Should this bother anyone?

[Wolter]

I'm buying a bunch of Zen, Taoist, Discordian, and Anarchist books--such that they could all fit in a backpack.

I would suggest doing that no matter how the world looks.

[Jimmy Jazz]

Well I just got paid today and was going to treat myself to a few CDs and DVDs, but after this thread I think I'm just going to go huddle in a corner and shiver. Thanks guys!

It's not your musical indulgences, or anyone else's, that are destroying our economy's financial foundation. The bailing out of institutions that should have enough smart minds to avoid a bailout in the first place, on the other hand...

Yeah, But I'm worried about in a few years when everything has gone to shit and there are no jobs and I'm screwed because I spent all day, every day ordering stuff off of Amazon.com instead of saving money.

[BostonBeaneater]

Well I just got paid today and was going to treat myself to a few CDs and DVDs, but after this thread I think I'm just going to go huddle in a corner and shiver. Thanks guys!

It's not your musical indulgences, or anyone else's, that are destroying our economy's financial foundation. The bailing out of institutions that should have enough smart minds to avoid a bailout in the first place, on the other hand...

Yeah, But I'm worried about in a few years when everything has gone to shit and there are no jobs and I'm screwed because I spent all day, every day ordering stuff off of Amazon.com instead of saving money.

Don't worry, the money won't be worth anything anyway.

[Dr. Medulla]

Well I just got paid today and was going to treat myself to a few CDs and DVDs, but after this thread I think I'm just going to go huddle in a corner and shiver. Thanks guys!

It's not your musical indulgences, or anyone else's, that are destroying our economy's financial foundation. The bailing out of institutions that should have enough smart minds to avoid a bailout in the first place, on the other hand...

Yeah, But I'm worried about in a few years when everything has gone to shit and there are no jobs and I'm screwed because I spent all day, every day ordering stuff off of Amazon.com instead of saving money.

Well, that's no small part of the collective problem we're all in (the West, I mean, esp. North America). Immediate gratification and short term thinking leads to minimal or no savings. That a ton of people don't even have the option of saving money because real income has been static since, arguably, the late 60s also exacerbates the problem. There's an old rule of thumb for farmers (or at least it used to be so for farmers) that you always have one crop in reserve. That is, if the current crop is a complete bust, you can still make one more go of it next year. Consumerism, however, has taught us that, dammit, if we want something now, fuck it, borrow off next year's crop because, hell, things'll be fine. Of course, if all suddenly started saving money and paying off debts, the economy would tank because it's built on satisfying our immediate desires. The world's getting a whole lot meaner and it's not like we, as a culture, don't deserve it.

[eumaas]

Happiness is not to be found in goods nor other people. Understanding this is a big fucking step.

[Dr. Medulla]

Happiness is not to be found in goods nor other people. Understanding this is a big fucking step.

So, happiness is being an island? I agree that the rush from material acquisition is akin to a sugar high, but deeds done for others just because you feel it's right are far more satisfying.

[eumaas]

Happiness is not to be found in goods nor other people. Understanding this is a big fucking step.

So, happiness is being an island? I agree that the rush from material acquisition is akin to a sugar high, but deeds done for others just because you feel it's right are far more satisfying.

Do good deeds, but don't expect people to make you happy--they won't.

[BostonBeaneater]

Happiness is a leggy blond who don't ask questions.

[Wolter]

Happiness is not to be found in goods nor other people. Understanding this is a big fucking step.

So, happiness is being an island? I agree that the rush from material acquisition is akin to a sugar high, but deeds done for others just because you feel it's right are far more satisfying.

Do good deeds, but don't expect people to make you happy--they won't.

Gene is ultimately right. The only person that can ultimately make you happy is you. Even the happiness you get from others is the happiness you give yourself in your perception of their activities.

[eumaas]

Happiness is not to be found in goods nor other people. Understanding this is a big fucking step.

So, happiness is being an island? I agree that the rush from material acquisition is akin to a sugar high, but deeds done for others just because you feel it's right are far more satisfying.

Do good deeds, but don't expect people to make you happy--they won't.

Gene is ultimately right. The only person that can ultimately make you happy is you. Even the happiness you get from others is the happiness you give yourself in your perception of their activities.

This is what I was trying to say in my overemotional, addled state.

[Wolter]

Happiness is not to be found in goods nor other people. Understanding this is a big fucking step.

