| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
autisticstar
Blue Jay
Joined: Jul 31, 2007
Posts: 93
|
 Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 2:57 pm Post subject: Unhappiness more profitable than happiness? |
 |
|
I have been reading a lot of websites about various conspiracy theories. I know better than to just believe everything I read in some random website. But I have been thinking lately about how many items there are for sale that people really don't need. While I wouldn't say that the breakdown of the family is the cause of all the world's problems, it does seem as if the breakdown in the extended family structure has created a host of industries such as day care centers and nursing homes. It seems plausible to me that people who are happy and connected to others would have less of a need to fill their lives with material possessions. I don't watch much t.v. but the few times I have turned on the television I have noticed that what is promoted on television does not promote happiness in terms of nonmaterial happiness.
So is it more profitable for people to be unhappy? This is just a random thought that's been bouncing around in my head this past week. |
|
| Back to top |
|
monty
Phoenix
Joined: Sep 05, 2007
Posts: 2265
|
| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 5:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Of course. The contented man is slow to spend his money.
I heard an interesting bit a while ago on 'emotional needs' ... it was an economist who argued that scented candles, season tickets to sporting events, and other niceties are not 'wants' ... they are emotional NEEDS. |
|
| Back to top |
|
Awesomelyglorious
Destroyer of worlds, reaver of souls
Joined: Dec 18, 2005
Posts: 5708
Location: United States
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Well, it certainly does not promote economic growth for people to be perfectly content with doing nothing. Therefore some dissatisfaction must drive the economy. As for unhappiness, well, you probably lose out in worker productivity, but you'd gain in consumption perhaps, but lose out again in savings, holding all else equal and assuming that consumption alleviates this unhappiness. That being said, it is hard to say that there is a real incentive to promote unhappiness. The average corporation would want to promote happiness in its own workers if it were cheap to do so, and I would doubt that corporations would mind cheaper interest rates, but it is possible to imagine that there is an incentive for unhappiness if only to allow for markets to be found more easily. |
|
| Back to top |
|
oscuria
Verbal Guerrilla
Joined: Feb 01, 2008
Posts: 2033
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
The unhappy bee is always too protective of its hive.
_________________
I'm no democRAT, I'm a republiCAN! |
|
| Back to top |
|
matrix
Phoenix
Joined: Oct 07, 2007
Age: 18
Posts: 580
Location: between glitches
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 2:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Beside me are ads that want me to
1) search for a digital camera
2) open a checking account
3) find lost classmates
4) join a movie rental service
All of this malcontent pays for WP, btw.
_________________
You are not submitting the post
The post is submitting you |
|
| Back to top |
|
monty
Phoenix
Joined: Sep 05, 2007
Posts: 2265
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 2:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Advertizing itself isn't necessarily evil ... if someone is telling people about a product or service they might like, no problem.
Just read an interesting article in Fast Company about the ads from the last 50 years that have done the most to inspire shame in people, to get them tol buy something. The "Ring-Around-The-Collar" chant for selling laundry products was judged especially shame producing and effective. I would guess that deodorant ads often fall into the same category. |
|
| Back to top |
|
TheOneGreatBob
Raven
Joined: Jun 08, 2008
Age: 21
Posts: 103
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 2:51 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Of course they're selling off our unhappiness. Even antidepressants don't keep us happy forever. Only until it's time to take the next pill. You'll notice that when it comes to unhappiness medically, there isn't a permanent solution for it. They don't want you to get better. They want you to keep buying their products for the rest of your life. It's legalized drug addiction and legalized material addiction.
_________________
Jesus: You can't fix what isn't broken. I call that type of fix a crucifix. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
