Only a handful ever had a huge consequence.

And even if they never existed, someone else would've done what they did.

Nothing matters

>>9824723

Insert "do crazy shit like be a terrorist/punch a shark" here.

Who gives a shit. Just be glad for what you have.
Don't be one of them who realize they did love life only on their deathbed.

Stop thinking. Live fucking life.

Firstly.. loads of people that were fuck ups did something. The billionaire Richard Branson was told in school, "You will either be in prison or a millionaire." Who knows you could do something brilliant.

Secondly, does it fucking matter? Is that the point to life? Do you really think anyone cares that we did this and that? History shows you.. things have changed - but a lot hasn't. People still kill etc. All those great feats? Not really that brilliant.

Thirdly, be happy and live life. Take action and stop the thinking. Why bring yourself misery when you could be doing awesome things.

>>9824747
I disagree. There are so many categories, fields, skills, hobbies, and interest in which one can excel. Yes, most people will not excel, but it is much more than a handful.

>>9824758
I am not a materialistic kind of guy. I do try to appreciate what I have. This is more than just what I have, but my bad if I explained myself poorly. It's the feeling that I will never do anything of substance in this world. I will never give anything back of significance. I will never create progress or innovation. It is the very irrelevancy of me. I am about to finish my degree and I realize that all of my work was essentially unnecessary. Being who I am, society did not and will not need me.

>>9824767
There is no point to life. You have to create your own meaning. For some it is happiness. For others it is success. For others it is money etc.

My ultimate goal in life has never been to be happy, but instead, I've always wanted to do something of substance with my life, according to my definition. Sure, it is still largely influenced by the society, and certainly not independently my own, but the direction my life is headed is not something I would consider substantial.

I guess it took me 21 years to realize this, but I am not an extraordinary person. I never have. Most of us aren't. Maybe for others they don't mind it, I guess I do.

>>9824787
I've felt the same many times but really you are not insignificant. Everyone makes an impression. You have probably literally changed peoples lives just by being there and turned some heads around just thru conversation. You may not win the Nobel Prize but things would be different if you weren't around. Maybe not on a global scale but rest assured everyone matters and you know, ripples on a lake etc.
As an artist I have come to terms with the fact I will never be Van Gogh or Picasso (fuck you all, Picasso was genius) but even if only 10 or 20 people ever see my work I'll make an impression whatever it is just something that stays with them and maybe makes them think of something, anything.

I plan on achieving immortality and becoming the king of the world. You can be my right hand, op.

Stop being such a fucking miserable chap, OP.

You are entirely wrong about that you would have been great at something already if that was a possibility in your life. At the age of 21 barely anyone gets widely known for being remarkably good at anything.

Consider the fact that you have tried far from everything one can try in one's life, therefore you might be exceptionally good at something you don't know.

Consider the fact that mostly narcissistic and self-centered individuals reach the elite-levels of respective disciplines. If you have good thoughts of yourself you subconsciously judge yourself harsher and therefore refine your skills quicker contrary to someone with low self-esteem that gives up easily.

>>9824723
Nothing matters dude. You're not some movie/videogame protagonist or a unique snowflake for that matter.

Just do whatever want/makes you happy - but don't underestimate the importance of a stimulating job with good financial prospects/hours. It'll improve your life quality and increase your chances to land a desirable woman (or man).

>>9824854
>You are entirely wrong about that you would have been great at something already if that was a possibility in your life. At the age of 21 barely anyone gets widely known for being remarkably good at anything.

Most individuals who accomplished any sort of remarkability in their life were usually showing signs in their adolescence. I am a good student, I am going to a good school, but I am no different than the majority of my peers who are going to other good universities. I mean, I am not headed down the path of infernal minimum wage, but I am definitely a faceless member of what you consider the yuppie crowd. I am just being realistic.

>Consider the fact that mostly narcissistic and self-centered individuals reach the elite-levels of respective disciplines.

Maybe in the financial world and sometimes the athletic world but this is definitely not the case in other disciplines. I don't have any reason to criticize the elites of a respective discipline, the often earned it through their innate biological ability and their dedication and effort. Narcissism has little to do with it.

OP, look at yourself in the mirror. You see yourself? Two arms, two legs, head, all features where they should be?
That means you're a human. That's the best fucking thing you can be.
Stop moping around and enjoy life. Even if you do get more than one, that's no reason to feel bad in this one.

