It does.

I find it taught the idea just because you're hungry didn't mean you have to eat.

A lot of people seem to think their hunger has the right to control actions. It doesn't. Being hungry is ok and normal.

Like air conditioning making people less tolerant to the heat.

Character building benefit / Cost, I'm not so sure, lots believe it does though.

With health benefits, definitely worth it IMO. But it takes willpower.

Why stop with plentiful food and air conditioning? Maybe we should get rid of electricity, central heating, and modern medicine, too. Imagine how strong our characters would be then.

I used to do this all the time growing up, at least once a month I'd spend a few nights out in the woods camping from sometime around age 11 to 17. Granted, modern medicine was rarely more than a short hike and a car ride away (except for multi-week trips).

I'd say it helped build character. Regarding going hungry, when you're out on the trail and have 10 miles left to hike and no time to stop for lunch because you know a storm is coming in and you need to set up camp, you learn that you really don't need to eat every time your stomach growls. You also learn how to be dependable for those in your group, and how to depend on others without becoming dependent on them.

> when you're out on the trail and have 10 miles left to hike and no time to stop for lunch because you know a storm is coming in and you need to set up camp

I miss this feeling... and wish to echo your sentiment. Hiking with 'just enough' is a great way to discover just how little we truly need to be alright.

"I used to do this all the time growing up, at least once a month I'd spend a few nights out in the woods camping from sometime around age 11 to 17"

That's nice. I lived that way throughout large chunks of my childhood.

Camping is fun. Living it as a lifestyle sucks.

You got down voted for the sarcasm I presume. But in truth it would make your character stronger. However, it might have some downsides.

See above. Been there.

My character is strong enough, thanks.

I should have used scare quotes around "character building". I do recognize that lots of hardships you could impose on yourself do build character. Yet in this case, I wouldn't suppose the benefit outweighs the hardship.

Two effects I've noticed:

1. It's broken my 'boredom' eating habit.

2. I wanted to comfort myself with food when stressed. It's broken that habit too.

I think this is a case of Poe's law.