What makes you tick?

Tell us more about you?

Things you dont understand about people/life?

Things you believe in passionately?

Tell us what makes you tick?

Hmmmmm, interesting questions I hope everyone answers. It's hard to answer this without sounding like a complete *insert word*.

My main view on things is I suppose a bit nihilistic. I don't really think that things have meaning in themselves, things only have meaning to the extent that a person or group of people ascribes meaning to something. So "knowledge" and the truth can be vague and sometimes unattainable as most of the time there is only the facts as we see them. I also think that most disagreements are to do with the limits of language not the limits of understanding. Language is the best way we have at understanding the inner thoughts of others but it's all metaphor so there will always be issues (as language is a social construct not something that exists without people).

I don't think there's anything to understand or not understand about life because I think the meaning of life is only the meaning we construct for ourselves. Other than the animal thing to reproduce I don't think there would be any ultimate aim or meaning for things to be alive.

Things I believe in passionately - acting in accordance to your beliefs. If you think something is wrong then don't act as though it is right and if you believe something then act in a way that will bring that closer towards being the way of things for you. But you have to remember that the axis of the Earth doesn't pass directly through you so you can't expect other people to share your view - people ascribe importance to different things. I also believe that there is beauty wherever you choose to find it, it's up to you whether you see what's hidden in plain view or not. The world is as amazing and people are as inspiring as the world is grim and people hideous skin wrapped horrorbags.

I don't understand people who aren't passionate about anything - you might be "right", you might be "wrong" but having something that's important to you outside of yourself is a great thing. Anything that motivates a person other than money or duty always makes them interesting, whether it's cats, trains, growing veg, triathlons, reading or whatever. And I embrace the advice my mum gave me - never date a man who doesn't like sport, they have no passion and no commitment. Went out with a man who didn't like sport once, mother was right

I believe in fate. Whats meant to be will be? I have no strong religious views and dont believe in afterlife. When your gone your gone thats it.

I am passionate about small shops and dont like the way the supermarkets are growing so big and having so much power. I hate to see people on the phone while driving talking and texting, and I hate cyclists on the path and with no lights and dont believe enough is done. I believe the country is too soft in the sentences they hand out for criminals too.

I hate soap operas and the way every programme now is a voting programme. I love sport and like your comments about dating a man who dosent like sport alec. I like watching business programmes and like to see what ideas people come up with.

Blimey, this is a deep and meaningful question... am sure I will add more to this as we go along.

OK, I really dont like injustice and have stood up for what I believe in, but am more than capable of listening to all sides of an arguement/debate and making my own mind up. I have a tendancy to hear it all and sum up the outcome in a sentence and this infuriates some people but I believe why say 6 words when 1 will do.

I also like to take opportunities that come my/your way. They come from all directions and you never know where they will lead and this makes life interesting and exciting. If you dont like it, after you have started with it, you can always say no.

As I have got older, I realised that people are not what they appear to be and understanding psycology, body language and enjoying people watching have held me in good stead as I am too trusting in nature. I have been stalked twice and burgled once and I am selective on who I have as friends or invite into my home. It has been remarked on, on more than one occasion that I dont invite people to my house, hmmm I wonder why?

I like to help people when I can but will not 'bust a gut' anymore. Am a believer in Karma and what will be, will be. Having lived and worked in southern India, face reading is used extensively there and I use this as a way of 'managing' my contact with people.

I am a happy person and like to connect with other 'happy people'. If you can make someone smile or laugh throughout your day then, you have achieved something worthwhile.

Do I believe in god? I dunno really, he has never shown himself to me. I was brought up in a religious atmosphere but think some people use religion in a negative way and hide behind it. You dont have to go to church/temple/synagogue/etc to be a good person, its how you treat your fellow man that counts.

Many years ago, I met an american woman whist I was waiting for a bus in cambridge bus station (yes I know that sounds iffy) and she said to me, never under sell yourself, in this life you only have one thing to sell and value and thats yourself, if you dont value yourself, then no one else will. I have used this advice since and it has been invaluable.

things I believe passionately about? hmmm lying greedy politicians, especially MEP's, the euro gravy train is my biggest subject to moan about. The waste of £Millions and no one being held account for it. The layers of ineffective and inefficient management in education, NHS and governement. (I think I had better leave the subject of moans alone!).

I think I have said enough, off to get a coffee me thinks and light my joss sticks!!!

I hate the stay at home versus working mum debates too. So pointless everyone does whats best and right for their family.

Mesh can you expand on the face reading? Find it fascinating

Have recently discovered that I am a Pagan. Have always felt an affinity with this type of belief, something grounded in Mother Nature but more than just pure science. I just didn't know how to define my belief but Pagan does the job. I believe in an essence, life force (Mother Nature if you will) and this energy can be manipulated. I believe in the law of attraction, not to say bad things won't happen if you think happy thoughts but that you do get what you focus on to a certain extent. I despise organised religions, it's nothing more than mans corruption to gain power and influence above others. I don't believe Jesus thought it was necessary to have the hierarchy that is now prevalent within the Christian church and would have have been bothered by female bishops and priests.......I am not convinced.

And the rest.....well I just try and go about doing to others as I would wish to be done to me. I like to believe people get their just desserts, if not in this life then maybe the next one. I love and loathe in equal measure modern living. I love the fact that i am sitting on the sofa, typing this message with my iPad, that there is a wealth of information at the touch of a button, that we have advances in Medicine, that I have a reasonable standard of living compared to past generations. But I hate the lack of community, obsession with "celebrity" culture and people thinking fame will make them happy, the throwaway, selfish society is not our finest moment.

I think that's enough rambling for one night

I believe passionately that there is hidden good in most people. not all. and even the most annoying people can be good friends.

I don't understand:
economics; money; it doesn't actually exist, yet we need more of it. what?!
how one human can cause harm to another.
society.
other people.

and Bitsy... that was the exact same path which led me to a life of paganism.... although I have a good laugh and occasionally wear a "flying spaghetti monster" pendant instead of my normally ubiquitous pentacle.

I dislike cruelty to animals and domestic voilence. I hate all the stereotyping about people on the dole.

bump up for anyone who hasnt seen it? I like these threads because it helps us get to know more about each other?

Bitsy Beans wrote:Mesh can you expand on the face reading? Find it fascinating

Hi bitsey bean, just seen your post, this link may help to explain:

http://www.askastrologer.com/Physiognomy.html

hope it works.....

M

i cant understand why a 16/17 yr old is walking around with a handgun and then shoots someone with no real motive?

Why do they want to live in a world where people do that?

why do they want to go to prison when they could have their freedom?

what about people who seem to home in on real scummy, horrible fly on the wall programmes and then take to the net to discuss it. Prolongs the nastiness of it. I dont get it and i notice that often nice programmes dont get discussed its just the nastys.

fascinating subject thanks for starting it.

im going to give this one some thought and ill come back to you xx