Don't be so quick to adopt nihilist fash , the relative wealth that people in the west have comes at the cost of having to work in bullshit jobs under terrible bosses, being aware of terrible evils but not knowing what to do about it, constantly attempting to compete with their fellow workers and perform competence on social media.
These are all features not present in Star Trek Utopia :)
Hey comrade, I don't say this lightly, because I've been in dark places before, so you can me hit me up anytime to chat in case you don't have access to mental health services. Sometimes our brains project despair onto everyone and make it seem inescapable.
That is emphatically not the case. When people have a sense of purpose, when they feel safe and secure, awareness of their existence is something they appreciate and even enjoy.
Comrade, you're not okay, log off please, take a nap, get a drink, eat some fruit, go for a run.
For the sake of argument, I wouldn't ever give up any of those things. And so wouldn't many many people – in prison, they will write, in slavery, they will sing and snatch joy from despair. You cannot decide for them that they should be ignorant.
Additionally, dogs are sentient, and they do get depressed even when they have access to food and shelter.
This is a great bit of reading on that recommended on the Short Attention Span group. https://thebaffler.com/salvos/whats-the-point-if-we-cant-have-fun
Think about how and why they have a life of luxury and comfort. It’s built on stress, overwork and a sense of competition with others. This is purely anecdotal evidence, but me personally, I’d be quite content with a modest three bedroom home and some creature comforts, my current job (with a little extra pay and no mandatory overtime), and a good and secure future for my children so they can have the same kind of life. I don’t compare myself to others save for my behavior in the broader scheme of things and I don’t want much save for a good and happy and long life with a few trivial things along the way that won’t make me or break me. I truly believe this is only accomplished under socialism and a paradigm shift in our culture that goes with a shift from how we treat work and see ourselves as workers. People are made to feel inadequate not because they might be lacking in some concrete way, but because that inadequacy is manufactured artificially. There will always be existential dread and longing because that is our plight as humans, however, there is a big difference between, “I think I’d feel better if I lost ten pounds” and “I need to buy all these things so I can look like a celebrity and maybe feel better.” Same goes for, “I think I’d be happier if I owned my home,” rather than “I need to have a rich house so I’m valid as a person.” We all have our ups and downs, regardless, but I know people would be much happier with community and humble purpose to live a life that’s worth living. I don’t know you, but I hope you’re okay.
