Why aren't smart people happier? (2022) • Hacker News Board

Re: Why aren't smart people happier? (2022)

#271

Post by CrzyLngPwd » Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 9:27 AM UTC

My partner describes me as a professional problem solver. Since I was a child, I have fixed things that most people throw away, taught myself many skills because I'd rather know how to do things before handing things to others to do for me, read many books on a huge variety of subjects, and everyone thinks I am extremely lucky.

I don't see problems, I see opportunities.

I work hard every day, whether it's writing code, digging ditches, clearing scrub, making firewood, planting trees, tending a large growing space, running my business, preparing and canning food for the the next year...and on it goes.

Lots of setbacks along the way, such as the leak I fixed isn't fixed, almost all of my tomatoes failed, 100% of my winter onions failed, the stator on my ATV needs to be replaced, I need to deer proof a field, scrub clearance is a massive and backbreaking job that sucks energy...and on it goes.

I am deleriously happy.

No idea if I am "smart", but life takes work, and mostly it's what you make of it.

Perception is the biggest enemy, and it can be changed.

Re: Why aren't smart people happier? (2022)

#272

Post by nutjob2 » Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 9:28 AM UTC

To see, and to know, is to suffer.

The world is largely a horrible place and ignorance is bliss.

Also the smarter you are the more prone you are to mental illness, which may be related to the above or maybe like why you're more likely to crash a fast car.

Re: Why aren't smart people happier? (2022)

#273

Post by throwaway_19sz » Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 9:30 AM UTC

Theory: There are more smart, happy people than it seems. It’s just, that particular combination tends to come with a reduced inclination to question their feelings and to engage in discourse about feelings.

Re: Why aren't smart people happier? (2022)

#274

Post by konart » Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 9:35 AM UTC

TheOtherHobbes wrote: post #54

konart wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or to put it differently: some people can easily ignore things others can not.

More like some people simply don't notice. Or don't care to. I sometimes wonder what would happen if the population's average IQ was (the current equivalent of) 130 instead of 100. Would things be better? Worse in more complex ways? Both?

Well. Life needs diversity.

Higher IQ may give you more freedoms but also take some away. You can see what others can not, do things others can not, but at the same time you can get depression over something that won't affect someone else.

Not to mention we need people who's okay with doing simple hard jobs just as much as we need writers, doctors etc.

A nice quote from The Big Bang Theory:

Penny: Leonard, you are so great. Why can't all guys be like you?

Leonard: Because if all guys were like me, the human race couldn't survive.

Re: Why aren't smart people happier? (2022)

#275

Post by nephihaha » Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 9:39 AM UTC

Some of them put knowledge ahead of wisdom, but certainly intelligence also allows you to see the faults of the world and can create a pessimistic outlook.

Re: Why aren't smart people happier? (2022)

#276

Post by owebmaster » Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 9:43 AM UTC

dombiscoff wrote: post #270

99% of the replies here speak from the point of view that they are of the intelligent group. Hmmm, either hacker news is some sort of naturally forming mensa community or there's a lot of ego being put on display here.

When someone tells me they are smart in person the first thing I check is how healthy/fit they are and their social capabilities. Most nerds aren't smart.

Re: Why aren't smart people happier? (2022)

#277

Post by EQFitzgerald » Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 9:57 AM UTC

The idea that stupid people are happier comes from the effects of lead poisoning, which turned you into a happy, inane person.

Re: Why aren't smart people happier? (2022)

#278

Post by vishalgoyal88 » Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC

Smart people aren’t lazy. They often speak less because their attention is focused on productivity, achieving their goals, and earning more money.

Re: Why aren't smart people happier? (2022)

#279

Post by dombiscoff » Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 10:15 AM UTC

owebmaster wrote: post #276

dombiscoff wrote: post #270

99% of the replies here speak from the point of view that they are of the intelligent group. Hmmm, either hacker news is some sort of naturally forming mensa community or there's a lot of ego being put on display here.

When someone tells me they are smart in person the first thing I check is how healthy/fit they are and their social capabilities. Most nerds aren't smart.

Wouldn't this only check their social and health related abilities?

Re: Why aren't smart people happier? (2022)

#280

Post by amelius » Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 10:29 AM UTC

mmorriso wrote: post #98

I find it interesting that there's an expectation that smart people would be happier. Being smart is essentially "having a strong brain". Would we expect people with a strong back or legs to be happier? I wouldn't expect someone good a maths or puzzles to be any happier than someone good at carrying heavy things. There's a difference between smart and wise. Some smart people become wise people, and I find them to be…

Smart people are more likely to be able to choose the work they do (on the basis of what makes them happy).