I feel that I should say to people who are downvoting this comment: You're using the downvote as a disagreement, rather than to filter the content you would like to see on Hacker News.

Content on Hacker News should be: relevant, considered, well-written. I don't see anything above that isn't any of those points. Just because you disagree with something, doesn't mean you should downvote it.

It read, to me, like "I don't see why medieval monks cared about death since I don't." Then there was the dollop of "I am atheist/agnostic," which again didn't seem to be usefully on topic.

That isn't to say you shouldn't discuss these things, it is an interesting conversation to have... But look at where this comment was placed; on a summary of the article.

The whole thing just felt like something that deserved a place on Reddit's "IamVerySmart" subreddit rather than on Hackernews.

I didn't see anything self-aggrandizing in what was written, merely someone describing how they personally related to both the comment and the article. I can't see a reason why it wasn't relevant since the post above it is basically the same sort of thing, just with different conclusions.

There's so much to see and do, and experience, I can't imagine ever having reached a state where I have seen enough, done enough, lived or loved enough that I would be happy to pass. Especially after a paltry few decades.

And yes, on an emotional level, I have a base fear of there being an end to me. I fear dying too - not the pain but the finality. I hope I don't see it coming.

You can look at a map of a forest, but the map is not the territory. A detailed enough map would have to contain all of the detail of the forest and change as the forest does. It would have to be the forest itself.

You can visit the forest, but you are limited by your single viewpoint. You've only got two eyes and you're in one place all the time.

And yet, visiting a forest is a pleasant experience. Although most viewpoints are hidden from you, the one you have is beautiful.

I also smell (the trees, the flowers, the mushrooms, the soil) and hear the birds and the insects and feel the ground under my (bare)feet and taste the raspberrys ...

This is the forest. Doesn't matter if I can't feel all trees at once, I still experience 'the forest'.

(oh and btw. visiting a forest can also be quite unpleasant, like when there is a storm and trees are falling around you and there is no safe shelter)

So ... this was maybe a bit nitpicking, but I still wanted to say it ;)

All we know is our existence. Death is the end of existence as we know it. Other than that, no worries I guess.