Happiness Thread 1.0

[Titan]

Stick Online is really just a bunch of code being executed by your computer. All your characters are just a bunch of bytes stored on the server machine. Everything about it is really just a ton of little illusions of logic that have been fleshed out via code to create what we all know as the game. But many of you guys seem to enjoy it and recognize it as more than that none the less.

Just because one of the underlying causes of happiness is chemicals doesn't mean that's all it is (it's the effect/result of them that that is important). And just because it is caused by brain chemicals doesn't make the perceived effects of it any less real, special, or meaningful to the person experiencing it.

Was about to post something like this, thank you sir.
I know many of you are trying to act very intelligent to show off, but we know that when you're happy you don't think "Oh, endorphins are being released and are making me feel this way."
Is that what emotions are?
Maybe.
But like Meiun said its still real and meaningful to whoever is experiencing it.



@ Mystery.

You may think relationships are laughable now, but just wait. Someday you'll see, I promise.  ;)

[Meiun]

words like happiness, life, thought, emotions, all break down when you start thinking of them in terms of physics or chemistry. society is centered around deluding ourselves into thinking we are more than atoms.


that being said i think happiness is the song Pollywog In A Bog by the Bare Naked Ladies.

Stick Online V3 is nothing more than just a bunch of C# code. Literally just a bunch of text that I typed into my computer. So does that make you all deluded for placing any value in it, or for being excited about it?

"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts" as was said by Aristotle. Pretty sure he was smarter than most of us too ;D

We all may just be a bunch of atoms, but it's what those atoms come together to create that's important. The ultimate purpose and or effect of the chemical reaction and what not.

[Lingus]

I also agree with what Meiun posted. Was going to post something along the same lines, but I already had a discussion with Mystery in the Religion topic and it didn't really go anywhere. Anyways, again, not to be condescending, but Mystery, after realizing a common thread in both topics, I am starting to think you're sort of coming across as a sullen adolescent. I get that you're probably not, but just thought I'd throw that out there. Maybe take it into consideration? Just seems occasionally you could look at things from a less pessimistic viewpoint. Either way, it's sort of depressing to have a discussion where everything turns negative. Which is why I didn't really want to respond.

[Mystery]

Stick Online is really just a bunch of code being executed by your computer. All your characters are just a bunch of bytes stored on the server machine. Everything about it is really just a ton of little illusions of logic that have been fleshed out via code to create what we all know as the game. But many of you guys seem to enjoy it and recognize it as more than that none the less.

Just because one of the underlying causes of happiness is chemicals doesn't mean that's all it is (it's the effect/result of them that that is important). And just because it is caused by brain chemicals doesn't make the perceived effects of it any less real, special, or meaningful to the person experiencing it.

Was about to post something like this, thank you sir.
I know many of you are trying to act very intelligent to show off, but we know that when you're happy you don't think "Oh, endorphins are being released and are making me feel this way."
Is that what emotions are?
Maybe.
But like Meiun said its still real and meaningful to whoever is experiencing it.

I wasn't trying to 'act intelligent to show off' whatsoever. Don't attack people for no reason.

I was simply saying what an emotion was. That's all that makes up an emotion, despite that it's real and meaningful to whoever is experiencing it.

I do acknowledge that attributions to things makes them more special.

@ Mystery.

You may think relationships are laughable now, but just wait. Someday you'll see, I promise.  ;)

If you're trying to say I'm not mature enough to have a relationship, that's ridiculous. I've been capable of it for longer than most people my age.

Relationships are pointless for those without an interest in getting married or having children, or for those who think 'love' as most people experience it is fickle and shallow.

Anyways, again, not to be condescending, but Mystery, after realizing a common thread in both topics, I am starting to think you're sort of coming across as a sullen adolescent.

At the moment, I AM a sullen adolescent. It's not like me not being sullen would change anything either, as I force myself to look at the pessimistic perspectives the most.

Just seems occasionally you could look at things from a less pessimistic viewpoint.

I used to when I was much younger. It proved to be a futile endeavor.

Either way, it's sort of depressing to have a discussion where everything turns negative. Which is why I didn't really want to respond.

