sayitasitis Posted April 24, 2011 Posted April 24, 2011 We see a lot of people on the streets, single people, coupled people, family people, young people, old people. How many of you think they look and are probably genuinely happy? I'm just wondering whether most people out there are just a lot happier or is that just a front or something that society commands of them. Take for example this conversation between a friend and her acquaintance at a party. It's not exactly the same situation but you get the drift. Acquaintance: So I see you're the party girl, huh? Friend: Not at all. I don't go out all that much. Acquaintance: I saw you last week at (name's) party and you're at this one today. Friend: It just happened that we were both at the same parties but I spend most of my time at home. Acquaintance: No way. You seem to be leading a high life. Friend: ??? So we have a pre-conceived, if you will, idea of what other people have. Or am I wrong thinking this way?
Timmeh Posted April 24, 2011 Posted April 24, 2011 We see a lot of people on the streets, single people, coupled people, family people, young people, old people. How many of you think they look and are probably genuinely happy? I'm just wondering whether most people out there are just a lot happier or is that just a front or something that society commands of them. Take for example this conversation between a friend and her acquaintance at a party. It's not exactly the same situation but you get the drift. Acquaintance: So I see you're the party girl, huh? Friend: Not at all. I don't go out all that much. Acquaintance: I saw you last week at (name's) party and you're at this one today. Friend: It just happened that we were both at the same parties but I spend most of my time at home. Acquaintance: No way. You seem to be leading a high life. Friend: ??? So we have a pre-conceived, if you will, idea of what other people have. Or am I wrong thinking this way? Define happy. It's an abstract concept that manifests itself in different ways for different people.
Author sayitasitis Posted April 24, 2011 Author Posted April 24, 2011 Define happy. It's an abstract concept that manifests itself in different ways for different people. Contented, wanting nothing else than what you currently have, believing you have all that you need. But it can be any LSer wants to define it as. Because it's how he/she views the people as happy as her definition is.
Ross MwcFan Posted April 24, 2011 Posted April 24, 2011 Most people seem really happy, at least in comparison to me, as people always seem to be talking, and whenever they are, they're always laughing and smiling. I'm hardly ever like that.
Author sayitasitis Posted April 24, 2011 Author Posted April 24, 2011 Most people seem really happy, at least in comparison to me, as people always seem to be talking, and whenever they are, they're always laughing and smiling. I'm hardly ever like that. That's interesting. So it's "true" that when we see people different to us, we think they have something we might not have. On the contrary, did you ever think that maybe that scene you saw was the only happy moment they had in a long while? Like you caught them when they were laughing and smiling?
Ross MwcFan Posted April 24, 2011 Posted April 24, 2011 That's interesting. So it's "true" that when we see people different to us, we think they have something we might not have. On the contrary, did you ever think that maybe that scene you saw was the only happy moment they had in a long while? Like you caught them when they were laughing and smiling? On rare occasions with any particular person that might be the case. The fact that I see it all the time though, tells me that most people, most of the time are a lot more happier than me. If this wasn't the case, then most of the time I wouldn't see people laughing, talking, and smiling.
Eternal Sunshine Posted April 24, 2011 Posted April 24, 2011 I put on a really good front of being happy. It fools a lot of people. I would often be the life of the party, smiling and laughing all the time... It's all a front though. I don't like them to see in my weaker moments. If I were to show my really pessimistic and unhappy self, I would have zero friends. So I have learned to act a long time ago.
Author sayitasitis Posted April 24, 2011 Author Posted April 24, 2011 On rare occasions with any particular person that might be the case. The fact that I see it all the time though, tells me that most people, most of the time are a lot more happier than me. If this wasn't the case, then most of the time I wouldn't see people laughing, talking, and smiling. Wow. I put on a really good front of being happy. It fools a lot of people. I would often be the life of the party, smiling and laughing all the time... It's all a front though. I don't like them to see in my weaker moments. If I were to show my really pessimistic and unhappy self, I would have zero friends. So I have learned to act a long time ago. But are you always unhappy? That's why you have to put on a front? No judgment but I'm talking about people like you that put on a front who others think are always happier than they are. Therefore realistically speaking, we shouldn't believe what we see.
Eternal Sunshine Posted April 24, 2011 Posted April 24, 2011 Wow. But are you always unhappy? That's why you have to put on a front? No judgment but I'm talking about people like you that put on a front who others think are always happier than they are. Therefore realistically speaking, we shouldn't believe what we see. Yep, the bolded. I am not always unhappy but most of the time I try to appear happier than I am.
Ross MwcFan Posted April 24, 2011 Posted April 24, 2011 Yep, the bolded. I am not always unhappy but most of the time I try to appear happier than I am. I've never bothered with doing that. On the one hand, smiling more is actually supposed to make you genuinley more happy, but I could see having to put on an act all the time, could be keeping you feeling unhapppy.
Eclypse Posted April 24, 2011 Posted April 24, 2011 I think most people put up walls and are very good at maintaining them. I kind of feel like Roger Waters sometimes (except I'm not as much of a douchebag). Only a few of my close friends know how I actually feel, and I imagine the same is for most other people you see. You don't go around telling people you barely know how miserable you are.
Author sayitasitis Posted April 24, 2011 Author Posted April 24, 2011 But we never stop wanting things we don't because we think that's going to make us happy. Sigh.
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