Wonderful piece today. This is so very true: "We ravage every quiet moment with noise—podcasts, social media, the nonstop churn of news—anything to avoid stillness. Silence has become our nemesis, so we desecrate it with a constant stream of distraction." I see this in friends, family, and catch myself following into it and then I reach into the hole and pull myself out.
Too much struggle, trauma and hardship can also leave us depleted and empty with no sense of purpose. I understand the point that you're trying to make but personally, I could take a long break and live in comfort for a while.
So true. I assume what the article is really getting at is not the hardship of extreme poverty, excessive grief, or lifelong bad luck (only those who haven’t experienced those could call them necessary!), and more the mild but constant resistance of physical exercise (including forgoing the comfort of an elevator for stairs, or a close parking spot for a further one, if one’s body allows) and continual mental challenges in the sense of problem-solving (learning new skills as the article mentioned, but also maybe just switching things up occasionally: trying a new role in work, taking a different route home, spending time with different people). I hope you catch a break and can enjoy the *good* kind of comfort for a while!
Exactly. This article ignores struggles other than living in a hunter-gatherer society and medieval conflicts. Just because we have smartphones and a couch doesn’t mean we haven’t faced any adversity.
You might be a comfortable person writing for other comfortable people, and that’s fine. If you’re running diagnostics on modern society, your response is silly.
People are suffering. Failing health care systems, homelessness, exploitation of laborers, mass incarceration, climate disaster, etc exist in our society even if you and your friends aren’t experiencing those things. Don’t conflate genuine suffering with the enlivening experiences of risk, passion, effort, and healthy discomfort. Not to be a downer, I realize not every piece of writing needs to address everyone and be all-encompassing. But this piece is trying to make a sweeping point about generations. Petit bourgeoisie talking to itself
While you didn’t touch on the subject of God and man’s suffering, your essay reminds me of the quote “we all have an infinite hole in our heart and try to fill it with finite things”. When we toss aside God and higher values, we’re left with a void which demands to be filled. We can distract and numb, but we can never overcome our design.
As good as anything I have read in a long time. I created a folder of quotes that I have discovered along the way in my continuing education, primarily for my kids to find once I am gone. I feel I need to create another for exceptional essays and articles. This will be the first entry. Thank you.
While I think you put forward excellent points, it’s not the whole story. It’s a bit of an over-index on the comfort crisis. There’s something called the single cause fallacy which says in the complex reality there is always an ecology of factors that give rise to symptoms.
The best over arching framework for the problems of the world I’ve found is the meta-crisis. If I had to pin it on specific flaws of the modern world it would have to do with lack of true belonging and robust cultural systems that connect humans to earth, to each other, and to transcendence.
What is striking about this post is how we all “know” this, yet you say it in way that makes me stop and reconsider everything again… really well written.
The solution is a cultural change that expects adult-aged people to behave like adults.
Live for other people and engage in meaningful activities instead of just pursuing a life of play.
You can start small. For example, read Substack articles properly if you plan to comment on them. This is a good way to show respect for the author, and shows that you’re interested in learning from the community of people in the comments section.
Like a philosophical gut-punch. The idea that comfort, unchecked, quietly erodes us really hits (“spectators of our own decay”). Go deep outlaw. Loved it, thanks.
I'm sorry to hear of the possible layoff. But you've touched on an aspect I believe to be very significant.
I'm looking through this piece and comments. I don't see any mention of the commercial interests in all of the pain our "comfort" has caused. Yet for my money, therein is often the real culprit to our society's pain and distress... the debt load most this "comfort" costs and our struggle to maintain.
It’s not a lack of struggle that causes what you see; it’s the inability to find “contentment”. Chasing pleasure 24/7 but still not happy. They don’t know what to do. (It’s been noted that the term “happiness” is being used where “contentment” had been used before. Happiness is fleeting. Contentment isn’t.)
Was always told - depression is when your reality is below your expectations. Lower your expectations and you’ll be fine.
It’s quite simple. At one end, you have “ego” - your value is determined by how others see you. At the other end, you have “self-esteem” - your value is based on how you see yourself. Too many lack self-esteem and are driven purely by ego, which is easier to manipulate.
