h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

i didn't get your comment...was it supposed to be empty?

Yes it was, merely intended to convey an emotional response by means of the smiley. That was many months ago, I'd just come aboard at h2g2 at that time and would need to return to the link to refresh my memory at this point, especially considering I've had only about 20 hours sleep in the last seven days. Nice to hear from you.

Reflection on "The Mouse Killer"...

Some might consider drawing 'morals' from a story objectionable, nontheless, there is an important understated and underlying theme to the story: life is not meaningful without other people to live for.

It was that which struck me most strongly on the reading.

...important to keep oneself in a ready supply of prospects against eventual mortality.

Thank you!
Yes, I think we need to believe that we are needed here - for someone or some cause. It gives us a purpose to go on.

Myself, I've never much believed in causes in the abstract. Instead, it is people.

rightly put! ...what's a "cause" if it's not for people?

The problem with the cause is that it evolves doctrine and dogma and people tend to persist in that beyond the limitations of its relevance to the human condition that it is supposed to address. It is for that reason that I am cautious when dealing with a 'cause'.