A smaller poll

So the literature on general life happiness seems to say that most people—well, most middle-class people in the first world—do, in fact, feel more good than bad, or, at worst, feel equal amounts of each. But I'm still strongly sympathetic to the idea that life is suffering. Desires are never really satisfied and pleasure doesn't really compensate for pain. Although, as you know, there's a sense in which I don't think this matters, so the overall picture isn't too dreary.

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They say I'm just scared. Yes, I am scared. But that doesn't mean I'm wrong.

I'm not totally sure this is a perfect statement of my opinions on the issue, but I've found this quote from the Count of Monte Cristo compelling.

There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness.

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Fame is but a slow decay.
-Theodore Tilton

Nah, only if you want it to be.
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I don't want to make you be scientifically rigorous and dredge up statistics, but where do you get off saying that desires are never really fulfilled and pain isn't really compensated for? Like, is that just your own opinion based on your own life experience? Have you heard anecdotes to the contrary? How'd you arrive at saying that to us as though it were uncontroversial?

Kodiologist posted...

So the literature on general life happiness seems to say that most people—well, most middle-class people in the first world—do, in fact, feel more good than bad, or, at worst, feel equal amounts of each. But I'm still strongly sympathetic to the idea that life is suffering. Desires are never really satisfied and pleasure doesn't really compensate for pain. Although, as you know, there's a sense in which I don't think this matters, so the overall picture isn't too dreary.

Kinda subjective there huh? But, I guess that's why you put the poll up in the first place.

I voted Jr. Troopa BTW. Favorite reoccurring boss EVER!
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Well, there is a new accent of n00b language. It's called: Vet LUEser goes Foreign!-MegaSpy22
Those must be the pants of the gods!-Digitalpython

I don't want to make you be scientifically rigorous and dredge up statistics, but where do you get off saying that desires are never really fulfilled and pain isn't really compensated for? Like, is that just your own opinion based on your own life experience?

I don't mean such statements as meaningfully strong empirical claims. Desires are never really fulfilled in the sense that you can never eat so much that you'll never be hungry again. Pleasure doesn't really compensate for pain in the sense that I wouldn't accept an exchange of one for the other. Using these ideas to claim that it is fair to characterize life as suffering is, yes, totally subjective.

I voted Jr. Troopa BTW. Favorite reoccurring boss EVER!

And he has a way of reoccurring at the most absolutely inopportune times, that rascal.

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They say I'm just scared. Yes, I am scared. But that doesn't mean I'm wrong.

The fact that Jr. Troopa is winning shows PMS is still PMS.