I like that most people don't think they have the best life. You're using the internet on a computer....your life must be pretty sweet. There are millions and millions of people who don't have either, let alone electricity and running water. Africa is a long way away but it doesn't mean they don't exist. We have it good.
Yes but since when was access to the internet and a computer the only factor in whether your life is one of the worst on the planet or one of the best?
We should all be aware of in what way we are privileged or lucky compared to others, but we should also be aware that having many resources at your disposal compared to having few does not in itself guarantee a great life. It's what you're capable of doing with those resources, your emotional well-being, whether your desires are met, how much stress and responsibility you have in your daily life etc. These things all shape our individual concept of a 'good life' and a 'bad life', and are the reasons why somebody living without the internet or a computer, without much money and material wealth, can still be more satisfied with their life than somebody with lots of money and material wealth currently browsing IIN :)
Hmm, I would agree, but the question wasn't "Do you have an above average life?" or "Are people worse off than you?". It was "Do you have one of the best lives on the planet?"
According to Nielson Online, as of June 30 2012, there are 2,405,518,376 internet users in the world. That's over 34% of the world population. Even if we assume that the lives of internet users are necessarily better, that means that using the internet only puts you in the top 34%, which isn't particularly impressive. Yes, it makes you more fortunate than most people, but I don't think "probably in the top third" is a reasonable definition of "one of the best".
Do you have one of the best lives on the planet?
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I like that most people don't think they have the best life. You're using the internet on a computer....your life must be pretty sweet. There are millions and millions of people who don't have either, let alone electricity and running water. Africa is a long way away but it doesn't mean they don't exist. We have it good.
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Yes but since when was access to the internet and a computer the only factor in whether your life is one of the worst on the planet or one of the best?
We should all be aware of in what way we are privileged or lucky compared to others, but we should also be aware that having many resources at your disposal compared to having few does not in itself guarantee a great life. It's what you're capable of doing with those resources, your emotional well-being, whether your desires are met, how much stress and responsibility you have in your daily life etc. These things all shape our individual concept of a 'good life' and a 'bad life', and are the reasons why somebody living without the internet or a computer, without much money and material wealth, can still be more satisfied with their life than somebody with lots of money and material wealth currently browsing IIN :)
Hmm, I would agree, but the question wasn't "Do you have an above average life?" or "Are people worse off than you?". It was "Do you have one of the best lives on the planet?"
According to Nielson Online, as of June 30 2012, there are 2,405,518,376 internet users in the world. That's over 34% of the world population. Even if we assume that the lives of internet users are necessarily better, that means that using the internet only puts you in the top 34%, which isn't particularly impressive. Yes, it makes you more fortunate than most people, but I don't think "probably in the top third" is a reasonable definition of "one of the best".