Being told 'everything happens for a reason'
Discussion
Perhaps one of the more philosophical threads on here; whenever things don't go our way in life there is often someone that will tell us that 'everything happens for a reason', or that 'things happen for the best'.
Well, I am interested to know whether PH'ers think that?
Guess for a lot of people it could be the case when you look further down the line, even if at the time it seems terrible. But how about when something terrible happens - like loss of a loved one, breakup of a good relationship etc
Well, I am interested to know whether PH'ers think that?
Guess for a lot of people it could be the case when you look further down the line, even if at the time it seems terrible. But how about when something terrible happens - like loss of a loved one, breakup of a good relationship etc
Everything does happen for a reason, but not a philosophical one. I think it’s too often used by people searching too hard for solace or something to blame when there is generally a rational, logical and simple reason for something.
For example, if you lost your job, it’s probably because they didn’t need your role anymore, you weren’t very good at your job or you got caught doing a naughty. If your wife left you, it’s probably because you were a dick, didn’t appreciate her or she found someone with a bigger willy/wallet.
There’s your reasons!
For example, if you lost your job, it’s probably because they didn’t need your role anymore, you weren’t very good at your job or you got caught doing a naughty. If your wife left you, it’s probably because you were a dick, didn’t appreciate her or she found someone with a bigger willy/wallet.
There’s your reasons!
I think it belongs in the urban myths thread along with:
You make your own luck
Karma
Crime doesn't pay
What goes around comes around.
It's rubbish i'm afraid. it's said by people to placate you and make you somehow feel better.
When your nearest and dearest is run down by some scroat in a stolen Zafira it doesn't happen for a reason.
You make your own luck
Karma
Crime doesn't pay
What goes around comes around.
It's rubbish i'm afraid. it's said by people to placate you and make you somehow feel better.
When your nearest and dearest is run down by some scroat in a stolen Zafira it doesn't happen for a reason.
I ordered some new rear tyres for the M3 on Thursday, for delivery on Monday to my work. The intention was to have them fitted Monday during my lunch break.
Took a last minute days leave on Monday and spent it with the kids. On Tuesday mornings drive to work I picked up a nail in the offside rear tyre, right on the edge of the sidewall. On checking later at the fitters it had gone right through the tyre.
So far this week, everything has happened for a reason!
Took a last minute days leave on Monday and spent it with the kids. On Tuesday mornings drive to work I picked up a nail in the offside rear tyre, right on the edge of the sidewall. On checking later at the fitters it had gone right through the tyre.
So far this week, everything has happened for a reason!
I tend to be fairly optimistic (although quite grumpy). I don't believe in cosmic ordering, or everything happening for a 'reason'. If things aren't going so well (as is the case now), I tend to use the mantra "Things will turn out OK in the end. If things aren't OK now, then it's not the end."
It's b
ks too, but reflects my PMA.
It's b
ks too, but reflects my PMA.SV_WDC said:
Perhaps one of the more philosophical threads on here; whenever things don't go our way in life there is often someone that will tell us that 'everything happens for a reason', or that 'things happen for the best'.
Well, I am interested to know whether PH'ers think that?
Guess for a lot of people it could be the case when you look further down the line, even if at the time it seems terrible. But how about when something terrible happens - like loss of a loved one, breakup of a good relationship etc
Of course 'everything happens for a reason' it's just usually a logical / rational / scientific one rather than a philosophical one. The 'things happen for the best' line is absolute rubbish, I can only imagine the reason anybody would believe this would be to get some comfort in a difficult circumstance and if this helps them feel better then great, however it's certainly not an absolute statement of fact and anecdotal evidence of where something appeared to be bad but turned out good in the long run is not proof that the philosophy is correctWell, I am interested to know whether PH'ers think that?
Guess for a lot of people it could be the case when you look further down the line, even if at the time it seems terrible. But how about when something terrible happens - like loss of a loved one, breakup of a good relationship etc
captain_cynic said:
Just think if everything did happen for a logical, easily explainable reason... It means all the horrible and unfortunate things that happen, come to you because you did something to deserve them.
Not necessarily. They may have happened to you because somebody else did them to you for a laugh.It's right up there with "fate" and "when you're number is up, you're number is up". But these idiots still look left and right when they cross the road.
As said above, it's a good way of saying something without getting into a difficult conversation you don't want to have. You know why their wife left them, and you don't really blame her, but you don't want to have to tell him that.
As said above, it's a good way of saying something without getting into a difficult conversation you don't want to have. You know why their wife left them, and you don't really blame her, but you don't want to have to tell him that.
