I saw a thread like this coming sooner or later.
Yes, i know what you both mean and i should have added that the experience of buying new shoes is a positive one, adding to the whole. IF, however, you add the negative truth of the origin of the shoes, the experience may become negative, to the whole. An ignorant person does not know about the origin of the shoes, thus there is no negative component. I really need to learn to explain my meaning better, i apologize.
Happines, as i understand it, is a scale with positives and negatives on the ends. Accumulated perceptions of the world. By perception i mean that msot things in life can be viewed from many points of view, thus what makes you happy is purely subjective.
Ecco, everything in life is transitory and life itself is VERY fragile, should we not bother with it? Or should we try to get the most out of every experince, objectively, positive and negative? That is how i do things, atleast.
Right. I do get what you and I Unknown (I think) are saying. If I limit my imagination enough I can see how ignorance can be bliss. But as soon as I stop the limiting thing I can see how it doesn’t work, or rather, how it commonly works. Bliss never lasts long. As you said yourself Hexi, as soon as the happy but perhaps caring shoe buyer discovers that her purchase was made possible by the suffering of others, her good feelings may be easily snuffed out. And even if she doesn’t discover how her shoes got to the store, she goes out and runs with them the next morning feeling great… until she notices that it is too hot. Or too cold. Or she starts thinking about the argument she had last night with Richard, her on again/off again boyfriend. Or how she wishes her mother would just get off her back. I can’t help but see the happiness that accompanies ignorance as usually very short lived and not worth the effort. To me anyway.
But to reiterate, I see and concede the point. For a moment at least, ignorance can seem to induce happy-like feelings in others.
Nice defense mechanism there, Ecco. You chose apathy because you couldn't handle the inherent confusion of our existence. Dressing it up doesn't change it.
Of course it doesn't sound boastful Toby! If that is your experience than good on you!
Ok Hexi. Now we move from honest exchange and even potentially constructive criticism (my long-winded responses, to you) to you assuming you know my ongoing inner state based entirely on your own unquestioned assumptions about me and the world around you. A fact that you do not even realize, ironically enough. How do you know what I have and have not considered, even now? Why were my questions interpreted, by you, as defense? How do you even know what my position really is and more importantly, why would you assume I have one to begin with? If you had bothered to answer my questions above, showing me evidence of why your view of my comments is the most accurate one and that ergo I should adopt it, then we might be on to something. But alas, you find yourself a tad disappointed by your own unquestioned and thoroughly believed thinking. Which is fine.
There is no resonance between what we see on an individual level, as you pointed out in another thread and again that is fine. I will not attempt to change your mind or argue my point of view or try to make you wrong. I will respect your right to say, think, do and believe in whatever ways make you happiest. Variety is the spice of life! And on that note, I am going to ignore the rest of your comments. I simply have no desire to play these types of word games. Whitewolf wore me out on the whole “you must be *fill in the blank mental illness* because you don’t think as I do” vibe. Even my patience has limits. :-(
I wish you well in all you do.
Bye.
Apathy is not a mental illness and indeed it was sought after by christians, jews and buddhists alike as a mental harmony. Your post about you not caring about such things as happiness or unhappness and the questioning of the meaningfulness of it all led me to that assessment. You are not a special little snowflake with special mental powers and understanding, get over yourself. This is meant for others, by the way as i assume you wont be replying.
Beloved Hexi:
I have changed my mind about ignoring your posts. It didn't feel wise to me. Ignoring you is like ignoring a part of myself. That is not self love. I imagine you don't care, and as always, that is fine. And yes, I know I am not doing you any favors. Kindness to you is kindness to me and that's why I am apologizing for the intent of previous comment.
Sincerely,
Special Little Snowflake
My posts came across as hostile, which was not the original intent and out of habit i jumped to tear apart you through your response. Wether or not i was right is irrelevant, and the reasoning meaningless, even to myself. Let's just leave it at that and i'll be more considerate in the future.
The inherent difficulty of discussing happiness: happiness is a word that covers so much:
Happiness is when I'm going out with friends.
Happiness is when I'm devouring my favorite food.
Happiness is when I'm in love.
Happiness is when I just bought a nice car.
Happiness is when I'm playing basketball.
Out of all of these the most important happiness in my life is living with purpose, more specifically my work. I can sacrifice my social life, food, money, car and basketball for it. Love though, is as important as purpose. These two components of happiness are lasting and transcends all.