Happy Atheist Forum

General => Philosophy => Topic started by: xSilverPhinx on July 03, 2018, 02:49:30 AM

Title: Someone says to you "happiness is overrated", what do you reply?
Post by: xSilverPhinx on July 03, 2018, 02:49:30 AM
I'm curious to know your thoughts on the subject. Do you think happiness is overrated? Could happiness be considered a goal in life?
Title: Re: Someone says to you "happiness is overrated", what do you reply?
Post by: No one on July 03, 2018, 05:16:52 AM
How can feeling good be overrated?
I say, fuck off naysayer. Miserable twats deserve misery.
Title: Re: Someone says to you "happiness is overrated", what do you reply?
Post by: jumbojak on July 03, 2018, 05:32:26 AM
It's the only thing I really want. Don't have a clue how to get it but I know I want it.
Title: Re: Someone says to you "happiness is overrated", what do you reply?
Post by: Dave on July 03, 2018, 05:45:29 AM
Happiness is an attainment that you simply accept or realise, make it a target and it just becomes another ambition to struggle for.

(Might I presume that it has more to do with one's psychological disposition than one's physical condition or status?)

(Edited "achievement" to "attainment" which is what I meant.)
Title: Re: Someone says to you "happiness is overrated", what do you reply?
Post by: Bad Penny II on July 04, 2018, 01:12:23 PM
It's better to be happy then sad, generally, though sometimes sadness is appropriate.
Lows accentuate highs, maybe.
I don't like the plastic be happy, have a nice day shit.
I will be happy or not and a salespersons smarm won't change it.

This article in a local paper, it brings joy and sadness.
An 11 year old girl full of hope and passion, a joy to behold.
Then there's the time bomb world we've left her to diffuse.
Maybe happiness is about zooming in on the nice, not letting reality spoil the picture.
So might the pursuit of happiness kill us all?
It could well do Greeny.

https://issuu.com/portmacquarieindependent3/docs/your_local_independent_28th_june_20 (https://issuu.com/portmacquarieindependent3/docs/your_local_independent_28th_june_20)
Title: Re: Someone says to you "happiness is overrated", what do you reply?
Post by: Dave on July 04, 2018, 01:25:43 PM
There was an item on the radio about a Canadian lottery winner who chose $C1000/week instead of a lump million. She had made herself abpromise that she would use any winnings to help others - and did exactly that. She is personally poorer than before but, she says, much happier.

They said on the program that, in general, big winners are rarely happy just having the capital, the happiest ones do something good with it.

Later: Hmm, the concept of "vicarious happiness" came into my mind. Even I sometines feel happy-weepy when I hear of others achieving a dream, especially through their own efforts against dire odds. But also through the efforts of "facillitators". I have seen people who have suffered in their lives express this form of happiness when others achieve their goals. Perhaps happiness with a tinge of honest jealousy?
Title: Re: Someone says to you "happiness is overrated", what do you reply?
Post by: Bad Penny II on July 04, 2018, 01:35:46 PM
Quote from: Dave on July 04, 2018, 01:25:43 PM
There was an item on the radio about a Canadian lottery winner who chose $C1000/week instead of a lump million. She had made herself abpromise that she would use any winnings to help others - and did exactly that. She is personally poorer than before but, she says, much happier.

They said on the program that, in general, big winners are rarely happy just having the capital, the happiest ones do something good with it.

For how long will she receive $1000 a week?
PV of an annuity
https://www.accountingtools.com/articles/2017/5/16/present-value-of-an-ordinary-annuity-table (https://www.accountingtools.com/articles/2017/5/16/present-value-of-an-ordinary-annuity-table)
Title: Re: Someone says to you "happiness is overrated", what do you reply?
Post by: Ecurb Noselrub on July 04, 2018, 10:11:33 PM
It CAN be overrated, or valued so highly that it cannot be attained. Better to have modest expectations about such things - then you avoid disappointment.
Title: Re: Someone says to you "happiness is overrated", what do you reply?
Post by: Recusant on July 04, 2018, 10:25:40 PM
"'Happiness is overrated' -- what do you reply?"

