If you were an alien...

[Jijifan]

Hypothetical question: if after of decades of trying to fit in, and to understand other people, you found out with proof and certainty you were not actually human (in that your body, mind, and spirit in too many ways work completely differently to everyone else's, and you completely lacked certain common and vitally/socially essential human traits), what would you do? And say you didn't have a family. How would you find purpose in living? What could you do in/for human society? What would you do with your life, how would you find your people, your place, your connection to the living?

Any clues? (Any ideas, not matter how childish or wild are appreciated. Feel free to brainstorm. Thanks...)

[geoff]

Hello Jijifan, well I thought I'd like to comment on this as it's an interesting concept.

It doesn't seem to be feasible that life only exists on Earth, a mere speck in our enormous universe, where it appears as a tiny point of light, but every year a new planet is found, so the expansion is so big we don't even know how far our universe goes to, and will we ever find out, maybe or maybe not, I won't be around to find out.

Well, we are aliens to another entity if that is the case, but how many universes exist, we have no idea how many planets, suns, moons or black holes there are, and what happens through the black hole?

I have no answers to the questions you ask.

Geoff.

[Jijifan]

Thanks Geoff. You've touched on an existential truth here that gives me some comfort: no matter how alone we feel, we are a part of nature, within (inside) and without, and therefore cannot be truly alone if we keep aware and we realise we belong to the world, even if in some distant galaxy.

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Jijifan,

This is an interesting question!

I think the first rebuttal would be questions - who are you, why do you say that, are there others like me? In a sense I think I'd battle that idea a little, and maybe that means not a lot would change for me.

As an example, I may not have "common and vitally/socially essential human traits" or "be human", but it doesn't change what's happened in my past. Right now, I have friends, family and people I know (for better or for worse). My relationships with some are good and others are terrible - but theres no denying there's been a lot of social interactions thats got me to that point. I feel like I have vitally/socially human traits and well, that's worked so far! I have the ability to talk, laugh, cry, tell jokes - and all of that makes me feel connected. Even if I'm told I'm 'not human' anymore. My past still gives me a lot of purpose even if my identity no longer makes sense.

[Jijifan]

Hi romantic_thi3f,

Thanks for braving this and for your input. What you're saying, though, in essence is that you are human, even if you are unique, and that you feel connected to people, which is the opposite of the situation I was drawing.

If you have no family, and you've never felt a connection to people because of your body's entirely different workings, then that sense of purpose you're describing is lacking.

My past experiences only serve to tell me I am different, that I do not really belong with people (and not in a high-and-mighty way, just in an inferior/different kind of way, as a different species). But I don't want to make this thread too personal to my cause -- I'm just looking for open spiritual ideas/suggestions as to how to find purpose in life if you cannot connect with others of your kind.

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Jijifan,

It sounds like I misinterpreted your question a little bit - so I apologise. The way that I understood it is that 'suddenly' you found out these things (as if someone were to come up to me tomorrow).

Right now for example, you're on the computer (or some device) talking to me. So that right there is communication - just to be able to talk with me and for me to understand you shows me you already have socially essential or vital traits. Not to mention talking together about an incredibly abstract topic which shows intelligent conversation. So while it may not feel that way, I do see a lot of that already.

What sort of history might I have to be able to lack that purpose? I feel like even when I feel left out or disconnected, there's still that desire to be connected with someone and to feel that belonging. I think that is universal, even in animals. I think naturally we'd like to be able to find belonging, so if we can't find that easily - we go searching. Maybe that's joining different social groups, religions, moving to countries or trying out different careers and lifestyles.

I hope that I'm more on track here! Thank you for this conversation; it's been very intriguing and interesting to think about.