No one wants to be happy...

Discussion in 'General Philosophy' started by Mr. Hamtastic, Apr 19, 2009.

  1. StrangerInAStrangeLand SubQuantum Mechanic Valued Senior Member

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    When things go badly, people usually need to take it out on someone. Nearly everyone should have a punching bag with them at all times.
     
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  3. visceral_instinct Monkey see, monkey denigrate Valued Senior Member

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    I'm one of those people...

    In normal life I'm neurotic and prone to anger. But put me in a physically dangerous situation and I'm ice cool and ready to go.
     
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  5. Mr. Hamtastic whackawhackado! Registered Senior Member

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    Does it make sense to pursue happiness, or the happiness of others at all, then?

    I'm not seeing it. Pursuit of this unattainable state seems to be one of the main causes for the poor state of our society. If we stopped pursuing individual happiness, then would it matter who had the most wealth anymore?

    Another possibility would be a full cultural shift away from "happiness" being found anywhere but in striving to be most productive and helpful towards the needs of society as a whole. Perhaps something akin to eudaimonia, but the problem would be how do we alter the mindset of humanity without an undeniable reason?

    Society will only develop towards this, in my opinion, if faced with a total collapse. Perhaps such a collapse is something to strive for?
     
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  7. visceral_instinct Monkey see, monkey denigrate Valued Senior Member

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    HAM! *HUGS* How are you dude? I have not seen you in ages....
     
  8. Mr. Hamtastic whackawhackado! Registered Senior Member

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  9. stateofmind seeker of lies Valued Senior Member

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    I've always thought that the suggestions made by "The Secret" movie were wrong. I think if you have a positive attitude more negative people are going to be attracted to you.
     
  10. Killian_1_4 Registered Senior Member

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    People want to be happy, but its not most people's number one priority.
     
  11. Diode-Man Awesome User Title Registered Senior Member

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    Happiness happens with contentment, gratefulness and remembrance of pains of the past.

    But ecstasy happens when one learns and progresses hobbies like: visual arts and musical arts. Of course, ecstasy also happens during reproduction. The difference between ecstasy and happiness is one is short lived and one is more of an ongoing feel.

    People want to be happy but don't always know how, or they are already in enough emotional and/or physical pain that things become more tedious than they should.
     
  12. cosmictraveler Be kind to yourself always. Valued Senior Member

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    Yes, all of the people that I know aren't like that so they are my living proof.

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    Yes, because you say most people so that USUALLY includes yourself or else you would have said most people besides myself.

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    Obvious to who, you perhaps, but not to me.:bugeye:
     
  13. Oli Heute der Enteteich... Registered Senior Member

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    There's no ecstasy possible from doing your job?
    Only hobbies?
    And only the arts?
     
  14. Algernon Registered Senior Member

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    "Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect. It means you have decided to look beyond the imperfections."

    "Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you already have"
     
  15. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    Apparently, the answer is to feign unhappiness to order to be happy ?
     
  16. StrangerInAStrangeLand SubQuantum Mechanic Valued Senior Member

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    “ Originally Posted by cosmictraveler
    The people I know are not like that at all, it must just be the people that you surround yourself with. ”


    Do you have any facts to back that up? ”

    Yes, all of the people that I know aren't like that so they are my living proof.


    “ Originally Posted by cosmictraveler
    Are you always trying to be making shit happen to your own daily life, like what? ”


    I comment on how most people are so you think that's how I am??? ”

    Yes, because you say most people so that USUALLY includes yourself or else you would have said most people besides myself.



    “ “ Originally Posted by cosmictraveler
    Do you have any facts to back up your claim? ”


    Look around. Many people you know may not be that way or may not be perceived that way by you but it is obvious most people are that way. ”


    Obvious to who, you perhaps, but not to me.

    -------------


    WHAT a muddled MESS! Did push the wrong button or what??? Let's see if I can figure it out.

    Your perception of the people you know is proof of your perception & some small indication that the PEOPLE YOU KNOW may POSSIBLY be that way. It is contradictory to the way most people obviously are.

    Saying most people is no indication of whether I include myself. To assume so is ridiculous. Actually when I say most people, it usually doesn't include me as most people are extremely different from me. You had no way of knowing that yet you have no reason to assume either way.

    Obviously, it's not obvious to you. DUH Otherwise we wouldn't be explaining it to you. Not obvious to you doesn't mean it's not obvious. Your experiences with people may or may not reflect how most people are.
     
  17. MysteriousStranger Banned Banned

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    Yes, people actively do what is (to their awareness) in their best interest.

    Yes, the above can be applied and people do plan ahead for things too. Perhaps people don't plan enough to be as happy as they can possibly be in the long run, but that is due to human behaviour: immediate gratification over eventual gratification.

    ...because they want to be happy. This quote is the perfect answer to the topic title.

    Mind you, some people (fans of the blues) enjoy a bit of melancholy.
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2009
  18. Bishadi Banned Banned

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    2,745


    because to many the truth is what they believe, not what they read

    as well often what people believe is not found in what they read


    then to perform truth as equal to nature, many are lost in what they learned and forget what they actually experience.


    such is what brings up the question; if there were no words to misguide, would nature be the revealer of truth?


    if there were no words to misguide a predetermination; would people be happy?
     
  19. sly1 Heartless Registered Senior Member

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    Happiness is an emotional trick to HELP ensure survival of the "organism"

    If we ever obtained happiness and were content one of two things would happen.



    A) stagnation of existance and eventual extinction (highly unlikely due to built in survival mechanism Denial and perpetual insatisfaction is more likely.) This option does not satisfy the survival instinct built into our decisions/perceptions


    B) Denial of happiness and so the search continues. This option satisfies survival instinct
     
  20. Liebling Doesn't Need to be Spoonfed. Valued Senior Member

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    It's not so much that people need happy or sad, but that they need chaos. Life gets dull and boring and ennui sets in for all of us when things aren't in some kind of turmoil. Some people seek out that chaos, some people make that chaos, some people invent chaos within themselves, some read books full of chaos, some write books full of chaos... we dream of chaos and some people make a game of avoiding the chaos just to stay above the boredom.

    But we need it. We need things to be less than perfect. We need things to be dischordant and out of sorts. Doesn't matter who you are, you will find that chaos just to feel alive. You can't be just happy, or just sad... you need the yin yang of it all to bring your life into balance. People need friction to start a fire.
     
  21. StrangerInAStrangeLand SubQuantum Mechanic Valued Senior Member

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    “ Originally Posted by StrangerInAStrangeLa
    How can people treat you badly for telling the truth when you don't express it clearly enough??? ”


    Rather than answer my question, you provide another example.



    Evidently, I'm not included in people.
     
  22. StrangerInAStrangeLand SubQuantum Mechanic Valued Senior Member

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    Yet their awareness is extremely limited.



    I don't think so. Initially I thought Ham was attempting satire & I responded thusly. Then the discussion became serious.



    That's putting it very mildly. See Liebling's comment & my other posts.
     
  23. Liebling Doesn't Need to be Spoonfed. Valued Senior Member

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    Not sure what you are getting on about here.

    Are you saying that your life is peaceful and happy and you like it that way? Or that you don't think that chaos is an important part of human life?

    You're being very vague.
     

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