LOLZ! It must be Karma

[Bubsa]

OK, this is just an aggravated rant. There's no real point to it, I'd just like to see if you agree or disagree with me and what you have to say on the topic.

 

 

 

This whole 'karma boom', as it were, is really cheesing me off. I put it down to 'My Name is Earl'. Don't get me wrong, great show, very well written and one of the few American comedies that gets me laughing these days :). It's just that, ever since this show entered society, undoubtedly a lot more people have taken interest in this whole karma thing.

 

 

 

That's totally fine, I have nothing against those who believe and want to practise it...except for a few. I'll probably need to stress this is a minority of people, but very annoying, at least to me. These are the people who instantly put any change of luck down to 'karma'. For example: A friend of mine finds ÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâã10 on the bus the other day. "Gosh! (Wasn't exactly her words) Must be karma!". Oh really? What good deed have you recently done? She struggled for an answer and the topic quickly changed back to thongs. (Spare me, please.) What the ironic thing was is that, if she truly believed in karma, she would have handed the money in or given it to the bus driver at least. I know, it doesn't seem much, but it's not the concept of people being nice to you. That's just luck! The whole "I-watered-a-plant-therefore-I-must-be-lucky-today" mentality is bogus, and is pretty downright wrong, in my opinion.

 

 

 

To add to this, some people, again a minority, have started doing 'good deeds' and such, simply on the pretences that they will get something good back in return. Basically, they do something good to get something better free. That's horrible, why should karma be the stimulus to virtues such as curteousy and generosity? I believe it was Zidane Tribal, of Final Fantasy IX fame, who said:

 

 

 

You don't need a reason to help people.

 

 

 

You don't need karma to help people, either. The whole concept of be nice to others and they'll be nice back (Do unto others as you would have others do unto you) is one that should be natural. I know that's an extremely lot to ask, but using karma is not an alternative. I'd say it's pretty demeaning to those who truly believe in it as well.

 

 

 

I hope this doesn't sound like I'm on my moral high horse after all my charity work and naked exploits, it really doesn't mean to be. It's just something I feel strong about at the moment, and I'd be very much obliged for your opinions and feedback on the matter :)

[WutangFlu]

To add to this, some people, again a minority, have started doing 'good deeds' and such, simply on the pretences that they will get something good back in return. Basically, they do something good to get something better free.

 

 

 

u shouldnt expect something in return.

[Devilsdragon]

To add to this, some people, again a minority, have started doing 'good deeds' and such, simply on the pretences that they will get something good back in return. Basically, they do something good to get something better free.

 

 

 

That's defying karma, in which case if something bad were to happen to them it would be because of karma(or that's my take on it.)

[indy500fan]

heh, i may be one of those people that are pissing you off. i should say, i was for about two weeks. i got over it :P . the very basics of it, do good things and good things happen to you, do bad things and bad things happen to you, seems to be the most plausible form of religion in my eyes. but then i think about all the bad things that happen to good people and i throw it out too.

[Danabis]

Karma is just an easy way of explaining that bad people will get what's coming to them, if you ask me.

 

 

 

For example, if you live like an [wagon] and you bully people, one day you're gonna bully the wrong person and get what you deserve.

[runesmithie]

Around here karma is more of a joke than anything and whenever we mention it we're always joking about how "great" we've been that week or something :P

[knives669]

I do believe that whatever goes around comes around, but if you're doing something good, just so that it can come back in your favor, then, eventually you'll get what's coming to you for your selfishness.

 

 

 

You're absolutely right. No one needs a reason to help someone else. And it's people who give without expecting anything in return that are rewarded by karma.

[Adam007]

I thought I was alone in being annoyed by the whole "must be karma!" idealogy everyone has nowadays. While I don't know anyone irl obsessed with the idea of karma, on the internet (especially these forums) people just mention it too much.

[DragonFirenze]

Something inside me just died when i read that.. :(

 

 

 

Its nice to have a false sense of security, and people who generally use the idea of "karma" as a pick-me-up are often happier. I can understand you ranting about people who blatently use it stupidly but you were a tad agressive to your friend.

[adthegreat-]

I take karma quite seriously. It is definately the closest i can get to faith and religion.

 

 

 

I understand what you mean about people kind of trying to pay off karma, i think we share the beleif that it doesn't work like that.

 

 

 

I'm trying to think of an example to explain how my understanding differs to that of which you have dexcribed but im having a tough time. I'll say what i think but it may not sum up my opinion completely or be the best example.

