Younger people everywhere are unhappier — NYT

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was surprised by the senior class lamenting life and all openly accepting their depressing outlooks. They say depressing things but also smile and laugh together. I remember more of a "hope for the future" outlook in the 90s and especially our personal futures. I think its trendy to be grim right now.

Doomerism is very in right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ7A8-YgFHM/

This is sad to see. Although it's interesting to me that older people seem to be happier than people in middle age. Is that true? I thought there was an elderly mental health crisis. Rise in suicide rates among elderly etc

Myself am ncreasingly depressed to see that my children are set to inherit a world that is deepening in inequity and loss of opportunity and rise in social media which only makes everything worse. Kids have it tough these days.

I really, really don't think this outlook helps. At all. Did you read The Anxious Generation? Attitudes like this are basically reverse cognitive behavioral therapy, conditioning our kids to be anxious and depressed. Tell them the world is terrible and there's nothing they can do to change it and of course they'll hate everything.

Studies show the number one way to give people happiness is to give them a sense of purpose in the world. Community of course helps find purpose - it's a rare person who thinks a solitary life is a purposeful one, though it happens occasionally.

It does suck so...

Pretend that it doesn't?

[Anonymous]

Kids of republicans tend to be happier. Republicans tend to have a more hopeful perspective than democrats. Democrats tend to amplify the negative to a degree that is terrifying and kids aren’t mature enough to recognize that some of it is hyperbole. But even when it is hyperbole, the general undertone of democrats is a sad and dire view of humans, the country, the world, etc. whereas republicans tend to have a more pragmatic view about trying to fix things that can be fixed and accept those that can’t. I’m independent and that is my observation. This forum is heavily democratic as is the NYT so I think it just naturally skews in a confirmation bias direction on things like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ7A8-YgFHM/

This is sad to see. Although it's interesting to me that older people seem to be happier than people in middle age. Is that true? I thought there was an elderly mental health crisis. Rise in suicide rates among elderly etc

Myself am ncreasingly depressed to see that my children are set to inherit a world that is deepening in inequity and loss of opportunity and rise in social media which only makes everything worse. Kids have it tough these days.

I really, really don't think this outlook helps. At all. Did you read The Anxious Generation? Attitudes like this are basically reverse cognitive behavioral therapy, conditioning our kids to be anxious and depressed. Tell them the world is terrible and there's nothing they can do to change it and of course they'll hate everything.

Studies show the number one way to give people happiness is to give them a sense of purpose in the world. Community of course helps find purpose - it's a rare person who thinks a solitary life is a purposeful one, though it happens occasionally.

It does suck so...

Pretend that it doesn't?

It’s always sucked. Always. The world hasn’t changed. It appears that the way people are processing it and incorporating it has changed.

I think it’s the increased isolation through the heavy use of online activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids of republicans tend to be happier. Republicans tend to have a more hopeful perspective than democrats. Democrats tend to amplify the negative to a degree that is terrifying and kids aren’t mature enough to recognize that some of it is hyperbole. But even when it is hyperbole, the general undertone of democrats is a sad and dire view of humans, the country, the world, etc. whereas republicans tend to have a more pragmatic view about trying to fix things that can be fixed and accept those that can’t. I’m independent and that is my observation. This forum is heavily democratic as is the NYT so I think it just naturally skews in a confirmation bias direction on things like this.

Also, Republicans tend to be more religious —God is sovereign and in control, whereas Democrats tend to be secular —Government is sovereign. When the Democrats don’t have their people running the government they become depressed and despondent, “Woe is me…the planet is doomed…fascism…boo-hoohoo…”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids of republicans tend to be happier. Republicans tend to have a more hopeful perspective than democrats. Democrats tend to amplify the negative to a degree that is terrifying and kids aren’t mature enough to recognize that some of it is hyperbole. But even when it is hyperbole, the general undertone of democrats is a sad and dire view of humans, the country, the world, etc. whereas republicans tend to have a more pragmatic view about trying to fix things that can be fixed and accept those that can’t. I’m independent and that is my observation. This forum is heavily democratic as is the NYT so I think it just naturally skews in a confirmation bias direction on things like this.

