alright, i know i am a complete newb on here, but bear with me if you would. all i ask is an answer to one simple question. explanations are not required, but they do help, and are very much appreciated, thanks!

SUCCESS OR HAPPINESS, which would you rather have?

brad

are you a sock puppet? why would someone come to "SCI"forums to post a question like that? please, if you are a sock puppet, go away, nobody wants you here.

if you are not a sock puppet, I would say that your question is poorly defined. success can be happiness, and you could call yourself a success if you are happy.

He means professional success or personal happiness, does he not?

I'd say happiness. Hands down.

Who would be content to call himself successful if at the same time he had to admit that he is not happy?

As for Seeker's point, one's profession is only one aspect of life and they all have to be in reasonable harmony for one to feel a sense of success. Professional achievement without friends, family, community, health, spirituality, etc., could stand on its own as an indicator of "success" only for an Einstein or a Rachmaninoff.

And even then, the most gifted, creative people often succumb to depression and cease being professionally successful--or simply cease living--if their lives are not in balance.

Many would say that 'happiness IS success'.
'Happiness' seems to be the elusive ultimate goal of all 'striving';
striving for 'material' wealth because of the imagined happiness that it brings;
striving for 'spiritual' success for the same reason..
Sometimes the 'fruitless path' readys us for the 'fruitful'...

Why doesn't he just answer the question himself? Waste of time.

I say be nice to him.
After all this is "SCI"forums.

well surely one must choose happiness because success can you achieve by working hard (etc.:success is of your own doing...) but you cannot "achieve" happiness, therefore "garanted happiness" is more valuable item than any sort of success

When you succeed, you feel happy.
When you are happy, you feel you succeeded.
Circlular discussion - End of Point.

Valich, I hate you.

Valich, I hate you.

Well...

You're an abysmal failure in both categories, then, eh?

If only you could succeed in feeling happy !

ho, ho, ho...!

:cool:

Sometimes I succeed, say in work, but Im sometimes still in a bad mood.

However, maybe I'd be in a worse mood if I didn't succeed.

.....but that's besides the point. Hands down I'd rather be happy. Professional success, if you mean money related, is much less important than happiness. Unless your happiness derives from your financial success.

I'm probably going to get flogged for entertaining this question---
An admin will come to my house personally to take me into custody, and I will be tied to a post in the appropriate sub-forum, and receive the flogging.
"Om---you have been found guilty of posting a reply unbecoming of a sciforum member--- and will receive 30 lashings"

Besides the cesspool, where a good place to flog someone? Mabe the 'ethics, morality, and justice' forum?

At any rate, I think it's a legitimate acknowledgement to say that the two things presented can be exclusive to one another.
A person can be part of the army that wins a war, but realizes and is saddened that 3 million people died during the bloody conflict.

On the other hand, another person could have incredible sex with a hooker, and walk around the next day will a big grin on his face unaware of the gonorrhea he just caught, and unknowingly gave to his wife.

I take it the rules are that in choosing one, you are not guaranteed the other?
That being said, I would definately prefer success over happiness. Sure winning isn't always amusing, but it gets superior results.

If he hates me, then he must be happy, he succeeded in expressing his thoughts?

Wrong.
I succeeded in saying, "I hate you"

`
Hey...

If that's what it takes to make you happy... I wish you all the success in the world.

;)

Whut the fuck.
The thread starter was cool, and everybodys an ass to him.
Uh yeah, success? How about just being SANE :D

what if you're happy but entirely un-successful?
as in, happy and down with out a success in the world
terrible to imagine.

Happiness. No question.

what if you're happy but entirely un-successful?
as in, happy and down with out a success in the world
terrible to imagine.
I don't imagine it would matter much when you're happy. ;)

Well. Say you're happy, with out anything else but yourself.
In this case all that matters is that you are happy being happy by yourself, in a down sort of case.

Clearly the guys first statement can be flamed or "bla'd".
Cool somebody responded to that though.

I mean to say that I want to argue this one with you, mr universal isolation guy.
Because what I mean is that there is a case or so that I describe as true.

If you're happy I guess I can understand... but clearly you can be happy in some terrible situations?

thanks for all the responses guys, i appreciate it. and dont worry about flaming me, or whatever, its not like i know you personally, so no hard feelings. i was just fishing for points to write about...

brad

see!
brad rocks,
told ya so

I mean to say that I want to argue this one with you, mr universal isolation guy.
Because what I mean is that there is a case or so that I describe as true.

If you're happy I guess I can understand... but clearly you can be happy in some terrible situations?
I'm sorry to sound stupid, but I'm tired – what is it, exactly, that you're asking me?

nah, your not stupid

nah, your not stupid
Thanks... But I still don't know what you're asking me.

I want to ask what's going on from the previous arguements presented. Such being happiness over success, and how happiness doesn't always win.
etcetera