And if you do need validation for your existence think of this: If you're not an asshole to most people, you're contributing to our development as a species, on average. Everybody counts. We might do without you, but we'd definitely rather not.

>>9824723
personally i'm considering doing something in healthcare, if I can't be brilliant at least I can help others

>I am nothing more than another faceless member of the crowd. I wish my live hadn't become this, but this is what it will be.
You do realize that for there to be a crowd, almost everybody has to be a member thereof? If you do, let me pose the question thusly: what the hell did you expect?

>>9824893
I'll try to reiterate what I was saying to better express my point. Ultimately we are all seeking things which make us happy. It may not be the actual seeking of happiness, but some other external medium which leads to that feeling we desire.

I love having sex, relationship can be good, and I enjoy intimacy as well. Diligent work in any career can be fulfilling, but I have experienced enough of this and I know myself well enough to know that none of these things will give my life fulfillment I seek.

Haven't you ever read about the extraordinary men and women and been in awe? I remember when I used to read the publications of different scientists and philosophers, and I was amazed at the complexity of their thinking. It was so beyond the mundane aspects of life we just discussed. A career, relationships? Those are great, we agree, but relative to the discovery and expansion that occurs in moments of ingenuity in whatever discipline are without substitute in my mind.

I am bummed that I now realize that i will never experience this expansive pursuit. And yeah, I don't know what to do. It has been an ideal of mine for quite some time.

Start making it significant dude , things don't come out of nothing , find your passion bro , whatever it is , if its your passion you will be great at it , your passion is your drive , everyone can be great , just have to find your passion/drive in life!

And let me add one more thing: those who became great (at least, by my understanding of your definition) did not sit on their ass all day wondering what they can do to be great.

>>9824935
I guess OP expected to be the alpha MC.

>>9824936
If you just want to be a genius, pick something interesting and drill into
it like it's the last thing your drill will get to do. It's just hard work. Throw
a thousand things at a wall and at least one should stick. Failure after
failure after failure, while checking off the infinite list of "all the things",
until you hit something true. And if you dig down and see something is
not for you, try something else. It's how things go.

>How can I find life worth living when I will forever be bound to mediocrity?

Welcome to the club of 99,99% of humans who have ever lived and will ever live. Learn to deal with it.

What level of recognition you would want to be satisfied anyways? Employee of the month, being class b celebrity, winning noble prize, being good father/mother and husband/wife? Even those who are naturally gifted in someway have to work hard and be lucky to become someone who is remembered decades after they have passed away, most are forgotten before century has passed.

>>9824972>>9824954
My friends, I have not sat on my ass expecting myself to achieve anything. Yet, at the same time, it is important for one to understand their limitations. I have finally understood mine. This understanding has given me this new perspective.

OP, where do you go to college?

>>9824723
People who do amazing things usually put everything they have and listen to what they believe is right.

Op, being realistic will lead to an average life doing what everyone else is doing. If that is what you desire, then by all means, follow your intended course.

But remember that life doesn't wait. Once you decide to be normal, you'll look around, 20 years have passed, and you'll wonder what you did with your life.

>>9824989
Greatness doesn't need recognition.

>>9824993
UC Berkeley undergrad.

>>9825007

>Greatness doesn't need recognition.

True, but OP wouldnt be asking this if he just wanted to do something that made him feel great on personal level.

>>9825047
But I am OP.

>
My ultimate goal in life has never been to be happy, but instead, I've always wanted to do something of substance with my life, according to my definition. Sure, it is still largely influenced by the society, and certainly not independently my own, but the direction my life is headed is not something I would consider substantial.

As I said. This is my consideration.

Actually, it's not too late for you to be a scientist.

I mean, 30 is considered "young" for a scientist.

>>9824905
On both points you're totally wrong; you're talking out of your ass.

At the age of 21 you can interpret those signs as you wish, really. One could say that you have extremely obvious signs of success but it never 'blooms'. And success can come out of virtually nothing, it quite so often does.

Narcissism is also proven extremely common in the elite, simply because it functions as a helpful trait to pursue success.

>>9825062
I am not here to argue. Believe what you wish.

>>9824936
>Haven't you ever read about the extraordinary men and women and been in awe?

Yes of course. But you have a very weird mindset.
You want to be brilliant at something,you don't know exactly what but you want to achieve greatness" and gain recognition.

Well you won't get any of that by just navel-gazing. All the men/women you admire trained/studied/practiced hard before they achieved notoriety. Find whatever it is you want to do, then get really good at it. There are no shortcuts.

