"Both also had borderline personality "disorder"." This disorder is marked by a strong fear of abandonment as well as other symptoms such as intense emotions and impulsivity.
Just reading about these philosophies in your excellent article is chilling and negating.
I'm sorry if this comes off as spam, but it is more efficient to give you the link than to retype it here--
TL;DR this piece might give you some insight into how people can think their way into these ideas, and then think their way back out again, rather than by doing something that is such a rupture with nature.
These are generally people who have been shown very little of the good side of life, so it's hard to conceptualize any rhyme or reason to it. I found a reason to live while I was staying in Palm Springs during the pandemic, after being the victim of a heinous crime and almost dying a couple of times, so this event is particularly, bitterly poignant to me.
I think people get into these ideas when they have suffered almost enough to break them. Once you break completely, you either die or get better.
The absolute worst thing about the internet is that it facilitates the dissemination of really stupid ideas by anyone with a smartphone and no self control.
I'm an anti-natalist who was also a white nationalist for many years. I have written a long essay called An Indictment of Life which you might like to read.
Wow. Some serious work here. I feel like I just put my head into the upside down in Stranger Things. We live now in a time where we can craft our very own reality and live solitary lives, unchallenged by our philosophy’s unredeeming amorality.
Hi, I just stumbled on this from the newsfeed page. Thanks for this explanation, I was vaguely aware of the book and antinatalism 15 years ago but didn't realize it still had influence.
I'm somewhat surprised to hear that Adam Lanza had philosophical views -- Is it strange to you that this is not more well known about him?
Not that I know much about him, but I read the news articles at the time and I've read his Wikipedia, and it doesn't mention his philosophical obsessions or his YouTube.
This is why I try to avoid all “isms,” if possible. These efilists seem so fucking entitled. Sure, go ahead and off yourself if necessary, but leave the rest of us alone.
Reminds me of college debate where one side would put forward a number of reasoned arguments for their plan, and the rebuttal was always “yes, but if one person lives one second longer because of your evil plan, that means an infinitesimal increase in the probability of apocalypse, and since apocalypse is by definition the worst thing ever we cannot even contemplate implementing your evil plan.
Won a lot of rounds with that one. Lost a lot too. The key is to talk as fast as possible so they don’t have time to respond to everything.
Camus pretty much had a similar view of existence. But he wasn't a whiny little bitch about it and flipped it around to make life about rebelling against the inherent horror of our universe for your own amusement. Of course, as opposed to these dorks, he wasn't lame.
"Both also had borderline personality "disorder"." This disorder is marked by a strong fear of abandonment as well as other symptoms such as intense emotions and impulsivity.
Just reading about these philosophies in your excellent article is chilling and negating.
I'm sorry if this comes off as spam, but it is more efficient to give you the link than to retype it here--
TL;DR this piece might give you some insight into how people can think their way into these ideas, and then think their way back out again, rather than by doing something that is such a rupture with nature.
These are generally people who have been shown very little of the good side of life, so it's hard to conceptualize any rhyme or reason to it. I found a reason to live while I was staying in Palm Springs during the pandemic, after being the victim of a heinous crime and almost dying a couple of times, so this event is particularly, bitterly poignant to me.
I think people get into these ideas when they have suffered almost enough to break them. Once you break completely, you either die or get better.
Anyway: https://nuisanceonlinedistributor.substack.com/p/why-im-no-longer-an-antinatalist?r=71nc
The absolute worst thing about the internet is that it facilitates the dissemination of really stupid ideas by anyone with a smartphone and no self control.
I'm an anti-natalist who was also a white nationalist for many years. I have written a long essay called An Indictment of Life which you might like to read.
I guess the name 'Autisticus Spasticus' is accurate.
I am free to be as self-deprecating about my condition as I please.
Thanks for this. I learned so much from your post. I live near Palm Springs and this makes the event way more interesting to talk about with people.
As the old saying goes "only sith deal in absolutes".
Wow. Some serious work here. I feel like I just put my head into the upside down in Stranger Things. We live now in a time where we can craft our very own reality and live solitary lives, unchallenged by our philosophy’s unredeeming amorality.
Very interesting article, Katherine. I felt my horizons were broadened today.
Thank you!
Hi, I just stumbled on this from the newsfeed page. Thanks for this explanation, I was vaguely aware of the book and antinatalism 15 years ago but didn't realize it still had influence.
I'm somewhat surprised to hear that Adam Lanza had philosophical views -- Is it strange to you that this is not more well known about him?
Not that I know much about him, but I read the news articles at the time and I've read his Wikipedia, and it doesn't mention his philosophical obsessions or his YouTube.
This is why I try to avoid all “isms,” if possible. These efilists seem so fucking entitled. Sure, go ahead and off yourself if necessary, but leave the rest of us alone.
Performative Apocalypse.
Reminds me of college debate where one side would put forward a number of reasoned arguments for their plan, and the rebuttal was always “yes, but if one person lives one second longer because of your evil plan, that means an infinitesimal increase in the probability of apocalypse, and since apocalypse is by definition the worst thing ever we cannot even contemplate implementing your evil plan.
Won a lot of rounds with that one. Lost a lot too. The key is to talk as fast as possible so they don’t have time to respond to everything.
If something that is conceived can be abused, then it will be.
Efilism is the abuse of antinatalism.
i'm glad i arrived at the idea that "suffering is inevitable while you're alive" through Buddhism and not this
no doubt
These people are monsters
Camus pretty much had a similar view of existence. But he wasn't a whiny little bitch about it and flipped it around to make life about rebelling against the inherent horror of our universe for your own amusement. Of course, as opposed to these dorks, he wasn't lame.
This is great work, Katherine. Thank you for giving these topics attention.