Ironically, there was a study recently on what generally are the traits of "happy" people. Seligman I think? Let me check. Yeah, Martin Seligman "Authentic Happiness". One of the traits discovered for people being "happy", is adopting a religion or being spiritual. On the other hand, studies have also shown people with a religion also tend to be more violent in society when they decide to do something "bad".
Not sure if all those Ukrainians and Russians dying right now in Bakhmut and other parts of Ukraine are particularly religious though. Other than the religion of tribalism, and believing the common lie that dying over pieces of land is worth it to you as an individual. I mean, once you're dead you're dead. You may go on in some fashion, true - but you've left the stage of this reality, in an abrupt, tragic, and ugly manner.
People who live in a totalitarian order are "happier" when they play along, sure. But that's just a game that doesn't need to exist. It's better to destroy totalitarian orders of society than to accommodate them, unless you're part of the class that leeches off of other people's labor under some theory of entitlement that is exactly as insipid as any other.
The illusion of happy in totalitarianism is only a facade. This is why drinking and drugs are so popular..it medicates the mind to the "truth" or lie one can tell themselves that you are free to move about the gilded cage.. As long as you can afford it. Stock in lockheed anyone?
Forced cheer is an institution in the commercial West. I don't doubt many of Seligman's subjects are faking it 'til they make it. It's a, if not *the*, credo of the professional-managerial class, who never met a symbol they didn't like to manipulate.
Ironically, there was a study recently on what generally are the traits of "happy" people. Seligman I think? Let me check. Yeah, Martin Seligman "Authentic Happiness". One of the traits discovered for people being "happy", is adopting a religion or being spiritual. On the other hand, studies have also shown people with a religion also tend to be more violent in society when they decide to do something "bad".
Not sure if all those Ukrainians and Russians dying right now in Bakhmut and other parts of Ukraine are particularly religious though. Other than the religion of tribalism, and believing the common lie that dying over pieces of land is worth it to you as an individual. I mean, once you're dead you're dead. You may go on in some fashion, true - but you've left the stage of this reality, in an abrupt, tragic, and ugly manner.
People who live in a totalitarian order are "happier" when they play along, sure. But that's just a game that doesn't need to exist. It's better to destroy totalitarian orders of society than to accommodate them, unless you're part of the class that leeches off of other people's labor under some theory of entitlement that is exactly as insipid as any other.
The illusion of happy in totalitarianism is only a facade. This is why drinking and drugs are so popular..it medicates the mind to the "truth" or lie one can tell themselves that you are free to move about the gilded cage.. As long as you can afford it. Stock in lockheed anyone?
Forced cheer is an institution in the commercial West. I don't doubt many of Seligman's subjects are faking it 'til they make it. It's a, if not *the*, credo of the professional-managerial class, who never met a symbol they didn't like to manipulate.