Western society and culture is not designed for our prosperity or happiness

Yes, I'm sure so many of you read the title and immediately thought "well duh?" But this is the rant forum, so I'm gonna.

I read something funny and yet oh so sad the other day.

"Human beings are the only species on earth that pays to live on it" and it just really got to me. We're supposed to be smart?

If we want to be happy, why do we "volunteer" to do work we don't enjoy or at least find rewarding? Why do we "volunteer" to buy a new iPhone every year when it's almost exactly the same as the one you have, and yours works perfectly?

Why is there one day each year where stuff is slightly cheaper to the point where we're happy to cause a stampede, or risk seriously injuring each other to pick up more TVs than we have eyes? (Black Friday)

Why do we voluntarily eat chemical and additive filled crap that we know may eventually kill us?

Because one way or another, we're constantly told that's what life is about. But it's not is it? Every other species on the planet does its best to preserve itself, reproduce, and prosper/reduce suffering. It seems like humans on the other hand are no longer interested in that. Our culture does not promote any of those ideals, it says it does, but its not reflected in most peoples actions. Even the most militant fossil fuel critics will buy the next iPhone, and drive to work at their social media start up that promises it's going to change the world.

I'm not saying we should live like animals, the animal kingdom is of course full of suffering and hardship, but we have the mental capacity to overcome far more suffering, eat healthily yet heartily, give technology that enhances well being of every single human on the planet.

But I say again, we voluntarily do not do this. No no. What's best for you is that you buy that bunch of bricks over there next to all those other piles of identical bricks, and that's where you'll sleep and take a dump when you get home from working inside that other pile of bricks, and when you're done sleeping and dumping you go back to that other pile of bricks, and you need to spend many many years paying for your bricks, and you're not allowed to build your own unless we say you can, and if we say you can, you need to give us money every year because government and thats what life is about. When did I decide that's what life is about? I didn't, it was decided by the people that control the area of soil I was involuntarily born on.

I would personally love to build a house, with my own hands, it would be crappy, but it would truly be mine. But at least here in the UK, there is no hope whatsoever for 99% of people anymore.

This is in no way meant to be a comparison to those that were involuntarily born on another patch of soil that's controlled by someone worse than the person that controls mine. The point I'm making is all about choice, and what society really wants for us.

Ill say western culture because its the only culture I can say I have truly experienced, but western culture does not want us to be happy, it doesn't want us to live longer after we've grown too old to work. Society wants ants to serve its higher purpose, but its purpose is apparently to improve our lives, but does anybody really think that's what's happening?

I'm not an ant, and I resent being told that I should just be an ant. If us ants aren't living to improve our own lives and the lives of those we care about, what are we really doing? Likely absolutely nothing.

So yeh,
I'm not going to continue to volunteer to be unhappy for no reason anymore. I've quit the job I hated. I'm now working far harder, for less money, but doing something that I did for fun before I even turned it into a career.

I'm 1% of the way there. And as hard as it was to say 'no more' to the conventional 9 to 5 that is so engrained in us that we write songs about it, it was probably one of the easiest steps to take.

God damn. I do however hope that maybe someone reading this will snap out of the cycle of degradation they may have fallen into.

Peace

We/society that we can see are all being strung along by the puppet masters , been like that for centuries. We would need to create a new separate society to live free ,or stand up united (or as many of us as possible ) against them.
We've never been free, it's all an illusion upheld by the puppet masters .
If it were up to me I'd leave the planet permanently (with my loved ones) and just start over .

Perhaps some day that may just happen yet.

Obviously. We are just the drones. Without us the system doesn’t work, but very few rise high enough to even glimpse the architects of the machine that grinds us to pulp from birth to death.

a reply to: AverageWang

You have a well thought out post and thank you.

My immediate worry for humankind is the availability of drinking water. The lack has been in other countries but is coming to all of us in the future. Desalination may help if we can get it more economical and less costly to produce- even that is a short term fix.

a reply to: AverageWang

I’m not sure I would be happier if I had to work the fields all day for my food and chop down trees to keep warm.
Western society allows us more free time to do the things we want to do.

I’ll stick with the rat race.

a reply to: AverageWang

Western culture gave us all that surrounds you, along with key concepts like freedom, liberty of expression, etc.

And as you say, it USED to be possible to build your own home, in the relatively recent past.



