The Hedonic Treadmill

**Magical Realist** · (This post was last modified: Aug 24, 2025 05:03 PM by Magical Realist.)

I remember it well. The moment as a boy when I suddenly realized that I quickly grow tired of every new toy I get. That was the moment I defected from materialism. Because no matter how many "things" I would acquire, the thrill of owning them eventually wore off and I was back again looking for other new things. In science this is called the "Hedonic Treadmill". It's basically the hard-wired tendency to get used to new things, whether good or bad. Our DNA has programmed us for a certain baseline level of happiness over time, and it has nothing to do with obtaining "the next big thing."

https://www.google.com/search?q=hedonic+...2A710,st:0

**Syne** · Aug 24, 2025 05:14 PM

I guess that has more impact if your "baseline level of happiness" is quite low. Could explain why conservatives both eschew hedonism and report higher levels of happiness.

**confused2** · (This post was last modified: Aug 24, 2025 09:46 PM by confused2.)

(Aug 24, 2025 05:14 PM)Syne Wrote: I guess that has more impact if your "baseline level of happiness" is quite low. Could explain why conservatives both eschew hedonism and report higher levels of happiness.

When MR says he eschews hedonism you suggest "that has more impact if your 'baseline level of happiness' is quite low" then "Could explain why conservatives both eschew hedonism and report higher levels of happiness." .. do you think conservatives have a low baseline level of happiness but report high .. or what?

**Syne** · Aug 24, 2025 10:10 PM

MR said he "defected from materialism," not that he eschewed hedonism. Those two are not synonyms. Please learn how to English.

**Magical Realist** · Aug 24, 2025 11:29 PM

(Aug 24, 2025 10:10 PM)Syne Wrote: MR said he "defected from materialism," not that he eschewed hedonism. Those two are not synonyms. Please learn how to English.

Explain for us how my defecting from materialism entails I am a hedonist. I'm not following your logic at all.

**Syne** · Aug 25, 2025 01:36 AM

(Aug 24, 2025 11:29 PM)Magical Realist Wrote:
(Aug 24, 2025 10:10 PM)Syne Wrote: MR said he "defected from materialism," not that he eschewed hedonism. Those two are not synonyms. Please learn how to English.

Explain for us how my defecting from materialism entails I am a hedonist. I'm not following your logic at all.

I never said anything of the sort. Maybe the voices in your head again?

**Magical Realist** · Aug 25, 2025 01:44 AM

Then what did you mean by this?

Quote:MR said he "defected from materialism," not that he eschewed hedonism. Those two are not synonyms.

What is your point here? And why are you even bringing up hedonism? It has nothing to do with the OP.

**Syne** · Aug 25, 2025 01:52 AM

(Aug 25, 2025 01:44 AM)Magical Realist Wrote: Then what did you mean by this?

Quote:MR said he "defected from materialism," not that he eschewed hedonism. Those two are not synonyms.

What is your point here? And why are you even bringing up hedonism? It has nothing to do with the OP.

Since you couldn't read the thread for yourself... C2 claimed you "eschew hedonism," when all you said was that you "defected from materialism."
Considering your question, it seems you don't think materialism and hedonism are the same, unlike C2. I agree, conflating the two has nothing to do with the OP.

**Magical Realist** · (This post was last modified: Aug 25, 2025 02:18 AM by Magical Realist.)

Quote:Considering your question, it seems you don't think materialism and hedonism are the same

One is probably a subset of the other. Materialism would be the type of hedonism that obsesses with the pleasure of buying and owning things.

**confused2** · Aug 25, 2025 09:30 AM

Hm. Picky sybarites. Possible.