The future..a weird poll

[Behind the Aegis]

OK, I have way too much time on my hands (no job for almost 2 years) and I think way too much. So here is something I have thought about: the future.

Personally, I think the future has some events that are destined to happen, others that will randomly happen, and some that may become destined depending on certain actions. What do you think?

[Mojambo]

1. I'd say completely unwritten

Too tough to wrap my brain around any other option.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. Why do you think that?

Not trying to press you...I can't sleep. Do you think Deja Vu's are just odd things that happen? Or could it be that somethings are just bound to happen?

[MrModerate]

3. Not to speak for the other person, but . . .

There is (IMO) no evidence that I can swallow for anything even remotely supernatural in our world. It would require something supernatural to "destine" any particular future. Hence, the future is not destined, pre or otherwise.

Deja vu is a psychological phenomenon, not a temporal one.

Certain things ARE bound to happen -- the San Andreas fault WILL let go some day; John Paul II WAS going to die (me too, sad to say); George Bush WILL continue being a wicked piece of shit.

But written/partially written, the context of this post? No frickin' way.

[Behind the Aegis]

5. Hello again!

How is the house coming along?

Here is how I came to believe that is a little of both. I don't necessarily believe that a 'supernatural' deity has anything to do with it (although I am a pagan). This will reveal just how warped I am, but here goes...if you add citric acid to baking soda, it will foam. We know this will always happen. So what if there are certain events that are like citric acid and some like baking soda? We don't know what they are but, when they happen, the "foam" will come. You say the San Andreas will someday crack, as it is 'bound' to happen, so is that destiny or random? If it is "bound to happen," couldn't that be "pre-destined?"

I told you...I have too much time to think! :)

[MrModerate]

13. Hi there yourself . . .

Actually, we're thinking of moving, because the landlord wants to build another house on the lot. The landlords here in Romania usually serve as their own general contractors (to save money) and they're fairly amateurish. The idea of being on an amateur's building site for 6-12 months fills me with dread. Oh well.

With regard to your substantive point, I'd put these "bound to happen" events in the "predictable" category. We can predict with high reliability whether citric acid and baking soda will foam, and with substantially lower predictability when the San Andreas fault will let go. But that doesn't make the grade for me in "predestined."

Over time, as we increase our knowledge, our ability to predict all sorts of things will also continue to increase. We might (MIGHT, mind you) get to the point where we're so arrogant that we think we can predict the future itself.

But we'll be wrong.

[Behind the Aegis]

18. Interesting thoughts

Sorry about the house...that blows! BTW, do you speak Romanian? Random thought...I am notorious for them.

I totally get what you are saying. But the idea of predicting the future, I feel is something some can do. That is why I asked the question. It made me think...what if somethings were just "bound to happen" and others were "negotiable?" This means that even some "man-made" events are inevitable, but could be 'delayed.' Does that make any sense?

[Mojambo]

6. MrModerate covered it pretty well

As I understand it, Deja Vu is a memory hiccup, nothing more.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. Coolio!

A memory hiccup? I have never heard that. Very interesting.

[Swamp Rat]

4. ¿otherehto?

[Behind the Aegis]

7. Care to explain?

What not picture for me? Surely in your vast folio there must be something!! :)

[Swamp Rat]

10. I can't explain that answer because I don't understand it myself.

Since you asked for a pic... :D here's my latest:

[Behind the Aegis]

11. Thanks..but..who is he?!

I know I am showing my ignorance and I have seen this pic in other threads, but I still don't know who he is/

[Swamp Rat]

12. Michael Chertoff, our new Homeland Security Czar, an author of the

Patriot Act.

[Behind the Aegis]

14. Oh OK.

The one in this post is Colin. I know him. The other pic, I thought was...you will laugh..I thought it was Simon LeVey or Alasteir Crowley (I get them confused sometimes!).

[Swamp Rat]

21. "Mr. Crowley... what have they done to your head!"

OZZY!:headbang:

[Jamastiene]

9. I think it's prefab

but may be changeable, but I'm unsure. I couldn't vote twice, so I'll say unchangeable. We are seeing new wave right now again. I lived through the 80's once. I see the signs they are repeating themselves. Does that mean we'll get a dem/progressive president in '12?

[SmileyBoy]

15. According to Islam, only God knows what will happen in the future.

God says that no human will ever have the capability to correctly predict the future 100 percent. Such people who attempt to do so are nothing but false prophets (Nostradamus, Edgar Casey, Mayan predictions, etc.), and will suffer the worst hell imaginable.

The fate of humans and humanity in the future is information that is privy to God only.

[Behind the Aegis]

19. Never heard that.

But what is really interesting is that G-d says man will never be 100%, which makes sense (if you are a deist). But, the implication is that the future is written for us and that some may be able to glimpse what will be.

[everythingsxen]

16. I voted for predestined... it was my fate.

I believe in fate, destiny, kismet etc.

I believe in a predetermind outcome.

We simply have the illusion of choice.

[Borgnine]

17. "The future is what you make of it....

...so make it a good one, both of you!"

-Doctor Emmett L. Brown, upon returning to 1985 from the 1800's in a steam-powered time machine.

[Birthmark]

20. The future is imaginary.

[Behind the Aegis]

22. self-promotional

KICK!

[Behind the Aegis]

23. I am a sad, sad person

Lavish me with at least ONE more comment and vote! PLEASE!!!

[nytemare]

24. Some is laid out, not as in fate, but by actions

For example, gas prices will probably get higher, and we will have to go to alternate energy sources because of what we have done to the planet.

We are now paying for *'s policies, and will continue to do so, as probably in a draft. Diplomatically, we will pay for a long time as well. I don't think this is a "fate" or "destiny" sort of thing, I think it is more something that has been brought on by them and some voters.

I have to leave for work in a few minutes, that is predestined, too.

:)

[Goathead]

25. The past is prologue. eom

[Magrittes Pipe]

27. "The past isn't dead, it isn't even past." - a noted Southern drunk

"So we beat on, boats against the current, born back ceaselessly into
the past." - a noted Northern drunk

[welshTerrier2]

26. the future is not predestined but ...

it is constrained by reality to the extent that limitations on our own vision do not allow us to free ourselves from it ...

[Melynn]

28. I voted for both

Sometimes it seems events happen in my life for a reason, even if the reason isn't clear at the moment. And I say that as a agnostic.

[Aiptasia]

29. Time is just a construct

That enables our brains to rationalize and separate different moments in our lives. Einstein proved it.