I think that is how republicans think they are but that's not what actually happens. Trump for example is hopeful by being hateful. So his hope is contingent on someone else taking the blame. Obama was also hopeful but to me not as hateful to others. It's not really the same as being hopeful if you are pinning all the bad of the world on someone else and they both did this to some extent but Trump does this at a much higher rate. I get why someone with narcissistic tendencies might think they are superior and think they come across as happier while hating on others but that is also not healthy and a lot of people who are like Trump and like "winning" and picking out "losers" tend to be losers themselves in real life and really their hopefulness is fake. They just deflect problems onto others and eventually get fired, etc. when people figure out they are full of hot air and have just been elevating themselves above who they really are and won't take personal responsibility. The most republican areas of the country aren't exactly booming, and we're told they voted for Trump because they were made hard up by democrats so from the start they come across as failing underdogs, not the winners they proclaim themselves to be. You see this a lot with religious people too. They sign themselves a label and then pretend everything they do is ordained by god rather than realizing both God and Satan or just themselves can create evil and nothing they do is from God but that they have their own agency and often choose wrong over right.

I do think republican areas can be a little bit more simple living and due to that they probably come across as having fewer cares beyond their immediate circle. That part is a little healthier than democrats who sometimes think way beyond their influence and stress over matters that don't involve them, but really if you talk to either of them, one group blames others and the other group tries to manage beyond their control. They are both flawed, just in different ways.

[Anonymous]

I also think there are pressures to appear happier in more republican areas. "Yeah we are winners and even though we are poorer we are better off for it" kind of thing. Less pressure to strive but also more pressure to conform to a smaller way of life and not take responsibility for failures. It's God's will. God guides my life and therefore I don't really have control over my destiny. Democrats tend to be in areas where people are making bigger business and political decisions and that reflects onto the kids. More secular as someone described where they take more ownership for government. So they might dwell too long on things that aren't immediate to their lives. It might be cooler to protest government and the status quo because they are in the innovation centers and power centers of the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ7A8-YgFHM/

This is sad to see. Although it's interesting to me that older people seem to be happier than people in middle age. Is that true? I thought there was an elderly mental health crisis. Rise in suicide rates among elderly etc

Myself am ncreasingly depressed to see that my children are set to inherit a world that is deepening in inequity and loss of opportunity and rise in social media which only makes everything worse. Kids have it tough these days.

I really, really don't think this outlook helps. At all. Did you read The Anxious Generation? Attitudes like this are basically reverse cognitive behavioral therapy, conditioning our kids to be anxious and depressed. Tell them the world is terrible and there's nothing they can do to change it and of course they'll hate everything.

Studies show the number one way to give people happiness is to give them a sense of purpose in the world. Community of course helps find purpose - it's a rare person who thinks a solitary life is a purposeful one, though it happens occasionally.

It does suck so...

Pretend that it doesn't?

You don't have to pretend. But depressed people are actually the most realistic people out there (https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-depressive-realism-6891266). Instead you can focus on teaching kids what's called learned optimism (https://positivepsychology.com/learned-optimism/)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ7A8-YgFHM/

This is sad to see. Although it's interesting to me that older people seem to be happier than people in middle age. Is that true? I thought there was an elderly mental health crisis. Rise in suicide rates among elderly etc

Myself am ncreasingly depressed to see that my children are set to inherit a world that is deepening in inequity and loss of opportunity and rise in social media which only makes everything worse. Kids have it tough these days.

this generation is a bunch of whiny little sissies.

