What Is a Minimally Good Life? • Hacker News Board

Re: What Is a Minimally Good Life?

#41

Post by UncleMeat » Wed, Sep 23, 2020, 1:02 PM UTC

RhysU wrote: post #25

bovermyer wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know where you got that idea from, but your impression of the entire female gender is flawed, stereotypical, and yes, wrong. I'm male. My competitive streak and desire for material goods is in direct conflict with my wife's desires. Most people I know similarly refute your opinion by their goals, personalities, and life status.

> My competitive streak and desire for material goods is in direct conflict with my wife's desires. I find it hard to believe that your wife would prefer you to be a materially/economically poor individual who doesn't strive vs your peers. To each her own, of course. (I take no position on the GP's controversial theory. Just calling out that the implications of the parent's comment strike me as unintuitive.)

> I find it hard to believe that your wife would prefer you to be a materially/economically poor individual who doesn't strive vs your peers.

Really? You've never heard of somebody who'd rather their spouse work shorter hours and spend more time with them at home? Or spend more time with their family? Or travel more with them?

Re: What Is a Minimally Good Life?

#42

Post by andi999 » Wed, Sep 23, 2020, 1:03 PM UTC

jonathanstrange wrote: post #33

What is needed minimally? - a loved and loving partner, a sane and fulfilling sexuality - enough income to not have any substantial worries about the future - absence of other justifiable existential worries and anxiety about the future such as cataclysms, threats, oppressive social, political and work environments, political instability, etc. - a decent amount of recognition in work or private life (one of them suff…

This sounds more like maximal requirements.

Re: What Is a Minimally Good Life?

#43

Post by mightybyte » Wed, Sep 23, 2020, 1:03 PM UTC

jonathanstrange wrote: post #33

What is needed minimally? - a loved and loving partner, a sane and fulfilling sexuality - enough income to not have any substantial worries about the future - absence of other justifiable existential worries and anxiety about the future such as cataclysms, threats, oppressive social, political and work environments, political instability, etc. - a decent amount of recognition in work or private life (one of them suff…

This seems like a pretty good list. I'm sure it's possible to debate the details, but it seems to hit the big points. What I think is interesting about it though is that aside from "enough income to not have any substantial worries about the future", none of these items can actually be provided by society / government. Government certainly can't provide a loving partner, fulfilling sexuality, good mental and physical health, or work/private life recognition. And as 2020 has seen with COVID, it also can't provide absence of existential worries due to cataclysms.

Re: What Is a Minimally Good Life?

#44

Post by paulryanrogers » Wed, Sep 23, 2020, 1:04 PM UTC

aklemm wrote: post #13

growlist wrote: post #2

I know that personally I really don't need much for my own happiness - the basics of survival, a very modest house, and being away from people and in nature would do it for me. The problem comes when these simple things are denied to me, and I am put in a society in which one is treated badly when one doesn't strive to keep up with the Joneses. Controversial opinion: the people with the power to change the never-endi…

Son, you’re not going to get where you want to be until you resolve whatever lead you to find this thought important enough to write down in public.

They did take a risk speaking out. But let's assume the best intention: genuine curiosity.

While I don't agree with the question's premise both it and the reverse can be asked without "punching down".

Re: What Is a Minimally Good Life?

#45

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Sep 23, 2020, 1:05 PM UTC

bovermyer wrote: post #8

growlist wrote: post #2

I know that personally I really don't need much for my own happiness - the basics of survival, a very modest house, and being away from people and in nature would do it for me. The problem comes when these simple things are denied to me, and I am put in a society in which one is treated badly when one doesn't strive to keep up with the Joneses. Controversial opinion: the people with the power to change the never-endi…

I don't know where you got that idea from, but your impression of the entire female gender is flawed, stereotypical, and yes, wrong. I'm male. My competitive streak and desire for material goods is in direct conflict with my wife's desires. Most people I know similarly refute your opinion by their goals, personalities, and life status.

[deleted]

Re: What Is a Minimally Good Life?

#46

Post by GreeniFi » Wed, Sep 23, 2020, 1:06 PM UTC

secondcoming wrote: post #31

"To crush your enemies; see them driven before you; and to hear the lamentation of the women"

This sounds biblical. But it could also be Conan the Barbarian.

Re: What Is a Minimally Good Life?

#47

Post by globular-toast » Wed, Sep 23, 2020, 1:07 PM UTC

growlist wrote: post #2

I know that personally I really don't need much for my own happiness - the basics of survival, a very modest house, and being away from people and in nature would do it for me. The problem comes when these simple things are denied to me, and I am put in a society in which one is treated badly when one doesn't strive to keep up with the Joneses. Controversial opinion: the people with the power to change the never-endi…

> Controversial opinion: the people with the power to change the never-ending hamster wheel situation are primarly women, in that it is women's selection of mates and desire for consumer goods etc. that drive male competition. If women chose something different, perhaps humanity wouldn't be so rapacious of the earth.

I think you are correct that the main driving force here is sex. Sex drives far more of the world than most people would admit to. It is the fundamental raison d'être that every sexual organism is born with.

But I think you are incorrect that women have the power to change it. You're talking about deep rooted instincts that have developed over billions of years. While many of us do learn to control our instincts to some extent, it's a bit much to expect the entire female population to control theirs. And even if you did control female hypergamy, you'd still have male polygamy to deal with. That's why the Bible targeted both (don't covert your neighbour's wife etc.)

Re: What Is a Minimally Good Life?

#48

Post by paulryanrogers » Wed, Sep 23, 2020, 1:08 PM UTC

growlist wrote: post #2

I know that personally I really don't need much for my own happiness - the basics of survival, a very modest house, and being away from people and in nature would do it for me. The problem comes when these simple things are denied to me, and I am put in a society in which one is treated badly when one doesn't strive to keep up with the Joneses. Controversial opinion: the people with the power to change the never-endi…

During westward expansion in the US the rush sometimes produced towns with few women. Life wasn't magically better or less stressful. It was actually the growing female influence that brought some balance and peace.

Re: What Is a Minimally Good Life?

#49

Post by zozbot234 » Wed, Sep 23, 2020, 1:08 PM UTC

crumbshot wrote: post #20

growlist wrote: post #2

I know that personally I really don't need much for my own happiness - the basics of survival, a very modest house, and being away from people and in nature would do it for me. The problem comes when these simple things are denied to me, and I am put in a society in which one is treated badly when one doesn't strive to keep up with the Joneses. Controversial opinion: the people with the power to change the never-endi…

This sounds suspiciously like incel ideology. Whatever cognitive path you're on that's led you to conclude this, I advise you to swiftly veer away from it. Blaming all the women isn't going to help with anything. People will just think, oh there's that weird sexist guy ranting on again. That's not going to get you anywhere useful.

It's just as common to blame "all the men" for women's never-ending insecurity about their own attractiveness. I'm not sure what incel ideology has to do with either.

Re: What Is a Minimally Good Life?

#50

Post by 11thEarlOfMar » Wed, Sep 23, 2020, 1:09 PM UTC

How children are parented makes more difference than anything else. Having 'good' parents vs. 'bad' determines not just what is needed to have a good life, but in many cases, whether one even has the emotional capacity for feeling good for an ongoing period.