So, happiness is being an island? I agree that the rush from material acquisition is akin to a sugar high, but deeds done for others just because you feel it's right are far more satisfying.

Do good deeds, but don't expect people to make you happy--they won't.

Gene is ultimately right. The only person that can ultimately make you happy is you. Even the happiness you get from others is the happiness you give yourself in your perception of their activities.

This is what I was trying to say in my overemotional, addled state.

I suspected as much. I didn't think it was time for another Hookmaas Holiday Special.

[Dr. Medulla]

So, happiness is being an island? I agree that the rush from material acquisition is akin to a sugar high, but deeds done for others just because you feel it's right are far more satisfying.

Do good deeds, but don't expect people to make you happy--they won't.

Gene is ultimately right. The only person that can ultimately make you happy is you. Even the happiness you get from others is the happiness you give yourself in your perception of their activities.

This is what I was trying to say in my overemotional, addled state.

I suspected as much. I didn't think it was time for another Hookmaas Holiday Special.

I agree overall, but I think your view or perhaps just wording is still a bit skewed. Even if your happiness is fundamentally self-generated, if you don't socialize I question how happy you ever can be. Other people and our interactions with them are essential ingredients. You can perceive doing good deeds for others if they (other people) aren't there.

[Wolter]

Do good deeds, but don't expect people to make you happy--they won't.

Gene is ultimately right. The only person that can ultimately make you happy is you. Even the happiness you get from others is the happiness you give yourself in your perception of their activities.

This is what I was trying to say in my overemotional, addled state.

I suspected as much. I didn't think it was time for another Hookmaas Holiday Special.

I agree overall, but I think your view or perhaps just wording is still a bit skewed. Even if your happiness is fundamentally self-generated, if you don't socialize I question how happy you ever can be. Other people and our interactions with them are essential ingredients. You can perceive doing good deeds for others if they (other people) aren't there.

Well, of course. I believe one has to socialize in some form to survive. Even hermits have some interaction with the world around them, or did at some point in their life. But happiness and satisfaction are different than survival.

The point is that no one else can make you sad or make you happy. or make you dissatisfied or satisfied.

[eumaas]

Gene is ultimately right. The only person that can ultimately make you happy is you. Even the happiness you get from others is the happiness you give yourself in your perception of their activities.

This is what I was trying to say in my overemotional, addled state.

I suspected as much. I didn't think it was time for another Hookmaas Holiday Special.

I agree overall, but I think your view or perhaps just wording is still a bit skewed. Even if your happiness is fundamentally self-generated, if you don't socialize I question how happy you ever can be. Other people and our interactions with them are essential ingredients. You can perceive doing good deeds for others if they (other people) aren't there.

Well, of course. I believe one has to socialize in some form to survive. Even hermits have some interaction with the world around them, or did at some point in their life. But happiness and satisfaction are different than survival.

The point is that no one else can make you sad or make you happy. or make you dissatisfied or satisfied.

I never said not to socialize. You cannot rely on other people to make you happy. You will be disappointed.

Strange how I, man of the crowd and party guy who loves hanging out with friends, am arguing this point with an admitted shut-in.

[Dr. Medulla]

This is what I was trying to say in my overemotional, addled state.

I suspected as much. I didn't think it was time for another Hookmaas Holiday Special.

I agree overall, but I think your view or perhaps just wording is still a bit skewed. Even if your happiness is fundamentally self-generated, if you don't socialize I question how happy you ever can be. Other people and our interactions with them are essential ingredients. You can perceive doing good deeds for others if they (other people) aren't there.

Well, of course. I believe one has to socialize in some form to survive. Even hermits have some interaction with the world around them, or did at some point in their life. But happiness and satisfaction are different than survival.

The point is that no one else can make you sad or make you happy. or make you dissatisfied or satisfied.

I never said not to socialize. You cannot rely on other people to make you happy. You will be disappointed.

Strange how I, man of the crowd and party guy who loves hanging out with friends, am arguing this point with an admitted shut-in.

I'm hardly a shut-in. I'm not overly gregarious, but I'm not a shut-in either. This all seems to be a nit-picking exercise. I'm not saying that people alone, just their mere presence makes you happy, that they somehow transmit happiness to you like a campfire does heat. But their presence is required to generate the conditions that might make you happy thru your deeds and interactions. The onus is still on you and the results are due to your efforts, but they cannot be achieved in isolation.