@Millennial Dan
Well first off, since you’ve stated many times that I misunderstood you, it’s because you’ve been very vague in responses such that many different conclusions could be drawn. (I was trying to get to the underlying reasons for what you were stating, and apparently I was wrong, which is good because I didn’t like what I was hearing)
On that second paragraph in which you quoted me, I did say many implying that there are people who find chemical induced “bliss” a good way out, but most people I know (and I live in Colorado where it seems weed is always the topic of discussion) would never consider that happiness. Even those that would indulge in such things would only care to do so on occasions. There’s nothing wrong with self-indulgence if it’s not harming you physically, mentally or in any round about way like an addiction interfering with other aspects of your life. (or others) I many times put that condition in there but you blatantly ignored it. Drugs are harmful in many aspects, so it really doesn’t meet my criteria of acceptable self-indulgence. If it were something that did meet my criteria, I couldn’t think of any reason that I or anyone else should be against it. (if you can please elaborate)
On your third point, I know I didn’t understand, that’s why I asked you to clarify. I agree with your first part of it, however I don’t understand why you disagree with “happy with people’s differences as long as it’s not hurting anyone else”, given it follow the previous criteria I’ve outlined. With something like drugs, or something that could kill you quickly, there’s usually a dilusion of there not being any harm, or a physiological addiction making any desire to change such behavior difficult. Such things are often hurting themselves in a way that they aren’t fine with (just aren’t aware of or willing to admit (as in someone taking certain drugs may not realize they’re on the verge of killing themselves, but if asked they wouldn’t be fine with that being an outcome)), and they often affect others as well. So again drugs don’t fit into the category of “ignore it since it’s really not bothering anyone”, so it appears you’ve misunderstood me as well.
>Universal happiness is a lousy ultimate goal, because you base it on nothing more than a lot of subjectivity. If you’re some kind of existentialist, maybe that makes sense to you, but I am not.
I never said I had a method of proper implimentation, but how is wanting everyone to be truly happy a lousy goal? Seriously what could you possibly think of that’s would be better? “Let’s make people suffer, that should make everything better!” What makes anyone happy is inherently subjective, but is that a problem? Can you think of anything objective that’s a better goal?
@Techy Pony >you’d rather change them so that they function better in society making others lives better (which sounds pretty selfish if you ask me)…that sounds far worse then striving to create personal happiness for all.
There are so many problems with this that it’s difficult to know where to start. First of all, who said anything about changing anyone? You can try to have a positive influence on someone, but you can’t force a person to change their mind or the condition of their heart, as it were. You CAN regulate behavior, but I’m not advocating that. And what’s this nonsense about functioning “better in society”. I never said anything of the sort.
>many people don’t consider that a form of happiness
Bliss is easily inducible by chemical means. Why do you think there’s so much pressure to legalize illicit drugs these days? The “if it feels good, do it” mentality is self-indulgent and destructive, and encouraging it is not something I would ever approve of.
>On one hand it sounds like you say you’d prefer people to be accepted for their differences if the individual is happy with their own differences (and assuming they harmless and don’t intrude on others’ will), on the other hand it sounds like you say they should change because it would be beneficial to others if they did.
You’ve misunderstood me. What I hate is when people think there’s something wrong with a particular personality style, such as being quiet and reserved. If you attack a person’s personality itself instead of how they manage those traits, you make yourself into the most monstrous of jerks. However, that does not mean that I agree with your relativistic ideas about being “happy with people’s differences as long as it’s not hurting anyone else”. That’s why I referred to drugs. A person may blissfully commit suicide for example, and I’m supposed to be okay with that? Well, I’m not.
Universal happiness is a lousy ultimate goal, because you base it on nothing more than a lot of subjectivity. If you’re some kind of existentialist, maybe that makes sense to you, but I am not.