Utter ste. My wife and I missed out on a property that we really wanted five years ago. FIVE YEARS. A few months ago, we bought another house and her mum brought up "see, I told you. You missed out on that house 5 years ago so you could buy this one." Utter ste. That's not comparable at all. It's just people trying to comfort themselves that when something didn't go their way, that something better is just around the corner.
te. My wife and I missed out on a property that we really wanted five years ago. FIVE YEARS. A few months ago, we bought another house and her mum brought up "see, I told you. You missed out on that house 5 years ago so you could buy this one." Utter ste. That's not comparable at all. It's just people trying to comfort themselves that when something didn't go their way, that something better is just around the corner. I can actually see this being true. Not necessarily a reason that the victim is in control of or likes / agrees with, but a reason exists nonetheless. One just has to study the circumstances, course of events and choices made by all those involved and the scenario.
Individual consequence examples on here where factors under victim control or otherwise (lost job, injury / accidental death etc), natural disasters,s, plane crashes, Vettel screwing up yet again etc, all will have an underlying reason as to why they happened. So many things have happened in my life which some may say was good/bad luck or chance, but for me I can see a reason when I look really closely at the situation.
I cannot think of anything that has happened that does not have an identifiable reason, although it is true that some reasons are hard to grasp - for example religion, UFOs, mass murderers etc. I am sure others will find something difficult for me to explain to myself though, it is just my lack of experience of their specific circumstances, surrounding evidence and outcomes or plain old economy with the truth.
The things I have difficulty believing are things like fate, destiny etc which are largely stating that things happen just because they are ordained.
Individual consequence examples on here where factors under victim control or otherwise (lost job, injury / accidental death etc), natural disasters,
s, plane crashes, Vettel screwing up yet again etc, all will have an underlying reason as to why they happened. So many things have happened in my life which some may say was good/bad luck or chance, but for me I can see a reason when I look really closely at the situation.I cannot think of anything that has happened that does not have an identifiable reason, although it is true that some reasons are hard to grasp - for example religion, UFOs, mass murderers etc. I am sure others will find something difficult for me to explain to myself though, it is just my lack of experience of their specific circumstances, surrounding evidence and outcomes or plain old economy with the truth.
The things I have difficulty believing are things like fate, destiny etc which are largely stating that things happen just because they are ordained.
Jonno02 said:
Utter ste. My wife and I missed out on a property that we really wanted five years ago. FIVE YEARS. A few months ago, we bought another house and her mum brought up "see, I told you. You missed out on that house 5 years ago so you could buy this one." Utter ste. That's not comparable at all. It's just people trying to comfort themselves that when something didn't go their way, that something better is just around the corner.
Yes that is utter ste. My wife and I missed out on a property that we really wanted five years ago. FIVE YEARS. A few months ago, we bought another house and her mum brought up "see, I told you. You missed out on that house 5 years ago so you could buy this one." Utter ste. That's not comparable at all. It's just people trying to comfort themselves that when something didn't go their way, that something better is just around the corner. te. There are reasons why you lost the first house, and reasons why you bought the second. Her mum is not apportioning that to “reasons”, but “fate or destiny” she imagines wrapped around of both transactions, which is where the total bks starts. She doesn’t understand the difference between a reason and an idealistic notion.Don't confuse cause and reason.
Everything has a cause. This is, the thing that happened to make the thing happen. Outside of quantum mechanics (and, possibly, even then) things don't "just happen".
Reason implies purpose and direction. Something has happened because some external, sentient being wanted it to.
My coffee machine makes coffee because I pressed the button. The reason I did so is because I wanted a cup of coffee.
Everything has a cause. This is, the thing that happened to make the thing happen. Outside of quantum mechanics (and, possibly, even then) things don't "just happen".
Reason implies purpose and direction. Something has happened because some external, sentient being wanted it to.
My coffee machine makes coffee because I pressed the button. The reason I did so is because I wanted a cup of coffee.
Thankyou4calling said:
I think it belongs in the urban myths thread along with:
You make your own luck
Karma
Crime doesn't pay
What goes around comes around.
It's rubbish i'm afraid. it's said by people to placate you and make you somehow feel better.
When your nearest and dearest is run down by some scroat in a stolen Zafira it doesn't happen for a reason.
‘Wrong place, wrong time’ sadly? You make your own luck
Karma
Crime doesn't pay
What goes around comes around.
It's rubbish i'm afraid. it's said by people to placate you and make you somehow feel better.
When your nearest and dearest is run down by some scroat in a stolen Zafira it doesn't happen for a reason.
Seriously though, you sum it up just about spot on.
Thankyou4calling said:
I think it belongs in the urban myths thread along with:
You make your own luck
Karma
Crime doesn't pay
What goes around comes around..
You make your own luck: Could be: You recognise (or not if you have bad luck) beneficial opportunities You make your own luck
Karma
Crime doesn't pay
What goes around comes around..
Karma: if you're generally a dick to people then at some point you will have annoyed enough people that you will get treated as badly at some point. The opposite could be true if you are decent to people.
Crime doesn't pay – it does, clearly, otherwise there would be no incentive to do it.
My FIL is the exception to the first two above. Nice bloke but never seems to catch a break and is too trusting by far, therefore when people fail to live up to his standards he feels slighted by them.
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff