Is life fair?

Yes it is true that aspects of life can be unfair. Especially, as to where or when you are born. Babies can not control if theirmothers are hooked on drugs or their fathers are abusive. Some of us our blessed with a fair life in those respects also. But if you look at all the situations ,at the root of the problem is people. Greed. Hate. Laziness. Refusal to help. As the 'human nation' we struggle with finding balance.

So, should we complain? It doesn't always hurt. Obviously, someones complaining has made you stop and think. That is not a bad thing. It may help keeping so many children from starving if we complain about their status. The root of the problems are our inability to find balance as people. So, we need to make sure people keep paying attention.

BUT- complaining without action is useless. People who complain and have the power to change their situation anger me. People who complain and do not have the power to help themselves need our attention.

AND- complaining about foolish little things is a waste of time. So what if your neighbor has four computers and you only have one. That is not unfair. That is just life.

No, it isn't and we all grow up to find that out. For instance, if one were born in some place that had no basic things like water, shelter and your parents have AIDS... that seems not fair, is it? AFter all, you didn't ask to be born. I think people can make life fair-- and perhaps, if we did something (like one good deed a day) it may matter. (Or maybe it may NOT but who cares as long as we know we did it right?)

Yep indeed life can be unfair....but I am sure if you look back on every negative thing you have experienced you will see that there was an opportunity of some sort for you to turn it around in your favor. At some point we all got to suck up the "unfairness" and make it work

I thank everyone for your answers. The fault is mine for not being clear ... the implications from my question were not addressed. When I thought of the above question, I actually thought of sailors kidnapped off the horn of Africa. At the same time I thought that it is wrong for them to be put through a "kidnapping" situation, I also thought how "wrong" it is to be born in a country such as Somalia and having to live there.

In the end I though: "Life is unfair ...", that's how it is. No point in complaining why "I was kiddnapped" or "why do I have no food, or a roof over my head", etc ...

No, life is not fair, however I disagree with you about circumstances of birth. Many people, for many centuries, have managed to get out of the situation they found themselves in as a child and not replay their lives child lives as adults.

For example, many people who have been abused, starved, war victims, etc have gotten the fortitude and made every effort to change their lives as completely as possible. Even in countries like Somalia, they change their lives.

However, for every one that does change his or her life, there are many more who are stuck in this being the world as it must be - they cannot see a life outside of that in which they were raised.

So no, life isn't fair - never has been, never will be.

Wells, life is never fair, in terms of whatever facet you are looking at. Taking wealth, social status, appearance, intelligence, heredity...into account, life is so unfair when you try to differentiate individuals, following the way they live after they were born. Did Jews deserve to be brutally slaughtered and mutilated? the Hiltons were born with enormous wealth, while many others are suffereing from starvation around the world, and all they ask for is a meal to fit themselves.

Some people inherited greater intelligence, while someone people just dont seem bright in every way. Life is never fair.

Take me for instance, I've been traveling around, because my family is madly in love with traveling and exploring other segments of the world. If I didn't interact with people of different backgrounds, I would never realize that there are people out there who have never in their lives been to any other foreign countries! Life is never fair. But I think what we can do is to appreciate what we have, looking forward what's ahead of us, anticipating the future, while sticking with the presence. We are the ones who can change our lives, and ameliorate the underserved fate we were born with. We shouldn't be at the mercy of fate.

Life may be unfair, but as the Brother's Grimm pointed out, Death is perfectly fair. It's not the question, but when you kick the bucket, it's the same bucket whoever you are and whatever you've done.

And although there are things that people do and seem to get away with unfairly, I put a good deal of faith in comeuppance. If Robert Mugabe suffers a slow and painful death sometime soon, I'll know I'm right. If not, then consider life to be completely and utterly unfair.

Life is a very under rated word. Life has been fair and unfair for most of us. Choice is totally ours to make it sound good or bad and lament about it OR to do something about it. Regarding the hostages who were taken captive by the somali pirates. They have a choice to either fight those guys and yes, in that pursuit they could lose their lives too but then life was worth it, correct? Rather than living as hostages under them. Fighting hunger can also be strived for. If there is a Will there is a Way!

At the end of the day, it is how we look at our life and strive for it!