Midlife: A Philosophical Guide • Hacker News Board

Re: Midlife: A Philosophical Guide

#21

Post by PuppyTailWags » Thu, Aug 18, 2022, 5:35 PM UTC

kelseyfrog wrote: post #12

tayo42 wrote: post #3

I wonder if the "midlife" part of midlife crisis does some harm. Other then me not being in my midlife (well i hope lol, don't think i want to die at 60) a lot of those issue resonate. Shrinking of possibilities, empty feeling as i pursue things. Ive felt this way on and off since my 20s and have talked with friends about similar feelings.

> I wonder if the "midlife" part of midlife crisis does some harm. As someone who more or less started a midlife crisis last year, this rings true. Among other things, there's a social double bind that lies at the root of this that must be examined. On one hand, young people are framed as unable to understand themselves and that they must suck it up and act like adults. On the other hand, when those that do "suck it…

I have a suspicion that the reason for the discouragement of midlife crisis is inflexibility in a society where people must work to earn money to live. If you're in your 30s and have dependents, quitting your job puts the QoL of your dependents in peril because there's no general societal-level support program for that sort of life pivot.

Re: Midlife: A Philosophical Guide

#22

Post by psyc » Thu, Aug 18, 2022, 5:36 PM UTC

bachmeier wrote: post #8

sgt101 wrote: post #5

I'll tell you what would solve mine. About $2m.

You're weird if the possession of any amount of money actually solves a problem. I bring this up because I got advice long ago that if you think you need more money to be happy: 1. What you really want is what you can do with that money. 2. There's usually an alternative way to get nearly equal enjoyment for far less money.

The problem that amount of money solves is having to trade your waking hours and obedience to bosses or clients in exchange for room and board.

Re: Midlife: A Philosophical Guide

#23

Post by photochemsyn » Thu, Aug 18, 2022, 5:37 PM UTC

A wonderful resource for the laid-off 45-year old coal miners, certain to solve their problems...

> "A few years ago, a man experienced a midlife crisis. He was professionally successful and had a rewarding family life, but still had a “hollow” feeling."

Just to spell it out, when you have a significant fraction of the population affected by societal collapse and economic insecurity, and with few if any future job prospects, that results in the kind of widespread 'depression' that isn't treatable with drugs, therapy, or self-help books.

Re: Midlife: A Philosophical Guide

#24

Post by marginalia_nu » Thu, Aug 18, 2022, 5:39 PM UTC

yboris wrote: post #10

Seems like a good way to avert a midlife crisis is to explicitly make helping others a non-trivial part of one's life. Focusing on effectiveness on helping others is probably an important component as well. I recommend looking into Effective Altruism - "a philosophy and community focused on maximising the good you can do through your career, projects, and donations" https://www.effectivealtruism.org/ In my case I've…

> Seems like a good way to avert a midlife crisis is to explicitly make helping others a non-trivial part of one's life.

Given this is a thread about philosophy, and this looks like the sort of thing that sounds so true nobody bothers looking too closely at whether it is, I feel compelled to ask why it is so?

Re: Midlife: A Philosophical Guide

#25

Post by amelius » Thu, Aug 18, 2022, 5:41 PM UTC

bachmeier wrote: post #8

sgt101 wrote: post #5

I'll tell you what would solve mine. About $2m.

You're weird if the possession of any amount of money actually solves a problem. I bring this up because I got advice long ago that if you think you need more money to be happy: 1. What you really want is what you can do with that money. 2. There's usually an alternative way to get nearly equal enjoyment for far less money.

Finding a life partner is more difficult without any money.

On the other hand if you find her/him, then you know they weren't after the money.

Re: Midlife: A Philosophical Guide

#26

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Aug 18, 2022, 5:41 PM UTC

marto1 wrote: post #14

lapcat wrote: post #2

(2017)

As in, it would've solved it in 2017. Good luck solving it these days :-)

[deleted]

Re: Midlife: A Philosophical Guide

#27

Post by ffhhj » Thu, Aug 18, 2022, 5:41 PM UTC

sgt101 wrote: post #5

I'll tell you what would solve mine. About $2m.

Philosophy is hunger of the mind, we replaced it with consumerism.

Re: Midlife: A Philosophical Guide

#28

Post by amelius » Thu, Aug 18, 2022, 5:42 PM UTC

frankzander wrote: post #13

1970-01-01 wrote: post #7

Philosophy would be a great name for a boat

Or a Harley

Or a toupee.

Re: Midlife: A Philosophical Guide

#29

Post by mxuribe » Thu, Aug 18, 2022, 5:44 PM UTC

sgt101 wrote: post #5

I'll tell you what would solve mine. About $2m.

I'm with you! I think my calculation was figuring $5MM...but, hey, i can make it work for $2MM. :-)

Re: Midlife: A Philosophical Guide

#30

Post by heliodor » Thu, Aug 18, 2022, 5:44 PM UTC

photochemsyn wrote: post #23

A wonderful resource for the laid-off 45-year old coal miners, certain to solve their problems... > "A few years ago, a man experienced a midlife crisis. He was professionally successful and had a rewarding family life, but still had a “hollow” feeling." Just to spell it out, when you have a significant fraction of the population affected by societal collapse and economic insecurity, and with few if any future job pr…

The topic is midlife crisis.

A midlife crisis is not about being poor, fearing for your job, or worrying about societal collapse. It's about your existence, purpose, the meaning of life, etc. It applies to all walks of life.