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Isn't this is just a basic feature of human nature? I'm pretty sure we once had cavemen sitting around the fire grunting/bragging about their awesome hunting sk

by jsz0 15y ago

Isn't this is just a basic feature of human nature? I'm pretty sure we once had cavemen sitting around the fire grunting/bragging about their awesome hunting skills while other cavemen felt jealous, anxious, or depressed about their own skills. Fire is clearly making us miserable.

lansing 15y ago
Comparing is built-in perceptual functionality, but the meaning we associate with what we see are not. I'm not sure what culture you're embedded in, but where I live, in America, we are taught to take pride in material success, and to judge ourselves negatively or positively in comparison to others' material success. There are examples of countries that are quite different, e.g. Bhutan. In some cultures, people are taught early on that they should be happy for others' success, instead of envious and depressed. Regardless of where it comes from, if one has concluded that such comparing and one-upmanship is not helpful and probably deleterious to well being, doesn't it make sense to opt out of things that encourage it?
AznHisoka 15y ago
Cavemen had to work together for common goal (survival) hence people usually root for each other. In modern world, people compete and try to one-up each other. No common goals. Big difference.
- mbesto 15y ago
  Disagree. > Cavemen had to work together for common goal (survival) hence people usually root for each other. How is that any different today? People manifest survival in a totally different way today, and the human being either choses to use other people to survive (bartering) or survive on our own (live off the land).
  - AznHisoka 15y ago
    Survival is already an non-issue for most people in modern society and non-3rd world countries. Most friendships and relationships today are built on things that are so fragile, vulnerable, and superficial.. it's not even close. If survival was an issue (fighting aliens for instance), we'd all be united in a way that would be unrecognizable today.

by jsz0 15y ago

lansing 15y ago

Comparing is built-in perceptual functionality, but the meaning we associate with what we see are not. I'm not sure what culture you're embedded in, but where I live, in America, we are taught to take pride in material success, and to judge ourselves negatively or positively in comparison to others' material success. There are examples of countries that are quite different, e.g. Bhutan. In some cultures, people are taught early on that they should be happy for others' success, instead of envious and depressed. Regardless of where it comes from, if one has concluded that such comparing and one-upmanship is not helpful and probably deleterious to well being, doesn't it make sense to opt out of things that encourage it?

AznHisoka 15y ago

Cavemen had to work together for common goal (survival) hence people usually root for each other. In modern world, people compete and try to one-up each other. No common goals. Big difference.

mbesto 15y ago
Disagree. > Cavemen had to work together for common goal (survival) hence people usually root for each other. How is that any different today? People manifest survival in a totally different way today, and the human being either choses to use other people to survive (bartering) or survive on our own (live off the land).
- AznHisoka 15y ago
  Survival is already an non-issue for most people in modern society and non-3rd world countries. Most friendships and relationships today are built on things that are so fragile, vulnerable, and superficial.. it's not even close. If survival was an issue (fighting aliens for instance), we'd all be united in a way that would be unrecognizable today.