Huh? Why would I care? Why would I feel alienated? Force them to admit they really want these things? That's ridiculous. Even if they were lying, why would I care, it has no impact on me whatsoever. They're free to feel any way they want. I can say that I desire happiness, probably wealth but fame? Hell no. I don't care if you believe that or not.
I think it is rare for people to react to wealth and fame in this way. But happiness/good mood* seems like something most people I know would take as something that is more than a fleeting desire. [MENTION=5837]93JC[/MENTION] "called BS" on it. That's the type of reaction I meant.
"Forcing people to admit that they really wanted it" is rather hyperbolic, I admit. But almost everyone in the thread thinks that the desire for good mood is something unlike the other two.
Wealth is seen as just a means to other ends, like basic physiological needs and things of that sort. I don't have a clue what the appeal of fame is, but I imagine it has something to do with having the trust of others and/or wanting to leave a legacy taken to some ridiculous extremes.
By good mood, I did mean something along the lines of wanting to be smiling all the time. This is of course an extreme, just as wanting to the richest person in the world, or wanting to known and liked by everyone.
When people pursue wealth outside the context having enough to live, and do so with abandon even at the expense of others, they justify it as a form of enlightened self-interest ("Greed is good").
When someone pursues fame outside the context of having a purpose from themselves and do so with abandon even at the expense of others, they again justify it as a form of enlightened self-interest ("Let go of the 'little people'.").
When someone pursues elation** outside the context of being healthy and do so with abandon even at the expense of others, they again justify it as a form of enlightened self-interedt ("Gotta do what make me happy").
ceecee, although I only quoted you. This post was meant as a clarification for everyone who posted in the thread. "Happiness" is a vague term, as is "alienation". [MENTION=14857]fia[/MENTION] [MENTION=360]prplchknz[/MENTION] [MENTION=5159]Lexicon[/MENTION] [MENTION=20757]Opal[/MENTION] [MENTION=5928]Snoopy22[/MENTION] [MENTION=10714]Qlip[/MENTION] [MENTION=17945]Nixie[/MENTION],
Since everyone seemed to have the same reaction, I figured I was unclear, and would clarify it once.
*I hope what I meant is a little more clear.
**Is elation a better word?