>There's really not a lot of evidence against the idea that a very large subsection even of first world countries is unbearably miserable. We'd never see them,

>There's really not a lot of evidence against the idea that a very large subsection even of first world countries is unbearably miserable. We'd never see them, because they'd be off living in poorer areas, or stuck in nursing homes, or too sick to go out much. No one would make movies or TV series about them. And no one would give them jobs as newspaper commentators. particularly the last part, i find this very insightful. the world sees itself with a tremendous bias towards experiences of successful individuals. of a "talking class".