Every two weeks, the artist Marc Séguin offers his unique perspective on current events and the world.
Posted yesterday at 1:00 p.m.
Not too much news in recent months. Maybe three or four hours of TV since August, first for a football match and then, distractedly, a documentary on the Pont des Arts in Paris, on Arte. And some mind-blowing news here and there that eventually surrenders despite great efforts at denial. Through an increasingly dim autumn light.
Big frosts at the beginning of the week. Freezing is like a kind of end. To prolong what is stubborn in the vegetable garden, I can also “shelter” the vegetables for the colder nights and remove the cover during the day. The happiness of eating fresh carrots or parsnips until December. Or the misfortune that enrages when you forget the cover and lose them.
Lots of time to think over the past few weeks; caught in traffic congestion. I’m telling this to distract from all the social apocalypses (hey…hey…as in heresy) that befall us. The latest in the running, and bordering on psychosis, a story of intimidation in a reality show and the La Fontaine bridge-tunnel. Not a word more on these two current existential subjects except to say this: I am more and more convinced that the Earth is the center of the Universe. A meeting a few days ago with a person from high finance in the United States convinced me. It seems that individuals who overreact to threats survive better than others. This text will therefore offer a miracle solution to all social problems, from Twitter to infinity.
In 1979, two psychologists (Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky) “invented” prospect theory. A theory at the base of human nature, and for which Kahneman received the Nobel Prize in 2002, in economics. The fear of losing would be higher than the desire to win. We immediately understand that banks and investment funds have had a field day in this magical Jell-O to make profits. The year 1979 is also that, according to several researchers, of the point of origin of the great contemporary world disturbances. There is no more chance anywhere, we say to ourselves smiling.
In a (quick) summary, Prospect Theory goes a bit like this: by taking a walk, you find $50 on the sidewalk. Reaction of happiness and joy. Well that being said, time obliges, happiness in 2022 comes after guilt, acts of contrition, apologies to all those who don’t have your luck in life, to those who love the sun, to those who are still suffering from climate change, to people who are lactose intolerant, to people with white spots on their fingernails, to people with two eyes and to the butterfly that crashed on your windshield in 2002 (it’s all so connected, it’s crazy, we remind you).
So you find $50 and it makes you happy with some degree of intensity. What Kahneman and Tversky have proven is that if you lose $50 you will be 2.3 times more dissatisfied in intensity than in the feeling of contentment at having found them.
A carrot pulled from the ground in December is, say, an intensity index of 10 out of 100. A frozen and lost carrot is 23 on the same scale. By extrapolating the theory, this financial friend who talks to me and who has reshaped the world since 1979 is convinced that we are programmed to cry. Impossible to contradict the financial chapel and its host: the economy.
So complaining to have a greater sense of existence. And rather rejoice to wait 2.3 times longer in traffic. Seems good for the future. And the future is the point of arrival of all our actions. In childhood and in the car, I had learned that we would not arrive faster by complaining to me. To have known…
And since you have to make up for lost time, I would have thousands of complaints to make about anything that goes wrong. Because since perspective theory, I know where we’re going, even at a snail’s pace. You have to complain. Several media and social networks demonstrate this admirably. Progress is in grievance.
We suddenly learn that we would be descendants of people who lack a front, because prudence promotes development. I make here the happy wish of a multitude of fears, of frosts in August, that we stop, once and for all, the efforts to counter bullying. Another idea: why not block the Mercier bridge? Seems to me that more importance would be given to the demonstrators since last Monday. Or Jacques-Cartier? Hands off Samuel-De Champlain, please. It is the most beautiful with its elegant night lighting.
And one last for the road: when are we going to start talking about a sixth link between Montreal and the South Shore? The chialage has become a wish.
Today I watch football and complain about the work of the referees.