However, strong emotions can cause us to think in feelings rather than in abstract concepts. Usually some emotional distance is required for rational debate.

Is this a problem with our language or our culture? Has a culture / language ever been studied that didn't suffer from this as badly?

Good question. It seems to me, that it is mostly a problem of logistics. When talking about ourselves and objects near us, it is simply easier to reduce those objects to single words. such as 'me'.

I wonder, do any of you ever feel like you're not allowed to be happy, as long as there is so much we still need to solve in this world?

For example, a thought that could spring up: I am sitting here reading blogs/playing videogames and procrastinating my schoolwork. While at the same time we have a global warming problem, poverty in poor countries, and plastic polluting our oceans. Should I dedicate my time to educating people about recycling/ or maybe even becoming a scientist to invent better solar panels? Or should I stick with my plans and dreams that I had, becoming a musician? It seems irrational to act like there are no problems to be solved in this world. It seems like everyone should be doing a lot more things. But then, where is the line between doing things for yourself and doing things for others?

These things keep me up at night, sometimes. I wonder if they are appropriate responses to this wonderful blogpost.