I really think the author of the book has a perfect life and no personal experience of major depression or having his life suck real bad. He is merely gathering stories and speaking about these topics in his own opinion towards life, as his life is perfect and he talks about how we can solve these problems so foolishly and naive. He talks as if life and suffering was so simple and straight forward. Nothing lasts forever, eventually you will find out that you can trust no one but yourself. Learn to live and suck up your life alone, and you will find a greater light within. You must emerge from your suffering and depression alone, standing above your wreckage victorious, as a stronger person inside out. If you let a hand pull you out of the pit of depression you yourself created you are doomed to create a deeper pit, with no hand to get you out of your deep shit now. If happiness was everlasting, it wouldn't exist.
If pain was simple, it would leave us.
If happiness did exist, it wouldn't last ten seconds.
Joy is a lie.
I agree with most other than the thing about the author and that happiness does not exist. BTW, where did u pick up such an extensive vocabulary of words, such that you are able to express yourself in every respect? I really would like to know, as I am baffled as to how you managed to learn such words with deep meaning.
ReplyDeleteI also do not think that the authors are all that naive to think they are trying to solve all teenagers' problems but I think they hope that teenagers can connect with what other teenagers write. I agree that they do pose potential solutions and make suggestions and ask readers to consider ways to deal with the issues, but like all books you read, I suggest you read this with an open mind.
ReplyDeleteAnyway the focus is not about the authors for me but the fact that these stories are written by real teenagers going through tough times and the stories are not fiction.That's is why I thought it would have better resonance with teenagers like yourself.
I hope you also realise that some of the teenagers in the articles haven't solved their problems and are still struggling and even miserable when they submitted the articles and are still living with the issues, so I feel that the authors are not gathering fairy tales where every ending ends up happy ever after. This is precisely the point of the book. That there things may not always be solvable but needs time to work through and in some cases, I'm sad to say, things just don't work out for some of the teens in the book.
The articles are chosen so that we have a chance to reflect on the very issues that bother us and at least have a look into how others feel. What teenagers in Singapore feel isn't an isolated phenomenon. Teenagers in USA and in Europe go through similar experiences.
I don't even disagree with you that life and suffering isn't simple. Seriously I don't think life is ever simple and straightforward. Why do you think philosophers and even some figures of main lifestyle movements or even sages like the Buddha keep talking about suffering and pain and how to try alleviate it?
People are always finding ways to be happy (or at least need the escapism) through many avenues; be it religion, through addictions, through exercise, through leisure and some even through work or school.
Some people are fortunate to find an answer or someone/ some higher being to trust but for some, that search feels like it is eternal and perhaps looks as if there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps your own personal experience of these past years make you feel despondent and angry but there are peers who feel totally quite the opposite of you,while others probably sit at different places of the continuum of happiness and despair so in a way it is rather hard to accept that your point of view is the only truth although it feels very true for you. I believe there are many truths out there. At the moment the truth you hold is important but my personal take for life is that I hold fast to a belief but at the same time, I am open to other viewpoints so that when I do come to understand or appreciate something different from my initial viewpoint, I am not stuck in a stubborn rut.
As for the being self sufficient to deal with one's own depression or struggles, sure if one emerges victorious and overcomes the difficulties, I say go ahead and do it alone. However for many, getting help is the only way to go and for these people, they actually want that helping hand. I don't even think I am in a position to judge that they are a weaker lot or sillier lot to trust others. There are people who bare testimony of good friends who gave that little push or pull that made the difference.
I also agree with TSW that happiness does exist and personally my happiness does last more than 10 seconds but it doesn't mean I don't have horrible and bad times. I have unfortunatley gone through alot of terrible experiences that isn't appropriate for me to share in a public blog.
Before I forget, I have to discuss why you didn't really answer the blog question.
ReplyDeleteThe first part of the question actually asked about your thoughts on the various issues which you partially addressed. The first part of your answer was spent on criticizing the author's but I have no idea where you based your evidence for it. Sweeping claims which are unsubstantiated will not hold any weight for an argument.
You then went on to talk about how it is important to be self-sufficient when in difficulties. This is the only part which answers the question. However, the opinions were not further substantiated with examples.
Then you went on to make an illogical statement of 'If happiness is everlasting, it wouldn't exist' because if happiness is everlasting, it means that it exists.
After that you went on to make statements as if they were absolute truths ''If pain were simple, it would leave us" or 'If happiness exists, it wouldn't last 10 seconds' or 'Joy is a lie'. When you make such statements, you need to support them with evidence and reasons.
The second part of the question which asks you how you cope with the difficulties have not been answered.
I also note that some of the things you quote or say are similar to Ray's. I suggest you all try to stop taking information off the internet. In this blog question exercises, I really prefer your own authentic responses and not a cut and paste job. If, however, the ideas on the internet resonate with you then please use your own words but also consider what they say well. What is posted on the internet are also opinions and you will need to digest them before you decide if they are reliable information.