Comments on: the idler

the idler

milkwood — Sat, 22 Jan 2005 12:02:05 -0800

AH, IS THIS NOT HAPPINESS "Chin Shengt'an was a 17th century playwright who once found himself stranded with a friend in a temple for ten days because of a rainstorm. While thus secluded, the pair compiled a list of the truly happy moments in life. The wonderful thing about Chin's Happy Moments is their lack of piety. Material pleasures are not rejected in favour of loftier ones." Lovely elegant idea. If you need an antidote be sure to also look at Crap Jobs and Crap Holidays.

By: j.p. Hung

j.p. Hung — Sat, 22 Jan 2005 12:13:41 -0800

I'm in Philly stranded in a kick ass snow storm. ....list forthcoming

By: euphorb

euphorb — Sat, 22 Jan 2005 12:14:37 -0800

12. I get up early on a summer morning and see people sawing a large bamboo pole under a mat-shed, to be used as a water-pipe. Ah, is this not happiness?

Hehe. There was an AskMe thread on simple pleasures which seems relevant.

By: nebulawindphone

nebulawindphone — Sat, 22 Jan 2005 12:18:26 -0800

19. To keep three or four spots of eczema in a private part of my body and now and then to scald or bathe it with hot water behind closed doors. To each his own, I guess. Good list. It's interesting to see that the original 33 are mostly changes that bring about happiness. To really enjoy the house, you need to remember how frustrating it was to build, and so on. I get the impression this Shengt'an fellow wasn't really into instant gratification.

By: breath

breath — Sat, 22 Jan 2005 12:34:33 -0800

Happiness is relative.

By: weapons-grade pandemonium

weapons-grade pandemonium — Sat, 22 Jan 2005 12:47:00 -0800

Unhappiness is relatives.

By: leotrotsky

leotrotsky — Sat, 22 Jan 2005 13:01:25 -0800

I am sitting, applying for dozens of jobs, cursing the terrible web interfaces. I tab over to Metafilter where, instead of the usual pedantry & name-calling, I read about the small pleasures of dead Chinese man. Ah, is this not happiness? Wiseass: You suck!

By: painquale

painquale — Sat, 22 Jan 2005 13:03:30 -0800

The wonderful thing about Chin's Happy Moments is their lack of piety. Material pleasures are not rejected in favour of loftier ones. When I read this, I was hoping for some more taboo and prideful sources of happiness: eg. "embarrassed my enemy," "was told I looked really hot," "fantastic orgasm."

By: postmodernmillie

postmodernmillie — Sat, 22 Jan 2005 13:10:09 -0800

To attend a Texan wedding reception, the Coors Light-sodden best man offering his toast. "I love y'all, and this child you're carryin' is gonna have the best mama and daddy in the whole world." The expectant bride in white, now seeing red, has not yet shared her happy news with her 200 guests - or her family. Is this not happiness? True story circa 1/15/05. (You might be a redneck if...)

By: breath

breath — Sat, 22 Jan 2005 13:56:19 -0800

Sounds like the Idler should start up a feature on "Crap Weddings".

By: kamylyon

kamylyon — Sat, 22 Jan 2005 14:14:37 -0800

Knowing that where I am is not where I'll always be.

By: MiHail

MiHail — Sat, 22 Jan 2005 18:27:31 -0800

Knowing that where I am is not where I'll always be. I'll second that, and add: Knowing that who I'm with is not who I'll always be with.

By: vacapinta

vacapinta — Sun, 23 Jan 2005 02:48:59 -0800

Great post, milkwood. When I read this, I was hoping for some more taboo and prideful sources of happiness: eg. "embarrassed my enemy," Does this not do it for you? 11. I wake up in the morning and seem to hear someone in the house sighing and saying that last night someone died. I immediately ask to find out who it is, and learn that it is the sharpest, most calculating fellow in town. Ah, is this not happiness?

By: seanyboy

seanyboy — Sun, 23 Jan 2005 05:58:07 -0800

26 is Comedy Gold!

By: Joey Michaels

Joey Michaels — Sun, 23 Jan 2005 16:10:54 -0800

This is great.