Posted June 2, 200816 yr Barry Schwartz is a sociology professor at Swarthmore College and author of The Paradox of Choice. In this talk, he persuasively explains how and why the abundance of choice in modern society is actually making us miserable. Great speach and theory. I found it made a lot of sense for me as it was something I see happening to me. Often times when I do get some free time, I will find myself lost in choices of how to spend that time, as I have to many choices. You starting thinking, therre is a TV show on you like, or a movie on DVD you have not yet watched, a computer game you have not beat, a console game you have not played yet, a book you have been wanting to read and so on. Then you end up not doing anything, because you waste so much time trying to decide, or if you do decide, you don't enjoy any of them as much, because you are thinking you should of choosen one of the others instead. The part about expectations is brilliant as well, as this is something else where to me nothing is really great anymore, it is just "ok" and I often find myself regreting making a decision, wondering if one of the others is better. I assumed till seeing this video, that this was just me. Not that long of a video, but I'm sure plenty of you ADD fuckers here won't watch it through, so don't bother posting, if you didn't watch it.
June 2, 200816 yr This is highly interesting, I advise anyone to watch this. I've just watched the movie completely myself. "They secret to happiness is to have low expectations" - exactly what I always was thinking. Very good link, OMP. Edited June 3, 200816 yr by [myg0t]DerKaiser
June 2, 200816 yr I watched this whole fucking video but now I feel like shit because I could have used that 20 mins for jacking off... now my balls are blue and its all my fault for my stupid choice.. I think I'll just suicide now, I'm so depressed.
June 3, 200816 yr I’m not sure I love anyone or anything, parents, children, or even self. That’s not say I don’t care about, care for, and am pretty unselfish when it comes to my parents and children, but I see that as a practical commitment and not an emotional thing called love. I find this rather confusing. What is love? When do you know if you love someone? How do you know what love is? There’s lots of stated expressions of love, for example greeting cards, letters, text messages, casual lines spoken when saying goodbye, and so on. Then there’s the physical aspects, many of which I don’t like: kissing, touching, close contact, hugs, and so on. Sex? Well that can be OK, but it’s just a pleasant physical feeling which satisfies a need but can be unpleasant too (hot, sticky, smelly). So the confusion is when to say ‘I love you’ or just close out a message, card or letter, with ‘Love xxx’. I’ve learnt some of the rules for family, but they’re just rules and not any inner feeling or emotion. Maybe that’s why my two marriages failed. I can’t say I loved either of my ex-wives. For a while I enjoyed some friendship and comfort but eventually they both complained about my lack of communication, expression, feeling and so on. I tried to listen, be thoughtful, care, and be considerate but something wasn’t enough.
June 3, 200816 yr What is love? When do you know if you love someone? How do you know what love is? BABY DUN HURT ME DUN HURT ME NO MO'
June 3, 200816 yr This video pointed out some important things, but I think we are only going to get more choices. If anyone here has read The Giver they will know what the absence of choice is like. It will only bring fear of change and the unknown. While change can bring sorrow I believe it also gives most happiness and is vital to modern society.
June 3, 200816 yr Which do you want? The choice of choice, or the choice of no choice? Take your pick.
June 3, 200816 yr EH...I SEE HIS POINT, BUT WHAT DOES HE SUGGEST? IT'S ULTEIMATELEY UP TO OURSELVES WHETHER OR NOT WE LET "CHOICE PARADOX" OVERWHELM US. JUST CHILL AND DON'T WORRY TOO MUCH. PROBLEM SOLVED.
June 3, 200816 yr He made some good points, but the fact is choice is here to stay (if you live in America) and it's just something you have to live with. So the way I see it I just spent 20 mins to learn something that will have no impact on my life at all. The only thing this vid was good for, is now I have something to talk about when I get stoned/drunk with my friends. And everyone is going to say "oh wow man, I never thought about it like that..." then the conversation will be over.
June 4, 200816 yr Despite my previous trollish response, I actually found this video pretty interesting. While I agree with him to an extent I think that choices themselves aren't the problem, the inability for people to MAKE the choices is. Indecision is a large part of the problem; not knowing what one wants going in is extremely difficult. It's true that the indecision may be CAUSED by the choices, but the indecision is the reason why humans are unhappy, not the choices themselves.
June 4, 200816 yr @ Eric Sermon - Your sig makes me angry for some reason Also about the choice thing, I just do what I feel I don't really think about my choices.
