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https://kottke.org/18/06/a-sad-update-about-a-scissors-maker-that-went-viral https://kottke.org/18/06/a-sad-update-about-a-scissors-maker... The cultural press

https://kottke.org/18/06/a-sad-update-about-a-scissors-maker-that-went-viral https://kottke.org/18/06/a-sad-update-about-a-scissors-maker... The cultural pressure not to fail is so immense that it drives people insane. I watched it firsthand with my friend's father. He mismanaged the business into the ground and never really got over that. Trying again doesn't even come into his mind. And that same mentality is very often the way we bring up children. Play it safe. Get a good job. Prioritize work over your own desires. Sacrifice yourself for others. And whatever you do, make sure it goes well.

WalterBright 8y ago
> And that same mentality is very often the way we bring up children. Play it safe. Get a good job. Prioritize work over your own desires. Sacrifice yourself for others. And whatever you do, make sure it goes well. It's always been that way. Self-sacrifice is a common theme in religions and cultures. The idea that life should be a pursuit of pleasure is very modern.
- dadawoowoo 8y ago
  > The idea that life should be a pursuit of pleasure is very modern. No it is not at all new, greeks already discussed hedonism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedonism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedonism
- dredmorbius 8y ago
  If you can't afford to fail, learning to not fail is useful and rational.