Better to Burn out or Fade?

[Shu]

This isn't as cryptic as it seems, but I'm leaving no clues to the imagination. Let me know.. is it better to Burn out or Fade away..? Open to all sides of interpretation. I'll let you know my own after a few posts.

 

[Riku]

It's better to burn out.

 

[Mikasa]

I think considering the ambiguity of those two terms, given the lack of context, it's hard to immediately decide which is better. So... Here's what I think about those two terms.

Burn out, I associate with being worn out. Being burdened by the stresses of daily living, to the extent it just creates a weariness that bogs you down. It eventually consumes you, leaving you to 'burn out', so to speak.

Fade, I associate with a more gradual process. Ultimately, it feels to me that this, and 'burn out', is not that different since both creates a rather similar end result, that is the person is reduced to nothing. Fade, I believe, is less active than 'burn out', and I tend to associate it more with inactivity. Like a person who's just waiting for his inevitable death... 'Fading' away, so to speak.

And so, given these definitions that I have for those two, I would say it's better to burn out. Better to 'go out in flames', in another manner of speaking. Although it feels more negative since the definition that I have associates the term with stressful stuff, I think that creates a sort of purpose that makes it that much more meaningful than to 'fade'. In that sense, to 'burn out', to me, is better than to 'fade'.

 

[Shu]

And so, given these definitions that I have for those two, I would say it's better to burn out. Better to 'go out in flames', in another manner of speaking. Although it feels more negative since the definition that I have associates the term with stressful stuff, I think that creates a sort of purpose that makes it that much more meaningful than to 'fade'. In that sense, to 'burn out', to me, is better than to 'fade'.

Are you in my head yo? Yes burn out is quite a bit different than fade. You can use this phrase for anything really, but it's really your personality trait or should I say how you act under pressured situations.

Let me offer you some examples and how I handle them differently.

1) Work. If it's for something that has me super passionate and I know it means a great deal to others, I'm willing to take myself beyond 100%. This means work pretty much consuming my body and mind. So if it's down to the wire.. I'll completely muscle up and blow through something. If I do burn out which is super super rare, it's due to pushing as hard as I can and going out in a huge explosion due to taking on all at one time for super extended periods. A fireball. This case, I love to burn out.

2) Relationships. Fade. No matter who you are (not being pessimistic or depressing here) you will lose touch with most folks in your life. Whether it be by eventual death, situational as in moving, or due to you or the other getting in a relationship which causes you to not really get out much, it most often times just happens.

A) Girlfriend/Boyfriend - I still think it's better to fade. I hate leaving relationships in a blow back. I'm not the type to tear someone down nor am I the type to tell the person what I'm thinking of them during that stressful, heartfelt moment. I usually just end it or they do.. and cut ties. I have been deemed an oddity for it, but I try to keep things inside that most likely be said regretfully. (burning out is bad here).

B) Friend - Depends. I don't think most folks are that close to actually burn out. Though sometimes sickles get crossed and you have to either.. 1) go your separate ways in a fire ball 2) no longer talk to them. I have done both.. I prefer the fireball approach due to friends mean a good bit to me..

So there's a little context.

 

[Mikasa]

Are you in my head yo? Yes burn out is quite a bit different than fade. You can use this phrase for anything really, but it's really your personality trait or should I say how you act under pressured situations.

Let me offer you some examples and how I handle them differently.

1) Work. If it's for something that has me super passionate and I know it means a great deal to others, I'm willing to take myself beyond 100%. This means work pretty much consuming my body and mind. So if it's down to the wire.. I'll completely muscle up and blow through something. If I do burn out which is super super rare, it's due to pushing as hard as I can and going out in a huge explosion due to taking on all at one time for super extended periods. A fireball. This case, I love to burn out.

2) Relationships. Fade. No matter who you are (not being pessimistic or depressing here) you will lose touch with most folks in your life. Whether it be by eventual death, situational as in moving, or due to you or the other getting in a relationship which causes you to not really get out much, it most often times just happens.

A) Girlfriend/Boyfriend - I still think it's better to fade. I hate leaving relationships in a blow back. I'm not the type to tear someone down nor am I the type to tell the person what I'm thinking of them during that stressful, heartfelt moment. I usually just end it or they do.. and cut ties. I have been deemed an oddity for it, but I try to keep things inside that most likely be said regretfully. (burning out is bad here).

B) Friend - Depends. I don't think most folks are that close to actually burn out. Though sometimes sickles get crossed and you have to either.. 1) go your separate ways in a fire ball 2) no longer talk to them. I have done both.. I prefer the fireball approach due to friends mean a good bit to me..