With zero coping skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ7A8-YgFHM/

This is sad to see. Although it's interesting to me that older people seem to be happier than people in middle age. Is that true? I thought there was an elderly mental health crisis. Rise in suicide rates among elderly etc

Myself am ncreasingly depressed to see that my children are set to inherit a world that is deepening in inequity and loss of opportunity and rise in social media which only makes everything worse. Kids have it tough these days.

I really, really don't think this outlook helps. At all. Did you read The Anxious Generation? Attitudes like this are basically reverse cognitive behavioral therapy, conditioning our kids to be anxious and depressed. Tell them the world is terrible and there's nothing they can do to change it and of course they'll hate everything.

Studies show the number one way to give people happiness is to give them a sense of purpose in the world. Community of course helps find purpose - it's a rare person who thinks a solitary life is a purposeful one, though it happens occasionally.

It does suck so...

Pretend that it doesn't?

It’s always sucked. Always. The world hasn’t changed. It appears that the way people are processing it and incorporating it has changed.

I think it’s the increased isolation through the heavy use of online activities.

Agree
Also agree, let kids be kids. Stop burdening them with your adult doomsday personal opinions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids of republicans tend to be happier. Republicans tend to have a more hopeful perspective than democrats. Democrats tend to amplify the negative to a degree that is terrifying and kids aren’t mature enough to recognize that some of it is hyperbole. But even when it is hyperbole, the general undertone of democrats is a sad and dire view of humans, the country, the world, etc. whereas republicans tend to have a more pragmatic view about trying to fix things that can be fixed and accept those that can’t. I’m independent and that is my observation. This forum is heavily democratic as is the NYT so I think it just naturally skews in a confirmation bias direction on things like this.

The above post explains things very well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ7A8-YgFHM/

This is sad to see. Although it's interesting to me that older people seem to be happier than people in middle age. Is that true? I thought there was an elderly mental health crisis. Rise in suicide rates among elderly etc

Myself am ncreasingly depressed to see that my children are set to inherit a world that is deepening in inequity and loss of opportunity and rise in social media which only makes everything worse. Kids have it tough these days.

this generation is a bunch of whiny little sissies.

With zero coping skills.

Well, 2029 is coming up. Either the effects of Trump’s economic policies or retaliations by an incoming D administration may cause another Great Depression. Then they will learn what true hardship is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids of republicans tend to be happier. Republicans tend to have a more hopeful perspective than democrats. Democrats tend to amplify the negative to a degree that is terrifying and kids aren’t mature enough to recognize that some of it is hyperbole. But even when it is hyperbole, the general undertone of democrats is a sad and dire view of humans, the country, the world, etc. whereas republicans tend to have a more pragmatic view about trying to fix things that can be fixed and accept those that can’t. I’m independent and that is my observation. This forum is heavily democratic as is the NYT so I think it just naturally skews in a confirmation bias direction on things like this.

This made me laugh, as a former Republican (now party-less conservative). Have you ever listened to Republicans panicking when the Democrats are in leadership? Have you been on the receiving end of the insane emails Republicans have been sending out since the Tea Party came to prominence about how the world is ending?

The PP who mentioned that Republicans tend to me more religious - truly religious I'd question but they certainly are more culturally religious - is on to something. Regular religious service attendance correlates with more happiness, because it provides community + purpose. That said, a fairly low percentage of Republican "evangelicals" actually ever set foot in church...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ7A8-YgFHM/

This is sad to see. Although it's interesting to me that older people seem to be happier than people in middle age. Is that true? I thought there was an elderly mental health crisis. Rise in suicide rates among elderly etc

Myself am ncreasingly depressed to see that my children are set to inherit a world that is deepening in inequity and loss of opportunity and rise in social media which only makes everything worse. Kids have it tough these days.

this generation is a bunch of whiny little sissies.

With zero coping skills.

This is due to technology though, not politics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The world is pretty fcked up so it’s not surprising.

+1. And we are losing our country to a fascist who is killing the economy and opportunities for our children.