sometimes the trickiest realities hide away in something they’re least able to (aspects of) be seen as that contrary.

take happiness for example.

it seems a stretch (even absurdity) to consider that repressive mechanisms might migrate into such a thing (to do with behaviour controls – inhibitory aspects of minds, in a social field)

its easy to think happiness is generally liberating.

take humour and comedy for example, it’s cathartic, relieving.

probably the moment to moment practical work of minds is inhibitory, essentially so, and repressive in a positive way, likely true too of the broader social dimension. Practical necessity.

I’d imagine many people’s happiness depends on exercising a high degree of self-control. But if it’s in their nature to do so, they’re not likely to feel repressed or inhibited.