View Full Version : Root of all evil...
Do you think there is any link between financial wealth and personal happiness?
How important is financial wealth to you?
How important is money in the pursuit of happiness?
oh wow! You do bring on the big issues Viv!
I've walked away from money more times in my life than I care to admit. I think money in and of itself isn't a bad thing. It's the greed for more and more and more and the willingness to hurt other people in the process of obtaining it that is bad.
The universe is plentiful. Every time I've walked away from money, the basics in life I require have been there somehow, some way. a person can always find a way to get more money and more stuff. I just have never wanted it badly enough, I guess.
I have stupidly been sitting on a book I wrote that I know will be a big success. Instead of getting the book published, I've been living hand to mouth, sweating how to pay my bills each month. That's probably just as dumb as being greedy! I could do a lot of good with that money too.
I like the idea that the richest person in a society should make no more than 7 times the poorest person. Ben & Jerry's follows this. they could be obscenely wealthy, but they are choosing to lilmit their own incomes to be more in parity with the people who work in the trenches to help them create that wealth. That rocks!
Here's what I need in life to be happy: a good man, a good horse and a good dog. LOL, not necessarily in that order. A garden and music to listen to are pretty important too. The rest is all extras.
Everyone finds happiness from different things.
One of my grandfathers grew up dirt poor and his idea of happiness was having a million dollars when he died. He accomplished that goal. Was he truly a happy individual? I dunno.
donquixote99
03-27-2008, 03:02 AM
When you count your money, your money counts you.
Well, I am a little shallow regarding money, 'fraid I do like some.
Not a bad person...honest...I am just used to living a certain way and lack of money affects that.
Never comfortable dating guys who do not have a certain level of income, purely because it is restrictive, negatively impacts on social life and is pretty boring really. I like to do what I want without having to think about that.
Can't say I'm a great fan of money per se. It does not motivate me. Things which make me happy are anywhere, not necessarily material nor wealth related. But I have a comfortable lifestyle. I do not think about it or worry about it on a day to day basis.
If I am honest, I would not consider marriage with someone who could not at least contribute equally to the income. That is not a money thing, it is a respect for the man thing...
I feel sure I will be cyber-bricked now...:rolleyes:
Oregon Elephant
03-27-2008, 05:40 PM
Well, I am a little shallow regarding money, 'fraid I do like some.
Not a bad person...honest...I am just used to living a certain way and lack of money affects that.
Never comfortable dating guys who do not have a certain level of income, purely because it is restrictive, negatively impacts on social life and is pretty boring really. I like to do what I want without having to think about that.
Can't say I'm a great fan of money per se. It does not motivate me. Things which make me happy are anywhere, not necessarily material nor wealth related. But I have a comfortable lifestyle. I do not think about it or worry about it on a day to day basis.
If I am honest, I would not consider marriage with someone who could not at least contribute equally to the income. That is not a money thing, it is a respect for the man thing...
I feel sure I will be cyber-bricked now...:rolleyes:
fling cyber-brick now. "could not at least contribute equally it the income"? Say it's not so, Viv. Dang, I'm glad my mother didn't do that. My dad doesn't work and my mother makes all the money.
fling cyber-brick now. "could not at least contribute equally into the income"? Say it's not so, Viv. Dang, I'm glad my mother didn't do that. My dad doesn't work and my mother makes all the money.
No way, Oregon. A man has to be capable and strong and has to provide...otherwise he is not a man, but a liability.
Not that I am a traditionalist as such, and no offence to your dad there...if it works for them and she is happy, it is acceptable, but it wouldn't work for me.
It's not about gender, it's about equality maybe? And respect for the male?
If I am honest, I would not consider marriage with someone who could not at least contribute equally to the income. That is not a money thing, it is a respect for the man thing...
well, since I've always found myself supporting the man financially in a relationship, I'm ready to be a kept woman now, hahahahahahahaha
seriously, I've always made my own way in this world, working since I was a kid. Not sure if I'd know what to do being "cared for." that woudl take away all my excuses for not doing the dishes, eh?
well, since I've always found myself supporting the man financially in a relationship, I'm ready to be a kept woman now, hahahahahahahaha
seriously, I've always made my own way in this world, working since I was a kid. Not sure if I'd know what to do being "cared for." that woudl take away all my excuses for not doing the dishes, eh?
Yes, I have always worked too, bay.
I just would be unable to accept any man who didn't pull his weight in that respect.