I can stop posting if people want me to. No need for a single person to turn away several.

[Torch]

While I'm not sure the exact science behind it, I find that people are happiest when they are working towards a goal and seeing progress. That's part of why video games are so addictive, they give achievable goals and allow you to work towards accomplishing them. It's also why I encourage working out, it's an incredibly difficult task to get in good shape and the feeling of satisfaction at progressing towards it is one of the best.

Not only does having ridiculous amounts of money not bring happiness, it can hinder it. It can kill your ambition to better yourself as a person or work towards a goal. This is partially why so many celebrities get caught up in drug abuse.

[ARTgames]

I think Meiun's post is also another fine way to look at things and i was going to post something along the same lines. But its just another side of the whole picture. I do think myself a sum of its parts, or maybe even greater than the sum of its parts is something important here.

Just seems occasionally you could look at things from a less pessimistic viewpoint. Either way, it's sort of depressing to have a discussion where everything turns negative.

I agree that his post comes off that way and the part is something that i disagree with Mystery on. But i also just kinda looked past that at what he was saying and i thought it was fine but did not add that much and there more than that that could be discussed. Thought i do think he meant what you described.

But even if he may see it negatively that's just his opinion. I know it sounds like i'm downplaying his opinion but i don't mean to, just a normal connotation of that wording. (kinda assuming that was happening to Mystery's posts)

So ill just ask him, Mystery did your past post come with a negative meaning to them?

Edit: lol, you all made my post obsolete in the time it took me to write it. im a slow writer. XD

[Titan]

Stick Online is really just a bunch of code being executed by your computer. All your characters are just a bunch of bytes stored on the server machine. Everything about it is really just a ton of little illusions of logic that have been fleshed out via code to create what we all know as the game. But many of you guys seem to enjoy it and recognize it as more than that none the less.

Just because one of the underlying causes of happiness is chemicals doesn't mean that's all it is (it's the effect/result of them that that is important). And just because it is caused by brain chemicals doesn't make the perceived effects of it any less real, special, or meaningful to the person experiencing it.

Was about to post something like this, thank you sir.
I know many of you are trying to act very intelligent to show off, but we know that when you're happy you don't think "Oh, endorphins are being released and are making me feel this way."
Is that what emotions are?
Maybe.
But like Meiun said its still real and meaningful to whoever is experiencing it.

I wasn't trying to 'act intelligent to show off' whatsoever. Don't attack people for no reason.

@ Mystery.

You may think relationships are laughable now, but just wait. Someday you'll see, I promise.  ;)

If you're trying to say I'm not mature enough to have a relationship, that's ridiculous. I've been capable of it for longer than most people my age.

Relationships are pointless for those without an interest in getting married or having children, or for those who think 'love' as most people experience it is fickle and shallow.

So first off, wasn't trying to attack you or anyone else, sorry if you thought I was.

Second, whats the point of most everything we do in life?
To have fun.
Sure relationships aren't key to having fun, but there can definitley be great memories and good times had in relationships, even if you know that you won't end up with that person.

[ARTgames]

Anyways, again, not to be condescending, but Mystery, after realizing a common thread in both topics, I am starting to think you're sort of coming across as a sullen adolescent.

At the moment, I AM a sullen adolescent. It's not like me not being sullen would change anything either, as I force myself to look at the pessimistic perspectives the most.

Just seems occasionally you could look at things from a less pessimistic viewpoint.

I used to when I was much younger. It proved to be a futile endeavor.

I felt the same way at one time. But I just feel looking at it any way is just one way to see it. I also came to learn that there is no right way. So in other words I don't care if you see things that way good or bad. I don't mean that to downplay those viewpoints. I personally think there something to learn. I also personally like to not take one of those sides but to look at it as it is. And only adding a view if i think necessary to my goal.

[Mystery]

So ill just ask him, Mystery did your past post come with a negative meaning to them?

Yes, they did. It doesn't change anything.

So first off, wasn't trying to attack you or anyone else, sorry if you thought I was.