>>9824723

Don´t look at the things you can´t be but look what you can be:

>THE GREATEST AND BEST DADDY EVER

i never had a dad tho

Join the Army and have some fun killing Taliban and other assholes with hi-tech equipment.

>>9825075
I've been in school for 3 years working my ass of to hopefully be a neuroscientist. Why does everyone have the impression that I am sitting around all day on 4chan expecting this to fall on my lap? In all of my other hobbies, I vigorously study them and try to master them to the best of my ability.

This isn't my point. I gauge my speed of improvement, my current capacities, and in my assessment, my creativity, my ingenuity, I see nothing extraordinary.

>>9825094

80% of faggots deployed since 2007 never see combat

>>9825055

Failed to see I was responding to you OP.

Pic something you want to do and put all you effort doing it. It takes about 10k hours of practice to become best of the best in any skill, thats 3 hours a day for ten years. So if you really want to be great, one life time is enough to become master in many things, all it requires is lots of hard work.

>>9825130
Ha. I remember that book. Nurture, deliberate practice, and good coaching.

I don't buy it. I have a good enough understanding of dynamic systems to know that to believe that expertise is simply the above is overwhelmingly overlooking too many variables. Most importantly, it ignores innate physiology. There is such thing as genetic superiority relative to achievement in certain disciplines.

>>9825107

Just think of artists and philosophers, there is many who died poor without ever knowing they would be sometime in the future be recognized as something great.

>>9825168
Again, I am not looking for recognition. I too have read works that are considered "great" and they are not in my opinion. I prime example is Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. I have become mediocre in my own eyes.

>>9824723

Sounds like you need some loved ones in your life OP

>>9825107
That's good to hear that you're productive and honing your skills.

>I gauge my speed of improvement, my current capacities, and in my assessment, my creativity, my ingenuity, I see nothing extraordinary.

Haha, well that's a waste of time and unhealthy from psychological viewpoint. You can't forsee the future or when you're gonna hit your stride/get a breakthrough. Some of the the biggest discoveries happened by accident, the greatest songs were scribbled down by stoned "nobody" artists in the middle of the night. Enough with your defeatist mentality already.

>>9825159

I dont know which book you are talking about but this study showed that all it takes is practice. Of course there is lots of variables and you wont learn to run if you have no legs but but the point was that with that 10k hours of practice any average joe can become master of anything. Of course those who are naturally gifted have potential to be even better but because very few actually are, and even fever put that much effort in doing it, it doesent really matter.

Successful people who say they always knew they are going to be something great say it because every fucking human being thinks they are special.

>>9825228
Maybe.

>>9824723
Narcissism as a result of low self-esteem. You could always commit suicide.

OP still cares too god damned much.

Have you considered getting involved in a religion and believing that everyone else is wrong or doomed to torment?

>>9825281
All human action is a result of fear. What is your point?

>>9825261
Maybe relative to someone who has virtually no talent in a discipline, a rough estimation is 10,000 hours for them to be an expert within their respective field, but there are billions of people who have put over 10,000 hours in many disciplines. I am sure the rice farming children in China have put well over 10,000 hours in farming by the time they are adults. I am sure most scientists who are in there 60s+ have put well over 10,000 hours in their respective field. So they would then be considered an expert or master by your definition.

Does this mean that they are remarkable? Does this mean they will do something extraordinary? Will they achieve new ground in their respective discipline?

>>9825185

Everybody feels mediocre if they dont get pat on the back every now and then. Doing best you can should be enough for yourself but its just not the same if you dont get some recognition for your actions. Human brain sucks that way.

John Kennedy Toole heroed because nobody would publish his book. His mom managed to get it published in memory of his son and it became bestseller and won pulitzer. You think he had reason to feel worthless?

>>9825296
>>9825300
The closest I've ever had to religion is investigations in Vedic traditions, predominately Buddhism. But you are right, I do care.

However, if I were to truly not care, I might as well be dead. Life is perpetuated by desire and seeking. The very absence of this is the equivalent of death.

@OP: Don't listen to these faggots - you will never be happy as a nobody faggot making 120k at 30.

>>9825351
I am well aware of that.

>>9825356

What are you studying? What are you decent at?

>>9825365
I am studying neuroscience. Off the top of my head, I am good at science, philosophy, psychology, debate, chess, painting, and guitar.

