The Human Misery Index

[Patroklos]

hmmm....

It seems what you are talking about, at least in the upper levels, is simple material satisfaction. I'd imagine a simple map displaying wealth would correspond nicely.

Though I guess that would give you a daily "weather update" on misery like you want.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly
What can I say? Different families have different house rules when they play.

[Kidlicious]

Judging so far I can see how subjectivity would make such a scale useless.

[Cort Haus]

Elok, thank-you for making me feel a little better.

I often say to myself "I'm glad I'm not in the trenches", and this perspective you've offered is a continuation of this theme.

[Elok]

Originally posted by Cort Haus
Elok, thank-you for making me feel a little better.

I often say to myself "I'm glad I'm not in the trenches", and this perspective you've offered is a continuation of this theme.

Strange; when I first thought of this scheme, it was as a way to avoid depression, but in a totally different way. I thought that stories in the paper should be rated in "Kafka Existential Horror Units," denoted by a series of Edvard Munch's "The Scream" faces next to the headline. Kind of like MPAA ratings for the news, you could look at the story "New surge in ethnic strife in Kyzblgistan," see that it had four and a half Munch-faces next to it, and decide whether you were prepared to face that kind of atrocious inhumanity so early in the morning before reading it. If you weren't, you could move on to a story with only two or three screams, or if you were feeling really depressed just skip directly to the comics.

[Lorizael]

[Kuciwalker]

Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

[Kuciwalker]

Also,

[Kontiki]

Originally posted by Elok
or if you were feeling really depressed just skip directly to the comics.

Except for The Family Circus. That should have a minimum of three screams on that every day based on how painfully awful it is.

[Elok]

Nah, just replace it with the Nietzsche Family Circus, which is actually funny.

EDIT: You could have just googled it, but for convenience: http://www.losanjealous.com/nfc/

[Cort Haus]

Every time I recieve a bill or a bank statement they helpfully come with four-and-a-half Screams printed on the envelope. This helpfully guides me to hide them at the bottom of the pile of other bills until some such year where I feel strong enough to open them.

[Arrian]

Kafka Existential Horror Units," denoted by a series of Edvard Munch's "The Scream" faces next to the headline.

Sweet.

-Arrian