h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Would it be fair to say the more intellectual someone is, the less happier they are?

Is it because intellegent people work harder for more money and take a great deal of effort in what they do? But then surely with that money they can buy stuff which makes them happy?

Whereas your council estate ruffians follow there heart and a sacrifise decent money to search for a life of happiness? Or was it destiny because they could ill afford education or are unable to spend effort in what they wanted to pursue because of other commitments?

From your title I thought you were going to say that if you haven't experienced happiness, you don't know what you're missing, so you couldn't be unhappy about the lack - if you see what I mean!

Anyway, I actually disgree with your hypothesis. I think the feeling of happiness/satisfaction/contentment is far more to do with one's innate personality than intellect. Making the best of one's circumstances rather than yearning for the impossible perhaps. Finding pleasure in small ways, or deriving much happiness from modest situations.

"If ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise."

Note the *if*!

TRiG.

I disagree too. People who are stupid can be painfully aware of their shortcomings. That's not fun.

I read somewhere that the optimal IQ for enjoying life is between 130 and 140, because you're smarter than most but not too smart to be able to communicate with them. (Reminds me of Flowers for Algernon.)

i think the ability to be happy depends soley on the personality of a person and the crcumstances they so often find themselves in. For instance, you could have a two peoplle that are exactly the same in every way, except one of them is rich, and one of them has nothing. Now give each of them a twenty pound note and see who is happier. The person who has no money would be overjoyed by your generosity and thank you profusely. The rich person would say to you "thank you so much" just as the other person would but is secretly thinking "and? like that is going to make a difference"

Ah, but if those two people really were the same bar their wealth, wouldn't they both appreciate the gesture made by the giver? Wouldn't they be equally happy with their lot, either making the best of it, or continually yearning for something elase?

Otherwise you might equally say the poor person would think that '£10 isn't much & won't go far' whereas the rich person has become wealthy by valuing every penny, wisely invested & would appreciate any free gift.

I would have to disagree with the statement that "ignorance is bliss".
I believe that you can't necessarily learn how to be happy, but you can learn how to change your perspective.

Not to long ago I was a rather unhappy person, but after a while I learned how to view the world in different ways. I can see the "good" in nearly every situation which I have found can make me a whole lot happier. Mind you I am only 17, so this may only work if you are young enough to be able to change your perspective and relieve yourself of "old" ideas. My grandfather still can't stand Germans, even though the war has ended (he was a veteran).

If you are ignorant to the changes you can make to better yourself, and the other perspectives that you can take, you could be a miserable person. I am not saying that this will work for everyone, in fact if you choose a different perspective you can actually make yourself feel worse.

Any way that's my opinion, feel free to disagree.