>>9825351
Happiness doesn't usually increase above $70k. Up until $70k money buys happiness, but after that there's no correlation.

Either way - I feel that there are a few ways to make it even if you are a nobody:

1. Get money. The biggest cliche on 4chan, but it truly opens up so many doors - better teachers, better equipment, work space, etc.

2. Getting like minded people together. I am a loner by nature, but lately I have become convinced that people can accomplish a TON if they work together and everyone works hard. Just economies of scale / division of labor really. The problem is, finding people that want something out of life irl is a huge problem. They are either:

a. Nobodies with no hope / lazy fuckers.
b. Rich kids who don't give a fuck because they have what they want.

I am:

>>9825365
>>9825351

>>9825320

>rice farming children in China have put well over 10,000 hours in farming by the time they are adults

And they most likely are really good at doing what they do. Its not very complex task and there is not really any advance in being best rice farmer in the world but it doesent meant they were not good at it.

>I am sure most scientists who are in there 60s+ have put well over 10,000 hours in their respective field. So they would then be considered an expert or master by your definition.

Have you not noticed most experts in any field like this are generally very old?

And when talking about someones profession you also need to take consideration that its different thing to just do something and actually practice to hone your skills. Most people have probably walked 10k hours at very early age but if there is no challenge and nothing to improve then there really is not nothing to learn anyways.

>>9825383

Yea, I saw the study too, except I don't believe it. Just as a simple example, take an extra 50k from 30 to 50. Give yourself a 5% annual interest rate (it's VERY doable), that's an extra mil+ to retire on. Sounds like a significant happiness boost to me.

Also, retirement is for faggots.

>>9825382

Do you do anything science-related on your own? Also, I would own you at chess, just sayian.

>>9825399
But we aren't talking about experts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_von_Neumann

Here is an example. Probably one of the greatest minds in the history of man. This is not deliberate practice.

>>9825416
Let's find out. and yes of course, I love science.

http://lichess.org/q4crkfmm

>>9825435
Why did you leave?

http://lichess.org/kgzplee5

Don't be like that.

>>9825435

I ended up being a spectator.

>>9825416
Consider it in terms of the average effort taken to earn that amount, though. My understanding was that above 70k the amount of effort required to increase your income was sufficiently high that it counteracted the slightly increased financial security, the increase in social status and the larger number of shiny toys.

>>9825418

What the hell we are talking about then? Only reason he his great is because he did something other people liked. Maybe he felt like worthless piece of shit his whole life.

First you say you dont require recognition of being great from anybody else and now you say you dont want to become something that might make you recognize your own greatness. Do you have low self-esteem? Maybe you are most fucking awesome person ever and just failing to realize it.

>>9825416
Dude I am kicking your ass lol.

>>9825482

Yea, another one after please. I haven't played in 5 years. Want to redeem myself, or a chance to.

Let me know if you want me to resign for now. I lost.

>>9825473
His recognition is a result of his remarkability, not the other way around.

>>9825497
>>9825514
Resign whenever you want man. No worries.

I lost. Just letting everyone know.

>>9825533
3 hours a day, man. 3 hours a day.

>>9825546
This is probably really unfair if you haven't played in 5 years. I play everyday, and I study all the time.

Fuck - D2 was stupid as fuck, forgot it was defending pawn. Fo shame. Shit's embarrassing.

You think people are just born athletes, Artists, musicians ETC. Those people work to get there they devote every ounce of there being into doing something. You don't want to be a dreamer because a dream is something you want but you still haven't persued. The reason your like this is because you never truly persued anything. Do you expect to just wake up in the fucking morning and be something special? That's not how shit works, If you truly want something you must devote everything you have to it, You have to push your body and mind until you just can't possibly anymore because it hurts so fucking bad. Stop complaining about what your not and just get up off your ass and persue what you must. You are the one who creates your future, It is better to put your body and mind through as much pain and stress as you can while your young so you can achieve what you want. Because the pain you suffer through to achieve what you want doesn't hurt nearly as bad as the regret you will feel when your old for not achieving anything.

>>9825584
I am not even going to respond to you dudes who haven't read the thread. Because this is not the case.

>>9825554

I used to play in tournaments when I was a kid. Obviously I am shit now, but it might come back to me.

I am getting schooled again btw, just letting everyone know.

