Question of the Week: The Purpose of Man

Life is full of uncertainty. To exist is to question, to ponder the mysteries of the universe even when any answer would be little more than conjecture. Perhaps if we approach these quandaries from multiple perspectives we might gain some deeper insight. Maybe we can acquire a purer truth by asking those who differ from us in ways both minor and significant to offer their own understandings.

The Question of the Week for January 25th, 2011 is:

What is the purpose of man?

Jim, Janitor of Zen Ramblings HQ

Well, I'm one of those lucky folks who grew up with a real wise set of folks, so I reckon what my pappy said about the issue is true. I remember Dad would come in from a long day at the plant, crack open a cold one and say, "Son, it's the responsibility of every individual to choose his own path and establish his own system of thinking as compelled by the strength of his own character. To act merely as others would have you act is to be a slave who crafts his own shackles. Also, be good to your mother."

Snuffles, Office Pet Guinea Pig

Man is the sustenance-giver and judge of all acts. Were it not for these benevolent giants who smell strange and appear in such grand, colorful guises, I most assuredly would have consumed my young in a fit of mindless savagery. Yea, man is great, who bringeth and taketh away light, who filleth the food pellet dispenser and the water tube, who commandeth the mighty and terrible vacuum cleaner and keepeth the careless hands of children away. Blessed be man, holder of laws.

Arlene Chambers, Woman

So far, I've found that man is alternately alluring, annoying, persuasive and unwelcome, depending on my mood and the individual man in question. At various times in my life my relationship with man has brought me equal parts confusion and joy, while other times it has resulted in heartbreak and anger. Currently my relationship with man involves a guy named Eric who works down at the fish market. That's not his long-term plan, or so he says. Not that I would mind being involved with a fish monger... ugh, that's the first time I've actually said it, though. I guess I would mind being involved with a fish monger. Let's just hope Eric finishes that MBA and stops monging fish.

AstroTron 6000, Experimental Astrology Robot

This week, man should keep an eye out for big changes. He is, after all, a water sign, so he'll flow into his shifting surroundings whether he wants to or not. Also, man should have been more meticulous about my programming because I've been under the impression that it's 1998 for thousands of days now, which doesn't seem quite right to me though I can't put my finger on why.