There are exceptions of course.
Don't you have a dishwasher???:eek:;)
Oregon Elephant
03-27-2008, 06:24 PM
No way, Oregon. A man has to be capable and strong and has to provide...otherwise he is not a man, but a liability.
Not that I am a traditionalist as such, and no offence to your dad there...if it works for them and she is happy, it is acceptable, but it wouldn't work for me.
It's not about gender, it's about equality maybe? And respect for the male?
I suppose to all their own. My mother works because she loves what she does, and makes more than enough for my parents to live comfortibly on one source of income. My father doesn't because (go figure) he always hated his job, but loves to cook and clean (he has entire bookselves with nothing but cookbooks and boxes completely filled with newspaper recipes, he even has a custom kitchen to cook). So everything gets done that needs gettin' done. I would think that each person provides in someway and fails in another way, and they chose a partner that fills in where they fail.
I suppose to all their own. My mother works because she loves what she does, and makes more than enough for my parents to live comfortibly on one source of income. My father doesn't because (go figure) he always hated his job, but loves to cook and clean (he has entire bookselves with nothing but cookbooks and boxes completely filled with newspaper recipes, he even has a custom kitchen to cook). So everything gets done that needs gettin' done. I would think that each person provides in someway and fails in another way, and they chose a partner that fills in where they fail.
I guess that would work. If I had a job I really loved I wouldn't mind that, I suppose.
Does your father encounter any issues with your mother's family? My sister's fiance does not work, but he has health problems. He and my brother...they cannot be in the same room, they circle each other. My brother cannot respect him because he doesn't work.
Don't you have a dishwasher???
LOL viv, I do, two dogs, ROTFLMAO....
I don't tihnk in the history of male-female relationships that any man has been shot while he's washing the dishes, LOL...
LOL viv, I do, two dogs, ROTFLMAO....
I don't tihnk in the history of male-female relationships that any man has been shot while he's washing the dishes, LOL...
LMAO...that is so sick...:D...
I love dogs, but ....the dishwasher is king of appliances for me..
LOL.... I really do wash dishes with soap and water, when the spirit moves me....or when I run out of dishes!
I'm really good at lots of things, but if you're looking for a housekeeper, keep looking, haha
Oregon Elephant
03-27-2008, 07:43 PM
I guess that would work. If I had a job I really loved I wouldn't mind that, I suppose.
Does your father encounter any issues with your mother's family? My sister's fiance does not work, but he has health problems. He and my brother...they cannot be in the same room, they circle each other. My brother cannot respect him because he doesn't work.
Absolutely, but thankfully, most of them live over 1,000 miles away and the closest one (my aunt Margret) lives 200 miles away, so he doesn't have to deal with them much. It is the same with my mother and her sibling-in-laws, fortunate for her most of them moved to Ireland or Scotland (where their parents are from, my grandparents), so she doesn't have to deal with them either.
My wife's family has that problem though, they all live here in Oregon (except for two that went back to their place of origin to South Dakota).
Oregon, am thinking this falls under the heading for your wife's family of none of their business! Whatever two people in a relationship figure out about working and income is between them!
My problem was when I did it all... earning the money, caring for the children, keeping up the farm, etc., while he sat at the river bank watching the otters play and thinking deep thoughts, LOL...
Id have the same problem if it was a man doing everythign wihle the woman sat around in a robe all day or went to play with her friends while her man did all the work. but then again, other people's relationships falls under the heading of none of my damn business.
Gareth
03-28-2008, 02:57 PM
Money and affluence are merely one means of reaching an arrogant state of mind. It is arrogance that leads people to evil generally.
White Rabbit
04-15-2008, 02:42 AM
Do you think there is any link between financial wealth and personal happiness?
How important is financial wealth to you?
How important is money in the pursuit of happiness?
From what I've read on this particular point is that humans have a real passion for relative wealth, not so much for 'absolute' wealth. A variety of economic studies show this result.
That is to say, having slightly more wealth than your neighbor does apparently produce some modest kind of 'happiness' for you (and some modest kind of 'anxiety' for your neighbor). Unfortunately, this is entirely relative and temporal so the effects change depending on the direction one looks. Ultimately in the long run, this would likely cancel out the overall 'happiness' effect unless you are Bill Gates, who one presumes is a fairly happy guy.