>>9825516

You are obviously just being faggot. If you are no some super genius with body of zyzz and 10 inch penis deal with it. Neumann most likely spend his whole life reading books and learning instead of whining in internet. Thinking is skill and like all skills it can be practiced. Maybe Neuman was naturally gifted thinker and had great ability to absorb information but it doesnt mean you couldnt achieve same as he did with hard work.

>>9825612
At the age of 8 he was fluent in the math I just took this year. You don't know what you are talking about.

>>9825625
If you want to feel special, you could always travel around the world assassinating great minds, great leaders and great sportsmen.

>>9825601
You don't seem to understand you can achieve anything literally anything you want if you just try as hard as you possibly can.

>>9825652
Ha ha ha. Nah, I'm not really into violence man.

>>9825672

lol, tell that to a cripple

>>9825672
This is idealistic masturbation of the finest. Matter precedes mind. You must function within the limitations of the material reality. If this were not the case, if I willed it, I could fly out of my chair right now with the new wings I thought to grow.

>>9825678
I can gladly tell that to a cripple, Your body will not take you anywhere it is your mind that will. What if there were a cripple out there and he devoted everything he had to being able to walk and he worked every single fucking day of his life to find a way. Who's to say that cripple couldn't develop a an exoskeleton to allow him to walk or maybe even reconstruct his legs to make them work.

>>9825601

Yeah we know you work hard, but you are only 21, If you havent done something you feel great about then work harder.

>>9825625

Maybe he was genius, so what? It doesent stop you from achieving something great if you try hard enough. Should everyone who are not great at age of 8, 21, 50 or what ever just feel shit and kill themselves because of it?

Hey OP. Read the whole thread and I agree with ya. In fact, I'm very similar. Almost 21 and can't seem to be content with mediocrity. I want to be... can't seem to will it to be so.

Dunno man. I wish you luck.

>>9825726
But this is fluff. Sure, it is possible. But I am concerned with probabilities. It is possible that my body will spontaneously decay because of irregularities in the atomic interaction of my cells, but how likely is it? Why even deal with an unlikelihood? Realism is a very important prerequisite towards understanding.

>>9825688
HAHAHA maybe your right in your case, because of your attitude you will always be mediocre. You don't even want to help yourself, your just wishing there was a way to get what you want without effort. Shit like that doesn't work if you want something you have to persue it, it won't just come to you. Have fun being average.

>>9825751
This is untrue. Maybe as a result of illiteracy or poor focus, you have overlooked my statements, but I have explicitly stated that I study everyday, and I actively engage all of my hobbies everyday.

>>9825751

You're an idiot.

Probability is very important, OP is just having a hard time being content with it. Just because you don't think tha way doesn't make you smarter. It makes you purposefully ignorant. Maybe you're better off, but you're certainly dumber.

You can't even use the right "your".

>>9825743
That is when you have to ask yourself, Would you rather be alive but completely miserable because of your mediocrity or dead? There are always risks man, but those who want to break free must take them. So what if there are risks? Risks can put you through pain but who is to say pain is a negative thing? Pain is the sacrifice you must go through to achieve pleasure. Here is your problem, you are looking at the downside instead of the upside, yes there are risks but can you imagine the glory of avoiding those risks and getting exactly where you want? Humans are absolutely incredible but to many people worry we are inadequate the only thing humans should really worry about is if we are to advanced for our own good.

>>9825773
Maybe this is your problem op, maybe you just don't have enough of the proper neurotransmitters. You know what those things that push you forward are? Dopamine and adrenaline, That's what makes you find meaning in things and do things you wouldn't do without them.

Every human being thinks they are special and want to become something great, heck even all other animals want the same thing, they just dont think about it. Some have better start than others. Some are naturally smart or great athletes or maybe both, some are born rich, some poor. Who knows how many great people we have lost because their lives were ended too soon, from their own or someone elses will.

Point being that everybody feels like they need to do more and do better. That feel has been driving life forward since the beginning. For some the pressure is too much and they quit before they even tried.

Only choice you can make is to continue trying or to quit. First path wont guarantee success but there is not even change in second one.

>>9825879

You make really good points.

>>9825848
>>9825802
Ha ha. There is no static for a normal amount of synaptic terminals. they are also plastic, and as such, malleable given the proper nutrition and environmental/mental stimulation.

I appreciate the advice, but I think it is best that I simply learn to accept who I am instead of trying to delude myself with idealistic notions of falsity.

