…when the unfair player received a painful shock there was, at most, very little sign of anything registering in the empathy-related region of the men as opposed to the reward-related area where there was activity. They expressed more desire for revenge and seemed to feel satisfaction when unfair people were given what they perceived as deserved physical punishment.

I don’t know if y’all allow hyperlinks in the comments, so I won’t “href” it, but the article is at http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/51271/

There have also been similar experiments where you could have a hundred dollars, but someone else would get a thousand, or else you could have 10 and they would LOSE a thousand, and most people chose “B”. We have some kind of instinctive need to adjust the RELATIVE position of ourselves to others (especially our enemies), and if we can take them down 10 notches by taking ourselves down one, we seem to gravitate towards that choice.

In my experience, traders very much enjoy seeing other traders lose and despise their gains, even though it’s in private and their “public” reaction may be appropriately sympathetic or congratulatory.

I spent a good portion of my life frustrated that I was living as I was “supposed” to, as defined by my cultural surroundings and family of origin, yet no amount of skill or hard work equated to success, while for others who were simply fortunate enough to choose the right parents, everything came effortlessly even though they were often complete clods.

A couple of things changed my life: One, some of the lessons of “Walden,” “Zen and the Art,” Alana Watts, even most of the stuff J.C. said which I had to quote from toddlerhood in those little country churches — all began to take on a new meaning as I started to genuinely question my own attachment to human-defined success. Two, “Fooled By Randomness,” which explained more clearly than anything ever has the disconnect between skill, effort and financial reward.

I now live more modestly than anyone I know who has “half” my income, I have a bit less of the “I’m gonna show them all” mentality, and I’m much more content with my lot in life and my mortality. Also my daughters can observe (”do as I say” means very little, it’s what I “do” that they imprint on) through me that the Hedonistic Treadmill is a sham, and sometimes going for a walk in the woods is more fun than any old wine-and-diamonds party.

Shit, I’m rambling here. Beer and burgers waiting, then work at 0600. Later dudes.

By your final comment about overcoming psychological hurdles, are you saying that you’d chose B?