"The modern meaning of Weltschmerz in the German language is the psychological pain caused by sadness that can occur when realizing that someone's own weaknesses are caused by the inappropriateness and cruelty of the world and (physical and social) circumstances. Weltschmerz in this meaning can cause depression, resignation and escapism, and can become a mental problem (compare to Hikikomori)"
"It is also used to denote the feeling of sadness when thinking about the evils of the world"
I don't know if this happens to everyone (well I doubt it does or else people would have had lengthy conversations with me about it by now) but when I read about some well researched and horribly sad thing occurring now in our world I put myself there mentally and try to think about how it would feel to be the victim of whatever monumental injustice is at hand. It gets to a point where I have to consciously stop reading for a few hours or else I get a supreme feeling of hopelessness because there are people all over the place who need all manner of help and other people are actively trying to stop the relief and want to grind down those who can't fight back.
There are so many struggles going on that I can barely prioritize which is the most pressing. What cause do you take up? There are gender struggles, class struggles, race struggles, civil rights and civil liberties being impinged or taken outright, there is terrible bloodshed in Darfur, Rwanda, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and numerous others. it's overwhelming. I've lost track of even how much I was going to attempt to list.
I also read today that, in America, the 400 richest people, (now think about that, I'm pretty sure my senior class in high school had more members than 400) have more wealth than the bottom 1.5 million. We somehow think our society is egalitarian when we have the income disparity of a third world banana republic. we are entering into a severe class struggle due to horrible economic circumstances and half our population is ready to take up arms in order to keep themselves from getting free healthcare. Our nation is psychotic. Most of them never think to challenge the millionaires spewing propaganda at them every day. Someone on the internet today asked what it would take for Americans to finally get their heads out of their asses and make meaningful reform to make society better for everyone. One answer that interested me was that we would have to have a famine first. Our population would need to feel the effects of real hunger far up the class ladder to where no one could be insulated from the hardship. Then it would be easy to see the wealthy still protected and fed and finally focus some anger there where it belongs.
This post today may be disjointed and badly written but I just don't feel right. I've got that weltschmertz
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ReplyDeleteSo there's a lot of suffering in the world, therefore, we should suffer too so things will be better? Some people decide to take up causes that are closer to their means than changing the minds of very wealthy and powerful people who just want more of what makes them feel good, or 1.5 million people who don't have the kind of time or resources to sit down and gather all the information required to view the world in a particular way. Some take up causes like feeding, housing and educating their children or providing for the people around them when shit goes down, and then some.
ReplyDeleteI don't doubt at all that your feelings are deep and true. But you bathe your self in this suffering, seeking what will get you the highest levels of anger, rage and depression. The problems were there since before you voted for Bush.
http://www.visioform.com/uk/articles-suffering.htm
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111579154&ft=1&f=1001
I agree, things can be better and there's people doing what they can, where they can, if they care. And how I or you or anyone feels about the evils of the world isn't going to feed or comfort a starving child who's family was just killed. Their suffering is about them and through their life they will make what they can through it. Your feelings are about you. "I feel... when I read things on the internet", "Thinking how I would feel if I was suffering how they are makes me angry and sad".
Now, if these feelings are motivating you to actually do something, like you plan, carry on. Motivation can go a long way bro. It's like something just waiting to happen, lets hope it's good.
Like this guy: http://www.ted.com/talks/michael_pritchard_invents_a_water_filter.html
ReplyDeletewow actual thoughtful feedback. thanks bro. Part of the reason i seem to seek out the most angering and unjust situations is that, to me, they are very important. the thing is i'm not doing this to be able to sit online and just know the worst things happening on earth each day. each searing injustice is inching me closer to a definite action. i'm now trying to focus all that anger and despair into tackling a cause where I might be able to help.
ReplyDeleteKUDOS! This is truly the way to take action. Sitting your comfortable fat white ass online (collecting unemployment most likely while at your parents house/basement/garage), picking your nose, then pointing that boogery finger at all the injustice in the world. Ooooh. "Inching" your way toward motivation? HA! Wow. How about "inching" your ass off the computer chair? DO SOMETHING. Do you necessarily have to fill your gauge before you feel like you're ready?
ReplyDeleteI have to acquire the means to do what i'm hoping to do and I have been studying a new language so i can at least make less of a fool of myself in a foreign land. I'm not so much inching towards action as I am trying to best prepare myself for what i'd like to do and it will take time to have the resources to leave. thanks for your comment.
ReplyDelete