[wpietri]

If somebody gives you a kit with which you can something you need, is it still a gift? I say yes.

Mindless suffering is indeed something of no value. But mindful suffering for me has been extraordinarily valuable.

For example, I recently did my first triathlon. The training had plenty of suffering. The race was, in some ways, miserable. But because I embraced the suffering, I've grown a lot. Not just physically, but also mentally.

Losing people close to me worked similarly. The suffering was enormous. But so was the growth.

[VMG]

I wonder how this line of reasoning would go over at a murder trial.

[wpietri]

Do you actually wonder that?

[VMG]

No, I actually don't.

I know it would be absurd and there is a good reason we punish people who give the "gift of death" with no regards to some bizarre learning experience for the victims.

[wpietri]

Ok. So if you already knew that, what's your point?

[VMG]

Pointing out the absurdity of your statements through the wonderful tools of rhetoric.

[wpietri]

Oh. Well then, it didn't work for me. Better luck next time.