Second, whats the point of most everything we do in life?
To have fun.
Sure relationships aren't key to having fun, but there can definitley be great memories and good times had in relationships, even if you know that you won't end up with that person.

Alright, sorry for getting defensive.

I personally can't see any fun whatsoever in relationships.

I felt the same way at one time. But I just feel looking at it any way is just one way to see it. I also came to learn that there is no right way. So in other words I don't care if you see things that way good or bad. I don't mean that to downplay those viewpoints. I personally think there something to learn. I also personally like to not take one of those sides but to look at it as it is. And only adding a view if i think necessary to my goal.

One of the reasons I prefer looking at things pessimistically first is because it helps you to get to the root of problems, and solving problems subjectively is better than mulling on the good,

[stick d00d]

People have their own ways of keeping themselves entertained/happy. Some people read, others drink and/or do drugs, some strive for certain goals in life, or in many cases virtual reality. Whatever makes you happy can define you as a person. Whereas on the other hand what makes you mad or sad does as well.

To every situation whether it's relationships or money, there are many bad things that can come of both. Having a balance of something, not too much or too little can really be the ultimate goal to achieving true happiness. Though, all of this is opinion some people have millions and want more and more. Whereas someone could have millions and/or be rich and famous and want to just be a normal person in society.

[Jake]

I also agree with what Meiun posted. Was going to post something along the same lines, but I already had a discussion with Mystery in the Religion topic and it didn't really go anywhere. Anyways, again, not to be condescending, but Mystery, after realizing a common thread in both topics, I am starting to think you're sort of coming across as a sullen adolescent. I get that you're probably not, but just thought I'd throw that out there. Maybe take it into consideration? Just seems occasionally you could look at things from a less pessimistic viewpoint. Either way, it's sort of depressing to have a discussion where everything turns negative. Which is why I didn't really want to respond.

Unfortunately, I find that the most pessimistic view point is often times the most accurate. I do agree with what Meiun is saying, but I don't think Mystery is wrong with any of his statements either. More often than not, optimism clouds logic. Anyway, I brought up the topic of qualia in the religion thread, but it seems no one was too interested in discussing it further. It's basically the study of qualitative experience, and whether or not our experiences can be fully explained through physical matter alone, or if there is a metaphysical aspect to consciousness that we have yet to discover. There is actually a decent amount of evidence supporting claims that consciousness can not be described through physical matter alone. For example, how can the study of the brains perception of color ever fully describe ones perception of the color red? One argument goes as follows.

1. According to physicalism all that exists in our world (including consciousness) is physical.
2. Thus, if physicalism is true, a logically-possible world in which all physical facts are the same as those of the actual world must contain everything that exists in our actual world. In particular conscious experience must exist in such a possible world.
3. In fact we can conceive of a world physically indistinguishable from our world but in which there is no consciousness (a zombie world) and we can not see why it is not logically possible.
4. Therefore, physicalism is false. (The conclusion follows from 2. and 3. by modus tollens.)

It's an interesting discussion that relates heavily to happiness and whether or not the sum of it's parts have any meaning beyond physicalism.

[Lingus]

Anyways, again, not to be condescending, but Mystery, after realizing a common thread in both topics, I am starting to think you're sort of coming across as a sullen adolescent.

At the moment, I AM a sullen adolescent. It's not like me not being sullen would change anything either, as I force myself to look at the pessimistic perspectives the most.

Just seems occasionally you could look at things from a less pessimistic viewpoint.

I used to when I was much younger. It proved to be a futile endeavor.

Either way, it's sort of depressing to have a discussion where everything turns negative. Which is why I didn't really want to respond.

I can stop posting if people want me to. No need for a single person to turn away several.

Similarly to our discussion in the Religion topic, I'll just say "fair enough". Although, I don't want to turn you away if you are interested in sharing your thoughts and discussing them with people. That's really not what I was after. I was really just stating my personal opinion, and I definitely don't assume to speak for anyone else here. So don't leave on my part. It's really not a big deal anyways.

