Hob Gadling: Learning through experience Article by Stafffighter, 06:03 AM 13th Oct Disclaimer: The following opinions are those of the author and do not reflect the views of the other endless crew staff. In fact they all disagree with me and persecute me regularly. Quick Overview: Hob Gadling was one of those rare people who honestly look at and question the very foundations of life. Luckily while he was questioning the necessity of death two of the very foundations of life were listening, and since one of them has checked on his journey over a drink once a century. Life has its ups and down, and eternal life is no exception. The only notable changes are those of scale. This is to say that along with the extended duration of experience one is allowed exaggerated survivability and thus plausible range of said experience as well. Hob has experienced both highs and lows that defy comprehension. In short he is living life to the fullest and just happens to be immortal. Possibly the most universal in the human experience is the desire to grow and learn through experience. While this desire is commonplace simple observation will show that it is hardly the standard practice. But there are those among us to muster the will to create, explore, and live to the fullest. Hob is one of these individuals and has been for centuries, but he wasn’t born that way. Hob spent his first session of forever doing exactly what most of us would do, more of what he had done before. In his case that meant soldiering, a trade in which the inability to die comes into play more directly than most others. What this displays is a vulnerability that has plagued humanity since long before his time, familiarity, and thus, stagnation. This is to say that one fails to truly experience the myriad life has to offer as they just keep living the same day again and again. This is not a concept that requires science fiction and unfortunately the rest of us aren’t as fortunate as Hob and have to age through it. Just as ageing doesn’t mean change lack of aging is by no means equitable to lack of change, and Hob learned the hard way. To sum his lessons up Hob went from being very rich one lifetime to being very poor for another. This was the kick he needed in that it went to show him that life was not measured by such easily definable things. Life teaches through experience and Hob simply has had more time to learn than most. He has also learned that most don’t learn. Times change, people don’t. Technologies and customs may evolve but at the base we are the same creatures we have been for a very long time. Hob realizes this and has learned to live among the technology and custom but not of it. In short, centuries of life have shown him that the point is to live. Pity most of us wouldn’t learn even with that time. Disagree? Bring it up on the forum. Suggestions? E mail me. But don’t write an essay. If I use who you suggest I’ll only say what I have to say Back to Rants