xkcd

by **fjafjan** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 4:29 pm UTC

who is happy?

Cool and interesting, so I figured...

by **gmalivuk** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:11 pm UTC

Yeah, that is interesting.

I suspect synthetic happiness is a big cause of the notion that "everything happens for a reason".

That is, when people are later happier with some unchangeable situation than they would have expected beforehand, they attribute this not to their ability to synthesize happiness but to some "purpose" for which the thing happened in the first place.

Seems to me better to actually realize that, whatever happens, you have the ability to literally make yourself be happy with it.

by **Belial** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:16 pm UTC

That, in itself, is part of the process of synthesizing happiness, though. People are happier thinking that their feelings are "real". The idea that they're just modifying their moods regardless of how things go would make people feel fake, and less happy, so instead they synthesize the "everything happens for a reason" stuff.

If that makes sense.

I dunno.

by **fjafjan** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:38 pm UTC

Belial wrote:That, in itself, is part of the process of synthesizing happiness, though. People are happier thinking that their feelings are "real". The idea that they're just modifying their moods regardless of how things go would make people feel fake, and less happy, so instead they synthesize the "everything happens for a reason" stuff.

If that makes sense. .

It does, but I think this really raises serious questions about our society which is increasingly focused on making MORE choices, but really wether you have chocolate or Strawberry icecream probably wont matter to you, and that you are actually better off not picking. (bleh, my phrasing is so affected by having watched 5 TED speaches...)

It also explains why I am so fond of flipping coins to decide various lesser important choices.

by **Eschatokyrios** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:15 pm UTC

/me thought that said "Eschatology is pretty cool"

by **gmalivuk** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:56 am UTC

Eschatokyrios wrote:/me thought that said "Eschatology is pretty cool"

Well, eschatology is pretty cool, too, in my opinion. Certainly moreso than scatology, at least.

by **yy2bggggs** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 7:43 am UTC

I'm tempted to make another thread for discussing this topic.

by **Gelsamel** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 1:43 pm UTC

I am always happy, and satisfied with myself, because I'm me.

I have never been depressed. I listened to the first 2mins and decided I didn't need to listen to this, is that basically the same thing?

by **yy2bggggs** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:52 pm UTC

Gelsamel wrote:I am always happy, and satisfied with myself, because I'm me.

I have never been depressed. I listened to the first 2mins and decided I didn't need to listen to this, is that basically the same thing?

Gel, you should seriously listen to the rest of it. It's a very interesting lecture.

by **Gelsamel** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 11:35 pm UTC

Yea, I did because I was bored after a while and had nothing to do.

It was pretty damn awesome xD.

by **Peshmerga** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 11:48 pm UTC

I CONTROL MY EMOTIONS!!! SEE!!??? THIS IS ME ANGRY!!! :evil:

by **Arturion** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:46 am UTC

The TEDTalks are awesome, and well worth the 20 minutes each, if you're willing to spend the time. I just watched this one and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Time much better spent than many of my university classes. :roll:

by **yy2bggggs** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 6:31 am UTC

Anyway, this leads to the question nobody is addressing, which unfortunately leaves me as the patsy. This is indeed a very interesting lecture, but how true is his overall premise, really?

by **Gelsamel** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:58 am UTC

I'm pretty happy all the time simply because I'm me. But I don't know if that even relates.

xkcd

Psychology is pretty cool

Psychology is pretty cool

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