And of course wealth is only one component of happiness. Studies do suggest that family is a great source of happiness (spoiling grandchildren apparently gives great joy) as is social standing (again, a relative thing).
miriya
04-15-2008, 12:51 PM
As long as we have enouf money to live a nice life then that is all we need
Lightweaver
04-15-2008, 01:03 PM
well, since I've always found myself supporting the man financially in a relationship, I'm ready to be a kept woman now, hahahahahahahaha
:D I can really relate to this! :p
LOL, it's only fair, eh lightweaver?
Lightweaver
04-15-2008, 02:00 PM
LOL, it's only fair, eh lightweaver?
That's right! There needs to be a balancing of the scales... :p
ahhhhhhhhhhh balance in life, will we ever achieve it? Just when I think I'm there, someone pulls the rug out from under me.
From what I've read on this particular point is that humans have a real passion for relative wealth, not so much for 'absolute' wealth. A variety of economic studies show this result.
That is to say, having slightly more wealth than your neighbor does apparently produce some modest kind of 'happiness' for you (and some modest kind of 'anxiety' for your neighbor). Unfortunately, this is entirely relative and temporal so the effects change depending on the direction one looks. Ultimately in the long run, this would likely cancel out the overall 'happiness' effect unless you are Bill Gates, who one presumes is a fairly happy guy.
And of course wealth is only one component of happiness. Studies do suggest that family is a great source of happiness (spoiling grandchildren apparently gives great joy) as is social standing (again, a relative thing).
Family is probably above everything for most.
Also agree that most people are conscious and motivated by relative wealth, but I'd go with Miriya.
Don't really think about money from day to day, but my security is in place in that respect. If I didn't have enough, I really would think about it...
Bay, every time I read that post about your man there sitting by the river...uhhh...I want to give that eejit an early bath...in with the otters...:eek:
Bay, every time I read that post about your man there sitting by the river...uhhh...I want to give that eejit an early bath...in with the otters...
ROTFLMAO, it's ancient history now, makes for a good chuckle.
Kizzume
04-15-2008, 09:11 PM
Generally, I want enough money to have a roof over my head, to spend time with friends, and be able to eat what I want when I want (not talking restaurant stuff, just enough that I can make GOOD homemade food). Whatever money it takes to do that is what I'm interested in. Friends and family are always more important than money.
The band I'm in takes some money to get the things and do the things we're needing to get out there and noticed, so having the money for that is also important.
IMHO, money itself isn't the root of all evil. It's the greed and jealousy associated with it. Which is so sad because the universe is abundant and there is money, love and everything else enough to go around if we humans would just learn to get along and play nice.
bay's two bit philosophy for the day.
ahhhhhhhhhhh balance in life, will we ever achieve it? Just when I think I'm there, someone pulls the rug out from under me.
That is what keeps it interesting? Because you have to keep on trying...working...learning....
Kenny
04-16-2008, 09:07 PM
I notice that many people are saying that money is the root of all evil, or that greed is the root of all evil. If people really felt this way, they would support communism. If everyone actually wished to have just enough money to have a roof over their head and food in their mouth, they would support one of the views of communist. But, the truth is, people are naturally greedy.
An I greedy? I would accept a $1 billion offer before I accepted $10 million offer. I am pretty sure that everyone in this community would. Could this be considered greed? If is it not greed, what is greed? If that is greed, then the majority of the world can be considered evil, and the majority of priest.
I notice that many people are saying that money is the root of all evil, or that greed is the root of all evil. If people really felt this way, they would support communism. If everyone actually wished to have just enough money to have a roof over their head and food in their mouth, they would support one of the views of communist. But, the truth is, people are naturally greedy.
An I greedy? I would accept a $1 billion offer before I accepted $10 million offer. I am pretty sure that everyone in this community would. Could this be considered greed? If is it not greed, what is greed? If that is greed, then the majority of the world can be considered evil, and the majority of priest.
Communism is not perfect. Many see it a way for everyone to suffer poverty instead of just the unlucky. And capitalism offers opportunity for at least some, which communism does not. Who has the more comfortable lifestyle on the whole...communist communities or capitalist?
Phædrus
04-16-2008, 09:51 PM
Good and evil? No such things. There is merely happiness and sadness, in all their various forms. Those who hold the happiness of others as higher than their own might be considered good, while those that hold their own happiness as higher might be considered bad, but who can tell? We just have to make it up as we go along and do our best.
"What is good, Phædrus, and what is not good...
