# Oh joy, back to work again **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 1, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-joy-back-to-work-again/146087 "2003-01-01T20:51:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-joy-back-to-work-again/146087/21 "2003-01-02T19:03:38Z")
**Lib** isn’t just saying saying “be happy”, he’s actually giving you a method for doing so. He’s absolutely right, all unhappiness comes from desire, and if you let go of your desire you will release your unhappiness. IIRC Buddha believed that it was desire that kept humans reincarnating on Earth, and not reaching Nirvana. I wouldn’t go that far, but I do believe that if you analyze everything that makes you unhappy, at it’s core is a desire. Problem is, removing a desire is nearly impossible for a lot people, myself including. But I do feel this path is my personal best hope for happiness, and maybe for a lot of other people too. ---
**Author:** ![Profane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@Profane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profane)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-joy-back-to-work-again/146087/22 "2003-01-02T22:39:20Z")
Well, if i knew Lib was a Buddhist, that would be one thing. However, he is very definately a Christian. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-joy-back-to-work-again/146087/23 "2003-01-02T22:53:31Z")
I fail to see why that matters. ---
**Author:** ![Profane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@Profane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profane)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-joy-back-to-work-again/146087/24 "2003-01-02T23:02:08Z")
OK, to me it seems that Lib often is dismissive of people’s problems/rants. He often comes in to threads like these and posts things like “just be happy.” It comes across not as spiritual advice, but more like there’s something wrong with you for getting angry in the first place. Maybe I should do a search, but I fear for the hamsters considering his 10,000+ posts. I will if you ask it of me, though. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-joy-back-to-work-again/146087/25 "2003-01-03T03:23:08Z")
The two aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive; many people like the philosophical aspects of Buddhism. In a book on the subject, _Buddhism Without Beliefs_, a fairly prominent Western writer on Buddhism discusses the philosophy for non-Buddhist readers, and even outlines how Buddhism didn’t emphasize religion at its start. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean that **Libertarian** was trying to be honestly supportive. I’m just laying out one possibility. ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-joy-back-to-work-again/146087/26 "2003-01-03T11:16:23Z")
**Matt** , sorry to hear of your (continued) work-place woes. I know very much myself (particularly at the moment) just how helling work-place stress can be. Just remember that at the end of the working day _you can walk away from it_. It is only work. It isn’t actually _your_ problem - you are just the one assigned to _deal_ with the problem. If the problem isn’t fixed at the end of the day then what is the actual consequence for _you_? You did your best and you can justify yourself to those who deserve justification. More than that is just dressing. Work \<\> home. The moment you start letting one interfere with the other, you begin to suffer. And it is always _your choice_ to let them interfere. Work late, pull an all-nighter if necessary. But when you leave, _leave_. There. That’s enough italics for one post. pan ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-joy-back-to-work-again/146087/27 "2003-01-03T11:34:03Z")
Heh, cheers **Kabbes** , you are of course right. If I can get through the next two weeks unscathed things should improve (hopefully). Onwards and upwards. ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-joy-back-to-work-again/146087/28 "2003-01-03T11:46:08Z")
As ever 🙂 After all, backwards and downwards are very tedious. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-joy-back-to-work-again/146087/29 "2003-01-03T11:48:58Z")
Very retro. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-joy-back-to-work-again/146087/30 "2003-01-03T11:49:59Z")
On the plus side Crusoe, I take it you didn’t return to work at 8am, having staggered home from a birthday party at 5.30. Someone pass me some aspirin. Backwards and downwards seems incredibly ambitious just now. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-joy-back-to-work-again/146087/31 "2003-01-03T11:56:42Z")
Ouch. No, I’m off sick today. Finally the flu hits me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-joy-back-to-work-again/146087.md?page=1)