 

 

 

I dont think that karma is something that should enter your mind on a daily basis. I often get thoughts of religious nature when something significant has happened, or something has touched me, emotionally. At those points I often explain the situations by means of karma.So in that respect, karma is an explanation, not a cause. For example, someone does something that they didnt have to do, or comments about your relationship with them, because of something that you've done. And you think, yeh i supose i have been there for that person etc. But you werent there for the person for the repayment, you were there because of the forces of friendship (don't get me started on that). And you think karma has repayed for kindness.

 

 

 

Or something more unattatched. You drop your wallet on the street, someone comes and gives it you, without even thinking of taking it. And i think wow that was nice, kind of reminds me of the time when i gave that guy back his wallet when it fell on the floor*click* what goes around comes around.

 

 

 

I also beleive karma can quite primitively be explained scientifically.

 

 

 

For example, if you do something nice, and someone notices, i think they are more likely to do something nice for someone else, which will all togther lead to someone doing something nice back to you. And the same the other way round, if you put someone in a bad mood, your gonna get someone elses bad mood come back at you.

[Bubsa]

To add to this, some people, again a minority, have started doing 'good deeds' and such, simply on the pretences that they will get something good back in return. Basically, they do something good to get something better free.

 

 

 

That's defying karma, in which case if something bad were to happen to them it would be because of karma(or that's my take on it.)

 

 

 

That's my point; people are doing this and thinking that it's karma, when all it's doing is, as you say, defying it.

 

 

 

I mean people like ad who posted above me there seem clued in to what karma is all about and are applying it well in their lives, so I'm not trying to say karma as a whole is pointless.

[kido14]

Agreed.

 

 

To add to this, some people, again a minority, have started doing 'good deeds' and such, simply on the pretences that they will get something good back in return. Basically, they do something good to get something better free. That's horrible, why should karma be the stimulus to virtues such as curteousy and generosity? I believe it was Zidane Tribal, of Final Fantasy IX fame, who said:

 

 

Kind of ironic isn't it? They do these "good deeds" for other people, but only out of selfish motivations. Yes they are still doing "good deeds," so that's cool and all but if they are doing it so they can "get something good back in return," then it's almost like they aren't truly doing a "good" deed in the first place. When I thought of it in my head, it sounded a lot better :? .

[Bmw]

[rant] Weird...I was just thinking about this the other day. In my opinion, Karma is really, well, stupid. If you perform good deeds, it's almost inevitable that good things will happen to you. If you commit a crime, it's almost inevitable that misfortunes will occur soon after. It's not Karma...it's called LIFE.

 

 

 

To add to what you were saying Bubsa, I agree with what you're saying for the most part. A different example of this can be found with people who take the whole idea of God to a different level. For the record, I'm decently religious, so what I'm saying isn't because I'm Athiest or anything. ---> It's like when people believe EVERYTHING that happens is because of God.

 

 

 

Ie Someone trips and breaks their arm. Their explanation of why it happened wasn't because they were being careless, but instead "It was God's plan". Another example is when someone "prays to God" for stupid things...like passing a Math test. That's such a HUGE pet peeve of mine! :evil:

 

 

 

[/end rant]

[Adam007]

Agreed.

 

 

To add to this, some people, again a minority, have started doing 'good deeds' and such, simply on the pretences that they will get something good back in return. Basically, they do something good to get something better free. That's horrible, why should karma be the stimulus to virtues such as curteousy and generosity? I believe it was Zidane Tribal, of Final Fantasy IX fame, who said:

 

 

Kind of ironic isn't it? They do these "good deeds" for other people, but only out of selfish motivations. Yes they are still doing "good deeds," so that's cool and all but if they are doing it so they can "get something good back in return," then it's almost like they aren't truly doing a "good" deed in the first place. When I thought of it in my head, it sounded a lot better :? .

 

Technically aren't the only actions people make 'selfish' though? Selfish automatically has a negative connotation and probably isn't the best word to use, but even when people help other people, they still have their own personal motivation, be it to feel better themselves indirectly by making other people feel better. People don't randomly do things - every action usually requires some type of personal motivation to do so. I think every good deed traces back to the motive of the deed-doer and is never 100% just to help someone, as negative as that sounds.

[Devilsdragon]

To add to what you were saying Bubsa, I agree with what you're saying for the most part. A different example of this can be found with people who take the whole idea of God to a different level. For the record, I'm decently religious, so what I'm saying isn't because I'm Athiest or anything. ---> It's like when people believe EVERYTHING that happens is because of God.