>>9825879
That thing that makes everyone want to do better is dopamine, EVERYONE has it. Your exactly right in every way, Some people are just born athletes it's got a lot do with genetics. Most people however are not just born that way so they have to use there minds to push there bodies to the limit.

Try unexpected, new experiences. All through middle school and high school I was an art and music nerd. After some failed college attempts, I found out I'm very athleticly inclined after I was persuaded to do some exercising by family.

>>9825894
Alright that's fine, but when your on your deathbed you will ask yourself what you did with your life. Regret can hurt like a motherfucker bro.

>>9825942
Don't project your fears onto me.

>>9825960
Alright fine lets just face the facts, your a fucking pussy, All you worry about is the risks. Your just another emo faggot that doesn't want to push his shit to the limits because it hurts. Go ahead and live your life accepting the fact that your just another sheep.

Hmm, not sure what happened. It was fun losing to you though.

>>9825973
I don't recall ever once saying that I am going to give up on anything. I don't recall ever once claiming that I was going to drop out of university, sell all of my possession, and go live on the streets and cry all day.

I think I only asked how to find some comfort, meaning, and value in a life lived that won't meet my expectations. Jesus christ.

Do you want to be successful at something in particular or just successful for its own sake regardless of the field (art, philosophy, whatever).
Are you still trying to please people or are you trying to please yourself? Is life about being happy or about working hard for a tangible goal?

(There's no right answer. You can find great people on both sides of the argument. It's totally up to you. You have to follow your bliss)

>>9826000
I want to please myself.

>>9825726

Tell that to a cripple from a poor family with no education who is starving in Africa, yo.

>>9825741
We can suffer together in our mediocrity. ha ha

>>9825997
Drugs man, not super hard drugs, many who use hallucinogens find a lot more meaning to life.

>> I will never be a great anything. If I were to become one, it would have already happened.
>Not doing anything
>Expecting something to happen
This is why you are mediocre, deal with it

>>9826028

Hah, maybe. Maybe I'll find a way out of this hellhole called My Own Mind. My jimmies have been so rustled lately.

OP, you are like me, I'm in the same boat as an ordinary dude who can only do ordinary things. So how do I find meaning in my life or justify my existence? I do whatever in my power to make others happy. Try to put a smile on other people's faces. It's so gratifying and it's a way you can make a difference.

>>9826007
crawl out of Africa and get adopted by Angelina Jolie, very improbable but still possible.

>>9826032
Like 20 people have said this. What else do you want me to do?

I would say roughly 90% of my time is spent doing something relatively productive. 10% is leisure, which is necessary to maintain productivity.

The whole goal in life (to me) is to achieve that worth, give a reason for your name to be passed down for generations to come. 21 is very young to think it's all lost, many famous people randomly dwelve into that much later in life.

>>9826062

Very true. Like Leonard Suskind. (sp)

>>9826046
>I would say roughly 90% of my time is spent doing something relatively productive.
Which is?

>>9826046

If this is true you are fucking great person already OP, most people spent their time doing fuck all. You have stated numerous times that you dont require recognition from others so what the fuck is the problem here?

>>9826072
Reading philosophy, economics, psychology, sociology, science, studying for class, playing guitar, studying chess, exercising, eating, sleeping, showering, meditating, drawing and painting.

>>9826082

Yea, but those people are 99.999% guaranteed to be a nobody.

If you want to be exceptional, you are competing with the .001%. And everyone is working hard. Other factors start to come into play.

>wah wah im a unique snowflake waaah waaah

fuck off and die already

>>9826091
So you are basically doing nothing

>>9826103

>gave up on life
>wants everyone to give up too

>>9826097
This. I would consider I am in the top 1% in many respects, but this is where the competition and the disparities become the greatest. From 1% to .001% is exponentially more difficult than from 99% to 1%.

>>9826108
Ha ha, what else should I be doing?

Let's take the example of musicians as you mention them OP. "Great" people have been largely forgotten on the whole until the late to middle part of the 19th and 20th centuries. Mozart, Bach, Haydn all had to be revived into the public conscience by musicologists. Our "Great" musicians Hendrix, The Beatles, etc... will become forgotten too over time.

The work of "Great" scientists remain unknown to the populous at large because actual great scientists tend to stay out of the spotlight.

Shakespeare, Keats, Byron all had revivals. Who even talks of Wycherly anymore? Yet he was considered "Great", radical and controversial.

So the real question is OP do you want to be great or do you want to be remembered? You can achieve greatness in your own lifetime but being remembered for it might be something different.

