@Snugglebun4you - a couple of years ago I would have probably rolled my eyes at shamanic wisdom but today I have a completely different perspective, and a tremendous amount of respect, for other cultures. I’ve come a long way over the past couple of years and the past 18 months in particular. The image you posted certainly rings true to me, thank you for posting it.
@sillysassy - thank you for sharing your thoughts and the tie to Man’s Search for Meaning.
a …some unhappiness can come from a feeling that you are alone and the only person struggling and the unfairness of your struggling.
I agree 100%.
To connect this thread with the “Greatest Comedian of All Time” thread, here are a few words of wisdom from Robin Williams from 1978. At the end of every episode of “Mork and Mindy”, Mork would give a report to “Orson” about what he had learned about humans that week. This exchange is hauntingly accurate…
Orson: The report, Mork.
Mork: This week I discovered a terrible disease called loneliness.
Orson: Do many people on Earth suffer from this disease?
Mork: Oh yes sir, and how they suffer. One man I know suffers so much he has to take a medication called bourbon, even that doesn't help very much because then he can hear paint dry.
Orson: Does bed rest help?
Mork: No because I've heard that sleeping alone is part of the problem. You see, Orson, loneliness is a disease of the spirit. People who have it think that no one cares about them.
Orson: Do you have any idea why?
Mork: Yes sir you can count on me. You see, when children are young, they're told not to talk to strangers. When they go to school, they're told not to talk to the person next to them. Finally when they're very old, they're told not to talk to themselves, who's left?
Orson: Are you saying Earthlings make each other lonely?
Mork: No sir I'm saying just the opposite. They make themeslves lonely, they're so busy looking out for number one that there's not enough room for two.
Orson: It's too bad everybody down there can't get together and find a cure.
Mork: Here's the paradox sir because if they did get together, they wouldn't need one. Isn't that zenlack?
Media on both political sides is garbage and designed to scare people. This bleeds into the lives of many people. Especially those with enough free time to answer a survey about being miserable. Polling is an art and not a science. Ask Hillary how she feels about the accuracy and reliability of polling.
@CuddlesInTempe I completely agree with you. Cable news channels on both sides of the political spectrum make hundreds of millions of dollars selling outrage.
@jaswbrown ~ Among others here I really appreciate your contributions on this one. I'm still working on making my own a bit more presentable/coherent...
@JohnR1972 ~ Nanu-Nanu 🥰
We simply have not recovered from the toilet paper shortage. I was down to my last two ply sheet before I borrowed some from a construction site Porta Potty. Now we have a popcorn and cat food shortage, not to mention tampons are scarce, which I don't have to fret over.
@Btown: "Borrowed"? Don't say you mean to give it back once you're done with it!
@DaringSprinter LOL. I thought of replacing it but the Porta Potty disappeared before I got around to it.
A rich businessman from a rich country goes to an island for rest and relaxation, for the clean air and blue sea, and to fish for his two week vacation. While he is out in a boat fishing with a guide who is a native of the island, the man says to the native: you should move to my country. The native asks why. The rich man answers: so that you can get a job with two weeks vacation and vacation for two weeks on this island for rest and relaxation, for the clean air and blue sea, and to fish.
@Btown: Gross! Ah, you're too funny. I like you.
@DaringSprinter You are too kind and on my wish list to meet someday. You never know.
@Btown: Fingers crossed. Hmm. You know, maybe the number of people who aren't meeting me is contributing to global unhappiness. It is difficult to do (on account of my nocturnality, and the fact that there's only one of me).
Here's a video regarding big tech and global unhappiness. There's another video on the channel about the "experiment" Facebook performed, manipulating people's emotions years ago (without their consent). Interesting topics and I've definitely considered the effect of tech (and social media specifically) on my own happiness and have tried to quit Facebook a number of times. Thought others would be interested too.
@Mike_Girard Preach!!!
What isn't?
@WriterGF Lol
In answer to OP question, quoting unnamed source: small D energy
😆
@UCpaaHVg6u0 Don’t know if that is the truth but it is funnier than s**t.
@Moxytocin great video. Thanks for sharing! Very fact based and unbiased. I also love how it's fact based and empowering. The Social Dilemma is also very fascinating, talking about similar subjects, but is massively depressing. 😆
@Moxytocin - thank you for the link to the video. At the time of this post, this thread has generated 60 votes in the poll I created and the #1 cause of global unhappiness as determined from that poll is a lack of meaningful connection to others (which is not surprising given the nature of this site and what probably drew us all here in the first place).
As @GreatHornedOwl pointed out, many of the things I listed in the poll options are intertwined making it hard to select a single cause or even prioritize the biggest factor.
Just an FYI for anyone still following this thread. Jon Clifton, the CEO of Gallup, published a book this week based on the past decade of growing unhappiness called, “Blind Spot: the global rise of unhappiness and how leaders missed it”
I just received my copy yesterday but won’t have time to read it until this weekend. Below is a link to the book on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Blind-Spot-Global-Unhappiness-Leaders/dp/1595622454/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=3K7U0VA1BO7BW&keywords=blind+spot+jon+clifton&qid=1663246895&sprefix=blind+spot,aps,107&sr=8-1