I preface this post by acknowledging the irony of how I came across what I posted below. I further acknowledge many of the truths revealed by the quote depend largely upon our own experience and point of view.
Porn = loneliness sold as sex
Alcohol = escape sold as fun
Fast food = poison sold as food
Luxuries = emptiness sold as joy
Video games = isolation sold as play
Celebrities = ads sold as role models
Drugs = numbness sold as happiness
Social media = likes sold as friendship
Smoking = addiction sold as relaxation
Scrolling = distraction sold as downtime
Cheap dopamine is the Trojan horse of modern misery.
While I find the above quote poignant in its simple truth, I am not as jaded about these things.
While each of these things can and often does lead to the detriments equated to each, I think it is overly simplistic to accept these points of view as absolute fact or truth.
There are healthy upsides to every deleterious downside pointed out in the above. For example, social media used responsibly is just another means to stay connected to friends and family and to meet and interact with others. It becomes a detriment when it becomes our primary or only means of human interaction or contact.
Friendships are built on a much more solid foundation.
Yes, it’s true that “cheap dopamine” is deleterious to a healthy and fulfilling life. That is no different now than it ever was.
The key is understanding that life is filled with endless possibilities, opportunities, challenges, and choices. There is downside to everything in life. We have to balance all that we do with those downsides in mind.
-The Rational Ram
The Rational Ram 