Actions That Made Me Happier

hcatlin wrote: post #2

I'm proud to say I've done all of these. I think the "drink with co-workers" is a super-good point and I wish more people were more honest about it!

I understand the logic about the strategic importance of drinking with coworkers but I have always felt it imposed some kind of obligation that I was somewhat uncomfortable about while I was single but much more so since I got married. The burden of the obligation for me is such that it outweighs any benefits I feel it could have in relation to my happiness. Those times when I have gone out with coworkers it has produced rigid conversations bound by convention and politics - not much different from what happens in the office. So I would say that piece of advice should be examined on a case-by-case basis.

Re: Actions That Made Me Happier

#5

Post by TheSOB88 » Tue, Apr 06, 2010, 2:25 PM UTC

xox wrote: post #4

hcatlin wrote: post #2

I'm proud to say I've done all of these. I think the "drink with co-workers" is a super-good point and I wish more people were more honest about it!

I understand the logic about the strategic importance of drinking with coworkers but I have always felt it imposed some kind of obligation that I was somewhat uncomfortable about while I was single but much more so since I got married. The burden of the obligation for me is such that it outweighs any benefits I feel it could have in relation to my happiness. Those times when I have gone out with coworkers it has prod…

Maybe that's indicative of a larger culture problem at your company. I can't really see people at a bar talking about politics - are you sure you drank enough?

Re: Actions That Made Me Happier

#6

Post by Goosey » Tue, Apr 06, 2010, 2:30 PM UTC

nickpp wrote: post #3

Holly non-cleartype fonts, my eyes are bleeding! Why, oh why are people so cruel, so uncaring, so unkind?

http://lab.arc90.com/experiments/readability/

Re: Actions That Made Me Happier

#7

Post by _h4xr » Tue, Apr 06, 2010, 2:32 PM UTC

xox wrote: post #4

hcatlin wrote: post #2

I'm proud to say I've done all of these. I think the "drink with co-workers" is a super-good point and I wish more people were more honest about it!

I understand the logic about the strategic importance of drinking with coworkers but I have always felt it imposed some kind of obligation that I was somewhat uncomfortable about while I was single but much more so since I got married. The burden of the obligation for me is such that it outweighs any benefits I feel it could have in relation to my happiness. Those times when I have gone out with coworkers it has prod…

Then you're not drinking enough.

Seriously.

Alcohol is a great evolutionary adaptation, since it allows people to be extremely dour and responsible most of the time, while being able to loosen up with chemical assistance. Countries that are known for their seriousness and work ethic often have a strong drinking culture (e.g. Germany, Japan). There's a Steve Sailer article about this; I can't find it, and the domain is auto-killed upon submission anyway.

Re: Actions That Made Me Happier

#8

Post by dazmax » Tue, Apr 06, 2010, 3:17 PM UTC

In the "removing small frustrations" category: getting a second power cord for my laptop. It makes me happy twice a day when I don't have to fish my cord out to bring it to work/home.

Re: Actions That Made Me Happier

#9

Post by xox » Tue, Apr 06, 2010, 3:26 PM UTC

TheSOB88 wrote: post #5

xox wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I understand the logic about the strategic importance of drinking with coworkers but I have always felt it imposed some kind of obligation that I was somewhat uncomfortable about while I was single but much more so since I got married. The burden of the obligation for me is such that it outweighs any benefits I feel it could have in relation to my happiness. Those times when I have gone out with coworkers it has prod…

Maybe that's indicative of a larger culture problem at your company. I can't really see people at a bar talking about politics - are you sure you drank enough?

Not talking about politics but bound by politics (office politics).

Re: Actions That Made Me Happier

#10

Post by xox » Tue, Apr 06, 2010, 3:27 PM UTC

_h4xr wrote: post #7

xox wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I understand the logic about the strategic importance of drinking with coworkers but I have always felt it imposed some kind of obligation that I was somewhat uncomfortable about while I was single but much more so since I got married. The burden of the obligation for me is such that it outweighs any benefits I feel it could have in relation to my happiness. Those times when I have gone out with coworkers it has prod…

Then you're not drinking enough. Seriously. Alcohol is a great evolutionary adaptation, since it allows people to be extremely dour and responsible most of the time, while being able to loosen up with chemical assistance. Countries that are known for their seriousness and work ethic often have a strong drinking culture (e.g. Germany, Japan). There's a Steve Sailer article about this; I can't find it, and the domain i…

When I have gone drinking with my covorkers, everyone has restrained their drinking very strategically. No one has ever gotten drunk.