I am out. Let me know if you see me around.

>>9826179
Definitely. stay strong my brother.

>ITT: Everyone resorting to 'well africans are starving you cant complain' arguments and 'everyone thinks like that, you're not special'.

OP, you should stop worrying about leaving a footprint on earth, because even the greatest of men are forgotten as time flies by. You have to realize that you are not a participant in life, but merely an observer. We all are, which means it is futile to try and become anything more than that. Sure, you probably lack the charisma and intelligence to overthrow a government, you're too lazy to come up with a groundbreaking scientific theory and you're not really creative enough to paint a masterpiece.

But hell, most people aren't. So what? Doesnt mean you cant live a happy life.

But if it really bothers you so much that it keeps you up at night - try to mix things up everyday. From tiny things to large changes. Take a different route to work, change your morning routine - have tea instead of coffee. Broaden your philosophical horizons by reading books. Change your ideology and commit to it - just for the hell of it.

I suggest experimenting with daily changes in your life. Try to make more daily decisions based on instinct or feeling, rather than logic. Experiment with different hobbies and shit. If you do it just right, you'll be geniunly happy and care free just enough to not give a shit if whether or not life has a meaning or the fact that you'll never be the next Newton.

>>9826091

Have you been working this hard through your whole life? You are seriously doing lots of thing there. If you want to become great at all of these things its going to take a lot longer than 21 years. You seriously have to make the choice between being mediocre in everything or great in few things, most people have to do choice between few and one.

>>9826224
I neglect many of those things more than others. I focus the most on chess, guitar/theory, philosophy, and science. And nah, I haven't always been like this. Not until high school I think.

>>9826147
Wow, reading some shitty books about psychology and learning how to play the guitar is really outstanding.
Julius Caesar and Neil Armstrong probably painted all day long some shitty paintings. You can read myriads of books, if you aren't doing something with your knowledge then is everything you did meaningless. Build a fucking rocket or conquer Panama.
Mike Tyson couldn't even write his own name and became the youngest heavy weight champion in the world. And what are you doing?

>>9826250
>Brutal but on the money. Take a close read OP.

>>9826250
>And what are you doing?

Getting my degree in neuroscience from one of the top 5 science undergraduate schools in the world. What about you?

>>9826268
I am complaining on 4chan about my mediocrity

>>9826266
How am I supposed to apply any academic knowledge in this day without a college degree? It is a necessary prerequisite.

>>9826288
what a coincidence, me too

>>9826250
I have to agree with this fag. I have this friend, he reads all the fucking day. More than I will in my entire life, probably. He's turning 27 soon, recently started a new career in college and works as a bagboy in the weekends.

Today's society doesn't care about some guy reading in his room: it's all about entrepreneurship. Start writing more, send papers to the science magazines, meet people and work on your connections. Make projects and get yourself noted.

>>9826266
That's not how greentext works, you fucking moron.

>>9826237

So you have nothing to worry about. Philosophy and science both require shit loads (I dont know anything about neuroscience but it sounds hard and time consuming) of work and if you add chess and playing guitar as hobbies your social life at least is going to be fucked. Keep doing various things and you have great potential to be great philosopher at least.

Thesre is so much more information in modern world that specialization is must if you want to be that 0,01%.

You are already doing much more than most of humans so just that should be enough to make you proud.

>>9824723

You're not very likeable, that much is clear. Still, you could end up playing a critical role in human history. But, really, who fucking cares? Is that going to be the metric by which you evaluate the quality of your life?

>>9826371
If you read the damned thread it will be immediately apparent to you that yes, that WILL in fact be the metric by which OP evaluates the quality of his life.

>>9826288

Yes, by implication.

>>9826297
>Today's society doesn't care about some guy reading in his room: it's all about entrepreneurship

I really don't care if society likes entrepreneurship. And for many reasons, this has contributed to academic and intellectual stagnation in the Western (especially American) world. It

>send papers to the science magazines

That is not how science works. Usually your "papers" requires research. Research requires a lab, money, and something to research. I have none. I've done undergrad research, but it is for training, not for discovery.

>>9826371
;_;

oh no im not likeable

>>9826386
I may imply my mediocrity, but I am not complaining about it

>>9826389
Computer science requires a few pieces of paper and a pen for scrawling plus a laptop, as does mathematics. No excuses.

>>9826400
Cool story bro.