do you?
No.
I can’t find sustainable work. I don’t have a romantic partner. I’m old and now facing bleak years left on Earth.
Valued by my friends and family? Yes, very much so!
Value by society? No, not so much, but it’s mutual.
if “feeling valued” is a human emotion, it’s not one I’m familiar with
I feel like the most worthless person in the world, generally and almost all of the time. Consequence of not getting along well with others plus not being hardworking enough to achieve anything.
And yet … you are clearly intelligent and effective at communication.
For sure. Mostly from friends and family, but also in the things I do and the projects I accomplish. It’s a wonderful life.
No, not really.
Especially by myself.
No
I feel like a mote of dust waiting to be vacuumed.
If you were indeed a mote of dust when you got vacuumed what would happen? Fast forward to the end of time. Would it be any different than what anyone else on this planet is going to experience?
For me the result makes no difference, but it’s more that there’s no living and there’s very little to do about it other than escapism (so, still nothing).
Them Bones by Alice in Chains comes to mind.
Yes, I feel valued. These are hard times, I’m worried for me, my family - due to climate collapse, war, the breakdown of democracy. Yet, I have decided to help people in developing countries and locally as a pro-bono coach, and I’ve become politically active. The response shows that people value me; my opinions amd my support.
Thank you for what you are doing. I also contribute in my own way that I’m not going to describe in detail.
Giving is better than getting, I guess :-)
Not at all. I’m pretty sure, if I died now, it would take a few months for anyone to notice anything.
I can’t promise to miss you viscerally but I am pretty sure the rest of the universe would.
I don’t see how lol.
I mean, I haven’t had any contact with anybody in 4 months now. Other than the checkout person in the local shop. And I’m sure they wouldn’t care if I stopped going there.
Anyway, this is not a “woe is me” thing, I’m completely fine with this. I much prefer to be left alone lol.
And yet, you responded to this. What’s going on with you? Why do you think you are not valued? I value you.
Yeah, you value me because I answered your question. The question was “do you feel valued” and no, I don’t feel valued because I answered your question.
I don’t feel valued because I bring no value to anyone in my life. Internet strangers asking questions do not count into that lol
Professionally? No
As a family member or friend? Yes
As a member of society? Barely
What’s the context of your question?
The point of asking a somewhat general question is that you can answer and interpret it how you like and experience responses you wouldn’t expect.
Which is what I got from you. By asking one question.
Sure. AI hasn’t really encroached on anything that makes me feel valued.
Elaborate
As a retired person: no, apart from by other retired people in the village, because we help each other out with our different skill-sets.
We still have a few friends but they are scattered; we meet mostly at funerals.
Politicians think we’re too expensive (healthcare, pensions, etc.) although they’re careful not to be too nasty, as apparently we vote more than other demographics. The fascists think we might vote for them (not a chance).
The young are busy with their own lives as they should be and so we are mostly seen as an inconvenience or, at best, a future inheritance. I’m fine with this: they’ve got it tough and we help where we can.
The AI crowd know we’re too old for that shit (we remember all the bubbles). We don’t buy much stuff either, so the capitalists and advertisers aren’t happy with us. The pub likes us but wishes we’d visit more often. The fund managers are going off us as our pension funds dwindle. I think the lady in the corner shop has a good opinion of us, although she thinks I buy too much beer.
Some days more than others, but generally, not really.
My answer has nothing to do with ai, but… no.
And that’s okay.
There are things worse than being invisible. Like being stuck with a bunch of crackheads, for example.
I value you, even when no one else does. I know that doesn’t mean much from an internet stranger. Nevertheless I am putting in the effort to tell you that I value you.
Thanks.
Another way to frame “do you feel valued” is “do others find you useful?” I can report with confidence that no landlord or capitalist finds me useful and I take pride in that.
Huh. I never thought about the other way to interpret that simple question.
Thank you for turning that around. I feel the value of you being smart enough to think of that.
What makes you feel valued?
…and is that something that can be delivered remotely, through a screen?
I ask this not because I necessarily want or expect a specific answer, but because everyone who reads my comment should stop and spend a few minutes considering what the answer is for them personally.
And then think about what you think the answer might be for other people in your life, and what makes them feel valued.
What can you do, to make that happen more often for yourself, and for others? Personally, I think nothing is quite as rewarding as making someone else feel valued.
Talk to your family. Talk to your friends. They want to hear from you, even if they’re busy.
I must say. Thank you for your reasoned and reasonable response.
I love you for who you are internet stranger. You made my day a little brighter. And I will pass it on. I am in far too frequent contact with all those I love and hold dear. I’ll take your implicit consent and spread the love to them too.
