The stress of modern life? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

CSflim · 09-12-2003, 01:21 PM

People are always giving out about how stressful modern life is, with various ailments, depression, chronic pain, insomnia, all seen as modern probelsm, with modern causes. Especially when it comes to giving out about "technology" and "progress".
Maybe we were better of living in the jungle? Sure we wouldn't have our wide screen tv, but we would be happy and stress free?

Not accoring to this latest study! I find myself in total agreement with thsiarticle, as I can't stand it when people wax lyrical about the "simpler times", or "the good old days".

http://www.aftenposten.no/english/lo...ticleID=624177

Quote:

Jungle dwelling is more stressful life

The indigenous Mangyan people of the Mindoro Island in the Phillipines live a traditional and primitive life on the edge of the tropical jungle. Norwegian researchers have now found that the Mangyan way of life produces the same types of stress that modern technological living does - only more so.

Brit Hellesnes, chief physiotherapist at the heart and lung center at Ullevaal Hospital, and her husband, Peer Staff, head of medical expertise at Vesta Insurance, decided to take a close look at the difference between basic living and the well-documented strains of modern existence.

A year ago, the couple traveled to Mindoro and carried out extensive interviews with local interpreters. The results were unexpected, and will be published in an international scholarly journal later this year.

"We were greatly surprised when the data was analyzed and we found that, not only did the jungle dwellers have the same ailments we did, they had them to an even greater degree. Also, we found that the distribution of ailments was exactly like that in modern society," Staff and Hellesnes said.

Fatigue, depression, sleeplessness are all common complaints that are not solved by a hunter-gatherer lifestyle grounded by some basic agriculture.

Like present-day affluent Norwegians, the most common physical complaints were muscle and skeletal pains. But while 82.1 percent of Norwegians answered that they have had such problems in the course of the past 30 days, 100 percent of the Mindoro felt the same.

Stomach ailments pestered 60 percent of Norwegians during the previous month - over 80 percent of the Mindoro had the same complaint.

The lack of control over their existence gave the Mindoro far more to worry about, and even such basic elements like food or childbirth are laden with uncertainty on the fringe of the jungle. A basic difference between the two varying cultures is that the Mindoro do not view their pains as illnesses, but rather as a normal state of affairs.

The researchers pointed out that Norwegians also did not consider such afflictions to be illnesses until relatively recently, and place some of the blame on the World Health Organization for defining health as the absence of ailments.

The result has been the evolution of a society that is never quite in form, and a tendency to focus on and use minor ailments for relief.

"Many of our diffuse ailments are strengthened because society does not allow enough daily breathing room. Instead we have to use these 'pains' to get ourselves a break," the researchers said.

Quote:

STRESS SYMPTOMS
Joint and muscle pain, fatigue.
Stomach pain, loose bowels or constipation, gas, nausea.
Exhaustion after minor physical or mental exertion.
Dizziness with no distinct cause.
Chest pain, difficult breathing.
Difficulty concentrating, memory lapses.
Source: The Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association

Cynthetiq · 09-12-2003, 07:48 PM

with all the modern conveniences it still takes a long time to clean the house and do the laundry...

i8one2 · 09-12-2003, 10:46 PM

I use Modern technology for small periods of time. TV is on but don't particularly watch it, I use the computer, but for what? I hate the phone, I have a car but don't put too many miles on it.

My key is I am around people all day, I listen to them, the radio and have very simple routine. I employ a modified method of the KISS principle. But I enjoy shopping, so I'm never too far away from any cool or convenient tool..I just don't become a slave to it all. I can still use a pencil, think, speak, sing, walk, dance, read, and listen to my elders, and that my friends is bit as good as the fancy stuff...As the Bible says, take a day of REST! I have do just that, I take a day, a day that belongs to me.

phredgreen · 09-13-2003, 12:40 AM

i suppose it comes down to wondering whether you're gonna be able to make your next car payment or wondering if your next harvest is gonna be enough to feed the villiage throught the drought seasons. this study comes as no suprise, i realize that life isn't easy, that's why man evolved into the modern societal being it is today. if living like those bushmen do was the easier way of doing things, we'd still all be wearing animalskin loincloths and playing the hunter/gatherer game.

society evolves to lessen the amount of stress that goes into everyday living, for the most part.

Fremen · 09-13-2003, 01:14 AM

Whenever I entertain the fanasy of living back in more simpler times, I remember two things that we have that makes me glad I live in the here and now.
1. toilet paper
2. indoor plumbing

We also have the luxury of not having to constantly worry about someone killing us. Well, in most places.

ARTelevision · 09-13-2003, 01:57 PM

Yeah, the disease is called "being human".
It's our brains that are defective.
Evolution is the sole cure.

09-12-2003, 07:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	with all the modern conveniences it still takes a long time to clean the house and do the laundry... __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

09-12-2003, 10:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
i8one2 COMPLETED and A TRAINER Location: BEAN_TOWN	I use Modern technology for small periods of time. TV is on but don't particularly watch it, I use the computer, but for what? I hate the phone, I have a car but don't put too many miles on it. My key is I am around people all day, I listen to them, the radio and have very simple routine. I employ a modified method of the KISS principle. But I enjoy shopping, so I'm never too far away from any cool or convenient tool..I just don't become a slave to it all. I can still use a pencil, think, speak, sing, walk, dance, read, and listen to my elders, and that my friends is bit as good as the fancy stuff...As the Bible says, take a day of REST! I have do just that, I take a day, a day that belongs to me. __________________ LEATHER, LATEX and LACE "SSC" "Nothing That Gives Pleasure is Bad" Quality is for those who know what they want and are at peace with what they have. "S/M is about emotion; the erotic tension between my impulse toward something and my resistance against it."-- Virginia Barker

09-13-2003, 12:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
phredgreen who? Location: the phoenix metro	i suppose it comes down to wondering whether you're gonna be able to make your next car payment or wondering if your next harvest is gonna be enough to feed the villiage throught the drought seasons. this study comes as no suprise, i realize that life isn't easy, that's why man evolved into the modern societal being it is today. if living like those bushmen do was the easier way of doing things, we'd still all be wearing animalskin loincloths and playing the hunter/gatherer game. society evolves to lessen the amount of stress that goes into everyday living, for the most part. __________________ My country is the world, and my religion is to do good. - Thomas Paine

09-13-2003, 01:14 AM	#5 (permalink)
Fremen With a mustache, the cool factor would be too much Location: left side of my couch, East Texas	Whenever I entertain the fanasy of living back in more simpler times, I remember two things that we have that makes me glad I live in the here and now. 1. toilet paper 2. indoor plumbing We also have the luxury of not having to constantly worry about someone killing us. Well, in most places. __________________ Google

09-13-2003, 01:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
ARTelevision I change Location: USA	Yeah, the disease is called "being human". It's our brains that are defective. Evolution is the sole cure. __________________ create evolution