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Happiness
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| Lira |
A few years ago, I heard a philosopher say that Europeans often found the American1 pursuit of happiness obscene, and he pointed out how recent this cult for joy is. If you pick three old former presidents at random, and compare them with the new ones, you can easily notice that something changed:
Three dead presidents we foreigners recognise:
  
Three recent presidents:
  
These are either official White House photos or actual portraits that the presidents knew would remain throughout the ages. As you can see, the old presidents look deep and serious, whereas the new presidents are all smiling (sure, Obama looks less happy than the others, but he looks way friendlier than the founding fathers and the guy with the unkempt beard). According to Freud, all humans "strive after happiness; they want to become happy and remain so" but — something changed and, though I think free porn on the internet is a good enough reason to be more cheerful than our forefathers, I don't think the advent of the internet has anything to do with it: no matter how much we look for naked bottoms on the internet, we're none the happier. Why do people nowadays try harder to look happy? Not that they're really trying that hard, but those guys on top are not even trying!
The fact is that, right now, there are tons of books on how to be gleeful. Why is it a desirable trait anyway? I'm a very chirpy person myself, but do I think everyone must be this way? No way, I think I'm a much more interesting person when I'm miserable and depressed moping around in existential angst. Also, the last thing we need here on TA is a joyful Hal or a lively Arbiter! Can you even imagine that? On the other hand, the world would be a much better place if our politicians were more laid-back, and shiny happy people are more active that way.
So, having said nothing profound thus far, I'd like to ask you: Do you care for happiness? Do you think it is overrated in contemporary culture, or do you think we're in the right track?
1I'm including myself here as this same pursuit exists in my country. Maybe it's a "New World" thing. |
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| Silky Johnson |
Life rocks. I've never thought otherwise, even during the tiest times of my life. Optimism and coping skills and all that, etc.
edit: And yeah I think it's a valid pursuit within reason. Gotta have your priorities straight. I think it's all about having a good attitude, really...which doesn't necessarily mean "happiness" as it's most commonly recognized. |
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| WittyHandle |
I recently went to a museum that had toys from the 1800's, and noticed that they were not very happy looking at all. Listen to children's stories from way back and you'll notice the same thing. I put it up to prosperity being an option now where it wasn't before.
Personally, happiness is my main pursuit. As long as you're not compromising meaning and depth, I can't understand why it would be anything else.
The presidents as representation of this is questionable though. I think the smiling thing is more PR than anything. |
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| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by jennypie
Life rocks. I've never thought otherwise, even during the tiest times of my life. Optimism and coping skills and all that, etc. |
Funny you should mention optimism. I'm usually the first person to say something like "Hey, look on the bright side", but I don't consider myself to be happy or anything. As a matter of fact, I first experience a long period of happiness last year, and it was really a novelty to me. Never before, in my whole life, had I been happy for a whole week. Sure, I was often happy to talk to others, but that was about it. |
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| Silky Johnson |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
Funny you should mention optimism. I'm usually the first person to say something like "Hey, look on the bright side", but I don't consider myself to be happy or anything. As a matter of fact, I first experience a long period of happiness last year, and it was really a novelty to me. Never before, in my whole life, had I been happy for a whole week. Sure, I was often happy to talk to others, but that was about it. |
I think optimism is like the old folks at my work always say when you ask how they're doing: "Well, I'd complain, but nobody wants to hear it." |
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| -FSP- |
I think that the reason the older US presidents aren't smiling are because they had bad dental care back then. G.Washington had wooden teeth.
As for happiness, well aren't our brains are best used when pleasure is given to it in moderation? You'll tax out your brain if you look at too much porn, or any other type of hedonistic activity, and like a drug you'll need more and more. |
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| Halcyon+On+On |
Happiness is the carrot on the ing string. The advent of mass communication and its subsequent evolution as well as periods such as industrialization and the atomic age of Americana has dictated a shift in the portrayal of leaders in order to keep people mobilized towards goals that are statistically advantageous to the rich, manipulative administrators of media.
Keep people happy and you will keep them working. That is why smiling presidents are far more successful than dour ones - at least the image as such. They're all cunts anyways though - slave owners, alcoholics, power-hungry moguls and social scientists keeping the rats on the ing wheel.
I'd say your particular argument is more a question of commercial artistry than a truly philosophical one, as 'happiness' is really just contentment in one's station or potential in life. That or the willful ignorance to the fact that you shall one day die, and everything you strive for will dissipate into the ether of our collective conceit.
But that's not to say I am not happy or something. Sometimes. :) |
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| Halcyon+On+On |
| At least there's still 30 Rock. |
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| Ian |
| Not happy. Not until I've managed to complete my wishes & tasks in life. |
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| Halcyon+On+On |
| Pistachio ice cream is also good. |
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| Ian |
| quote: | Originally posted by Halcyon+On+On
Pistachio ice cream is also good. |
you just like nuts in your mouth.
Best ice-cream is really well made vanilla, or gelato flavours, esp strawberry and mint choc chip. Those make me kinda happy but it ne ver lasts. Pain always returns and frustration. |
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