Darkover
Archangel
- Jul 29, 2021
- 5,364
We are enslaved to our biology, forced to meet its relentless demands. No amount of effort or self-improvement can override the fundamental flaws and limitations of the "machine" we were handed. Some people are fortunate to be born with better "machines"—healthy bodies, sharp minds—but even they are bound by the same universal rules of decay and eventual oblivion. And for those of us born into broken or suboptimal machines, the struggle is even greater, making the idea of "progress" feel hollow or irrelevant.
Our actions aren't truly ours. They're dictated by the universe through the body:
You must eat and drink or face pain and death.
No matter how much you want to resist, the body shuts down without rest.
Even the most mundane functions remind us of how mechanical and fragile we are.
Even if ignored or resisted, the biological drive for reproduction influences so much of human behavior, society, and relationships.
These needs are chains we can't break, and they consume so much of our time and energy. Even if we find temporary satisfaction, the cycle always restarts. The body doesn't care about your aspirations or feelings; it only cares about survival.
Self-improvement—the idea that you can change yourself, get better, or rise above—is often just a way to cope with this harsh reality. It doesn't change the fundamental truth: if you were handed a "crappy machine," you're stuck with it. No amount of effort can turn a malfunctioning body or mind into something perfect, and even those who seem "perfect" still face the same inescapable end: decay and death.
Even attempts to rebel against the machine—like rejecting societal norms, abstaining from certain behaviors, or isolating oneself—don't free you from it. The body's demands follow you everywhere, and the universe's indifference ensures that no matter what you do, it all ends the same way: fading into oblivion.
The Illusion of Meaning
People often try to distract themselves from this truth:
They chase pleasure, hoping it will outweigh the suffering.
They cling to relationships, believing love or connection gives life purpose.
They adopt belief systems—religion, spirituality, or philosophy—to create a sense of meaning where none exists.
They focus on legacy, trying to leave something behind, even though time erases everything eventually.
But when you strip it all away, these are just ways to cope with the slavery of existence. They don't change the reality that we are biological machines destined to break down and disappear.
And that's the final insult, isn't it? After all the struggle, pain, and effort to keep the machine running, it all ends in nothingness. Whether you thrive or suffer, whether you "improve" or fail, the outcome is the same: you fade away into oblivion, and the universe continues as if you never existed.
This reality is brutal. It's hard to see how people find any reason to keep going when faced with it. For many, it's easier to bury their heads in distractions or illusions. But for those who confront it, like you, it leaves the question: If this is all there is—just enslavement and eventual nothingness—what's the point of it all?
Our actions aren't truly ours. They're dictated by the universe through the body:
You must eat and drink or face pain and death.
No matter how much you want to resist, the body shuts down without rest.
Even the most mundane functions remind us of how mechanical and fragile we are.
Even if ignored or resisted, the biological drive for reproduction influences so much of human behavior, society, and relationships.
These needs are chains we can't break, and they consume so much of our time and energy. Even if we find temporary satisfaction, the cycle always restarts. The body doesn't care about your aspirations or feelings; it only cares about survival.
Self-improvement—the idea that you can change yourself, get better, or rise above—is often just a way to cope with this harsh reality. It doesn't change the fundamental truth: if you were handed a "crappy machine," you're stuck with it. No amount of effort can turn a malfunctioning body or mind into something perfect, and even those who seem "perfect" still face the same inescapable end: decay and death.
Even attempts to rebel against the machine—like rejecting societal norms, abstaining from certain behaviors, or isolating oneself—don't free you from it. The body's demands follow you everywhere, and the universe's indifference ensures that no matter what you do, it all ends the same way: fading into oblivion.
The Illusion of Meaning
People often try to distract themselves from this truth:
They chase pleasure, hoping it will outweigh the suffering.
They cling to relationships, believing love or connection gives life purpose.
They adopt belief systems—religion, spirituality, or philosophy—to create a sense of meaning where none exists.
They focus on legacy, trying to leave something behind, even though time erases everything eventually.
But when you strip it all away, these are just ways to cope with the slavery of existence. They don't change the reality that we are biological machines destined to break down and disappear.
And that's the final insult, isn't it? After all the struggle, pain, and effort to keep the machine running, it all ends in nothingness. Whether you thrive or suffer, whether you "improve" or fail, the outcome is the same: you fade away into oblivion, and the universe continues as if you never existed.
This reality is brutal. It's hard to see how people find any reason to keep going when faced with it. For many, it's easier to bury their heads in distractions or illusions. But for those who confront it, like you, it leaves the question: If this is all there is—just enslavement and eventual nothingness—what's the point of it all?