-- Compared to what?
Title: Re: Someone says to you "happiness is overrated", what do you reply?
Post by: Dave on July 05, 2018, 04:30:03 AM
Quote from: Bad Penny II on July 04, 2018, 01:35:46 PM
Quote from: Dave on July 04, 2018, 01:25:43 PM
There was an item on the radio about a Canadian lottery winner who chose $C1000/week instead of a lump million. She had made herself abpromise that she would use any winnings to help others - and did exactly that. She is personally poorer than before but, she says, much happier.

They said on the program that, in general, big winners are rarely happy just having the capital, the happiest ones do something good with it.

For how long will she receive $1000 a week?
PV of an annuity
https://www.accountingtools.com/articles/2017/5/16/present-value-of-an-ordinary-annuity-table (https://www.accountingtools.com/articles/2017/5/16/present-value-of-an-ordinary-annuity-table)

The rest of her life - yeah, the value decreases even if the number stays the same.
Title: Re: Someone says to you "happiness is overrated", what do you reply?
Post by: Sandra Craft on August 17, 2018, 07:52:25 PM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on July 03, 2018, 02:49:30 AM
I'm curious to know your thoughts on the subject. Do you think happiness is overrated? Could happiness be considered a goal in life?

I can't think of a reply to that, it seems like a crazy thing to say.  I think happiness is one of life's essentials, like work and love.  I do think some peoples ideas about how to get happiness are a little odd, but if that works for them, why not?
Title: Re: Someone says to you "happiness is overrated", what do you reply?
Post by: Bluenose on August 18, 2018, 01:54:04 AM
My granddaughter knows all about happiness (click on link to view):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mfFsyKWMDCY4huO7FYJ4AWinve8mnZsB/view?usp=sharing
Title: Re: Someone says to you "happiness is overrated", what do you reply?
Post by: Sandra Craft on August 18, 2018, 09:25:37 AM
Quote from: Bluenose on August 18, 2018, 01:54:04 AM
My granddaughter know all about happiness (click on link to view):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mfFsyKWMDCY4huO7FYJ4AWinve8mnZsB/view?usp=sharing

:rofl:  Yep, that's about the size of it.
Title: Re: Someone says to you "happiness is overrated", what do you reply?
Post by: xSilverPhinx on August 19, 2018, 02:06:08 PM
Quote from: Sandra Craft on August 17, 2018, 07:52:25 PM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on July 03, 2018, 02:49:30 AM
I'm curious to know your thoughts on the subject. Do you think happiness is overrated? Could happiness be considered a goal in life?

I can't think of a reply to that, it seems like a crazy thing to say.  I think happiness is one of life's essentials, like work and love.  I do think some peoples ideas about how to get happiness are a little odd, but if that works for them, why not?

It does, doesn't it? I posted the question after hearing it from the mouth of an armchair philosopher wannabe who doesn't offer anything much other than just naysaying others because it seems like the 'intellectual' thing to do. While he didn't offer any convincing reasons I was curious if the question of happiness is as important to other people as it is to me.   
Title: Re: Someone says to you "happiness is overrated", what do you reply?
Post by: xSilverPhinx on August 19, 2018, 02:07:22 PM
Quote from: Bluenose on August 18, 2018, 01:54:04 AM
My granddaughter knows all about happiness (click on link to view):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mfFsyKWMDCY4huO7FYJ4AWinve8mnZsB/view?usp=sharing

Seeing that much glee makes me happy! :grin:
Title: Re: Someone says to you "happiness is overrated", what do you reply?
Post by: Bluenose on August 20, 2018, 07:47:47 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on August 19, 2018, 02:07:22 PM
Quote from: Bluenose on August 18, 2018, 01:54:04 AM
My granddaughter knows all about happiness (click on link to view):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mfFsyKWMDCY4huO7FYJ4AWinve8mnZsB/view?usp=sharing

Seeing that much glee makes me happy! :grin:

It certainly makes me smile like the Cheshire cat.  Of course, there might be a certain amount of Granddad bias going on there...   :)