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I'd say risk aversion and boredom aversion go hand-in-hand. Why even consider taking a risk for an unknown amount of baseline satisfaction? It is a lot easier t

I'd say risk aversion and boredom aversion go hand-in-hand. Why even consider taking a risk for an unknown amount of baseline satisfaction? It is a lot easier to dopamine surf social media with proven returns on time, even if those returns are meager in comparison to longer-form activities

jesuscript 4y ago
Even if you are right, which I think you are, the part that I think we are baffled by is how everyone’s happiness could be on such an unsteady plank of risk-aversion and boredom-aversion. Happiness can’t be this tethered to that, right? We’re all tip toeing around something. The statistics are suggesting that we have no friends, no relationships, no jobs, no kids, no marriage, and so on, which kind of defines a meaningless life. If in the back of your mind you sort of know that, then the other statistics kick in, uptick in depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Is the solution to fix the risk aspect, the boredom aspect, or should we stop telling people their life sucks which they indulge in via their self pity, or, is there at least one society on earth right now that’s not like this that we can look to? Some part of me is starting to believe the answer is far simpler: Everyone, snap the fuck out of it. Your life sucks, but it also doesn’t. We’re all going to be fine.
- godelski 4y ago
  > Everyone, snap the fuck out of it. Your life sucks, but it also doesn’t. We’re all going to be fine. This is kinda what I was getting at before. The things that make us uniquely human are our abilities to override our natural tendencies. I figure that's what you're suggesting with this line. To dig further into what I've said before about people being comfortable and existential concerns, I think part of the problem here is that it is harder to determine how to take action. The gap is quite large from where we are to where we need to be. In every day complications it is easy to break down a need into several tasks with clear goals. Whereas existential and abstract problems seem insurmountable and difficult to break down because of their complexities (a thing humans aren't particularly well equipped to handle through natural means). So it is easier to just lay flat. But I think part of what makes us human is being able to light that internal fire yourself, though it is not anywhere near as simple as it sounds.
- paulryanrogers 4y ago
  Meaning in life is relative. Before folks had odd hobbies that others judged worthless: reading, stamp collecting, fishing for sport, etc. With more basic needs met I think it's fine folks may spend more time in arbitrary leisure. Even if it means less time doing meat space activities or producing fewer children.

jesuscript 4y ago

Even if you are right, which I think you are, the part that I think we are baffled by is how everyone’s happiness could be on such an unsteady plank of risk-aversion and boredom-aversion. Happiness can’t be this tethered to that, right? We’re all tip toeing around something. The statistics are suggesting that we have no friends, no relationships, no jobs, no kids, no marriage, and so on, which kind of defines a meaningless life. If in the back of your mind you sort of know that, then the other statistics kick in, uptick in depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Is the solution to fix the risk aspect, the boredom aspect, or should we stop telling people their life sucks which they indulge in via their self pity, or, is there at least one society on earth right now that’s not like this that we can look to? Some part of me is starting to believe the answer is far simpler: Everyone, snap the fuck out of it. Your life sucks, but it also doesn’t. We’re all going to be fine.

godelski 4y ago
> Everyone, snap the fuck out of it. Your life sucks, but it also doesn’t. We’re all going to be fine. This is kinda what I was getting at before. The things that make us uniquely human are our abilities to override our natural tendencies. I figure that's what you're suggesting with this line. To dig further into what I've said before about people being comfortable and existential concerns, I think part of the problem here is that it is harder to determine how to take action. The gap is quite large from where we are to where we need to be. In every day complications it is easy to break down a need into several tasks with clear goals. Whereas existential and abstract problems seem insurmountable and difficult to break down because of their complexities (a thing humans aren't particularly well equipped to handle through natural means). So it is easier to just lay flat. But I think part of what makes us human is being able to light that internal fire yourself, though it is not anywhere near as simple as it sounds.
paulryanrogers 4y ago
Meaning in life is relative. Before folks had odd hobbies that others judged worthless: reading, stamp collecting, fishing for sport, etc. With more basic needs met I think it's fine folks may spend more time in arbitrary leisure. Even if it means less time doing meat space activities or producing fewer children.