Need we anyone to tell us these things?"
- Plato, "Phædrus"
"By cultivating the beautiful we scatter the seeds of heavenly flowers, as by doing good we cultivate those that belong to humanity. "
- Robert A. Heinlein
greengoddess1916
04-17-2008, 09:12 PM
goddess begs to differ with you, phaedrus
Phædrus
04-17-2008, 09:45 PM
goddess begs to differ with you, phaedrus
Feel free to do so. This is a debate forum, after all.
But just in case you didn't get all of what I said, I do think that spreading happiness is preferable to spreading pain. I just don't believe in absolutes of good and evil.
Chookie
04-17-2008, 10:20 PM
Do you think there is any link between financial wealth and personal happiness?
For some there is definitely a linkage.
How important is financial wealth to you?
Not very - don't tell anyone
How important is money in the pursuit of happiness?
To me it is far less important than family and friends.
greengoddess1916
04-17-2008, 11:49 PM
there will be time for debate, phaedrus. Meanwhile, goddess asks you all to play nice.
Kizzume
04-18-2008, 12:38 AM
Good and evil? No such things. There is merely happiness and sadness, in all their various forms. Those who hold the happiness of others as higher than their own might be considered good, while those that hold their own happiness as higher might be considered bad, but who can tell? We just have to make it up as we go along and do our best.
That was well said. :)
For some there is definitely a linkage.
Not very - don't tell anyone
To me it is far less important than family and friends.
Lol...Chookie, you rise in my estimation. But as a Scot, I did expect that kind of outlook.
I wonder if there is a cultural issue here. Are US posters more wealth/materialism oriented than Euros?
donquixote99
04-19-2008, 12:08 AM
Are US posters more wealth/materialism oriented than Euros?
Some are, some aren't.
Those that aren't materialist tend to be religious, or environmentalists, or sports fans.
Are US posters more wealth/materialism oriented than Euros?
not all of us
named
05-10-2008, 12:02 PM
simply, money doesnt bring happiness, but lack of it brings depression. even if it may sound shallow to admit it i want to lead a happy and relatively careless life so money is important to me.
quirk
05-12-2008, 04:41 PM
simply, money doesnt bring happiness, but lack of it brings depression. even if it may sound shallow to admit it i want to lead a happy and relatively careless life so money is important to me.
Better to just implement communism then no one will have any money so we will all be happy.:)
No, then everyone will be unhappy!
quirk
05-13-2008, 07:21 AM
Of course not. We will have all our needs fulfilled. "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs"
Will I get to have horses and go riding and buy sexy undies to wear under my comrade uniform?
Phædrus
05-13-2008, 09:32 PM
Of course not. We will have all our needs fulfilled. "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs"
Ya' know, I think this is rather amusing. Have you heard of the Gini coefficient? It's a way to measure the distribution of wealth in a country, going from 0 to 1. A low Gini coefficient indicates more even wealth distribution; a high one indicates uneven distribution. For example, 0 would be perfect distribution, with everyone having equal money (the Marxist wet dream), and 1 would be one person having all the money and everyone else having none. You can also multiply it by 100 to get a percentage.
Japan, being a capitalist nation with only moderate government regulation, has the lowest Gini coefficient in the world, 24.9%.
The UK has a moderately low Gini coefficient of 36%.
The US has a moderate Gini of 40.8%.
The People's Republic of China has a Gini coefficient of 46.9%.
Venezuela has a Gini coefficient of 48.2%
Colombia has a Gini coefficient of 58.6% (ouch).
I'd list Cuba too, but I couldn't find the numbers for it. But it looks like several communist countries have distributions comparable to and/or slightly worse than the US, and capitalist Japan is the most equal in the world.
So much for Marxist equality.
Better to just implement communism then no one will have any money so we will all be happy.:)
SO....everybody gets what nobody wants.
mickyk200
05-14-2008, 11:38 AM
Better to just implement communism then no one will have any money so we will all be happy.:)
see that's what I cannot understand about full blown communism. It's all fair and equal but is anyone satasfied with there equality. I think it was George Orwell that said some are more equal than others, communism is so open to abuse it's unreal. Look at the situtaion in the USSR in the latter years of Stalin.
I liked Dubcek's approach to communism, "socialism with a human face" although the soviets didn't like the possibility of oppostion so they axed him which I think was unfortunate.
vBulletin® v3.7.2, Copyright ©2000-2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.