Poll. Die rich in 5 years. Live healthy but poor to 110.

[ShawnD1]

Like I am now, long and poor. But damn, it's been a hell of a ride!

Oh get over it. 7 inches isn't that long.

 

[IcePickFreak]

I'd go with option 1 and travel the world as I pleased. Having a set date for the day I die, along with boatloads of money means I'm having one hell of a going out party.

On the other hand, even with option 2 you'll probably be seen as "well off" in another 20-30 years when there's just the extremely rich and the extremely poor. Excuse my pessimism.

 

[TridenT]

Numerous studies have shown that money only buys you so much happiness. That it has diminishing returns. Having enough money to put a roof over your head, feed yourself, and provide a little entertainment has been shown in studies to be about all you need to be very happy. Each hundred thousand dollars, etc, beyond that buys very little in terms of standard measures of happiness. In fact some studies have shown that poor people in 3rd world countries are just about as happy as millionaires and billionaires in the 1st world.

Those studies are full of shit because they factor in the idea that people have jobs to get those dollars(Which can bring in lots of stress and obligations). Besides that, they're not exactly accurate. They measure relative happiness.

gimmie a billion and I'm gonna be sailing high on hookers & blow 24/7/365/5. You can't beat that kind of fuckin' happiness unless you had 2 billion $. :awe:

 

[PrinceofWands]

Those studies are full of shit because they factor in the idea that people have jobs to get those dollars(Which can bring in lots of stress and obligations). Besides that, they're not exactly accurate. They measure relative happiness.

gimmie a billion and I'm gonna be sailing high on hookers & blow 24/7/365/5. You can't beat that kind of fuckin' happiness unless you had 2 billion $. :awe:

You're a really sad, sorry little man. Much pity for you.

 

[lord_emperor]

this poll makes the false assumption that money = happiness

It's not false, money makes me very happy.

 

[PrinceofWands]

It's not false, money makes me very happy.

Nor is it a universal truth, since money is meaningless to some others. If it isn't always true for all, then it isn't really 'true' by definition.

 

[gevorg]

I would pick option #1, and then go to a third world country and find a healthy body to transplant my head into.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_transplant

 

[Kirby]

Those studies are full of shit because they factor in the idea that people have jobs to get those dollars(Which can bring in lots of stress and obligations). Besides that, they're not exactly accurate. They measure relative happiness.

gimmie a billion and I'm gonna be sailing high on hookers & blow 24/7/365/5. You can't beat that kind of fuckin' happiness unless you had 2 billion $. :awe:

I know millionaires who haven't worked a day in their life and are absolutely miserable. If you ever make it out of puberty you may learn a few things in life.

 

[TridenT]

I know millionaires who haven't worked a day in their life and are absolutely miserable. If you ever make it out of puberty you may learn a few things in life.

Maybe that's because they fail at life?

If they were any bit of intelligent they would start up hookers & blow and be pretty damn happy.

 

[TridenT]

Nor is it a universal truth, since money is meaningless to some others. If it isn't always true for all, then it isn't really 'true' by definition.

But for most it makes them quite happy. The only ones it doesn't make happy are the ones who have all the money already and are stupid.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

thought self actualiztion was the top of MAzlows pyramid?
what the hell is peak experiences?

Considering that they turned it into a gay pride symbol, I have a few ideas.

 

[PrinceofWands]

But for most it makes them quite happy. The only ones it doesn't make happy are the ones who have all the money already and are stupid.

False, since even in my limited experience I've known many, rich and poor, bright and stupid, with no correlation between the money and the happiness, providing that basic life necessities are provided for.

 

[Locut0s]

False, since even in my limited experience I've known many, rich and poor, bright and stupid, with no correlation between the money and the happiness, providing that basic life necessities are provided for.

Which is exactly what studies have shown.

 

[coldmeat]

From what I understand, which could be completely wrong, is that all these studies show is that people who EARN more money than others are not any more happier. Show me a study where people who are given 1mil/year are no more happier than people who are given 50k/year, and I will be convinced that money != happiness.

 

[TridenT]

False, since even in my limited experience I've known many, rich and poor, bright and stupid, with no correlation between the money and the happiness, providing that basic life necessities are provided for.

Yes... I am going to rely on the "evidence" of which you have based upon your experiences.

If smart people have a lot of money then they're happy (And I am not talking about your regular amount. $100mil+ is at least what I am talking of). It's only the stupid ones that fuck that up. If you don't have to work, have all that money, and no obligations. What's the problem? You can go anywhere in the world, do anything you want, drive supercars, blow up shit, fly planes, whatever. I don't see how you cannot be happy in that case.

 

[TridenT]

From what I understand, which could be completely wrong, is that all these studies show is that people who EARN more money than others are not any more happier. Show me a study where people who are given 1mil/year are no more happier than people who are given 50k/year, and I will be convinced that money != happiness.

:thumbsup:

You won't find one. You might find stories of idiots who win the lottery who blew all their money away on gambling or something (lol. Lottery = gambling. Blew it all on gambling. I lol anyway) and regret everything, but they're morons and fucked up. So they regret fucking up.

Again, $100+mil. I'll be pretty fucking happy with that shit. Give me poorness for all my life. Fuck that. Why would I do that? Barely being able to afford anything? I can't even have a fucking computer or my car. I can't even fucking work to make things better. No education. Fuck that shit.