Edward Bernays (the father of public relations) relied on playing on the ego for marketing campaigns. Your value is based on how others see you with a product. The auto doesn’t get you from A to B; it’s how you tell the world who you are. The amount of marketing each younger generation has been exposed to has increased exponentially.
We have so many options. Decision making is stressful. Look up consumer studies. A sample tasting table in a grocery store has 20 flavored jams and jellies. People don’t make purchases. But if only 3 flavors are offered, people buy them. It’s called “analysis paralysis”. Limiting the options makes it easier for a person to make a decision.
It wasn’t that long ago that many people never went far from where they were born during their entire lives. They had very limited options. Today, people have hundreds of options for a weekend trip that will have them travel further from home than that person went in a lifetime.
Erik, thank you for this. You have covered a lot of ground. If we hyper-focus on today's culture we can many things to suggest where the problems are. I tend to go with the view and research that shows today's culture as a mere 'pseudolculture' with the cohesive web of meaning tha true cultures have. When we lack this true culture, we naturally show up with symptoms of meaningless and depression. Our psyche is wired for the ingredients of a true culture and we pretty much fall apart without it. I've written about it here: https://open.substack.com/pub/vincentmcmahon/p/beyond-pseudoculture-creating-a-web?r=19i5c6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thank you for elucidating these ideas that are central to our ultimate survival. Those who have pursued the "examined life" will be the winners when the trials that lie ahead finally descend on us.
Increasingly, I think that the problem of modernity is that we have everything we want, but nothing that we need.
Fight Club put it well: "an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables; slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War's a spiritual war... our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off."
Nothing settles stubbornly or weighs so heavily as work that remains undone.
And we have so much to do that we can't bring ourselves to even start.
Wonderful piece today. This is so very true: "We ravage every quiet moment with noise—podcasts, social media, the nonstop churn of news—anything to avoid stillness. Silence has become our nemesis, so we desecrate it with a constant stream of distraction." I see this in friends, family, and catch myself following into it and then I reach into the hole and pull myself out.
Too much struggle, trauma and hardship can also leave us depleted and empty with no sense of purpose. I understand the point that you're trying to make but personally, I could take a long break and live in comfort for a while.
So true. I assume what the article is really getting at is not the hardship of extreme poverty, excessive grief, or lifelong bad luck (only those who haven’t experienced those could call them necessary!), and more the mild but constant resistance of physical exercise (including forgoing the comfort of an elevator for stairs, or a close parking spot for a further one, if one’s body allows) and continual mental challenges in the sense of problem-solving (learning new skills as the article mentioned, but also maybe just switching things up occasionally: trying a new role in work, taking a different route home, spending time with different people). I hope you catch a break and can enjoy the *good* kind of comfort for a while!
Exactly. This article ignores struggles other than living in a hunter-gatherer society and medieval conflicts. Just because we have smartphones and a couch doesn’t mean we haven’t faced any adversity.
Heard that. I would relish a break from the relentless mad scramble to rejuvenate and heal.
You might be a comfortable person writing for other comfortable people, and that’s fine. If you’re running diagnostics on modern society, your response is silly.
People are suffering. Failing health care systems, homelessness, exploitation of laborers, mass incarceration, climate disaster, etc exist in our society even if you and your friends aren’t experiencing those things. Don’t conflate genuine suffering with the enlivening experiences of risk, passion, effort, and healthy discomfort. Not to be a downer, I realize not every piece of writing needs to address everyone and be all-encompassing. But this piece is trying to make a sweeping point about generations. Petit bourgeoisie talking to itself
This
Needed this this morning. Thank you. 🙏
While you didn’t touch on the subject of God and man’s suffering, your essay reminds me of the quote “we all have an infinite hole in our heart and try to fill it with finite things”. When we toss aside God and higher values, we’re left with a void which demands to be filled. We can distract and numb, but we can never overcome our design.
Agree
As good as anything I have read in a long time. I created a folder of quotes that I have discovered along the way in my continuing education, primarily for my kids to find once I am gone. I feel I need to create another for exceptional essays and articles. This will be the first entry. Thank you.