So there's a little context.

Aha

That said, I actually had a long reply halfway done, then I realized why I even chose 'burn out' in the first place


I agree with your point on work, especially if it gets you super passionate and all, 'burning out' seems better.

But for relationships, I see it a little differently - largely due to the way I see the two terms. Simply put, I consider 'burning out' to be synonymous with 'activity', and 'fading' to be synonymous with 'inactivity'. Due to that, 'burning out' seems to be the better of the two, because in a relationship, it's always a two-way street between you and that other (significant or not).

You have to make that effort to connect with that person, to walk down that street, braving the weather, be they good or bad. You will feel down and out, that's for sure, and sometimes you're wondering if that person is even walking alongside you down that street. But if you really value that relationship, you would do something, no matter how stressful, how much it burns you out. Maybe in the end that person does take a different turn along the street, and you're left alone, burned out, but you know at the very least you did something. You did try to keep that flame burning, so to speak.

Whereas on the other hand, with 'fading', it's just like walking with that person without communicating. Both of you walk at your own paces, one faster, one slower. For a while, your paths are the same, but at the turn, you two lose sight of each other, and just... 'fade', I suppose. Just disappear. Because nothing was done to keep up with the other, or to get the other person to slow down to walk with you.



If I may, I would venture to propose that to 'fade' could be the alternative to 'burn out'.

As I formulate my responses, I notice that I'm using a lot of metaphors, and perhaps that could illustrate the way I'm looking at this. I see quite a lot of things as a flame, and to keep it burning is to keep whatever you're thinking of alive. However, I also recognize that the flame is not eternal. It will die out eventually, but it's whether it 'burns out' or 'fades'. And of course, as I said earlier, I think of one as 'activity' and the other as 'inactivity'. So, one is to keep the flames burning by feeding it until you run dry. The other is just watching the flames die without doing anything, leaving it to die out.

Not to say that to 'burn out' is necessarily the best alternative in all situations. That is why I would stress the importance of context as well. I believe there are situations where to 'fade' would be the better of the two. For instance, in an abusive relationship. I imagine after making an effort to communicate with the abusive partner, and having sufficiently believed there is little point in continuing, to break contact and let the relationship 'fade' would be for the better.

 

[LovingOfLightning]

I suppose I'd fall onto "Fade" but I'd rather carry on regardless and not pay attention to burn out or fades.
I do write and while I can see how this question applies more to creativity than lifestyle imo, I wouldn't call myself an artist, but I know even if I do a poor work, a really great piece is just around the corner so it's a question of perseverance.
One of the personal things I hate is meeting people who hated me in school occasionally meeting me and going "Hey! Do you remember in school on this day when..."
Well, no! I'm not Rainman!!
When I talk to them the main thing I get coming up again and again is, "Wouldn't it be great to get away with the stuff you used to get away with as a kid, but now as you are!"
Not really... no. But if that is the most pressing issue they want to talk about, I think they've fallen into the burn out side.

A spin off question of burn out or fade away, would be how many people believe incorrectly that they've burned out or faded away?

 

[Mitsuki]

It's a little hard to read into the topic, though I have a feeling you're referring to Kurt Cobain's suicidal note. Maybe. A strong message, by the way.

Burn out. The word 'instant' comes to mind. Fade away. To glide gradually, something you can easily fall into. It's the same end result, really. How you get there and how you react to each situation -- is this what we're focused on?

I can't exactly say which is better than the other. That's all dependent on you. Personally, I don't have a strong standpoint on either one. I just try to live life and not get too invested on the different symbolism or meanings.

For example, over yonder is a cave. So what? It's a cave. Let's not attach it with paprika and voodoo magic spells. Some people enter a cave and come out the other side feeling like they've gain some sort of power or the ability to see life in a different angle an hour later. Please. I say just go with the flow, have fun with the people and friends that's on your side now, and don't look too much into it. You'll burn out or fade in the end, but you'll do so a bit more content with life in the process.

Speaking in a general sense, btw.

 

[Ultimaja]

This isn't as cryptic as it seems, but I'm leaving no clues to the imagination. Let me know.. is it better to Burn out or Fade away..? Open to all sides of interpretation. I'll let you know my own after a few posts.

Passive or active, bankrupt or bank robber, implosive or explosive, martyr or terrorist//

'Burning out vs fading away' seems to fall into that paradigm of reason.

As such, I'd have to say it depends on the circumstance. Or better yet, the goal.