# Would you rather be right or happy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 1, 2000, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-be-right-or-happy/21121 "2000-06-01T15:44:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-be-right-or-happy/21121/21 "2000-06-02T02:26:50Z")
Well, I am afraid I cannot answer the question, as I am ALWAYS right & ALWAYS happy. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-be-right-or-happy/21121/22 "2000-06-02T02:29:10Z")
It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; it is better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied. - John Stuart Mill ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-be-right-or-happy/21121/23 "2000-06-02T02:30:07Z")
If I had my druthers, theyā€™d be right happy. ---
**Author:** ![soulsling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@soulsling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulsling)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-be-right-or-happy/21121/24 "2000-06-02T02:31:10Z")
iā€™m rarely right, so iā€™ll settle for happy. right? ---
**Author:** ![aha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@aha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aha)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-be-right-or-happy/21121/25 "2000-06-02T02:42:20Z")
Right Happy šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-be-right-or-happy/21121/26 "2000-06-02T05:30:03Z")
Is there a way to separate rightness from happiness? No, I guess that feeling is smugness. Iā€™m not that sure what happiness is. Smug is as close as I get. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-be-right-or-happy/21121/27 "2000-06-02T11:57:34Z")
This is a good question, even without the pot. Iā€™ve discovered that being right (all the time) really annoys and alienates you (well, me) from others. I, too, grew up in a depressive home and arguments were the norm over who was more right than the other. OTOH, the inlaws are always happy and always optimistic. Frankly, I suspect an ulterior motive from them, like world domination. They are just lulling me. But, given my druthers in exchange for a ratā€™s ass, Iā€™ll try happy any day. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-be-right-or-happy/21121/28 "2000-06-02T12:38:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > _Most_ things that people get wrapped around the axle about wonā€™t matter in 5 years, anyway. > \*\* Why? What happens in 5 years? šŸ˜• šŸ˜ƒ BTW: after a dozen or so different medicines, Iā€™m still not happy, so I rather be rich. ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-be-right-or-happy/21121/29 "2000-06-02T15:07:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > > **Kenny** > After two decades, this is our aniversary year. > > \*\* Well, please forgive my ignorance, but Iā€™m still not getting it. If an anniversary is defined as ā€œthe yearly return of the date of an event that happened in an earlier yearā€ (Websterā€™s II New Riverside Dictionary), what is an anniversary year. Iā€™m sure there is a simple explanation and Iā€™m going to feel very stupid when I hear it, but I just canā€™t seem to make sense of what you are saying. Well, a warm-hearted congratulations regardless. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-be-right-or-happy/21121/30 "2000-06-02T15:27:42Z")
Iā€™m often wrong. And when I find that I am, I acknowledge it and/or apologize if necessary. And when Iā€™m right, I do my best not to rub it in or make a big deal about it. (Although the occasional ā€˜neener neener neenerā€™ is quite fun! šŸ˜› :D) Anywayā€¦ happiness; I pick that. ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-be-right-or-happy/21121/31 "2000-06-02T17:27:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > Iā€™m often wrong. And when I find that I am, I acknowledge it and/or apologize if necessary. And when Iā€™m right, I do my best not to rub it in or make a big deal about it. (Although the occasional ā€˜neener neener neenerā€™ is quite fun! šŸ˜› :D) > > Anywayā€¦ happiness; I pick that. > > \*\* Shayna, youā€™re so right. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-be-right-or-happy/21121/32 "2000-06-02T17:41:14Z")
[crude Socrates paraphrase]A fool may believe he is happy and yet be wrong. Such a state would not be happiness, merely pleasurable and comforting delusion. Otherwise, there is no tradeoff: if you are smart enough to ask ā€œAm I really happy?ā€ you canā€™t be truly happy and wrong.[/] picmr ---
**Author:** ![CheapBastid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8baadc/32.png) [@CheapBastid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheapBastid)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-be-right-or-happy/21121/33 "2000-06-02T18:51:41Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2000, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-be-right-or-happy/21121/34 "2000-06-03T01:43:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > Well, please forgive my ignorance, but Iā€™m still not getting it. If an anniversary is defined as ā€œthe yearly return of the date of an event that happened in an earlier yearā€ (Websterā€™s II New Riverside Dictionary), what is an anniversary year. Iā€™m sure there is a simple explanation and Iā€™m going to feel very stupid when I hear it, but I just canā€™t seem to make sense of what you are saying. > > Well, a warm-hearted congratulations regardless. > \*\* If Iā€™m not mistaken, the first one would be the Inaugural? ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2000, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-be-right-or-happy/21121/35 "2000-06-03T16:14:27Z")
It occurs to me that I can be right & peaceful but cannot be happy & peaceful. Thus, I choose to be right. ---
**Author:** ![HotMama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/76d3ee/32.png) [@HotMama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HotMama)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2000, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-be-right-or-happy/21121/36 "2000-06-03T16:49:38Z")
Iā€™m happiest when Iā€™m right, whether or not anyone else know it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2000, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-be-right-or-happy/21121/37 "2000-06-08T13:26:08Z")
> [@](#): > > **Moe** said: > Well, please forgive my ignorance, but Iā€™m still not getting it. If an anniversary is defined as ā€œthe yearly return of the date of an event that happened in an earlier yearā€ (Websterā€™s II New Riverside Dictionary), what is an anniversary year. Iā€™m sure there is a simple explanation and Iā€™m going to feel very stupid when I hear it, but I just canā€™t seem to make sense of what you are saying. > > Well, a warm-hearted congratulations regardless. I forgot the definition of anniversary, so please forgive _my_ ignorance. So you see, there is a simple explanation. ---
**Author:** ![HotMama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/76d3ee/32.png) [@HotMama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HotMama)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-be-right-or-happy/21121/38 "2001-10-22T05:24:11Z")
Wait - was that Right as in the cardinal direction of bilateral symmetry? Or Right as in reactionary side of the French Senat? ---
**Author:** ![DPWhite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DPWhite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPWhite)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-be-right-or-happy/21121/39 "2001-10-22T05:29:44Z")
Uh oh. Thereā€™s a difference? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-be-right-or-happy/21121.md?page=1)