While I think you put forward excellent points, it’s not the whole story. It’s a bit of an over-index on the comfort crisis. There’s something called the single cause fallacy which says in the complex reality there is always an ecology of factors that give rise to symptoms.
The best over arching framework for the problems of the world I’ve found is the meta-crisis. If I had to pin it on specific flaws of the modern world it would have to do with lack of true belonging and robust cultural systems that connect humans to earth, to each other, and to transcendence.
Can see that. I also keep adding the word ‘convenience’ when he says comfort.
What is striking about this post is how we all “know” this, yet you say it in way that makes me stop and reconsider everything again… really well written.
You bore me. Suffer more. Talk less.
As 30 year Buddhist practitioner, I wholeheartedly agree.
The solution is a cultural change that expects adult-aged people to behave like adults.
Live for other people and engage in meaningful activities instead of just pursuing a life of play.
You can start small. For example, read Substack articles properly if you plan to comment on them. This is a good way to show respect for the author, and shows that you’re interested in learning from the community of people in the comments section.
Like a philosophical gut-punch. The idea that comfort, unchecked, quietly erodes us really hits (“spectators of our own decay”). Go deep outlaw. Loved it, thanks.
Such a powerful read—especially potent after a layoff. Thanks!
I'm sorry to hear of the possible layoff. But you've touched on an aspect I believe to be very significant.
I'm looking through this piece and comments. I don't see any mention of the commercial interests in all of the pain our "comfort" has caused. Yet for my money, therein is often the real culprit to our society's pain and distress... the debt load most this "comfort" costs and our struggle to maintain.
It’s not a lack of struggle that causes what you see; it’s the inability to find “contentment”. Chasing pleasure 24/7 but still not happy. They don’t know what to do. (It’s been noted that the term “happiness” is being used where “contentment” had been used before. Happiness is fleeting. Contentment isn’t.)
Was always told - depression is when your reality is below your expectations. Lower your expectations and you’ll be fine.
It’s quite simple. At one end, you have “ego” - your value is determined by how others see you. At the other end, you have “self-esteem” - your value is based on how you see yourself. Too many lack self-esteem and are driven purely by ego, which is easier to manipulate.
Edward Bernays (the father of public relations) relied on playing on the ego for marketing campaigns. Your value is based on how others see you with a product. The auto doesn’t get you from A to B; it’s how you tell the world who you are. The amount of marketing each younger generation has been exposed to has increased exponentially.
We have so many options. Decision making is stressful. Look up consumer studies. A sample tasting table in a grocery store has 20 flavored jams and jellies. People don’t make purchases. But if only 3 flavors are offered, people buy them. It’s called “analysis paralysis”. Limiting the options makes it easier for a person to make a decision.
It wasn’t that long ago that many people never went far from where they were born during their entire lives. They had very limited options. Today, people have hundreds of options for a weekend trip that will have them travel further from home than that person went in a lifetime.
Erik, thank you for this. You have covered a lot of ground. If we hyper-focus on today's culture we can many things to suggest where the problems are. I tend to go with the view and research that shows today's culture as a mere 'pseudolculture' with the cohesive web of meaning tha true cultures have. When we lack this true culture, we naturally show up with symptoms of meaningless and depression. Our psyche is wired for the ingredients of a true culture and we pretty much fall apart without it. I've written about it here: https://open.substack.com/pub/vincentmcmahon/p/beyond-pseudoculture-creating-a-web?r=19i5c6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thank you, going there now!
MAureen, thank you, let me know how you get on. 🙏💚
All facts. I love your writing style. Also I like the fact that the information was given in a straightforward and simple way.
Thank you for elucidating these ideas that are central to our ultimate survival. Those who have pursued the "examined life" will be the winners when the trials that lie ahead finally descend on us.
Increasingly, I think that the problem of modernity is that we have everything we want, but nothing that we need.
Fight Club put it well: "an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables; slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War's a spiritual war... our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off."
Nothing settles stubbornly or weighs so heavily as work that remains undone.
And we have so much to do that we can't bring ourselves to even start.
I’ve been struggling most of my life. My happiest times are when I occasionally catch a break.
A bit less struggle and stress and a bit more rest, please!