hardly makes a dent in the world. 1/100th of the energy required to do that could likely save thousands of lives in other mediums of employment or volunteering.

[tsunamifury]

What you're describing is obsession and it can be even more dangerous that just plain old greed. However I find myself saying the same thing sometimes...

[irl_zebra]

In what way is "enjoy[ing] the prospect of potentially denting the universe a bit" obsession? Are you saying that being motivated by things other than finances is obsessive?

[tsunamifury]

No, but the dent in the universe requires obsession. If you think you can be balanced and accomplish this you don't know the source of that quote.

[fsloth]

No, what I'm describing is a deep interest in something. Obsession is the pathological end of this spectrum but 'being driven' in and itself is not a negative thing.