tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26437387.post116589860784737914..comments2023-10-19T08:49:35.405-05:00Comments on Aún Estamos Vivos: Status Anxiety and its DiscontentsJeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754406706300818849noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26437387.post-1166045531458880402006-12-13T16:32:00.000-05:002006-12-13T16:32:00.000-05:00Don’t you all love the photo with the dogs on the ...Don’t you all love the photo with the dogs on the book cover? Perfect for the topic.<BR/><BR/>I had a feeling this would resonate with people. It sure does with me. On my reading list is Barbara Ehrenreich’s <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/Fear-Falling-Inner-Middle-Class/dp/0060973331/sr=1-10/qid=1166045134/ref=sr_1_10/105-8448111-6006860?ie=UTF8&s=books" REL="nofollow">Fear of Falling</A> and <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/Bait-Switch-Futile-Pursuit-American/dp/0805081240/sr=1-2/qid=1166045134/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/105-8448111-6006860?ie=UTF8&s=books" REL="nofollow">Bait and Switch</A>. I recommend <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/Nickel-Dimed-Not-Getting-America/dp/0805063897/sr=1-1/qid=1166045134/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-8448111-6006860?ie=UTF8&s=books" REL="nofollow">Nickel and Dimed to everyone</A>.<BR/><BR/>Crystal,<BR/><BR/>Good post. Is that why you named your blog the way you did? It’s what you (and a lot of the other bloggers here) do so well – offer a mix of theology, spirituality, poetry, politics, theater, art, and literature – So we can all look at different aspects of life in all its abundance. <BR/><BR/><I>For what, we ask, is life without a touch of Poetry in it?<BR/>-- Gilbert & Sullivan, The Pirates of Penzance </I><BR/><BR/>Drew,<BR/><BR/>Good to see you again. I think I know just how you feel. I have to confess that often times at work I listen to other people talk on a certain technical or business-related topics, and their analytical ability astounds me. I know I don’t have the same ability with abstraction. I feel like I’m getting by on smoke and mirrors and it creates a lot of anxiety for me, even though I don’t consider myself a dummy by any means. I have to admit though, I <I>am</I> a complete dope when it comes to mathematics. Throw numbers at me, and my eyes glaze over… Just ask my financial planner. It’s a struggle. Most of my children inherited that… the poor kids. <BR/><BR/>I find myself being somewhat more aggeressive and ambitious in my career than I’d probably be inclined to be naturally, due to the fact that I have to support eight people, but the effects can be insidious when it is all around you. It can suck you in like a black hole.<BR/><BR/>Having a sense of self-awareness and self-critique is always good, especially when we choose to blog, because blogging can be wide open to narcissism. We all by our nature want to be read, to be affirmed, for what we post to have value, and for those visitor counts and comment totals to tick upwards, etc… I wish I was able to come up with ideas like Botton’s and a way to express them as well as he does.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Liam,<BR/><BR/>Re: Max Weber… Good point. Yes, I think Botton may have made reference to that as being a factor in our American ethos, as Puritanism was able to gain a much better foothold here than it was able to do elsewhere. Was it unique? I’m reminded of Tevye in <I>Fiddler on the Roof</I> before he launches into “If I was A Rich Man”, complaining in his conversation with God. “I know it’s no shame to be poor… but it’s no great honor either.” :-) Scriptural references in the O.T. can be somewhat mixed. Judaism doesn’t always demonize wealth or lionize poverty to the same degree in which traditional Christianity does. <BR/><BR/>You make a good point about Edwards, and it reminds me of what Botton pointed out – Those we used to call “unfortunates” are now “losers”. I’d always been a little reticent about Edwards in the past for his trial lawyer background, but I’m starting to respect him more and more. He and his wife have endured a lot of heartache and tragedy without being mawkish, and they haven’t used sentimentality surrounding those events to score political points (like a certain ex-vice-president we know). IMO, he’s the guy to watch in 2008, from the Dem side. I think Barak Obama’s star is going to peak too soon, even if some of the hype is being manufactured by his opponents.<BR/><BR/>Paula,<BR/><BR/>Nice to see you back, I’ve been following your pilgrim’s progress as you’ve laid it out. :-)<BR/><BR/>As you’ve pointed out so well, with newly-found affluence consumerism in all parts of Europe has taken hold with a vengeance, without a solid spiritual component to counterbalance it. For those in that society who are not inclined the same way, it must be a tough, suffocating environment to live under. I hope that Botton’s thesis will be valuable for you and your friends to think over and discuss.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10754406706300818849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26437387.post-1166002776406556812006-12-13T04:39:00.000-05:002006-12-13T04:39:00.000-05:00Great post Jeff. I will take time today to read it...Great post Jeff. I will take time today to read it again and perhaps send it to some friends. I must tell that while reading it, I could trace some of the thinking patterns that contributed to my current anxiety problem.:-).I have to thank you for this.PVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04943143109952894018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26437387.post-1165955575771600782006-12-12T15:32:00.000-05:002006-12-12T15:32:00.000-05:00I agree with both Drew and Liam. Ignatian spiritu...I agree with both Drew and Liam. <BR/><BR/>Ignatian spirituality helps people have detachment and to order their desires (like having a good reputation, having money). Wish I was able to do that. <BR/><BR/>Being empathetic and questioning values helps, I think.crystalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05681674503952991492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26437387.post-1165944213420904962006-12-12T12:23:00.000-05:002006-12-12T12:23:00.000-05:00Another great post Jeff -- you don't have to be an...Another great post Jeff -- you don't have to be anxious about your status among bloggers.<BR/><BR/>What he says about the "meritocracy" I think is right on, and too much blind faith in it (as well as too much blind faith in the market) has created problems with this country. I have to disagree that the "Health and Wealth" movement is such a new thing. In a way, it's the same Calvinism described by Max Weber in "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism," only more vulgar and obvious.<BR/><BR/>Have you noticed that John Edwards is one of the only politicians who talks about the problem of poverty in this country? Everyone else talks about the struggling Middle Class. Why? Because this is essentially a country that worships status and wealth so much that we despise the poor. If they're poor, it's their own fault, many Americans think. It's shameful to be poor. <BR/><BR/>The same people who feel this way have no problem discussing their personal relationship with Jesus Christ.Liamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17265036866243982434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26437387.post-1165930494223953892006-12-12T08:34:00.000-05:002006-12-12T08:34:00.000-05:00Great post!! I know for myself that I have anxiet...Great post!! I know for myself that I have anxiety over grades, being liked, ... the list goes on. When it comes down to it I am anxious about loosing the power I think I have over others (my grades make me intelligent, my popularity does not make me lonely). I am know that I am intelligent, and it is ok to feel alone but there is a lie that I feed into that tells me different, and from this lie anxiety spring up. Anxiety for me is a motivation to protect and defend this lie that I need power over people and situations. Anxiety causes me to manipulate and in so doing I devalue myself and others.<BR/><BR/>thanks again!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26437387.post-1165918945334697362006-12-12T05:22:00.000-05:002006-12-12T05:22:00.000-05:00That's really interesting, Jeff.I agree with him a...That's really interesting, Jeff.<BR/><BR/>I agree with him about perspective. Most people don't value, and therefore don't invest time in the study of philosophy and history. If they did, they would perhaps come to the conclusion (or maybe be more likely to) that our society's value systems are constructed. Unless they get lucky, people are doomed to be the victims of the valies they embrace without reflection :-)crystalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05681674503952991492noreply@blogger.com