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You guys are missing the obvious: Feeling like a victim is only bad if you're not actually a victim of anything. If you ARE a victim, then it's delusional not

You guys are missing the obvious: Feeling like a victim is only bad if you're not actually a victim of anything. If you ARE a victim, then it's delusional not to feel as such. I know how everybody in the US loves hustle culture, but this story isn't applicable to everybody. The story is written and emphasized in such a way that this could happen nowadays to you and me but it can't. When this guy lost his home, he had a backup at the university club, presumably granted to him by powerful friends at the university; no worry about sleeping on the street, no police knocking on his car-window in the middle of the night, no worry about having to find a place to shower or wash your clothes. No getting fired for being unhygienic or sleeping on the street. > In those days, there was no health insurance, you just paid everything out of pocket Yes, but in the fricking 1950s. Before the absurdly inflated costs of current american healthcare. In those days you would pay an amount more closely related to the actual amount of doctor-hours and medical supplies you use. I really don't get people in these comments, it's as if they've never met poor people before; it's perfectly possible to make all the right choices that life offers you, but still end up in a bad state. I'm sure there are some situations where aspiring entrepreneurs need a kick in their butt, but in other situations putting the blame on the person's 'mentality' only distracts from dealing with the real issues.

goodpoint 4y ago
> If you ARE a victim, then it's delusional not to feel as such. Spot on. Additionally, modern neurology has proven that people experiencing stress and anxiety for years risk loss of cognitive abilities and long-term emotional harm. This is not something that you can just shake away with some "positive affirmations" and walk in a park. This kind of narrative blames people who are facing learned helplessness. Even if you are not a victim - but you are unhappy for any other reason it's crucial to recognize and address it. Recognizing it is step one in order to overcome it. Unfortunately some cultures tolerated decades of hustle culture / rugged individualism to the point of becoming unable to admit difficulties. This is psychology 101 and it's really telling that HN downvotes you and me instead.
- s1artibartfast 4y ago
  The main problem is when people who are legitimately a victim in one situation or one aspect of their life loose perspective and let this dominate their self identity and world view. The only solution to irrational learned helplessness is to reframe your mental model. It can be difficult to get back to a healthy mental state, and some people need help. That said, feeling a helpless victim is a terrible way to go through life, and usually far worse than the original harm.
  - goodpoint 4y ago
    Going through the victim stage and then the survivor stage is part of the healing process. Yet the article and most comments blame people for going through the victim stage. This is like "Did your mother die last week? Grief is disastrous!"
    - s1artibartfast 4y ago
      Something can be natural and understandable but also unhealthy and self destructive. I think the point is to remind that the state of victimhood, and paralysis that comes with it is not a healthy end state.
sneak 4y ago
In the modern USA, everyone is being victimized perpetually by several different groups simultaneously.
timoth3y 4y ago
> If you ARE a victim, then it's delusional not to feel as such. Even if you are a victim, by adopting a "victimhood mindset" you inflict further harm upon yourself. Probably the best book written on this is Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" in which he writes about his experience as a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp.

goodpoint 4y ago

> If you ARE a victim, then it's delusional not to feel as such. Spot on. Additionally, modern neurology has proven that people experiencing stress and anxiety for years risk loss of cognitive abilities and long-term emotional harm. This is not something that you can just shake away with some "positive affirmations" and walk in a park. This kind of narrative blames people who are facing learned helplessness. Even if you are not a victim - but you are unhappy for any other reason it's crucial to recognize and address it. Recognizing it is step one in order to overcome it. Unfortunately some cultures tolerated decades of hustle culture / rugged individualism to the point of becoming unable to admit difficulties. This is psychology 101 and it's really telling that HN downvotes you and me instead.

s1artibartfast 4y ago
The main problem is when people who are legitimately a victim in one situation or one aspect of their life loose perspective and let this dominate their self identity and world view. The only solution to irrational learned helplessness is to reframe your mental model. It can be difficult to get back to a healthy mental state, and some people need help. That said, feeling a helpless victim is a terrible way to go through life, and usually far worse than the original harm.
- goodpoint 4y ago
  Going through the victim stage and then the survivor stage is part of the healing process. Yet the article and most comments blame people for going through the victim stage. This is like "Did your mother die last week? Grief is disastrous!"
  - s1artibartfast 4y ago
    Something can be natural and understandable but also unhealthy and self destructive. I think the point is to remind that the state of victimhood, and paralysis that comes with it is not a healthy end state.

sneak 4y ago

In the modern USA, everyone is being victimized perpetually by several different groups simultaneously.

timoth3y 4y ago

> If you ARE a victim, then it's delusional not to feel as such. Even if you are a victim, by adopting a "victimhood mindset" you inflict further harm upon yourself. Probably the best book written on this is Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" in which he writes about his experience as a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp.