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Why aren't smart people happier?

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Re: Why aren't smart people happier?

#381

Post by dimensionc132 »

endorphine wrote: post #278
dimensionc132 wrote: post #182

The authors seems to imply that that Christopher Langan who scores extraordinarily high on IQ tests and who is developing a Cognitive-Theoretic Model of the Universe" (CTMU), is somehow dumb or ill informed for believing that the 9/11 attacks and subsequent collapse of the twin towers and world trade centre building 7, was planned. Regardless of whether that is true or not, the author of the article takes direct aim…

It seems to me you're offended that the OP implies that, e.g. Bobby Fischer wasn't good at non-well-defined problems. I would be interested to know why is that. To clarify: I don't like the way they phrased it either (it was too judgemental), it just didn't bother me so much.

I get annoyed about the OP's arrogance in assuming he is right, because 'reasons', and everyone else mentioned is somehow wrong regarding the conspiracy theories mentioned.

Remember, people are still debating the JFK assassination, and those that don't believe the mainstream accepted narrative that Oswald single handedly fired those shots, considered crazy.

It bothers me, not that it makes any difference. I just wanted to point attention to it.

Re: Why aren't smart people happier?

#382

Post by nickff »

stcredzero wrote: post #349
throw__away7391 wrote: post #272

I have noticed that a lot of/majority of "regular people" tend to coast along on the back of others as a way of life. If "smart people" are perceived by friends and family as being problem solvers, many will route their problems to a "smart friend", someone who seems to have their life somewhat in order or always have the answer to everything. I used to get an endless stream of requests for everything from technical…

it comes at a high cost, especially as you can end up spending so much effort on "friends" that you neglect to solve or even recognize your own problems. This is a valuable insight. At some point, even the closest to you are their own individuals. Short of saving their lives from imminent physical danger, at some point, one must leave others "to their fate." I have come to realize recently that I don't actually have…

I'm not the author of the parent comment, but I think you may be taking the message too far.

>"Short of saving their lives from imminent physical danger, at some point, one must leave others "to their fate.""

I think it's good to help people who are going through challenging periods in their lives. The key to limiting one's efforts is that the problems need to be temporary ones, and the 'assistant' should take on a supporting role, not a leading one.

Re: Why aren't smart people happier?

#383

Post by belkarx »

YeahNO wrote: post #123
jrimbault wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aren't there some studies about how stress level doesn't seem to change much in relation to income and education ?

Actually, money can buy happiness, or at least, the lack of worry. A study [1] found, "the ideal income point is $95,000 for life evaluation and $60,000 to $75,000 for emotional well-being... this amount is for individuals and would likely be higher for families." [1] Jebb, A.T., Tay, L., Diener, E. et al. Happiness, income satiation and turning points around the world. Nat Hum Behav 2, 33–38 (2018). https://doi.org/…

If this brings the "diminishing returns" study to mind for anyone, PSA:

A more recent study was done on the "ideal salary point" and concluded that there really isn't one: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2016976118

Re: Why aren't smart people happier?

#384

Post by suoduandao2 »

frankzander wrote: post #19

Because happiness isn't a mental skill. What makes you happy is try to have and keep peace with everyone and do good things, make presents to others, give and don't expect to get something back (you will but don't expect it). (it's the opposite you see nowadays in movies or series ;-) It's about social connections and inter-human things ... not some skills you learn on universities but from loving and well raised par…

>What makes you happy is try to have and keep peace with everyone and do good things, make presents to others, give and don't expect to get something back

Some worse-if-wiser part of me suspects this piece of advice is given out of altruism to the community as a whole, not the person receiving it. Doing this has never made me happy. I'm more willing to do it when I'm already happy though, so maybe there's a corellation.

Re: Why aren't smart people happier?

#385

Post by suoduandao2 »

gmays wrote: post #220

Reminds me of this quote from Stop Stealing Dreams [1]: > Philosopher Jeremy Bentham argued that if two kids playing hopscotch or push-pin are gaining as much joy and pleasure as someone reading poetry, they have enjoyed as much utility. > John Stuart Mill took a different approach. He argued, “it is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied…

"Brave new world" made a very good case for Mill's side of that argument. I found it convincing, for what that's worth.

Re: Why aren't smart people happier?

#386

Post by numbers_guy »

nemacol wrote: post #364
numbers_guy wrote: post #355

For me it is quite simply because I lack the human touch. Due to a multitude of compounding factors I cannot manage to find a soulmate, and life alone is miserable. I don't see how being smart would help in this situation. If anything it makes it harder to connect with someone, because the pool of compatible people is smaller.

> because the pool of compatible people is smaller. Why?

Because of what is called assortative mating.

Re: Why aren't smart people happier?

#388

Post by numbers_guy »

suoduandao2 wrote: post #378
numbers_guy wrote: post #355

For me it is quite simply because I lack the human touch. Due to a multitude of compounding factors I cannot manage to find a soulmate, and life alone is miserable. I don't see how being smart would help in this situation. If anything it makes it harder to connect with someone, because the pool of compatible people is smaller.

Regarding the loneliness problem, that isn't as intractible as I used to think it was for us Venusians. In my case it was largely an issue of getting my emotional algorithms right, which requires effort that isn't quite intellectual effort - but intellectual capacity certainly helps understand what the new version should look like. If you're interested in solving this problem for yourself I would recommend the book '…

I know I can work on my social skills. The compounding factor that ruins my chances is that I also am not physically attractive. So I get very few chances to practice my social skills. This whole getting few chances in the first place is what is making me unhappy and making me feel lonely. And before you ask, I do put a lot of effort into meeting new people. Thanks for the book suggestion, anyway.

Re: Why aren't smart people happier?

#389

Post by hinkley »

We often equate success with problem solving. I think people underestimate how much and how often worry plays a role in problem solving. We lionize the people who win the lottery by realizing that chocolate and peanut butter taste great together, but most of the rest is a slog, overcoming adversity and pushing through internal and external resistance. We don’t seem to connect that there are reasons things advance so much during wartime. More worry, less resistance.

Driven people aren’t happy. Sometimes they aren’t even sad. They’re just driven. How are you going to fix problems if you look around and see no problems?

Re: Why aren't smart people happier?

#390

Post by numbers_guy »

swinnipeg wrote: post #366
numbers_guy wrote: post #355

For me it is quite simply because I lack the human touch. Due to a multitude of compounding factors I cannot manage to find a soulmate, and life alone is miserable. I don't see how being smart would help in this situation. If anything it makes it harder to connect with someone, because the pool of compatible people is smaller.

I consistently find that people who are unhappy/unsuccessful and also identify as "smart" are generally very good at rationalizing why things don't work out for them in a manner that protects their ego.

To be honest, I do not think I have a big ego. If anything I have very low self esteem.
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