Why do people feel the need to dig up the past?

To learn from it?

figuratively or literally 'cause if you mean literally there's a whole thing on cloning woolly mammoths you might think is funny.

to hold it against white folks for fucking the planet up?

LMAO!

Sounds reasonable! ;)

Because there's a whole lot of holes in the Present! Not that we know the Truth about what's been dug up.

to remind myself of things I need never repeat

I'll buy that for a dollar-

what I meant was: why are some people obsessed with it, if it only leaads to some place dark every time..?

Women do this.

I don't know any guys that do this...

That is quite apropos..

Without learning one's past - One can never really understand and interpret one's present or future ... and thus have a full understanding of who one truely is...

- The Patriot Mind 2008

you may quote me on that that one is mine :)

Replaying the past feeds the ego and allows one to be a permanent victim. Most people relive a perceived injustice over and over. This allows them to always be on the high road while doing nothing in the present to help themselves or others. It's a trap and many fall for it.

depends if there are skeletons in that closet.

cause graveyards are full of treasure.....

because the Human Ego wont let it go. Its a very powerful thing.

Depends on whether it is personal or not.

If it is personal and painful and used to against you, unfairly, incessantly: it's the Devil's work.

If it is impersonal and about the hidden past, then it is for your benefit, regardless of whether or not it shocks or offends you.

)))Ditto(((

Cause they ran out of things in the present to bitch about.I am convinced there are people in this world that would die if they couldnt bitch constantly

It is not a good thing to do, if the person has post traumatic stress disorder. I have friends, family, even my last girlfriend that always do this to me. Not the easiest thing to deal with on a regular basis.

For me it is my love of history.

What was everyday life like way back when.

I blackmail people frequently, and everybody has a "Past" that I like to use against them....I guess you could say its my "Ace in the Hole"...lol

Hope this helps

I did it for 20 years..as a job.

..and I too have PTSD - like the poster up there ^ Hi there! x

My career ended shortly after one of my students jumped off a cliff.

The two are linked.

Why do I feel the need to dig up the past?

x

thanks... took a long time to get to this point, but finally figured to remember and learn never to repeat.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." George Santayana

I feel connected to the past in a very deep way.

... cuz people think/feel that there's maybe something there to dig up?

and they would do what with it..?

Because if you DON'T dig up the past...it'll bury you.
Past, present, future...they are all connected. There is truth in the past and it is directly related to the present and especially the future.

EVERYTHING that affects you is personal!

very interesting question 5, why has it become such an issue?

... why, the very same as you might would do if you were looking through, oh say like some old photos that you came across. You would have your take on them and what ought to be done with them... and yet at the same time someone else in your family may have a totally different take on them and what ought to be done with them... and ya think?