Thus, the problem is not Western culture but THE OPPOSITE: the return of feudalism, hidden under various guises (ex: return of communism).

a reply to: AverageWang

If we want to be happy, why do we "volunteer" to do work we don't enjoy or at least find rewarding?

I don't know about you, but if I don't keep my clothing and dishes and other necessary items around my dwelling cleaned, I would be miserable pretty quickly. Oh, wait, was that not the type of work you were talking about? And seriously, does anyone actually enjoy doing things like picking up roadkill or making sure sewers work? But if no one does them, we have serious problems seen enough.

Maybe by now you can see where I am going with this. Some tasks need to be done in life, even if there aren't many people who want to do them or who will find them fulfilling. So what happens if no one ever consents to do them because they just suck?

Why do we "volunteer" to buy a new iPhone every year when it's almost exactly the same as the one you have, and yours works perfectly?

I don't know. Why do you volunteer to do that? I sure don't. My phone is well over 5 years old. I will actually be replacing it here in the next few days, but the one I have is actually wearing out and has issues that can't easily be fixed. I won't be replacing the one I get until I have to.

Why is there one day each year where stuff is slightly cheaper to the point where we're happy to cause a stampede, or risk seriously injuring each other to pick up more TVs than we have eyes? (Black Friday)

I don't know, but it's a very easy thing not to participate. I never have. In fact, I'll likely be at work this year, making guides for cancer patients which is far more useful to society.

Why do we voluntarily eat chemical and additive filled crap that we know may eventually kill us?

Likely for the same reason that people do anything that is dangerous to some degree or other - they like it. However, I eat fairly cleanly most of the time because I actually like real food.

I guess my point here is that you wrote your post as if we have zero agency in all this when in fact the opposite is true. This is only what people choose to do with themselves, not what they are made to do.

Perhaps you should be asking why so many make this choice in our culture. That you act as though no one can choose tells me that you are part of the problem yourself and as blind as any of those you accuse of not being able to see.

originally posted by: Onlyyouknow
a reply to: AverageWang

You have a well thought out post and thank you.

My immediate worry for humankind is the availability of drinking water. The lack has been in other countries but is coming to all of us in the future. Desalination may help if we can get it more economical and less costly to produce- even that is a short term fix.

Funny though how the ones who have destroyed the Earth’s water supply are those who now deem everyone else expendable. We have the same water supply the dinosaurs had yet microchips need fresh water to be produced. Fracking needs fresh water to extract. Humans need fresh water to liv.... ahh f**k ‘em. Depopulation of the eaters/consumers because we have more green paper by raping and pillaging not just the village but the Earth. Makes sense right?

On a seriously sober note, you should read Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari. Excellent read. You’d really relate and get a better understanding of the fecal matter we are force fed. Bon appetit!

a reply to: UnRepentantHarlequin

Add to that the amount of water needed for recycling. There is a fine balance to be had and so far that is not happening….

originally posted by: Bluntone22
a reply to: AverageWang

I’m not sure I would be happier if I had to work the fields all day for my food and chop down trees to keep warm.
Western society allows us more free time to do the things we want to do.

I’ll stick with the rat race.

No kidding.

200 years ago, most of the population on the planet would kill to be on welfare today in a western country.

Today most of the population on the planet would kill to be on welfare in a western country. Many would kill to be homeless in America where there are dumpsters full of food.


People have no idea do they?


Reminds me of a comedy act - I am sitting in a chair in the sky.

Kings and Pharaohs of the past would gladly murder thousands to have that opportunity.

People have no idea how well they have it in modern western society.

a reply to: ARM1968

Unfortunately, the higher you rise, the less you can make out what is below you.

Go high enough, everything looks small, and people look like ants.

Go further still, and your head will be above the clouds, and you will not be able to see anyone at all.

a reply to: AverageWang

The world, people in general, have never been right.

The Western culture is known for corruption.

The East Hindis were originally known to be already aware of nature, science, spirituality etc, but people distorted the messages, abused the science, help etc.

a reply to: infolurker

This is just more paramilitary woo.

Paramilitary woo is usually men/women interested in military-esque lifestyle without ever experiencing it. Civilians dressing in fatigues, in mysticism, body building, movies etc.

Trust me, it's BS.

a reply to: NightSkyeB4Dawn

Research paramilitary woo.

It's usually civilians interested in military lifestyle without ever experiencing it and is a "wannabe" phenomena.

