Does privilege negate suffering?

[an anarchist]

Does privilege, as in, being a first world citizen, make it impossible to truly know suffering? Is the average American too cushioned from the possible harshness of the world?

Often times I'll hear acquaintances be venting about some trouble in their life, only to discount their troubles and sufferings due to the immense amount of privileges that is afforded to the average American.

"Oh I shouldn't be complaining, I have such a good life. I have a family, house, job, etc.". Is what is often said.

Speaking from personal experience, I often ask myself if I truly know suffering, or if privilege has protected me from the brunt of it.

My second earliest memory is that of my mother dying, and it feels like it's just gone downhill from there. Yet, I've never really hungered, for the most part have had a roof over my head. I'm able to sustain my entire life solely by washing dishes at a chain restaurant, because in America there is enough people who have more money than me who go out to eat at my job. Being a dishwasher as a living, that is true privilege.

So, what do you guys think? Is there too much of a gulf between the privileged and the under privileged to the point that true understanding is not possible, at least when it comes to suffering?

 

[SalixIncendium]

In my experience, a person will create their own suffering regardless of privilege or lack thereof.

 

[Quagmire]

I think privilege can actually cause suffering. For instance look at how many celebrities wind up destroying themselves with addictions or just killing themselves outright.

These are, supposedly, people living the dream. People with fame, wealth, talent, in most cases exceptional physical beauty (models and movie stars) or prowess (professional athletes). People who have access to all the "best" things in life. People who kids pretend to be or hope they'll grow up to be like.

Yet if you read or watch a movie about the life of one of these people, you won't find too many happy endings.

 

[JustGeorge]

I think privilege can actually cause suffering. For instance look at how many celebrities wind up destroying themselves with addictions or just killing themselves outright.

These are, supposedly, people living the dream. People with fame, wealth, talent, in most cases exceptional physical beauty (models and movie stars) or prowess (professional athletes). People who have access to all the "best" things in life. People who kids pretend to be or hope they'll grow up to be like.

Yet if you read or watch a movie about the life of one of these people, you won't find too many happy endings.

We knew a really wealthy(and really rotten) woman who used to get just furious that I could be so happy with all my old tattered things, and complete lack of 'me time'.

Watching her get so miserable over something so stupid was great fun. And I didn't have to pay a dime! She was doing it all wrong...

 

[sun rise]

Having wealth, privilege, means that cures for physical ailments are much more available. Emotional suffering is something quite different as others have noted.

 

[Rival]

Everyone has known suffering.

To suggest otherwise is to take away their humanity.

 

[Viker]

No. Suffering is part of life.

 

[Twilight Hue]

In my experience, a person will create their own suffering regardless of privilege or lack thereof.

Exactly. Suffering lays in how it's precived and experienced.

I can imagine hypothetically someone from ancient times looking at us in complete agast and wondering why in the world we are complaining since we generally live life out as kings in his eyes with incredible luxury and opulence.

 

[Mock Turtle]

I think that being a first world citizen can often be taken for granted, and as to why many come to grief when they don't or can't envisage that where others live then many will likely see them as being so privileged - and who might therefore try to balance this up, by robbing them or worse. One might seemingly empathise with the plight of others but until one is perhaps in their environment and witnesses their lives then we might not have true empathy for them. One is not likely to be in tears in one's own country but perhaps when first visiting poorer ones - as I was.

The privileged likely suffer from what often results from their own desires - even if wealth and/or power can protect them from much, there is much also to lose.

 

[Kfox]

Does privilege, as in, being a first world citizen, make it impossible to truly know suffering? Is the average American too cushioned from the possible harshness of the world?

Often times I'll hear acquaintances be venting about some trouble in their life, only to discount their troubles and sufferings due to the immense amount of privileges that is afforded to the average American.

"Oh I shouldn't be complaining, I have such a good life. I have a family, house, job, etc.". Is what is often said.

Speaking from personal experience, I often ask myself if I truly know suffering, or if privilege has protected me from the brunt of it.

My second earliest memory is that of my mother dying, and it feels like it's just gone downhill from there. Yet, I've never really hungered, for the most part have had a roof over my head. I'm able to sustain my entire life solely by washing dishes at a chain restaurant, because in America there is enough people who have more money than me who go out to eat at my job. Being a dishwasher as a living, that is true privilege.

So, what do you guys think? Is there too much of a gulf between the privileged and the under privileged to the point that true understanding is not possible, at least when it comes to suffering?

Nobody should know what its like to truly know suffering.