What is your definition of "a life"?

[SS-18 ICBM]

Well, that's the opinion of the majority of said individuals, which was my point. Not whether a society can technically have an opinion.

 

[Tee Kay]

Well, that's the opinion of the majority of said individuals, which was my point. Not whether a society can technically have an opinion.

Can you cite some surveys?

 

[Traitorfish]

Well, that's the opinion of the majority of said individuals, which was my point. Not whether a society can technically have an opinion.

Societal norms are more complicated than majority opinions.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Can you cite some surveys?

Can you suggest how I would phrase the search so I don't waste my time? I think it's an interesting question. Just not one I'm willing to spend a few hours on.

Societal norms are more complicated than majority opinions.

Are they mutually exclusive?

 

[Tee Kay]

Societal norms are more complicated than majority opinions.

Uh, yeah, that's what I'm trying to say.

Can you suggest how I would phrase the search so I don't waste my time? I think it's an interesting question. Just not one I'm willing to spend a few hours on.

I'm not sure, I don't think anyone has actually done one, though you seem to be smart (this is a genuine compliment, you don't get many of these on the internet ) and associate yourselves with smart people so you or your associates may have something. Anyway, to my immature mind I think should be representative of the true opinions of people rather than "manufactured" opinions; ie opinions they would give when friends or acquiantances or people with power are around. Example: if my mother asks me about my not being very socially active, then I would say, of course I'd love to have a lot of friends and participate in a lot of activities. Privately, though, I know that though I feel empty and occasionally depressed to the point of contemplating the uncomtemplatable because I don't have a lot of (or perhaps, any) friends to share my time and thoughts with, I know that I often feel awkward at social situations, and sometimes I am actually grateful for the time that I have to myself. Maybe that's not a very good example, but whatever.

Are they mutually exclusive?

Not always. In this case I'm sure there are some overlaps, I'm just not sure how much.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

I'm not sure, I don't think anyone has actually done one, though you seem to be smart (this is a genuine compliment, you don't get many of these on the internet ) and associate yourselves with smart people so you or your associates may have something.

Ah, you flatter me . It's just from my personal observations of people around me and attitudes expressed in media. You have to be outgoing and outside to be considered to have a life. I'd love to corroborate this with surveys, but as you said, they may not have been done yet.

Anyway, to my immature mind I think should be representative of the true opinions of people rather than "manufactured" opinions; ie opinions they would give when friends or acquiantances or people with power are around. Example: if my mother asks me about my not being very socially active, then I would say, of course I'd love to have a lot of friends and participate in a lot of activities. Privately, though, I know that though I feel empty and occasionally depressed to the point of contemplating the uncomtemplatable because I don't have a lot of (or perhaps, any) friends to share my time and thoughts with, I know that I often feel awkward at social situations, and sometimes I am actually grateful for the time that I have to myself. Maybe that's not a very good example, but whatever.

I see your point. Although from what I see it's those in power who you have to justify having a life to (e.g. parents, employers). Your friends are probably cool with what you do with your free time.

 

[Tee Kay]

I see your point. Although from what I see it's those in power who you have to justify having a life to (e.g. parents, employers). Your friends are probably cool with what you do with your free time.

Well, I don't know about the rest of us, but I do feel an intense pressure to show my friends (I don't think I can call them that, "peers" sounds better) that I Have A Life, that is to say, follow societal norms and additionally the Life of my peers. I'd be so afraid of "losing" them that I'd do everything to show that I'm just like everyone else, and not a loner, though loners seem to be more common in the world than I first thought.

 

[Oruc]

most people regard life as getting drunk at the weekend, having tried it for a few years I don't recommend it, you get some stories out of it but that's about it.

Well, I don't know about the rest of us, but I do feel an intense pressure to show my friends (I don't think I can call them that, "peers" sounds better) that I Have A Life, that is to say, follow societal norms and additionally the Life of my peers. I'd be so afraid of "losing" them that I'd do everything to show that I'm just like everyone else, and not a loner, though loners seem to be more common in the world than I first thought.

Screw your friends, cut as many ties as you are comfortable with.

 

[Traitorfish]

Are they mutually exclusive?

No, and generally speaking they overlap heavily. But that doesn't mean that they are interchangeable. For example, if 60% of the population vote for a given presidential candidate, then we can say that the majority opinion is "X should be president", but we can't say that the societal norm is that "X should be present".

 

[warpus]

Bacon, beer, boobs, and the beautiful game.