Do Others' Crappy Lives Make Your Crappy Life Better?

[LiddyRules]

We know the adage that when you think your life is bad, you're depressed, things are going rough to look at the lives of other people- poorer people, more destitute people, Katrina victims- and it ought to make you feel better about your own life.

Does it? Has this worked for anyone?

I've heard this my entire life and have never found any truth to the statement. It's rudely sadistic and it's offensive to both parties. It utterly ignores you, your own life, your own factors and the fact that you still have to face your problems/your issues. Your own problems don't go away just because other people have subjectively worse problems to deal with.

[A.J.]

Schadenfreude rules!

[Kris10]

I don't sit here and dwell on other people's problems but when I speak to someone at work and they are shut off for non payment and are screaming like a lunatic at me because they have 5 kids, a frig full of food, and just came back from vacation I think to myself "atleast I have electricity".

[Furtherman]

"atleast I have electricity".

http://www.edfenergy.com/powerup/assets/images/img_in_the_dark.jpg

You have electricity?!

[topless_mike]

http://www.edfenergy.com/powerup/assets/images/img_in_the_dark.jpg

You have electricity?!

could be worse. this could be the only way for you to post

http://www.cosmicbuddha.com/blog/archives/images/MS-TechnicalSupport-thumb.jpg

[Fezticle98]

could be worse. this could be the only way for you to post


No way. If it comes down to having to exercise in order to post, I'm outta here.

Tough question. No, it doesn't really make me feel better to see other people struggle. I'm more likely to sympathize with them. But, it should also make you take stock and appreciate what you have, which is kind of a similar concept.

[buzzard]

YES!

[Earlshog]

No way. If it comes down to having to exercise in order to post, I'm outta here.

Tough question. No, it doesn't really make me feel better to see other people struggle. I'm more likely to sympathize with them. But, it should also make you take stock and appreciate what you have, which is kind of a similar concept.

I agree with this. I'll use the example of attending a funeral. Lets say your buddies mother passed away, I will feel a tremendous amount of sympathy for the person and the personal suffering that accompanies the loss. At the same time it forces me to accept the reality it could just as easily be me standing up there. Its almost a "reminder" to appreciate what I have and often take for granted.

[Dougie Brootal]

i have a couple friends that i keep around specifically for that reason only!

[Recyclerz]

Schadenfreude rules!

I'm with AJ on this one but I try to save it for people I really hate. If I found out that Cheney had a really irritating bout of hemorrhoids or if Donald Trump had zipped up his nut sack that morning, I would be on my way to a good day.

[TeeBone]

Your own problems don't go away just because other people have subjectively worse problems to deal with.


" I got my own problems."
(said in best Ronnie B voice)

[BIGASS307Buddays]

when i'm waiting on a long line, seeing an even longer line behind me makes me feel better.

[Kevin]

I really enjoy the fact that i am less of a sports jinx than King Hippos Bandaid...

Does that count??

[Slumbag]

I honestly think it does. That's why Jerry Springer and fucking shows like that are so successful and stay on the air for so long. It's a new kind of "feel good T.V.", but you just feel good that you're not the piece of shit whose chick is actually a dude.
It's like a, "At least someone has it worse than me" thing.