Interested in ninja stuff, mysticism, bodying building and martial arts, movies.

It's BS.

I will just say this: if you want to roll around in the dirt all day go ahead and do it.

originally posted by: ketsuko
a reply to: AverageWang

I don't know about you, but if I don't keep my clothing and dishes and other necessary items around my dwelling cleaned, I would be miserable pretty quickly. Oh, wait, was that not the type of work you were talking about? And seriously, does anyone actually enjoy doing things like picking up roadkill or making sure sewers work? But if no one does them, we have serious problems seen enough.

Maybe by now you can see where I am going with this. Some tasks need to be done in life, even if there aren't many people who want to do them or who will find them fulfilling. So what happens if no one ever consents to do them because they just suck?

Why do we "volunteer" to buy a new iPhone every year when it's almost exactly the same as the one you have, and yours works perfectly?

I don't know. Why do you volunteer to do that? I sure don't. My phone is well over 5 years old. I will actually be replacing it here in the next few days, but the one I have is actually wearing out and has issues that can't easily be fixed. I won't be replacing the one I get until I have to.

Why is there one day each year where stuff is slightly cheaper to the point where we're happy to cause a stampede, or risk seriously injuring each other to pick up more TVs than we have eyes? (Black Friday)

I don't know, but it's a very easy thing not to participate. I never have. In fact, I'll likely be at work this year, making guides for cancer patients which is far more useful to society.

Why do we voluntarily eat chemical and additive filled crap that we know may eventually kill us?

Likely for the same reason that people do anything that is dangerous to some degree or other - they like it. However, I eat fairly cleanly most of the time because I actually like real food.

I guess my point here is that you wrote your post as if we have zero agency in all this when in fact the opposite is true. This is only what people choose to do with themselves, not what they are made to do.

Perhaps you should be asking why so many make this choice in our culture. That you act as though no one can choose tells me that you are part of the problem yourself and as blind as any of those you accuse of not being able to see.

Thats why I specifically mentioned 'rewarding', obviously doing the dishes isn't what most consider 'fun', but the reward is clearly there. I know guys that work a job they hate for a reward (wage) that just keeps them trapped in the same cycle. There's nothing rewarding about it. Trust me I thought about this point as I was writing it, and I agree with you, and its tough to argue. There are some things we must do to minimise suffering and promote well being.

I thought it was evident in my language that talking about participants in a society requires a certain level of generalisation when it comes to discussing sentiment. Black Friday is participated in by millions of people each year, its accepted, and its promoted. I also do not participate and never have.

The point I'm making about the whole new phone thing is that in general people don't replace their phones because they're too old. My contract is 2 years long, it's due for renewal at the end of the month, I like most people would discard my phone which is in perfect working order, for something almost identical but shiny and contains an extra megapixel in its camera.

Thanks for your thoughts though. I dont want militarism or communism, but I guess what I'm trying to say is that plenty of people feel like what we have is what there is and there's nothing we can do about it and 'that's life'. I just feel like often enough, people don't even realise that it's not all there is.

a reply to: AverageWang

I sympathize. It's true: the unintended consequences of the world we have made seem to operate to promote struggle and unhappiness. But as you say, animals struggle and suffer too. Everything that lives has to work for a living. And suffer, and die in the end.

Being intelligent hasn't worked too well for our species on that score. In some ways, it's made things worse.

I like that you didn't put the blame on 'them'. The rich and powerful didn't plan this; they are just the ones who are in a position to take advantage of it; besides, they too struggle, suffer and die. Everyone, even the rebel, helps design, create and maintain the system. And the system -- which everyone, meaning no-one, has designed, has its own logic, its own self-perpetuating and expanding momentum. It no longer answers to human needs -- though it does a damn good job of catering to human desires.

If you feel you have found an escape route, well and good. I wish you success. At least you won't need to practice philosophy.

originally posted by: AverageWang
I would personally love to build a house, with my own hands, it would be crappy, but it would truly be mine. But at least here in the UK, there is no hope whatsoever for 99% of people anymore.

Oh, Misery.

In fact, you just need to buy some land, get planning permission and build your house. Trouble is, you have persuaded yourself there is no hope, or some other barrier. Like everything in the Real World, you need some cash, which means you need to work. Oh, I get it that some work is crap and a chore, but you do what you can do.

Cheer up.