As a general rule smart people tend to be less happy.

Idealists (as many in STEM are) who are smart is a deadly combination. You know just how terrible the world you live in is, and no matter how hard you work you keep hearing more bad news.

Sometimes I wish my brain had an off button so I can stop reading about North Korea (or remembering how "behind" I am from my peers) and instead go watch Celebrity Big Brother or whatever is showing today.

It's called a low information diet. It is indeed possible.

Or you can reframe things without dumbing anything down. In spite of my currently bitter inclination, I am generally an optimist, yadda.

If North Korea scares you, then you really, really want to be scared.

> If North Korea scares you, then you really, really want to be scared.

North Korea isn't itself very scary. What is scary is the fact that over decades they have threatened to attack everyone around them, and the surrounding powers have responded by extending food and economic aid, in a repeating pattern. The North Koreans know this -- they know it works -- so they do it again and again, and their citizens remain captives of a throwback regime. That's what's scary.

I'm in Europe. North Korea doesn't scare me. The only people who should legitimately be concerned are those in South Korea (and to a much lesser degree Japan).

I find international politics interesting. Fear isn't really a motivation.

Sounds like they need to get laid more.*

* Yes, I am going to hell. I am also working on a comic to bleed off my socially unacceptable jokes. Sorry. I could have resisted temptation. I just chose not to. Mmkay?

If your disclaimer is longer than your joke, maybe you should reconsider telling it.

I did consider not saying it. I decided to say it anyway. Although intended somewhat humorously, I suspect the downvotes are more about hitting a nerve. But perhaps that is neither here nor there. (shrug)

Edit: Or perhaps the disclaimer is the real joke, since I mostly meant the first part.

Have an upvote.

Irrelevant segueway: I also like the comic "Darwin Carmichael is going to hell."