017 || [audio]

[bonescientist]

From what I've surmised from these essays posted on the network this week, there appears to be something of a consensus regarding pain as a desirable occurrence in life. I'm aware of the thesis; without pain, there can be no joy, no appreciation of the good times without the counterbalancing bad ones. No pain, no gain

Comments

dancin' in the flame, maybe i just get off on the pain;

[bonescientist]

[Pity is the last thing Brennan wants or needs, though realistically she should probably expect such a reaction. However, as she truly thinks she made it clear these were all unrelated examples of different kind of physical pain and not personal experiences (which is true, to a degree), she doesn't.

And yes, she can feel a pair of eyes insistently on her. She also has a pretty good idea who'd be behind such. Stubbornly, Brennan ignores it, concentrating pointedly on the report she's typing up. That poor keyboard is feeling the harder-than-strictly-necessary tapping.]

dancin' in the flame, maybe i just get off on the pain;

[bonescientist]

[Brennan's busy fingers pause typing as she finally tilts her head up to gape at Angela across the hallway, that incredulous "Are you even serious?" look upon her face at the shouting. Unfortunately, Brennan knows exactly how serious Angela can get. Getting over the surprise, Brennan's expression turns more resigned as she raises her voice just enough to be heard by Angela.]

It was simply one instance of a level of pain, they weren't meant to be equal examples in severity.

[The typing commences, though Brennan makes a concentrated effort not to stab at the keys with her fingertips quite so brutally. Perhaps devoting so much time to thinking about this emotional/physical pain issue had been a mistake.]

[spiritofsorrow]

There are reasons to subject oneself to suffering repeatedly -- one is for the good of others. I was a soldier in the Second World War...fighting there was nothing pleasant, and more than just physically. One loses comrades every day, but without new ones, we are simply left alone, bereft. Perhaps think of it this way: if you don't try again, one day you will feel another kind of suffering -- loneliness.

When one wishes to punish a criminal harshly, one locks him in solitary confinement. Humans must have companionship, most of them even love. If pain must happen for this to be achieved, I believe the benefits vastly outweigh the losses.

[bonescientist]

True - human beings are independent, yet dynamic. Social interaction is important. However, love? Love is a chemical reaction in the brain that promotes procreation and propagation of the species. Sometimes, I believe it's better to disengage than to encourage any affection.

[worksmart]

There are different outcomes. Even if you haven't experienced them, you've been a first-hand witness. That's why people try.

[bonescientist]

But there are never any guarantees. Why undertake a venture so uncertain when the possibility of it going awry and causing pain is so prominent? It strikes me as willful self-harm.

[worksmart]

Better to decide to be miserable yourself than give anyone else that power over you? Tried it. Doesn't work.

[bonescientist]

So, what, having one's personal happiness be dependent on someone else is more preferable than existing by yourself? Which, by the way, does not necessarily equal being miserable.

[cuffyoutwice]

Emotional pain isn't worth the emotional joy it's juxtaposed to?

[bonescientist]

In my experience, it rarely is. Such feelings are fleeting and ephemeral to begin with.

[cuffyoutwice]

You don't find happiness in good memories? I mean, even if a relationship is tainted, you can still have happy memories.

[bonescientist]

There is that, yes, however... good memories often tend to lead to the not so good ones which only bring about confusion and pain. I try not to think about those, but it's usually inevitable.

Is that the way it is for you? You can ignore the bad memories in favor of the good ones?