Is Everything a Joke?

[PokerGenius]

I can't take anything seriously anymore. Sometimes I don't care about anything (like right now). Technically I should be sleeping so I can wake up early to study for the exam I have. However the exam is a joke, if I don't do well, what can happen?

Is being a college senior and not having a job lined up bad? I don't really care right now. All I need is rent/food money, I don't really like spending money. I didn't even buy a car, too much hassle. Ofcourse for that reason I don't have a girlfriend, but that for some reason don't bother me. I don't go to any parties, because they're a joke, and am shy with complete strangers. I don't buy stuff period. Tourney poker can be fun, but damn its same think everytime.
If I don't double up the first hour, then I just give up, hate nursing a shortstack.

I enjoy life, I find it interesting how many people worry over mundane stuff. I find people interesting in general, but not strangers. Browsing forums is fun, just to see people. I am 21, and have not found anything that I really love doing.

so now I ask you all, is life a joke? I am open to all the responses you can give me.

[Ladislav Novak]

Yes, life is a joke.

"I was like a leaf blown about by a fickle wind, with neither past nor future, neither family nor career, nor any sort of spiritual fulfillment. I was slowly losing my will power to do anything. I was not rejecting or renouncing the world; it was just drifting away from me and I was unable and unwilling to hold onto it." link (http://www.well.com/user/jct/)

[_TKO_]

[ QUOTE ]
All I need is rent/food

[/ QUOTE ]

This is all you ever need: food and shelter; but if this is all you ever strive for, your life won’t be very fulfilling. Jokes make an otherwise mundane existence quite enjoyable. If life is a joke, laugh.

[ QUOTE ]
However the exam is a joke, if I don't do well, what can happen?

[/ QUOTE ]

Estimating the gravity of consequences is extremely difficult; actuarial scientists are paid quite well to place a value on risk. For someone in your spot, only a broad estimate is required. “Doing well” on an exam depends on the structure of your program. You will typically only need x percent in n number of credits to graduate; however, there are indeed benefits to achieving higher marks. Find these out (an academic counselor can help with this). And remember: when it comes to school, it’s better to aim high and miss than aim low and fail. A degree gives you options, which will matter to you at some point.

[ QUOTE ]
Is being a college senior and not having a job lined up bad?

[/ QUOTE ]

Most students don’t have jobs lined up. You choose your own level of success. I suggest writing down your goals and posting them here. Then stick to them.

[ QUOTE ]
I am 21, and have not found anything that I really love doing.

[/ QUOTE ]

In that case, what are you good at?

[theBruiser500]

God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid too laugh.

[Coffee]

The short answer is, "mostly." I'm not too far removed from your situation(I'm 26), but what I have found is this: by and large, about 90% of the things that surround your life are, indeed, a complete joke(and I put most jobs in this category).

But...as you grow up(and you still have a lot of that to do...you just can't see it yet(I do, too))...you will suddenly begin to realize the things that truly matter to you. There will be things that are not a joke.

For many, it's their spouse or family. For others, it's their job. It doesn't really matter, and you don't have to know right now. Sooner or later, though, you'll burn through all the jokes of life and get to the stuff that is serious. It's just a matter of time.

[revots33]

[ QUOTE ]
I can't take anything seriously anymore. Sometimes I don't care about anything (like right now).

[/ QUOTE ]

When you find yourself loving someone more than yourself (whether it be your girlfriend, your wife, your children, etc.) you will realize how much there is to care about.

[knock knock]

yes life is a joke. all life is, is taking what comes. you wouldn't understand if something were good, had you not experienced the bad, vice versa. as far as not finding something you really love doing.. that's just it. i'm sure there are a lot of things you like, and a lot more things you don't like. so it's simple. to find things you like, keep eliminating things you don't like. for example do you want to work a 9-5 job for the rest of your life? if you had enough money would you travel the world and try to do/see everything once? are you religious? what do you believe in? you wonder why you don't have a girlfriend? you have to figure out who you are before someone else can. an easy way to discover things about yourself is to study other people. why does that person like or dislike such and such.

[mosdef]

[ QUOTE ]
actuarial scientists are paid quite well to place a value on risk.

[/ QUOTE ]

We really don't get paid that much.

[RydenStoompala]

[ QUOTE ]
I am 21, and have not found anything that I really love doing.

[/ QUOTE ]

There's the rub, Stanley. You wont always feel this way, so enjoy it. Keep in mind that what other people take seriously may be a joke to you. This means you should keep some of the overly-simplistic, "your life is a joke" stuff to yourself. If someone doesn't see it that way then you could come across as either naive, immature or just plain retarded, which is probably not what you're looking for. Then there is always the danger of insulting a genuine psycho, but that's a discussion for the "how do I enjoy the hospital?" online board.