I also agree with what Meiun posted. Was going to post something along the same lines, but I already had a discussion with Mystery in the Religion topic and it didn't really go anywhere. Anyways, again, not to be condescending, but Mystery, after realizing a common thread in both topics, I am starting to think you're sort of coming across as a sullen adolescent. I get that you're probably not, but just thought I'd throw that out there. Maybe take it into consideration? Just seems occasionally you could look at things from a less pessimistic viewpoint. Either way, it's sort of depressing to have a discussion where everything turns negative. Which is why I didn't really want to respond.

Unfortunately, I find that the most pessimistic view point is often times the most accurate. I do agree with what Meiun is saying, but I don't think Mystery is wrong with any of his statements either. More often than not, optimism clouds logic.

Not sure if I can speak to the topic of physicalism, but on a more general level I would dispute your claim that optimism clouds logic. Well, not necessarily dispute... but at the same time, pessimism can also cloud logic. On one hand you are expecting the best and therefor might be dismissing any negative results. On the other, you are expecting the worst and will dismiss positive results. Only rational thought can be used to have a clear grasp of the logic of any situation. But, still, there is something to be said about having an optimistic attitude. Yes, it may cloud your logic, but your attitude alone might result in a better outcome. Or by opening yourself to positive opportunities you might actually be able to take advantage of them.  So with that in mind, what is the point of being anything other than optimistic?

[Yankyal]

words like happiness, life, thought, emotions, all break down when you start thinking of them in terms of physics or chemistry. society is centered around deluding ourselves into thinking we are more than atoms.


that being said i think happiness is the song Pollywog In A Bog by the Bare Naked Ladies.

Stick Online V3 is nothing more than just a bunch of C# code. Literally just a bunch of text that I typed into my computer. So does that make you all deluded for placing any value in it, or for being excited about it?

"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts" as was said by Aristotle. Pretty sure he was smarter than most of us too ;D

We all may just be a bunch of atoms, but it's what those atoms come together to create that's important. The ultimate purpose and or effect of the chemical reaction and what not.

i totally agree. anyone trying to define happiness like this is wasting their time.  i was trying to say that it's pointless to think about things like happiness in a physical way since

a)you will feel like shit
b)it gets you no where
c)words like happiness weren't meant to be examined this deeply anyways. they're just labels we place on those "chemical reactions" to help us make sense of it all.

Physics is looked at as the bases of the sciences. And some may say mathematics is under that or is the language of Physics.

i like to think of philosophy/logic as the basis of math, which is the basis of physics which is the basis of chemistry and so on. although i still think a philosophy major is a waste of money and time :p

[Lingus]

c)words like happiness weren't meant to be examined this deeply anyways. they're just labels we place on those "chemical reactions" to help us make sense of it all.

I don't think anyone is trying to break down the word "happiness". What people are doing is trying to break down the emotion of happiness into it's basic physical form. The arguement is that it's really more than that.

Physics is looked at as the bases of the sciences. And some may say mathematics is under that or is the language of Physics.

i like to think of philosophy/logic as the basis of math, which is the basis of physics which is the basis of chemistry and so on. although i still think a philosophy major is a waste of money and time :p

I don't think logic is the basis of math. If anything, at it's core, logic can be broken down by mathematical logic notation. In other words, math is the basis of logic. And I believe logic is, in some sense, the basis of philosophy.

[Hikarikuen]

Not sure if I can speak to the topic of physicalism, but on a more general level I would dispute your claim that optimism clouds logic. Well, not necessarily dispute... but at the same time, pessimism can also cloud logic. On one hand you are expecting the best and therefor might be dismissing any negative results. On the other, you are expecting the worst and will dismiss positive results. Only rational thought can be used to have a clear grasp of the logic of any situation. But, still, there is something to be said about having an optimistic attitude. Yes, it may cloud your logic, but your attitude alone might result in a better outcome. Or by opening yourself to positive opportunities you might actually be able to take advantage of them.  So with that in mind, what is the point of being anything other than optimistic?

I tend to agree with Lingus. To use an expression so optimistic as to make Mystery avert his eyes (no hard feelings, just giving you a hard time), "The man who thinks he can and the man who thinks he can't are both right."