It's true that you cannot "waste your life" doing things only for self-gratification. No matter how you try to sell it, at the end of the day that's just hedonism. All things need to balance. Spending your life pleasing other people, the martyr syndrome, is equally detrimental. Sounds like you've made some bad choices and resent the consequences. I'm sure you don't mean to sound like you're whining but it could easily be construed as that.
There are a lucky few in this world who manage to make their art into something productive. Some people see those others and wonder why they're not able to manage it themselves -- it's supply and demand. The supply may be inexhaustible, but the demand varies depending on the priorities of consumers. This demand is going to be markedly less when an increased number of potential consumers are simply pursuing their own pleasures, especially those who expect approval and praise from the mediocrity that is the result of their lack of interest in making the effort required to create something of genuine quality. This in turn devalues the products available and those who are creating works of true genius are pushed so far beyond the norm as to be considered odd or "alternative", thus unsaleable.
One should never be afraid to pursue pleasure, but not at the expense of being a productive, cooperative member of the society we build by contributing to it.
There are a lucky few in this world who manage to make their art into something productive. Some people see those others and wonder why they're not able to manage it themselves -- it's supply and demand. The supply may be inexhaustible, but the demand varies depending on the priorities of consumers. This demand is going to be markedly less when an increased number of potential consumers are simply pursuing their own pleasures, especially those who expect approval and praise from the mediocrity that is the result of their lack of interest in making the effort required to create something of genuine quality. This in turn devalues the products available and those who are creating works of true genius are pushed so far beyond the norm as to be considered odd or "alternative", thus unsaleable.
One should never be afraid to pursue pleasure, but not at the expense of being a productive, cooperative member of the society we build by contributing to it.
(11-25-2012, 08:48 AM)Todd Wrote: To a great many people no difference at all. Hallmark would go bankrupt, or streamline their cards to simply say happy birthday! Or Congratulations!I'm not sure this would be a bad thing
It could be worse