Enjoy the cruising while it's good. When you find your niche, it will click. Try to avoid existentialism as it could lead to suicide or at the very least poor party manners.

[captZEEbo]

[ QUOTE ]
I didn't even buy a car, too much hassle. Ofcourse for that reason I don't have a girlfriend

[/ QUOTE ]don't kid yourself, I'm sure not having a car doesn't have too much of an effect on having a girlfriend (slight effect but not biggest reason).

[BlueArchon]

are you steve dannenman by any chance?

[fatmanpoker]

all i can say is that it'll come to you. you can't have all the answers right now. there's a lot of other 21 year olds just like you. go thru the motions, man. one day you'll be at the point that you're seeking.

love from the fatman

[jb9]

[ QUOTE ]
Try to avoid existentialism as it could lead to suicide or at the very least poor party manners.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's some seriously good advice.

[KingNeo]

I must admit that made me laugh.

[_TKO_]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
actuarial scientists are paid quite well to place a value on risk.

[/ QUOTE ]

We really don't get paid that much.

[/ QUOTE ]

Was it worth the risk?

[Roy Munson]

Seek truth. Engage yourself in pursuits that bring true lasting happiness. You actually sound like you are off to a good start knowing things that don't make you happy.

Try to be as observant of your surroundings as possible. At 21 many people feel, that with the bulk of their days still ahead, that time lacks value. As people get older many see that time is the most valuable commodity by far.

[Pog0]

[ QUOTE ]
Seek truth. Engage yourself in pursuits that bring true lasting happiness. You actually sound like you are off to a good start knowing things that don't make you happy.

Try to be as observant of your surroundings as possible. At 21 many people feel, that with the bulk of their days still ahead, that time lacks value. As people get older many see that time is the most valuable commodity by far.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm a living example. I just turned 21 and I'm reading every post in the 2+2 forums...

[PokerGenius]

Thanks for the responses, it feels great to get instant feedback from the older generation. You guys made me look up Existentialism in wikipedia, I find myself agreeing with most of it. I grew up in an atheist family which was supposed to be Jewish. I remember my dad scoffing at anything religion-related. I feel like have unlimited time, and I am not making any use of it. I did study for the exam today, and I think I got my passing grade.

My friend convinced me to go to the career center with him. I went, and for an entire hour I got to hear "interview tips". As she was talking, I was thinking, why does society require people to behave like an old white male (wear suits, shake hands, look straight in the eye, act conservative). I was more suprised at the audience, everyone seemed genuinly interested in what the lady had to say! I was even more amazed, when the lady showed excitement, even though that was probably 1000th lecture. I thought to myself, there's no way I can give even 2 identical lectures with the same excitement as the first one.

its very hard to get a girl in southern california without a car. I have been trying to chat it up with bunch of asian chicks, I got yellow fever. So far its just that.

As my rambling continues, I do enjoy this thread, maybe because its about me. As far as my interests go, I love the tv show Curb your Enthusiasm, I love playing fast-paced basketball, and I love looking at online porn. I also love to go to Yahoo chat, and bust some random crap to get people angry. I like when people tell me their problems, I feel like I connect with them. I don't like telling anyone my problems, have not found a true reason for this. I love thinking about the future, and how the world will change, too bad we're not going to be around to see it.

btw, today from 7 to 11, I played poker. I usually play a tourney a day, and today was the day when I made the final table! this for some reason makes my day better (??), I am more talkative today, and really looking forward to talking to some girls tomorrow.

[Phil153]

The most fun and amusing thing in life is to have options and freedoms that others don't. You get that by being good at things.

[SEABEAST]

Yes. So Laugh!

[Nut4Dawgs]

[ QUOTE ]
The most fun and amusing thing in life is to have options and freedoms that others don't. You get that by being good at things.

[/ QUOTE ]
Very well put.

[Ineedaride2]

If I may say so, OP sounds like he's teetering on the edge of depression.

[SheetWise]

Good candidate for a single handed circumnavigation.

[PokerGenius]

Edge of Depression? NOPE. I don't even know how I can fall into depression, I don't worry about anything much at all. I am concerned with a lot of stuff, whenevever I am feeling down, I just put on my headphones and listen to some music.

I laugh dudes, especially when someone gives me a little weed. I am a very happy individual, but then I don't smoke often since I don't like to kill of my brain cells.

Single handed circumnavigation? Does this mean, travel the world?

[Philo]

[ QUOTE ]
I can't take anything seriously anymore. Sometimes I don't care about anything (like right now). Technically I should be sleeping so I can wake up early to study for the exam I have. However the exam is a joke, if I don't do well, what can happen?

