Happiness Box

[Duster]

Today in Philosophy class we had an interesting discussion regarding a "happiness box." This box will allow you to feel instantly happy as soon as you enter it, and there is no sadness, pain, or suffering. Every good feeling you can experience in reality can be experienced in the box. The box also stimulates different sensations so you will never be bored of lack of variety. You can enter and leave this box any time you choose HOWEVER very rarely does anyone leave. Once you enter the box you have no desire to get out. But this has consequences. Due to lack of exercise your muscles will start to decay and become a similar texture as gelatin. Of course, this wouldn't matter because you wouldn't care due to your amount of pleasure within the box.

It got extremely heated in our class discussion today, so I've asked everyone this question to see the responses I get.

Would you enter the box?

[Skeleton]

Yeah. I'm jelly already anyway.

[Guest]

Try searching outside the box

Think of the box as your own mind, basically you're finding happiness inside your own head, and if you get caught up inside your own thoughts, you'll never get out. Dreamland, so to speak.

This is encouraging you to find happiness elsewhere besides your own imagination

That's, at least my own interpretation.

[Maelstrom]

How bout that study of the monkeys with the electrode in their head, attached to the pleasure centers of their brains. They were given a button that would send a shock, simulating pleasure. Many of it pressed it so often, it killed them.

I'd be tempted to go in. But I think I'd come out too. Being physically fit and strong and having a good time with friends are some of the major things I enjoy in my life. But how is there no sadness? The sensations given by the box. Wouldn't some of it remind you of those good times with your friends, seeing their smiling faces, sharing stories over some cold drinks? Can't just forget the people you love and those who rely on you. It's like getting out of the bed in the morning- you're nice and warm and comfortable and you sure as hell don't want to leave, but you know you have to.

[Summer]

The true question is, Will you come out?

I'll like to compare this with drugs. You feel so happy-you don't want it to stop. However. This ruins the balance of life. You can't have white without black. You talked about the lack of body training. It pretty much proves my point. So. I won't enter the box. The results are not worth a moment of happiness. Just like drugs.

I feel awkward talking philosophy, so bai now.

[Ringabel]

I would burn the box for sick kicks.

[Amethyst]

It basically is drugs, like summer said. I wouldn't touch the thing.

[Duster]

I agree I wouldn't go in either. I wouldn't deny that it is tempting though. You would feel no pain, stress, anxiety, depression, failure, or sadness, which really sounds great on the outside. But at the cost of this you essential forfeit what makes you, you. If we only experience happiness then what are we? Just amorphous blobs that has no need to think or contemplate or have relationships or experience life.

Still the thought of a painless life is tempting, but not worth sacrificing who I am.

[Bullet]

Yeeeeah, sounds like a terrible idea since you were so kind to outline the drawbacks. although it is an interesting dilemma, and I'm sure there would be those willing to go in. Really reminds of The Last Book in the Universe, where like they stick probes in themselves or something.

[Yuki]

I'd do it.

[Will]

YOLO

[Summer]

If people didn't know about the result of entering the box, I'll think they would just enter without thinking. Like that, no one comes out of the box to warn the world outside about the not-so-happy box. This results in more people entering the box. People would get suspicious of why no one came out. They would start thinking. And soon they come up with a conclusion-The people are too happy to exit. I don't think anyone would understand what I'm saying, I'm still leaving this here.