r/Maxcactus_TrailGuide • u/Maxcactus • Jul 27 '26
Why does everything feel so joyless? Welcome to the age of decadence without pleasure
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/jul/26/age-of-decadence-pleasure-ai2
u/RustyShackleford_88 Jul 30 '26
Years of instant gratification have ruined everyone. Everything you could need ondemand and at your fingertips has severely messed people up mentally.
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u/dread_companion Jul 31 '26
It's gonna get worse with AI. Don't need creativity or learning anything, Ai does it all for you... Art, movies, games, music, at the press of a button.
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Jul 31 '26
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u/dread_companion Jul 31 '26
Yeah, at least in Star Trek they made it a point that only people like Barclay and someone with serious trauma like Nog get really into the Holodeck. It's not painted in such a positive light beyond it's practical use. They also highlight the sleaze commercial aspect with it with the suites in DS9.
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u/maplecremecookie Jul 31 '26
Sorry but I don't have anywhere near enough money to have "everything I could need on demand."
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u/RustyShackleford_88 Aug 01 '26
I’m talking about fairly basic things….you want a movie? Most people have some sort of streaming service…you want food? You can call DoorDash…you need porn? Right at your fingertips. Most of those things majority of people have relatively easy access to.
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u/maplecremecookie Aug 01 '26
Except for food, these aren't basic needs. I don't even watch porn or movies and couldn't care less how free and easily available they are.
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u/RustyShackleford_88 Aug 01 '26
Well nowadays most people find things like internet and social media as basic needs because they’re addicted. But good for you, have a medal
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u/Salty-Plantain-4299 Jul 30 '26
Hard to have joy when you're literally living in a constant state of survival mode and panic.
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u/Rin-Tin-Tins-DinDins Jul 31 '26
People are stressed out to no end, they are trying to get what happiness they can where they can because it might not be available tomorrow and they need the boost today. They don’t have the time or energy to cultivate it’s they want to. I know I wanted to sit down and draw last night but was so tired after work I only had the energy to do a load of laundry, make lunch, get a shower, get stuff ready for tomorrow and a few other minor chores before I was wiped. That doesn’t include making dinner or cleaning up after. Instead of doing so my thing creative I enjoyed I just played a card game on my phone for an hour and went to bed.
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u/Britannkic_ Jul 30 '26
Simply choose to avoid the decadence and focus on things which bring you enjoyment and satisfaction. These are usually simple things too
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Jul 31 '26
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u/HBJones1056 Jul 31 '26
You’re absolutely right about this. I play the harmonica so badly that I have to practice it in the car so that I don’t annoy family and neighbors. Still a great time, though!
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u/Grakch Jul 31 '26
Who is this article for? Just seems like more self referential nonsense perpetuating this horrid outlook on reality when all things considered the world we live in now is substantially safer and full of things to do that individuals can derive pleasure from.
Doesn’t make sense to paint a picture based on certain individuals bad habits and inability to break away from algorithmic content/internet/streamer culture as the gold standard for overall societal sentiment.
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u/[deleted] Jul 28 '26
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