<And some (natural gas) answers are expensive The Oil Drum DrumBeat: July 9, 2008>

61 comments on TED: Dan Gilbert: Why are we happy? Why aren't we happy?

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BrianT on July 9, 2008 - 6:39am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

To a certain extent, but these studies are flawed if their representations are as simple as you state. Other stats show that suicide rates are different at different ages-highest for old white men. IMO nursing homes and senior residences have a level of visceral unhappiness that to a certain extent brings his lecture into question. I have met a few really miserable buggers, and IMO they don't age well-they have a lot more to be bitter about.

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step back on July 9, 2008 - 8:16am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Good point. If someone is of poor health & in constant pain, it's kind of hard for the happiness synthesizing part of the brain to make the real pain go away.

There's a point where reality trumps our virtual synthesized lives.

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Kiashu on July 9, 2008 - 9:40am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Wel, he's not saying that your happiness never changes, merely that the big things we seek and fear don't have the lasting effect we expect.

I don't know of studies of it, but my feeling is that as people get older, their minor personality traits get squeezed out by their major ones, which grow.

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BrianT on July 9, 2008 - 9:49am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

It is funny-the guy reminded me of one of those techno cornucopians who advocate paving over the rain forest to make a huge parking lot. What he totally misses is that although brain chemistry can be altered, we are social creatures and dependent on and affected by our environment to a great deal. Happiness is less prevalent in some crack ridden neighbourhood in Motown than it is in Waikiki, which makes it easier for the average person to be happy in the happier vibe place. We don't stand alone no matter what his "studies" say.

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LoveOregon on July 9, 2008 - 1:23pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

People tend to "revert to type", as my grandmother used to say.

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61 comments on TED: Dan Gilbert: Why are we happy? Why aren't we happy?

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