Is Pleasure merely a Side Product of Activity?
By Heather Renfro <jewel@emeraldis.com>
Can one feel pleasure only through doing an activity? According to Webster’s Dictionary, pleasure is a state of gratification; a source of delight or joy, and an activity is defined as vigorous or energetic action; liveliness.
As one way of researching this topic, I decided to do a survey. I asked this question to a group of people, and 60% of them said that pleasure is not a side product of activity. Several of them said they feel pleasure in knowing their children are safe and healthy. Another person said she feels pleasure when she receives a gift. If someone were to walk up to you and give you $500.00 you would feel pleasure, right? Isn’t that an example of feeling pleasure without activity? Or would your acceptance of the $500.00 gift be an activity?
Of those surveyed, 10% were unsure of whether or not pleasure is a side product of activity. However, 30% of the group says that pleasure can be achieved only if some type of activity is happening. One of these people said, “When I am at home relaxing and doing nothing else, I have pleasure because I rarely have times when I am not busy like that.” Then she added, “But isn’t sitting there and doing nothing still an activity?”
I personally agree with the 30% who believe pleasure is a side product of activity. Everything in life involves an activity. I get pleasure from sleeping. Even though sleep seems like an inactive state, sleeping in itself is an activity. A friend of mine says he gets pleasure when he is hunting—he sits in a tree stand for long periods of time just watching for deer. At first thought, one might say that he is sitting there doing nothing and getting pleasure from it. However, he is actually doing two activities: sitting there and watching. So, to answer the question—Yes, pleasure is merely a side product of activity.
To submit a comment, click here.
Eric Howell <grayghost13@hotmail.com>Nice job. I believe that you covered the topic well, and good work on the use of the survey.
Karen Long <karen_long@email.com>I started off disagreeing with you, but now I agree completely. No matter what we do, we are active at something, whether it be breathing, or thinking, or etc... Therefore, when we gain pleasure, we would have had to have been active. So yes, it would be a sideproduct of sctivity, because we are always active.
nichole vernon <nichole317@excite.com>good job. you truly covered your topic very well
Travis Galloway <hyperdedo@hotmail.com>Nice work, I like the fact that you actually went out and did a survey for your paper... interesting results, and they seem pretty accurate.. I would think most people believe pleasure to just be there.... I agree with you and the 30 though.... pleasure is something you get from something else... or is it???
Matt Wright <surfski8@hotmail.com>i agree with nicole
Kimberly Pitts <KLP103@hotmail>Enjoyed the paper! But I am not sure whether or not I agree.
Danny Frady <garydfrady@hotmail.com>Great idea with the survey, good job supporting your points.
Eric Doyle Knight <frruita@hotmail.com>Good paper. You covered the topic well. I liked your point about pleasure from gifts and pleasant thoughts. Would thoughts be considered activity? What about interaction with other people? Would relationships be considered activity? Should we be careful that this idea does not become circular? And can one not have pleasure from simply _being_?
jason stansill <jasonstansill@hotmail.com>Good job on your paper.
jason stansill <jasonstansill@hotmail.com>Good job on your paper.
Cynthia Glanton <cynthia_glanton@hotmail.com>Good ideas.
Tally Loyd <Tally_Loyd@Hotmail.com>Good paper.
cindy bourret <lucy12241979@hotmail.com>good paper, excellent ideas
Chris Graham <collge-guy@inetgenesis.com>Interesting point of view. Good paper
Crystal Gray <cgray32@hotmail.com>You did a good job supporting your points in this paper.
Will Mulkey <wrmulkey@hotmail.com>Great job! The survey was an interesting way of doing things. I would have to agree with your opinion.
Chad Williams <czm_1@hotmail.com>Nice paper, although activity leads to interesting developments more often than not, I for one can be fairly happy doing nothing.
Heather Ferguson <AddysmomF@netscape.net>Good points, but I, too, agree that it is a side product of activity.
Amanda Thompson <amandat211@yahoo.com>nice job on this topic
missy kergosien <missc4@hotmail.com>interesting paper!
Wendy Garner <wlg51@backroads.net>good paper
Comments Closed <12.03.01>Further comments are voluntary.