Exactly.
Look up any list of the "happiest countries" in the world and many of the ones in the top 20 are pretty poor countries. Indeed, many of these countries' lists of top prescribed/bought prescription drugs don't have antidepressants/antianxiety medications. Why? Many of these countries' social support systems include extensive networks of friends and cultural values that emphasize getting along and being involved with others. I hate Karl Marx but I do have to agree with him on some parts of his ALIENATION theory. "Developed" countries force many into deal with the devil--give up part of your humanity (communal definitions of privacy/cooperation versus competition, etc etc)in exchange for material richess of First World living. I don't fully agree but there's some truth there.
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Originally Posted by PenisFace
I can't help but agree with you. In the Western world, we have preconcieved ideas about what success and happiness is. I was born here, and have never been to Africa, so telling me about people in other situations isn't exactly relevant to the topic at hand. I've never met them, or been there, or experienced their lives first hand, so again, I just don't see how that's very relevant.
And on a good day, I would agree about thinking happy thoughts and doing shit about "it" so that I don't feel sad and unhappy. Except when you're depressed, it's not that easy to do. Is it possible? Perhaps, but I've never been able to manage it. Does that make me weak, or pathetic, as you say? Who knows. What is weak? What is pathetic? You said it yourself, we are nothing, sitting on a tiny floating rock. If this was the case, perhaps you wouldn't be so quick to judge and voice your opinion (an irrelevant one, since we're tiny and nothing, just sitting on a floating rock). Or maybe you're just trolling and trying to make people feel bad. Either way, I'm enjoying your posts  |