Comments on: Mirror, mirror, on the wall…

By: Jeff Dustin

Jeff Dustin — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:41:13 +0000

Patrick,

Join the crusade, my man.

By: Jeff Dustin

Jeff Dustin — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:40:27 +0000

In all seriousness, which is the better path: social comparison looking downhill or avoiding social comparison the best that you can? You might suggest a moderate mean between the two, sort of a fuzzy logic solution with shades of gray a la cofounder of Skeptic magazine Michael Shermer.

Yet in practice, I bet that the middle way here is much harder than taking a binary extreme and sticking with it. So if you had to choose, which would it be, looking down from the mountaintop or contemplating your good fortune without a social context?

By: Senia

Senia — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:29:33 +0000

Rosie, thank you - neat points on social comparison. I especially see clearly once you wrote it the idea that we can compare ourselves with everyone on myspace and facebook. We can actually. This reminds me a little of Caroline’s article on beating bullimia. Thanks.

By: Bridget

Bridget — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:32:04 +0000

Rosie
I think you have made some very important points here. The key thing for me is that focussing exclusively on the self in an attempt to ‘find happiness’ is a surefire way to feel dissatisfied and disappointed. Unfortunately that’s what the majority of celebrity role models seem to teach us. There will always be other people more [beautiful / thin / rich / intelligent / sexy ][insert your adjective of choice] than us. If we stopped focussing so much on our individual well-being, and started focussing more on other people’s, I think we might start to become a little more contented….

By: Patrick Raleigh

Patrick Raleigh — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 22:04:42 +0000

Awesome piece once again, Rosie! Elderly people rest assured, this reader for one won’t be coming round on Jeff’s mission….

By: Jeff Dustin

Jeff Dustin — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:39:05 +0000

Is it really all about the cognitive frames?

I think you are onto something big here. Maybe we should surround ourselves with the ugliest, poorest, nastiest smelling creatures on earth to reset others’ perceptions of our appearance, status and personal aroma. If I want to appear athletic & nimble, I just stand next to a broken-legged Angus! To appear thinner, sandwich between two of the most obese Americans you can find and to appear taller, hang out with the Seven Dwarfs.

…the best part is there’s so much suffering in the world, you’ll never run out of downward comparisons.
I think we should Widen the Gap and increase opportunities for personal happiness. Whenever possible, inflict Pain just to feel a little better that the poor schmuck with sand in his face is that much worse off! Man, I’m savoring that barfly’s busted nose. Stealing that kids’ lollypop felt SOOOO good. I feel so great, I’m going to the nursing home to kick some elderly ass, right now.

I kicked in my brand-new TV and now I’m a Sadist. Thanks, Rosie.