To answer the top line, I believe you can't. And that is a concept that many people don't understand. How many, especially teenagers, are there that feel like they have the worst lives in the world, yet they couldn't be further from the truth...
Mmm, indeed. But see, I have troubles with this as well. I know that we (in these privileged countries of ours) ought to be thankful for what we have - because there are millions upon millions out there who have nothing - and whose suffering is incomparably greater than our own. But suffering has a lot to do with cirsumstance as well. Argueably angsty privileged Western teens are only angsty because they are bored (and, often, stupid?) but, conversly, we have what we have - our lives and possessions and whatnot - like it or not. And it leaves us open to different kinds of suffering than, say, those teenagers who are struggling to pick up grains of rice off a road in the Congo just to try and feed themselves and stay alive for one more wretched day. Not that I'm saying they don't experience mental anguish as well! Hell. I'm saying a lot (not an awful lot) and I'm not getting my point across. I mean, that living as we, living as we do, with nothing to complain about - in comparison to others more disadvantaged - but we don't really know
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Its an interesting way you put it. I've always been one to compare the wholes to the individuals. I suppose the very, very unfortunate people have different sorts of suffering than those of us who are more well off. Families who have no money and are literally homeless and scrounging often don't suffer problems like disconnected relationships and usually have no problems finding love when they need it. Then you have, lets say, you're normal American family, where those problems could be exactly what they are suffering, but food and shelter and education are never a problem. So, like you said, its situational. Not to mention a lot, and I do mean a lot, of problems center around money. That only shows how sadly everyone has become dependant upon it
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