Happiness is Overrated

Through constant thinking and dead-ends I have realized that happiness isn't really all that it's cracked up to be. According to author Eric G. Wilson, he states there's a vital need for sadness in people because it pushes them to think about their relation to the world and allow themselves to relate to others in a deeper way.

In fact, if taken to large groups, alot of the changes and reformations to society can be attributed to a group unhappy about their situation. If it weren't for the feminist movements, Gay Rights Movement, or Civil Rights movement, none of the women, gays, and blacks today would enjoy better rights today than if they did not desire the change.

They desired the change because they wanted to be happier, I presume.

I mean, can you have unhappiness without happiness?

So you're saying the people desired change because their current situation made them unhappy...therefore unhappiness is a good thing? They wouldn't have needed to make the change if the system weren't making them unhappy to start with.

Like meloncollie said, presumably they wanted to make these changes to make themselves happier. And yeah, happiness means nothing without it's opposite (unhappiness), but life provides plenty of that without going and looking for it.

Two words: emo troll.

Happiness makes no sense. Realising that made me happier than anything else.

Short version, don't worry about being happy.

They do say that people who are always doing charitable works and helping others are happiest. So the way to be happy is to act for other people's happiness rather than your own.

To become content with ones self and ones world is a mortal sin of man, always struggle.

*eyeroll*

If you're going to bring up these bullshit "revelations", LJ is that way, mmkay?

My ethical system is based entirely on happiness. If there's even anything to compare it too, I'm infinitely overrating it.

It's like that one old cereal commercial went: "Happiness runs." I don't know what the heck that has to do with anything, or even what it means, but it's true.

Besides, I'm a teenager. I get enough emo speeches from my thoughts and my friends. Sometimes, it's best just to stay happy, even if "the popular thing" is to be sad and fed up with your life.

Guys, stop being a jerk to the newbie.

The way I see it happiness is a chemical. It's an endorphin. A drug. No different from what they sell in the back alley or hand out to psych patients. Yes you will feel good if you have some it, but that doesn't mean you are worthy of it.

edited 14th Dec '10 7:00:30 PM by joeyjojo

Happiness and unhappiness are always temporary, you can only try to prolong one, and best prepare for the other.

That being said, I find that optimism is overrated. If you expect everything to go to shit and prepare accordingly, then you only have two options when life throws something at you, things either go to shit as expected or you find yourself pleasantly surprised.

Which of course is countered by the argument that optimism tends to produce better results, or leave you feeling less shitty when something bad happens.

Although I wouldn't really say I'm an optimist.

I wouldn't agree with that. You can still do your best but be cautiously pessimistic.

Now, let's not go around confusing optimism with stupidity; optimists just have a tendency to see the positive side of things more often.

I'll say I have military issued pessimism then, it's not that you're upset about things sucking and thinking they will suck. You just get sort of used to it, and the more it sucks, the more you laugh at how shitty things are.

Military culture has this sort of suffering dick waving contest going on about who has it the worst heh.. "God damn I can't wait till today is over.. It's Friday!"(8 hour shift with a weekend)

Then a cop/MP/SF/MA is all like "Fuck you dude, I got here before you, I'll leave after you, I don't get to sit in a building, I don't get off until monday, and on Monday I have to show up for training!"

edited 15th Dec '10 3:11:35 AM by Barkey

Irish comedian Dara O'Briain has a book out in which he refers to happiness as being "no pain". I may be paraphrasing, but essentially his point is that, if you ask an Irish person the question "How are you?", we'd most often reply; "Grand".

Which is to say, y'know, not terrible, getting along OK, let's not make a big deal out of it. If you can get through your whole life and be on your deathbed and think "Yeah, that could've been worse", then by the standards of our planet, you were happy. I don't think it's too bad a theory.

I think Joeyjojo is a troll.

I don't know about happiness in general, but I do think that the sort of manic giddiness a lot of people call happy is overrated. Much better to be calm and contented.

Ah. That sounds about right.

Although happy is fun every once in a while, it's just fine to be content most of the time.

Pessimist? Optimist? Please, everyone knows that "Realist" is where it's at!

"I'm not a pessimist, I'm a realist."

Probably the #1 most common response to accusations of pessimism.

edited 15th Dec '10 3:30:25 PM by deathjavu

Life is more fun for optimists. There's a reason we're told to think positive. Plus, believing in spiritual things, or things that other people discard as merely chemical reactions (like romantic love) can make the world seem like a much better place.

@Myrmidon: noted.

Happiness I believe is the only goal that any individual truly has. Whether they achieve it through feeding staving children or getting fat off the sex trade the basic motivation is same: To increase their personally happiness and feel good about themselves.

This is fine. In fact it was make us human. The thing is IMHO is that society as a whole should not fetishnized personal happiness as something noble in and of itself. Happiness is a highly pleasurable experience, ...Or So I Heard. But it is in no way any moral prerogative.

I'm sure the the London ripper was 'happy' as he prowled the streets at night. Looking for fresh victim to ravish and mutilate to settle his grotesque desires. But it is not the sort of happiness we should encourage or tolerate.

edited 16th Dec '10 2:43:53 PM by joeyjojo