korrents

korrents · piece

Bad Feelings

Derek Thompson · 14 Sept 2026 · derekthompson.org ↗

3 korrents from this piece

Derek Thompson did not write this page.

Every claim below was made in this piece, quoted word for word and numbered in the order the piece makes them, so you can read it there rather than take our word for it. The sentence above each quote is our reading of the claim, not their wording. Each quote was checked against a stored copy of the page at build time; where the two differ, the quote is the fact.

  1. Our reading

    Envy is triggered by feeling similar to someone, not simply by the size of the difference between you.

    Their wordsAlthough it seems to be based on a perceived difference ("he is rich, and I am not"), it is actually triggered by a feeling of similarity ("if he and I are so alike, why is he so much richer?")

  2. Our reading

    Small disadvantages relative to others hurt more than equivalent small advantages help.

    Their wordsIt's unfair, not only materially, but psychologically. The bad we feel about small disadvantages is greater than the good we feel about small advantages.

  3. Our reading

    Envy is usually based on a distorted, delusional picture of another person's life rather than reality.

    Their wordsThe good news about envy is that it is very often a delusion.