Is being a college senior and not having a job lined up bad? I don't really care right now. All I need is rent/food money, I don't really like spending money. I didn't even buy a car, too much hassle. Ofcourse for that reason I don't have a girlfriend, but that for some reason don't bother me. I don't go to any parties, because they're a joke, and am shy with complete strangers. I don't buy stuff period. Tourney poker can be fun, but damn its same think everytime.
If I don't double up the first hour, then I just give up, hate nursing a shortstack.

I enjoy life, I find it interesting how many people worry over mundane stuff. I find people interesting in general, but not strangers. Browsing forums is fun, just to see people. I am 21, and have not found anything that I really love doing.

so now I ask you all, is life a joke? I am open to all the responses you can give me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not a joke, perhaps, but definitely not to be taken too seriously.

"Anyone who is really serious knows that life is only a big adventure."

-Einstein

[Reef]

[ QUOTE ]
I can't take anything seriously anymore. Sometimes I don't care about anything (like right now). Technically I should be sleeping so I can wake up early to study for the exam I have. However the exam is a joke, if I don't do well, what can happen?

Is being a college senior and not having a job lined up bad? I don't really care right now. All I need is rent/food money, I don't really like spending money. I didn't even buy a car, too much hassle. Ofcourse for that reason I don't have a girlfriend, but that for some reason don't bother me. I don't go to any parties, because they're a joke, and am shy with complete strangers. I don't buy stuff period. Tourney poker can be fun, but damn its same think everytime.
If I don't double up the first hour, then I just give up, hate nursing a shortstack.

I enjoy life, I find it interesting how many people worry over mundane stuff. I find people interesting in general, but not strangers. Browsing forums is fun, just to see people. I am 21, and have not found anything that I really love doing.

so now I ask you all, is life a joke? I am open to all the responses you can give me.

[/ QUOTE ]

your life is going to be one at this rate

[idrinkcoors]

Honestly PokerGenius: even though I'm older than you and married, I could have written that exact same post.

Maybe that's why I just quit my job of 13 years. Everybody seemed so damn serious and boring, and I just didn't care anymore.

I agree with those who say that once you get an old lady, you care more about stuff. I do. I care about making money to take her on trips and.....ahem....buy her shoes. (Yes I'm whipped).

Enjoy your life now. You will find something that clicks with you. The lady giving the lecture enjoyed her position in life and even you could sense it. Yes it seems lame, but she is doing work that she enjoys. More power to her. Something will come along that you really enjoy, but you probably won't know it until it hits you. I just have and am enjoying the freedom and fullfillment of a new challenge.

Good luck to you

[Regis]

Does the joke make you feel good in an honest way that you respect yourself for? If it does, it is probably a good joke.

If it bothers you, then maybe something about the way your're seeing it is not accurate.

[murph0511]

Sounds to me like post-graduation angst or the "Quarter life Crisis". There have been some books written on the subject recently. Try googling for some information on it. Understanding it more might help you adjust and cope with it better.

-Tim

[Dan BRIGHT]

Hey I'm having a quarter life crisis too. It seems to me that a lot of things in life are very very trivial, and often people get upset with me for pointing those things out.

[_TKO_]

[ QUOTE ]
"Quarter life Crisis"

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you,
John Mayer

[_TKO_]

[ QUOTE ]
Hey I'm having a quarter life crisis too. It seems to me that a lot of things in life are very very trivial, and often people get upset with me for pointing those things out.

[/ QUOTE ]

I went through mine a couple years ago. I was very uncertain about where I was going and very stressed about it. I still don't really know where I'm going in life, but I seem to accept the fact that things will play out as I'm ready to take them. I have certain goals that I'd like to accomplish and have set time for them in my daily life.

I am currently in the middle of a 16-month internship, after which I will return to school in September and complete the final year of my engineering degree. I'm not sure what field in which I'd like to work when I'm done. I know I want to finish my degree. As it stands, I've been trying to take on many side projects to help me grow my list of contacts for work after school. Not all of these projects are related to my degree. I feel much better now that I have more options available to me. I can't say that everyone will be capable of diversifying their personal network, so I don't feel compelled to offer this as a fail-proof solution to you, the OP, or anyone else I know.

I think the bottom line is this: If you can control your future, you will not be disappointed.

You don't have to know what's coming; you only need to feel comfortable that you will be able to handle most situations that come your way. This is the greatest knowledge that I've extracted from poker.

[creedofhubris]

Graduate. Go to Thailand for six months on your poker money. Sure cure for yellow fever.

[AlanBostick]

No reason to get excited

There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke. You and I have been through that, and this is not our fate.

Let us not talk falsely now. The hour is getting late.