Spring cleaning seems to be a nearly universal urge. I think it's because the increasing daylight 'illuminates' all the accumulate dust and grime one can so easily overlook during the long hours of artificial light.
Kudos for using the word 'enshittification' - it's new and so eminently suitable for the situation we all find ourselves in.
The sun certainly shines a merciless light on a long winter's neglect -- my windows are gray with grime! I'm better at keeping my shop ship-shape (and isn't that a funny trio :-)
As for that very apt word, I can't take credit for it; I just snapped it up online.
Since you veered a bit from woodworking here, I’ll take the chance to veer even further. I just read the following and since you are the only person from a Nordic country that I have any communication with, I’ll have to bother you with my question. Do you have any thoughts on why your area of the world is always identified as being the happiest?
“Finland was named the world’s happiest country for the ninth consecutive year, the latest World Happiness Report revealed. Nordic countries—including Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden—also ranked in the top 10.”
I have very little confidence in this sort of research. My academic background is from the social sciences, and that's a very interesting and worthwhile field of study, but it has been hopelessly captured by ideological zealots and activists and plagued by weak methodology (re. the replication crisis). I looked into the methods used in this study and found it ... unconvincing, to say the least.
Part of me suspects that the scientists behind the study found the results that happened to coincide with their own progressive preconceptions; social-democratic, secular societies with liberal values and a large, highly redistributive state yields the happiest population.
Another part of me suspects that they are not measuring happiness but cultural differences. If you call up a Finn and ask him how happy he is he'll likely think "None of your fucking business!", but he'd probably answer "I'm fine" and chose a numerical value representing happiness somewhere above average. On the other hand; judging by the Notes posted here on Substack, a certain section of American women have no inhibitions about sharing their trauma, anxiety, mental health problems, indignation and righteous anger ... the self-absorbed neuroticism is freely indulged and proudly on display (please don't take this in any way personally). They'd probably give a low score on their perceived happiness. As I said: cultural differences ...
Our world is full of organisations, think tanks, NGOs etc. that are financed by endowments, grants and subsidies and whose purpose is to furnish white-collar jobs for the educated classes. I'm confident we could find better things to spend that money on, solving real problems.
Then again ... having grown up here, I'm rather partial to 'our' way of doing things. It used to work quite well for most people -- which was the whole point -- but our societies have changed drastically for the worse during my adult life, but that's a rant for another time.
Thanks for the considered response. I just wanted to make sure the Nordic countries hadn’t discovered the path to utopia. Your theory on the research rings very true. I did find it interesting you mentioned the American women with the “self-absorbed neuroticism.” I assure you they represent a very small but oh-so-loud minority here. Growing up, I was taught not to air my dirty laundry in public. This desire to share all your trauma and anger with family and strangers alike feels so odd to me. To what end? Any attention is good attention? 10 minutes of fame trumps pride and self-respect? But it’s a phase and it will pass. Thanks for an interesting discussion.
Spring cleaning seems to be a nearly universal urge. I think it's because the increasing daylight 'illuminates' all the accumulate dust and grime one can so easily overlook during the long hours of artificial light.
Kudos for using the word 'enshittification' - it's new and so eminently suitable for the situation we all find ourselves in.
The sun certainly shines a merciless light on a long winter's neglect -- my windows are gray with grime! I'm better at keeping my shop ship-shape (and isn't that a funny trio :-)
As for that very apt word, I can't take credit for it; I just snapped it up online.
It is a new word which has appeared in online blogs for the last year or so - and it does need to be spread about!
As for windows ... well, how can one see the accumulated winter dirt when curtains are covering them, to keep the cold out.
I do like that 'ship-shape-shop' - it has a good sound to it.
Words have their music, too :-)
Indeed they do!
Since you veered a bit from woodworking here, I’ll take the chance to veer even further. I just read the following and since you are the only person from a Nordic country that I have any communication with, I’ll have to bother you with my question. Do you have any thoughts on why your area of the world is always identified as being the happiest?
“Finland was named the world’s happiest country for the ninth consecutive year, the latest World Happiness Report revealed. Nordic countries—including Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden—also ranked in the top 10.”
I honestly don't know what to make of it.
I have very little confidence in this sort of research. My academic background is from the social sciences, and that's a very interesting and worthwhile field of study, but it has been hopelessly captured by ideological zealots and activists and plagued by weak methodology (re. the replication crisis). I looked into the methods used in this study and found it ... unconvincing, to say the least.
Part of me suspects that the scientists behind the study found the results that happened to coincide with their own progressive preconceptions; social-democratic, secular societies with liberal values and a large, highly redistributive state yields the happiest population.
Another part of me suspects that they are not measuring happiness but cultural differences. If you call up a Finn and ask him how happy he is he'll likely think "None of your fucking business!", but he'd probably answer "I'm fine" and chose a numerical value representing happiness somewhere above average. On the other hand; judging by the Notes posted here on Substack, a certain section of American women have no inhibitions about sharing their trauma, anxiety, mental health problems, indignation and righteous anger ... the self-absorbed neuroticism is freely indulged and proudly on display (please don't take this in any way personally). They'd probably give a low score on their perceived happiness. As I said: cultural differences ...
Our world is full of organisations, think tanks, NGOs etc. that are financed by endowments, grants and subsidies and whose purpose is to furnish white-collar jobs for the educated classes. I'm confident we could find better things to spend that money on, solving real problems.
Then again ... having grown up here, I'm rather partial to 'our' way of doing things. It used to work quite well for most people -- which was the whole point -- but our societies have changed drastically for the worse during my adult life, but that's a rant for another time.
Live well my friend!
Thanks for the considered response. I just wanted to make sure the Nordic countries hadn’t discovered the path to utopia. Your theory on the research rings very true. I did find it interesting you mentioned the American women with the “self-absorbed neuroticism.” I assure you they represent a very small but oh-so-loud minority here. Growing up, I was taught not to air my dirty laundry in public. This desire to share all your trauma and anger with family and strangers alike feels so odd to me. To what end? Any attention is good attention? 10 minutes of fame trumps pride and self-respect? But it’s a phase and it will pass. Thanks for an interesting discussion.