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Rational_Brony comments on Fiction: A Setting Justifying the Epistemic Aggressiveness Of A Religion Stand-in - Less Wrong

10 [deleted] 03 May 2012 03:33PM

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Comment author: [deleted] 04 May 2012 09:53:35AM *  -1 points [-]

Do you have answer?

Er, 42?

EDIT: @Downvotes: Perhaps you're under the impression that I'm reciting a meme, or making a lame joke. Or perhaps you're simply not familiar with The Hitchiker's Guide To The Galaxy. Let me explain: the situation described in the post above appears to be remarkably analogous to what happened in Hitchiker's, when a civilization built a supercomputer that was orders of orders of magnitude smarter than them, to answer the Ultimate Question for them, and sarcastically answered "42", then when pressed told them that it was exactly as stumped as they were.. I'll never forget that scene, it made quite an impact on me, and, honestly, I thought merely mentioning the answer would be explanation enough. But I suppose you've seen enough bad and inappropriate uses of it as a joke that a pertinent use such as mine would come as a surprise.

Although if you want me to mindlessly repeat a stupid joke you can have one here, or here (let us cultivate our garden). Which actually aren't so much stupid jokes as complete dismissals of the Question. Don't bother looking for a pre-set meaning for your existence, and don't bother making one as you go along either: just try to enjoy your short time here the best you can. If you feel angsty and worried, it just means you aren't busy enough and have too much free time on your hands. Finding a Grand Cause to work for is nice and all, but surviving day-to-day is perfectly okay too.

Comment author: Nisan 22 May 2012 05:35:21AM 1 point [-]

Gary Drescher's Good and Real quotes that bit of The Meaning of Life in the final chapter.