# Caring about outcomes to a degree far exceeding one's ability to determine them

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caring-about-outcomes-to-a-degree-far-exceeding-ones-ability-to-determine-them/1004302>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [July 16, 2024, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caring-about-outcomes-to-a-degree-far-exceeding-ones-ability-to-determine-them/1004302 "2024-07-16T03:54:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2024, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caring-about-outcomes-to-a-degree-far-exceeding-ones-ability-to-determine-them/1004302/1 "2024-07-16T03:54:38Z")

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It’s kind of the human condition. Not being in control enough. Wanting those outcomes. So wanting power not (initially) for its own sake but as a means to an ends. But that’s what power means. An ability to have the outcomes you crave. To want stuff, to have the outcomes…

You can say _dissapointed_;

Think about it formulated as “Disappointed with how things are and wanting to do thing about it”. Disappointed sounds powerless but it’s an expression of feeling thwarted and hence wanting power.

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2024, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caring-about-outcomes-to-a-degree-far-exceeding-ones-ability-to-determine-them/1004302/2 "2024-07-16T11:34:38Z")

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Yup. And?

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**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2024, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caring-about-outcomes-to-a-degree-far-exceeding-ones-ability-to-determine-them/1004302/3 "2024-07-16T13:53:11Z")

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There’s a support group for that. We meet at the bar after work.

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**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2024, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caring-about-outcomes-to-a-degree-far-exceeding-ones-ability-to-determine-them/1004302/4 "2024-07-16T14:04:15Z")

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_God grant me the serenity  
to overcome the apathy I cannot change;  
stubborness to keep rolling that stone up the mountain;  
and wisdom to discard defeatism._

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2024, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caring-about-outcomes-to-a-degree-far-exceeding-ones-ability-to-determine-them/1004302/5 "2024-07-16T16:02:02Z")

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**Jack** old buddy, you _really_ ought to talk to **Tripolar** about joining their group. 😉

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**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caring-about-outcomes-to-a-degree-far-exceeding-ones-ability-to-determine-them/1004302/6 "2024-07-17T04:43:37Z")

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I am often encouraged to try brevity. I’m not terribly good at it but this OP was succinct if not outstanding in any other way.