Now, in the interest of being transparent: I have not read this entire article. I might never read this entire article. This blog is not meant as a dissertation upon said article. I simply did the thing I usually do where I hear/read something complex, chew it/swallow it/decide to write an opinionated blog about the dregs remaining between my teeth. (So much so that by the end of this blog there will be nothing left of the original topic.)
This article served as a callback to many topics and thoughts I have previously pondered. From social media being our inherent downfall to the theory I blogged about where humans have outgrown their purpose down to the simple decision I made many years ago: (on suicide:) I'm going to get my way eventually and die anyway, so I guess I might as well do the things I like to do until then.
In addition to the callback (and branch-offs) of many dusty theories, this article brought something new to my attention: some people really just refuse to play the game.
In my unscholarly opinion, this goes beyond nihilism. Of simply poo-pooing the "playing of the game" and deciding life is meaningless. I doubt I will ever fight anyone on the thought of life being meaningless (until I get old and find a sudden interest in local Christianity, out of inevitable desperation). What I mean is some people truly refuse to believe they have ever been happy. Of course there is little I can do or say about this for many reasons, one of them being: I truly refuse to believe it is possible that a person has never truly been happy. Those who hail from (what we would consider to be) the absolute darkest depths of ruin experience happiness. Because it is in our blood to experience "hope".
Whether you like it or not, you crusty old non-believer.
I have known a few in my time here who subscribe to the opinion that happiness is not important to them. That they refuse to waste their time working toward it. While I've got news, Buster. You ever go into a relationship with someone you like spending time with? Friendly or otherwise? Have you ever purchased a movie you liked? Have you ever brought home your favorite snack? That single feat alone is proof of the pursuit of happiness/your own will and drive to do so. It would literally be more effort to not strive for joy of some sort. So really all you're accomplishing when you say things like "Happiness isn't my goal" is unnecessary dramatics. (And, very usually, a slight irritation in the person you tell.)
One last thing before I go (may the old and crusty avert thine eyes):
We all have had our moments of defeat and withdrawal. Of giving up, of slacking, of convincing ourselves of seeing the last straw before we plummet into a sort of darkness. Somehow our inherent human-ness prevails. Always. And at the end of a life span, I think you will find more moments of hope and drive than any kind of defeat.
original article:
https://isi.org/modern-age/the-great-stagnation-or-decline-and-fall/?fbclid=IwAR0BHIAJ25jLOS9mELRFr1Pzr5CFICXd1GuPSWUM3Jw9mdRI-imOJvB36wI
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