 

 

 

Haha, "Thanks be to Yevon." /slightly geeks FFX allusion. >_>

 

 

 

But my views on Karma(since I really didn't post them before) is that it's something made up to make people feel more comfortable about what's going. People think that having an "explanaion" to everything is nice and makes everything look neat(I'm sure it does, but I don't believe in it). But this is also my view on religion, so to each his own.

[lucasesco]

karma is so leesters man.

 

 

 

its liek zezima comes and says "omg wering blu flowers gets you phree stoof" and liek aww me gawd everyone likes blue flowers npw cus zezima said.

 

 

 

Doesnt mean I dont like Leesters idea. I just wanted to say merry christmas to him.

[Giordano]

I dont believe in Karma *cough*

 

*gives a homeless man a dime, "give sometihing back"*

 

 

 

No really, I dont believe in Karma, it's just a stupid thing to say. Like saying the table has life.

[Astralinre]

Another example is when someone "prays to God" for stupid things...like passing a Math test. That's such a HUGE pet peeve of mine! :evil:

 

 

 

Another funny thing is this: People who criticize those who pray over every little thing often say things like, "Why would God care about something so small and insignificant?" But if God doesn't care about the small things like math tests, why pray about the big things, like finding a spouse, moving to another country, or losing a loved one? Surely such things are small and insignificant in the eyes of a God who is infinite and eternal. Why would he care about the affairs of a piece of dust on a ball in space when he is so important? The way I see it, since everything in our lives must be little to God, either he cares about the little things, or he doesn't care at all.

 

 

 

Karma? Well, I kind of agree with it. You sow what you reap, after all. I don't generally think about it or act a certain way because of it, but I agree with it to an extent.

[Vape]

What sort of thongs?

[trapical]

I have known about Karma since 5th grade but I never really swear by it. I do good things for a different reason... but come to think of it, it is kind of related to Karma... *flashback*

 

A few months ago I was related to a large senior prank and afterwards there was a huge police investigation. I was interrogated but in the end I got away scott free. I thought crudely along the lines of "well I deserve getting away with it, I'm not a bad kid. Why I always try to be good... for example I... uh... crap." I couldn't think of a single good deed I did recently and that made me sad.

 

 

 

College started and things change. Just two weeks ago I found a 512 USB drive in a computer lab after hours, I didn't even remotely think of keeping it. I booted it up and found literally hundreds of homework papers and diagrams dating back several years and after examining its massively scratched surface I realized it was very worn and probably treasured by its owner. I found a last name, searched our school's directory and emailed the supposed owner saying I found a drive and I'm going to leave it hidden behind a certain computer in the corner. He replied the next day...

 

 

 

"That was pretty cool of you to think about me and stash it.

 

That took amazing selflessness, a quality that seems to foment

 

on this campus. I walked right over and picked it up. Thanks

 

a bunch... say hey to me next time we pass each other so I can

 

thank you personally. May Bless You and Keep You in His Graces."

 

 

 

I think that beats any amount of money I could have found on the ground as a result of karma.

[Peter]

I kind of indirectly referr to Karma when I do things. I'd consider myself a pretty good person based on acts I partake in from community service to donating blood to buying a homless guy a burger. I don't do it because I expect good to come to me, I do it because I feel good after I do it. My head gets bigger, I feel like a better person, whatever you call it, that's my reasoning. So technically it's selfless since I do it for myself. When something good comes to me, I just embrace it, and don't think of how it came to me. I don't think I should have to do good for goof to come to me.

[LordChocobot]

What sort of thongs?

 

 

 

rofl

[aj926]

My life is like a contradiction to karma...

[kido14]

 

Technically aren't the only actions people make 'selfish' though? Selfish automatically has a negative connotation and probably isn't the best word to use, but even when people help other people, they still have their own personal motivation, be it to feel better themselves indirectly by making other people feel better. People don't randomly do things - every action usually requires some type of personal motivation to do so. I think every good deed traces back to the motive of the deed-doer and is never 100% just to help someone, as negative as that sounds.

 

 

 

I don't think the only actions people make are for 'selfish' reasons, but I guess that could be another debate completely. Just a little example, what about people that donate money anonymously? They know they aren't going to get any credit for it, and it will help others.

[How2PK]

Bubsa, after you asked to agree or disagree with you I stopped reading and decided to post that I agree with you. :)

 

 

 

[edit] Now that I acutally read trough your post, I still agree with you. Oh, I wish life always was this easy.