I don't understand this prevailing perspective in highly individualistic societies that pain is good. If you can achieve the same result without the pain why is that so bad? When does it become progress?
If I can be healthy just by taking a pill a day as opposed to dying, what's the harm? Lives are saved and that's... bad... somehow?
If I can get my nick nacks without going to the store what's the harm?
Sometimes things are too good to be true. But most of the time, things really are just good. They are just better. You do just progress forward. That's why I can write you this comment instead of writing a letter and waiting weeks for a response. Why did we give that up? Isn't waiting painful, and therefore good? I don't think so.
> If I can be healthy just by taking a pill a day as opposed to dying, what's the harm? Lives are saved and that's... bad... somehow?
No, that's great! Despite what some of the comments claim, I'm not saying "suffering FTW!". I'm saying that working towards goals is literally in our DNA, and getting everything you want won't make you happy.
Your letter example is a good one. On the one hand, it's incredible that I can communicate with many people at once across the world from my desk. The benefits are obvious. What's not so obvious are the benefits of having to write letters in the old days:
When you have to spend so much effort in communication, it's worth much more to you. You take more time, think about what you're saying more, and most importantly; feel much higher rewards. Low effort, low returns.
I don't understand this prevailing perspective in highly individualistic societies that pain is good. If you can achieve the same result without the pain why is that so bad? When does it become progress?
If I can be healthy just by taking a pill a day as opposed to dying, what's the harm? Lives are saved and that's... bad... somehow?
If I can get my nick nacks without going to the store what's the harm?
Sometimes things are too good to be true. But most of the time, things really are just good. They are just better. You do just progress forward. That's why I can write you this comment instead of writing a letter and waiting weeks for a response. Why did we give that up? Isn't waiting painful, and therefore good? I don't think so.