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do you think that our modern concept, that no one should have to suffer, makes us stronger as a society, or were our ancestors stronger, due to the greater hardships they faced?

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I think suffering makes us stronger. Whether it be mental or emotional suffering. Physical suffering can make us stronger too - the more you exercise the more pain you feel yet the stronger/fitter you get.

It's a fact of life. Or should be but these days you can't say boo to a goose for fear of offending someone. Society has become far too soft lately and needs to toughen up.

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natural selection and survival of the fittest made our ancestors stronger as a whole.

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Until you no longer share in this human experience, you will suffer. BUT...we can persavere in this indevour by others who share their knowledge, if similar paths are being traveled upon.

Remember the scene in Forrest Gump?

" Running man...will you sign my t-shirt? "Sure" Forrest says...."HOLY **** man...you just stepped in a big pile of poop!...."well...**** Happens." Forrest says as he wipes his face and hands the man the t-shirt.

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Originally Posted by David Macleod:
you can't say boo to a goose for fear of offending someone.

well yeah, and i think this same premise - that no one should have to suffer - has also extended to, "no one should have to be offended." because being offended is a form of suffering.


anyway, if we agree that we're becoming softer and too pampered, then does that mean that humanity has seen its peek?

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Adversity builds character.  And boy I should have tons of character by now.  

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Originally Posted by Dennis Young:
Adversity builds character.  And boy I should have tons of character by now.  

it's funny how, when you get older, all of the little anecdotes you've heard all your life, really seem to ring more true than ever.

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well I suffered when i was younger and now I'm stronger for it...

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We are more complicated in thinking and processing and need, we in this modern society have also lost most of the abilities of survival spiritually and socially, and in this physical world.  We make it harder for ourselves with our desires in this modern society, hard in regards to self obstacles and projected thinking.

Our ancestors suffered more, spiritually, emotionally, physically, we now clutter out the " suffering " or add a great blanket of lazy fast and trash living.  The next generations will suffer greatly due to our complications and choices.

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dayam, good post!

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I think our ancestors were better equiped to deal with suffering than us.We have lost our ability to define what is true suffering.I fear this current crop of Earthlings are going to be judged harshly by future generations,and rightly so.Most of us in the 'civilised' world have no concept of what is true suffering.
Our ancestors suffered hardship just trying to get by in their daily lives.Providing shelter,food,coping with illness and fighting off the occasional invading force.Most of our suffering is due to our pampered,self indulgent lifestyles,unless of course you are one of those dealing with an in.
vading force.
Any hardships I have endured have been part of a normal life and have made me a better,stronger more empathetic human being,and I have learnt to be grateful for them.

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I don't believe for a second that suffering inherently creates character or toughness.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
-Abraham Lincoln

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Originally Posted by Argan Johnson:


Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
-Abraham Lincoln

that's an awesome quote, but i disagree with your argument. i think that whatever doesn't kill you, DOES make you stronger. i think we obviously toughen up over the course of our lives. in a way, it seems that pain (in all incarnations) is kind of like a vaccine. a little pain now, will help you fend off a greater degree of pain in the future. i think humans have to be pushed to their limits, in the sense that we need to be shown just what we can endure. otherwise, we would think there's no way it could be overcome.

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Originally Posted by Eva Bodhicitta:
We are more complicated in thinking and processing and need, we in this modern society have also lost most of the abilities of survival spiritually and socially, and in this physical world.  We make it harder for ourselves with our desires in this modern society, hard in regards to self obstacles and projected thinking.

Our ancestors suffered more, spiritually, emotionally, physically, we now clutter out the " suffering " or add a great blanket of lazy fast and trash living.  The next generations will suffer greatly due to our complications and choices.

*Applauds*