So there are billions of galaxies out there, with billions of stars, and around some of those stars is planets, and some of those planets have to be like Earth. Diverse ecosystems and species, one dominant species with many different cultures and languages, landmarks, and everything that Earth has. Somewhere out there right now, this exists, a planet like Earth yet at the same time, alien and new to our eyes, with species unlike anything our brain can comprehend. What do some of those species look like? I don't fucking know, it hurts my head just trying to imagine what they could look like, and what their languages and everything like that would be.

Even worse, they could know just as little as we do, and they could be thinking the same exact things I am right now. Or they could be incredibly technologically advanced, to the point where they have seen other species and the idea has become accepted, and part of the norm. We don't fucking know! We know it's out there, but that's it. This is driving me mad beyond belief, how can I go on living my day to day life or even doing anything when I'm consumed by this great desire to see what's out there? Hell, just looking up at the stars at night brings me to tears, because I'm looking at it. The worst part is that I know that in my life time, I'll never see it. It's out there and it's very real, BUT I WILL NEVER FUCKING SEE IT. That is the most depressing thought I can possibly have. And this is just on the physical realm that we can see, don't get me started on what's beyond that, and there is something.

It's just, my life just feels so pointless. In my lifetime no breakthroughs in SETI or whatever, and I'm going to die at the same exact point I'm at now with all of this. And after death, who knows? I guess death is a release, either I move onto the next step in existence and see and understand more than before, or there's nothing. Either way, this poisoning curiosity I have will be quenched. So in a way, I'm looking forward to death, it will set me free from all these thoughts I have. But I can't look at things that way, I don't wanna waste one second of my time here on Earth, in case it's all I have. So my question to you is, how do you live your life regardless of all I just said? Is it possible to accept it, or do you just have to ignore it? Please help me, I feel like I'm on the brink of madness here and I don't wanna go off the deep end.

tl;dr: How do you live your life day to day, regardless of the fact that there is so much amazing, uncomprehendable stuff out there in the universe that we will never understand??

Be curious, research, and learn about space and space travel. There is no way to actually accept it. The things I want to see in my lifetime more than world peace would be making contact with another species or leaving our solar system in some kind of technology that wouldnt take us years to reach the edge of it

Some things cant be changed, Nathan, and we have to learn to live with it...maybe not accept it, but just live with the fact in our heads and not let it control your life.

Wow, your enthusiasm and curiosity is truly admirable.

The thing is... even on this puny planet there is far more stuff than can be understood in one lifetime. You'll have to accept that it is impossible to grasp everything (this is one of the few things that are truly impossible). Instead, what I do is to explore the universe locally from my point of view and expand my horizons regularly in those directions that interest myself. The goal is not to try reach some final state of "now I know enough", but the process of discovering and learning new stuff is the reward in itself.

On the other hand, never give up the hope of someday meeting another civilsation. Our generation might end up living much longer than we expect and astonishing break-throughs in medicine, space exploration, communications are possible.

I just play The Game.

There are three rules to The Game:
1. Everybody in the world who knows about The Game is playing The Game.
2. Whenever one thinks about The Game, one loses.
3. Losses must be announced to at least one person.


I just lost, and so did you.

tl;dr: How do you live your life day to day, regardless of the fact that there is so much amazing, uncomprehendable stuff out there in the universe that we will never understand??

It's simple. I'm deeply immersed in stagnation and crippling apathy. Mindnubing repetition of daily existence joined with consumption of petty information draws my mind away off the Great Above. Now excuse me, heard the Lady GaGa has a new tattoo, gotta check the details at Perez Hilton.

It really doesn't matter.

I do not grok.

tl;dr: How do you live your life day to day, regardless of the fact that there is so much amazing, uncomprehendable stuff out there in the universe that we will never understand??

I find that comforting.

tl;dr: How do you live your life day to day, regardless of the fact that there is so much amazing, uncomprehendable stuff out there in the universe that we will never understand??

its a trick. everyone knows about all of that stuff. we just exclude you from knowing it.

its a trick. everyone knows about all of that stuff. we just exclude you from knowing it.

Ah. Now I grok.

Gin.

tl;dr: How do you live your life day to day, regardless of the fact that there is so much amazing, uncomprehendable stuff out there in the universe that we will never understand??

It's simple. I'm deeply immersed in stagnation and crippling apathy. Mindnubing repetition of daily existence joined with consumption of petty information draws my mind away off the Great Above. Now excuse me, heard the Lady GaGa has a new tattoo, gotta check the details at Perez Hilton.

This is the true nature of most people on the planet, minus the Lady GaGa schtick.

Humans can make the Universe, it's you, your it! How do you cope with that?

Masturbation to the point of friction-burn.

tl;dr: How do you live your life day to day, regardless of the fact that there is so much amazing, uncomprehendable stuff out there in the universe that we will never understand??

It's simple. I'm deeply immersed in stagnation and crippling apathy. Mindnubing repetition of daily existence joined with consumption of petty information draws my mind away off the Great Above. Now excuse me, heard the Lady GaGa has a new tattoo, gotta check the details at Perez Hilton.

Haha I tried that. It made me depressed! xD

Best thing to do... hmm I dunno I guess. There isn't much you can do, apart from to keep yourself busy. There's both ways you can think about this. You can say "Yeah sure, our existance IS pointless. As far as we know, we are the only beings here" And accept that until we know other wise, or you can think about it as "Sure, as far as we know, we are the only beings here, but maybe we do have a purpose." Even if it's something personal too you, I think everyone has something they wish to succeed, or excel. You might not know what it is yet, but once you;ve found it, you may find the feelings of pointlessness will disappear. For now, enjoy the fact you have not much to do when it comes to responsablity.

Oh, and if you want to help with SETI you can download the software onto your computer and keep it running to scan through the data they've collected so far, to help find potential things out there.