Obliged to?

[Mock Turtle]

What areas of life are you not particularly interested in but often feel obliged to look into, even study, so as to at least try to understand why you or others might be behaving as you/they do or have the beliefs any might have, or as to placing such areas into perspective?

For me, I have never been that interested in crime in general, politics in particular, or religious beliefs actually (feel such a sinner being here on RF - not), but have had to look into two of these simply because of one thing I have always been interested in - human behaviour - as to why we often do what we do and why we often believe what we believe. Not that human behaviour isn't involved in everything, but some such is often more explainable than others, and perhaps might lead to progress rather than the usual condemnation, wringing of hands, predictions of doom, and all the rest. Our own personal experiences all too often determine which areas of life we might have an interest in or necessarily be forced to research too. I suppose to be impartial we should not be choosy but we do tend to be - being human and all that.

So what do you feel obliged to look into?

 

[amorphous_constellation]

Well, I guess everything, in a way. I guess I kind of feel as you do about it, though I try to pick books I think I will enjoy. Oftentimes I guess I seem to, though sometimes I do not. Reading a book on any of those subjects can either be like blazing a trail in a dense jungle, with massive insects attacking my head, or like sitting next to the fountain of wisdom, on a pillow.

It can depend on my mood, and on how much clarity and energy I feel when I do it. Sometimes both things can happen in the same day, from the same book

I also sometimes feel obligated to listen to massive podcasts, from lex fridman or something. In order to that, I have to be pretty motivated, and have to be doing a long walk, oftentimes way out to the farmland, past goats and things

 

[Audie]

Real estate law

 

[SomeRandom]

What areas of life are you not particularly interested in but often feel obliged to look into, even study, so as to at least try to understand why you or others might be behaving as you/they do or have the beliefs any might have, or as to placing such areas into perspective?

For me, I have never been that interested in crime in general, politics in particular, or religious beliefs actually (feel such a sinner being here on RF - not), but have had to look into two of these simply because of one thing I have always been interested in - human behaviour - as to why we often do what we do and why we often believe what we believe. Not that human behaviour isn't involved in everything, but some such is often more explainable than others, and perhaps might lead to progress rather than the usual condemnation, wringing of hands, predictions of doom, and all the rest. Our own personal experiences all too often determine which areas of life we might have an interest in or necessarily be forced to research too. I suppose to be impartial we should not be choosy but we do tend to be - being human and all that.

So what do you feel obliged to look into?

Evolution. Need I say more?

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

...

So what do you feel obliged to look into?

What comes along. In general being more that 25 years on the Internet and partaking in my wife's 3 educations, it comes to me, because I just takes it as comes. But in general if someone claims knowledge, I will look closer.

 

[Audie]

Evolution. Need I say more?

You dont find it interedting?

 

[MikeF]

What areas of life are you not particularly interested in but often feel obliged to look into, even study, so as to at least try to understand why you or others might be behaving as you/they do or have the beliefs any might have, or as to placing such areas into perspective?

For me, I have never been that interested in crime in general, politics in particular, or religious beliefs actually (feel such a sinner being here on RF - not), but have had to look into two of these simply because of one thing I have always been interested in - human behaviour - as to why we often do what we do and why we often believe what we believe. Not that human behaviour isn't involved in everything, but some such is often more explainable than others, and perhaps might lead to progress rather than the usual condemnation, wringing of hands, predictions of doom, and all the rest. Our own personal experiences all too often determine which areas of life we might have an interest in or necessarily be forced to research too. I suppose to be impartial we should not be choosy but we do tend to be - being human and all that.

So what do you feel obliged to look into?

For me it would be Philosophy.

 

[exchemist]

What areas of life are you not particularly interested in but often feel obliged to look into, even study, so as to at least try to understand why you or others might be behaving as you/they do or have the beliefs any might have, or as to placing such areas into perspective?

For me, I have never been that interested in crime in general, politics in particular, or religious beliefs actually (feel such a sinner being here on RF - not), but have had to look into two of these simply because of one thing I have always been interested in - human behaviour - as to why we often do what we do and why we often believe what we believe. Not that human behaviour isn't involved in everything, but some such is often more explainable than others, and perhaps might lead to progress rather than the usual condemnation, wringing of hands, predictions of doom, and all the rest. Our own personal experiences all too often determine which areas of life we might have an interest in or necessarily be forced to research too. I suppose to be impartial we should not be choosy but we do tend to be - being human and all that.

So what do you feel obliged to look into?

Economics. It does not really interest me, but it is impossible to understand current affairs or politics without it.

 

[Audie]

For me it would be Philosophy.

Interesting.
What happened to result in such an odd obligation?

 

[SomeRandom]

You dont find it interedting?

I do and I don’t, if that makes sense?
Like I’m a literature nerd more than a science one

 

[MikeF]

Interesting.
What happened to result in such an ogd obligation?

In discussions, especially on RF, many will label my statements as corresponding to one philosophical belief system or another. In addition, arguments will be supported by referring to a particular philosophical belief or system. Hence, to have an idea of what is being referenced, I must delve into Philosophy to some extent.

 

[ChristineM]

Computer programming.

Simply didn't/doesn't interest me. When we (then to be hubby and i) first had the idea to start a 3D graphics business, windows 3.1 was the main OS. We had no idea idea that software wasn't available. So we learned first to hand code simultaneous equations, complex numbers and imaginary planes. We eventually built software to do most of the grunt work using, at first interpreted basic then compiled basic and then 'c'

Windows 95 was released, luckily still a dos based system so no problems with our code. And then, our saviour, 3Dmax hit the market. No more coding.

