Why are we still suffering? | Hacker News Reader

Why are we still suffering?

4 pointsakshaymalik199512 comments

We have everything we need. Physical needs are met. We are advancing technologically to unprecedented heights.

Yet we are only becoming addicted and craving more dopamine, and more anxious than ever.

What does it tell us about the human brain?

To suffer is human for sure, no amount of technology or progress would solve that fundamental state of being.

That said, it is quite possible to be content with what you have and actually experience joy and fulfillment, you don't even need all the modern luxuries and even your basic needs to be met for that. But disease, pain, discomfort and an endless class of issues that stem from the "other people" category are a forever reality.

In my experience, if you can figure out how to get along with your own self, lead a life you yourself approve of and be content with your situation, suffering becomes something you experience once in a long while as you adapt to new situations, not a perpetually endured reality.

Many things about human brains are different than other primates. Our ability for language being most prominent. Many things are not different, however. Alpha seeking and advantage seeking behavior lead to tribalist behaviors seen in many primate communities where alphas fight to the death for leadership privileges and take mates from non-alpha apes. This leads to social structures that give rise to inequality in the group. Just like human society. We suffer because we refuse to all treat each other with dignity, trust and respect. We suffer because we don't let the reasoning and linguistic capabilities of our human brains dominate the animalistic drive of greed. Though it looks like we could fix this overnight ("we have the technology"), much like using tariffs to increase domestic production after globalism, that process can only be won in small steps. The best we can do is to teach our children to treat others as equals and to work together to punish those who victimize for personal gain. Eventually this could lead to a world where inequality fades away, but it will take millennia and who knows what will be left to share by then.

One reason is the attempt of advertisers to psychologically manipulate you into wanting things you don't really need, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43595269.

Wrong, only once have I seen a useful ad in my entire life, and decided against buying it because I don't need it. I can reveal the ad if you ask, just don't want to be seen as a, dare I say, a tiser'.

> and decided against buying it because I don't need it

One anecdote doesn't refute science: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bernays#Scientific_appr...

Before anyone knew about neurotransmitters people knew about

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Noble_Truths

“All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” ― Blaise Pascal, Pensées

I spend the majority of my time quietly in a room alone, and I'm still suffering.

... your inability to do so and enjoy it!

So I suppose my inability to not suffer is caused by my inability to not suffer!

Many of us do not have what we need. Many people are truly suffering. Starving. Nowhere to sleep safely. Persecuted for nonsense reasons. And it's because parasites rule the world, get a free ride on our backs. Almost every problem in the world stems from this one bad thing.

That the human brain is squishy

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