My Dad gets frustrated too. We got into a couple of arguments recently because he gets annoyed with topics like mental health. He just sees it as people making excuses I think. I'm sure he would blame the internet if he realised how long I spend on it.
From my own perspective, I don't really know if he's right. I've been given the: 'You've had it easy' lecture also. I'm willing to admit that I shy away from challenges now. Especially due to social anxiety. I didn't always though. I've worked customer facing roles. I've even done Head of Department roles. Neither made me happier! Just more stressed and unhappy.
To get over the shit that makes us unhappy I suspect requires things like therapy which, my Dad also has a problem with.
I don't know. My parents at least are kind of funny really. Mental illness doesn't exist until you start telling them things along the lines that there's nothing you want out of life anymore. (The closest I've gotten to suggesting ideation.) Then, you might indeed be suffering from depression. But- therapy is a load of old tosh and medication is dangerous. So- it's like- What would you advise then?
But then- it will be the usual stuff like- you need to get out more. Spend time with your friends. Maybe right but, not always practical when you need to work to afford all that. Your friends have their own busy lives now. Plus, frindship can be massively unreliable.
I think maybe the major difference I sense betwen our generations is, I'm not wiiling to (passively) accept this as my lot in life. To a larger extent, I have to practically for now. I do cave under the guilt trip to work and support myself. I suppose I used to try to make the best of it. I still need to really. I don't want life to get worse! But, I'm not willing to see any of it as positive. Or something I will always be willing to do. I definitely want out when I can go.
Maybe not having the internet as a distraction, as a 'sanction' for how we feel, we may have just been brain washed into being more coggs in the system. I'm not sure the disgruntledness with society comes about because of the internet though. I grew up in the dark ages where there wasn't the internet and, I was unhappy way before people were discussing it openly! Plus, the internet puts just as much pressure on people to be pro-life and succeed. It's just I suppose, it's easier to find niche communities where people don't want to comply. Maybe we feel strength in numbers perhaps.
It's kind of ironic though when parents blame our upbringing (they gave to us) for how we've turned out. Like- 'Well, yeah- you reap what you sow. Why are you putting all the blame on me?!'
I think probably the modern era in cities etc. isn't a healthy way to live. I don't think people have the support systems they used to. I think that's partly because real life friendships aren't always that sustainable now. Not sure why really. Pressure of study and work, people moving around more for jobs etc. Ironically, many people turn to the internet for a sense of community.
Maybe it doesn't replace the real thing though. I wonder if people living more traditional lifestyles in small rural communities get so unhappy. I wonder what happens when they do. Do more people support them? Do they get banished all together if they stop pulling their weight? It's hard to know really.
In some ways though, I think the modern era teaches us to be disatisfied. With our lives, with our appearance. It's how advertisers get us to buy stuff- to 'fix' us. Maybe we're taught to never feel quite enough. I think that's pretty messed up if I'm honest. I suspect the internet aids in that but then, it's really just a platform. It also hosts ideas that counter all that. I just see the internet as a reflection really. Not a cause. It's simply a tool for all that's good and bad about the world.
I guess the major problem though is- unless you can make your living being online, it can be a huge distraction from actual doing stuff in real life. Some things which we do actually need to do. Like right now for me- I'm procrastinating here because I don't want to be constructive! It's a bit of an indulgence but then, I don't know I'd cope at all without it now.
Sometimes I think- rather than hating on the internet and sites like this, our friend and family circles should be grateful. They can't honestly say they'd be willing to hear all of this venting! (At least, I doubt many could cope with it.) Would they really rather people just bottled it up or, spent shit loads on therapy?
except I told him when I was like 7 and he beat me!
