Maggie's Farm

We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.

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Wednesday, July 10. 2019

QQQ

Free-floating, petty gripes are a result of Miserabilism as a world view, the idea that viewing Western Civ as a hellish, gruesome burden destined to collapse of its sins and conceits is the only possible worldview for a Serious Person. Hence the more fault you find, the deeper you are. It comes from being grounded in nothing but the shallow soil of the present, with no sense of history except for a series of pre-approved narratives intended to culminate in an argument against the recent past, which was bad because it prevented the wonderful possible Tomorrow from happening Today. It’s a recipe for life-long alienation.


James Lileks 

Posted by The Barrister in Quotidian Quotable Quote (QQQ) at 14:30 | Comments (4) | Trackbacks (0)

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Amen. Miserabilism (love that word) comes from an ungrateful heart steeped in envy and rebellion with an icing of utopianism and sprinkles of wishing for a Philosopher King to run their socialist paradise/cake.
#1 Blick on 2019-07-10 19:57 (Reply)
Posted by James the day before his 96 year old dad passed away unexpectedly ... as James put it, his dad's Harley was still warm from his last ride when he died.

RIP.
#2 peacelovewoodstock on 2019-07-11 06:28 (Reply)
Miserabilism dovetails nicely with the idea that 99% of the population suffers from some form of lifelong biologically determined depression that needs to be pharmaceutically treated. No wonder guys like Jordan Peterson are so resented for arguing that we can generally do something about our own misery--not that he ever suggests anyone can expect to escape all suffering.
#3 Texan99 on 2019-07-11 09:39 (Reply)
Yeah, life's a pain and then ya die. I've gotten over that. Ain't always peaches and cream, but it ain't half bad. 30% tops.
#4 Sam L. on 2019-07-11 12:42 (Reply)

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