 

[Mock Turtle]

I probably felt obliged to look into philosophy, given I hadn't taken to religions so much, but I doubt this has helped me that much, even if I had studied it properly rather than as a hobby, which is really all I can claim. But I have at least tried to keep abreast of science and technology.

As to some others - I have no real interest in most sports, apart from where these are thrust into our notice as being the pinnacle of success (championships and such) - and the UK doesn't tend to get a lot of these. No obligation felt towards these.
I was interested in motor racing in my younger days though.

I know I should look into fiction literature much more than I have done, and overall I probably have only skimmed the more obvious reading matter, but then non-fiction often does just seem more attractive - as to work and rewards.

 

[Secret Chief]

What areas of life are you not particularly interested in but often feel obliged to look into, even study, so as to at least try to understand why you or others might be behaving as you/they do or have the beliefs any might have, or as to placing such areas into perspective?

For me, I have never been that interested in crime in general, politics in particular, or religious beliefs actually (feel such a sinner being here on RF - not), but have had to look into two of these simply because of one thing I have always been interested in - human behaviour - as to why we often do what we do and why we often believe what we believe. Not that human behaviour isn't involved in everything, but some such is often more explainable than others, and perhaps might lead to progress rather than the usual condemnation, wringing of hands, predictions of doom, and all the rest. Our own personal experiences all too often determine which areas of life we might have an interest in or necessarily be forced to research too. I suppose to be impartial we should not be choosy but we do tend to be - being human and all that.

So what do you feel obliged to look into?

When I'm feeling brave I have a look at the Mail and Express online, to keep a feel for the enemy propaganda.

 

[ChristineM]

When I'm feeling brave I have a look at the Mail and Express online, to keep a feel for the enemy propaganda.

You deserve a medal.
If you include the Sun then its a knighthood

 

[Secret Chief]

You deserve a medal.
If you include the Sun then its a knighthood

I'm not that brave.

 

[Daemon Sophic]

For me it would be Philosophy.

I do not value the philosophical musings of old dead people in dealing with the here and now enough to bother researching them. So even when someone quotes a “prominent philosopher”, I still don’t look it up. Either they are tangentially right, wrong, or the expressed philosophy doesn’t have anything to do with the subject at hand.

When I'm feeling brave I have a look at the Mail and Express online, to keep a feel for the enemy propaganda.

Yes. Looking at right-wingnut propaganda is disturbing and nauseating yet a necessary task….like pulling mats of hair/muck out of the shower drain, or picking up spilled garbage cans.

 

[MikeF]

I do not value the philosophical musings of old dead people in dealing with the here and now enough to bother researching them. So even when someone quotes a “prominent philosopher”, I still don’t look it up. Either they are tangentially right, wrong, or the expressed philosophy doesn’t have anything to do with the subject at hand.

I certainly agree with your main sentiment. However, from an historical perspective, there are some things to admire when one regards the ideas brought forth by a few philosophers given the overall base of knowledge available at the particular time in which the philosopher was active. This admiration is certainly stronger the farther back in time one goes. For example, I think my favorite philosopher so far is the classical Greek philosopher Epicurus. And indeed, I also enjoy seeing the development of human thought over a grand scale: the ideas that were before their time, the dead ends that caused some stagnation, and the resiliency of continued advancement.

So, like you, although I do not expect to find answers in past philosophy that have not already been incorporated into modern thought, and would not necessarily have continued looking at past philosophy in detail past my college survey courses, fulfilling this sense of obligation for reacquaintance with past philosophical thought has had its nuggets of enjoyment.

 

[Daemon Sophic]

I certainly agree with your main sentiment. However, from an historical perspective, there are some things to admire when one regards the ideas brought forth by a few philosophers given the overall base of knowledge available at the particular time in which the philosopher was active. This admiration is certainly stronger the farther back in time one goes. For example, I think my favorite philosopher so far is the classical Greek philosopher Epicurus. And indeed, I also enjoy seeing the development of human thought over a grand scale: the ideas that were before their time, the dead ends that caused some stagnation, and the resiliency of continued advancement.

So, like you, although I do not expect to find answers in past philosophy that have not already been incorporated into modern thought, and would not necessarily have continued looking at past philosophy in detail past my college survey courses, fulfilling this sense of obligation for reacquaintance with past philosophical thought has had its nuggets of enjoyment.

Point well taken. And yes; studying history is often enjoyable. And sometimes a philosopher pops up.

 

[Mock Turtle]

I certainly agree with your main sentiment. However, from an historical perspective, there are some things to admire when one regards the ideas brought forth by a few philosophers given the overall base of knowledge available at the particular time in which the philosopher was active. This admiration is certainly stronger the farther back in time one goes. For example, I think my favorite philosopher so far is the classical Greek philosopher Epicurus. And indeed, I also enjoy seeing the development of human thought over a grand scale: the ideas that were before their time, the dead ends that caused some stagnation, and the resiliency of continued advancement.

So, like you, although I do not expect to find answers in past philosophy that have not already been incorporated into modern thought, and would not necessarily have continued looking at past philosophy in detail past my college survey courses, fulfilling this sense of obligation for reacquaintance with past philosophical thought has had its nuggets of enjoyment.

I probably felt obligated to look into philosophy given that philosophers were often the most intelligent of their age and trying to deal with the most fundamental of issues even if they might have failed at such. As seen by me at least.