u/Atheistsplaining

I recently published my first book, Death and Nothingness: What Atheists Need to Know About Death, and I'd like to discuss it on someone's podcast. In it I explain why the idea of eternal nothingness after death is illogical, and what conclusions follow if we stick to a strictly naturalistic worldview. There's also a chapter devoted to the antinatalist idea that it's better to not exist.

Some people believe that we get to decide whether or not something bothers us. For example, if someone says something rude to you and you take offense, it's "your choice" to be offended.

But if we are the ones that decide this, then for what reason do we have to not be utterly disaffected by everything if it's truly our choice whether or not something bothers us? Why not *always* be in a state of being unaffected by everything? The only answer that you can give for a reason to not be completely disaffected at all times, is that you're compelled by your emotions.

Oftentimes these types of people will advise others to "don't let it bother you"... But I find that if you keep complaining to them about things that bother you, they will eventually get annoyed... At which time you could remind them to not be bothered by you being bothered.

I argue that emotions like grief must be compulsory in order for them to be genuine. If we have to stop and ask ourselves "how do I feel about this news that my young daughter was just killed in a car accident? Should I cry? Should I be upset?"... The grief would then be performative.