You guys never read #2.

Option 2: you must give up all your current material possessions and live very poorly. You get enough money to put a roof over your head and food in your stomach and just a LITTLE more for extras and entertainment. Maybe enough to see a movie every 2 month if you save up. No car or anything else. So basically less than min wage. But you are guaranteed to live healthy to 110 yrs old.

 

[Powermoloch]

Live poor or Die Hard

 

[PrinceofWands]

Yes... I am going to rely on the "evidence" of which you have based upon your experiences.

If smart people have a lot of money then they're happy (And I am not talking about your regular amount. $100mil+ is at least what I am talking of). It's only the stupid ones that fuck that up. If you don't have to work, have all that money, and no obligations. What's the problem? You can go anywhere in the world, do anything you want, drive supercars, blow up shit, fly planes, whatever. I don't see how you cannot be happy in that case.

As opposed to relying on your statements, without even so much as personal experiences for support. I included my personal experiences because as I said, once something is shown to be untrue ever, it is never again capable of being defined as 'true'. It may be subjectively true - ie works for some people, but it can never be considered a general truth absent personal biases.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Yes... I am going to rely on the "evidence" of which you have based upon your experiences.

If smart people have a lot of money then they're happy (And I am not talking about your regular amount. $100mil+ is at least what I am talking of). It's only the stupid ones that fuck that up. If you don't have to work, have all that money, and no obligations. What's the problem? You can go anywhere in the world, do anything you want, drive supercars, blow up shit, fly planes, whatever. I don't see how you cannot be happy in that case.

Please provide peer reviewed research supporting your position, because I can provide counter-evidence.

Once basic needs are accounted for, money has no bearing on happiness unless it exists as a pre-existing personal conditional desire. It isn't money which makes even them happy, it's the fulfillment of their perceived want. For those who don't suffer the want of greed, money has no bearing upon their happiness.

 

[PrinceofWands]

:thumbsup:

You won't find one. You might find stories of idiots who win the lottery who blew all their money away on gambling or something (lol. Lottery = gambling. Blew it all on gambling. I lol anyway) and regret everything, but they're morons and fucked up. So they regret fucking up.

Again, $100+mil. I'll be pretty fucking happy with that shit. Give me poorness for all my life. Fuck that. Why would I do that? Barely being able to afford anything? I can't even have a fucking computer or my car. I can't even fucking work to make things better. No education. Fuck that shit.

You guys never read #2.

Option 2: you must give up all your current material possessions and live very poorly. You get enough money to put a roof over your head and food in your stomach and just a LITTLE more for extras and entertainment. Maybe enough to see a movie every 2 month if you save up. No car or anything else. So basically less than min wage. But you are guaranteed to live healthy to 110 yrs old.

I have lived well over 2/3 of my life with no car, and am MUCH happier and less stressed because of it. Cars suck. A computer can EASILY be had within the strictures named. In fact, everything is possible - fun, travel, schooling, etc.

I just received my latest social security statement today. I am 38, and began working when I was 16. So far I have made a total of about $244,000 taxable dollars in those 22 years. That averages out to be WELL less than minimum wage. Yet I have several computers, have traveled most of America, some of the world, seen movies, listened to music (including live), seen shows on Broadway, raised a child (at least in part), completed a couple degrees and have several others in progress, given to charity, etc, and so on.

It isn't money which allows a person to live, or even dictates the manner or quality of that life.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

I just received my latest social security statement today. I am 38, and began working when I was 16. So far I have made a total of about $244,000 taxable dollars in those 22 years. That averages out to be WELL less than minimum wage. Yet I have several computers, have traveled most of America, some of the world, seen movies, listened to music (including live), seen shows on Broadway, raised a child (at least in part), completed a couple degrees and have several others in progress, given to charity, etc, and so on.

Tell ATOT your secret, o' master of thriftiness.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Tell ATOT your secret, o' master of thriftiness.

There's absolutely no secret...just use your brain.

1. Don't incur interest charges unless it's for something like a house that requires it for 99.9% of people. For things like school there's plenty of money out there in scholarships or just by working your way through. There's also nothing important a $30,000 car can do that a $3000 car can't. Better to pay cash for the cheap one than finance the expensive one. This rule should also apply to fees or any other charges.

2. Buy for utility (ie spend the cheapest dollar/use, not the cheapest dollar or for name recognition).

3. Don't try and live expensive places...those costs are illusory and you're just giving your money to someone else for little or no return.

4. Prioritize your spending. If you run out after the things you MUST buy you won't waste it on things you don't really need.

5. Don't participate in things that cost you money while making things more expensive for everyone. That means insurances, banks, investments (not the same as savings), etc. Those things are all about wealth redistribution towards the top and in the end will be what collapses our economy. For those things you absolutely MUST do (like auto insurance if you have to drive), find non-profit alternatives so you don't contribute to the problem more than you have to.

6. Quit acting like an island among aristocrats. Collective is superior to individual when it comes to most costs, and that includes living arrangements. People were meant to be social and congregate anyway. There's a reason related families would all live on expanding homesteads, and it's almost all positive. A group of friends can be family too, so no excuses about a rotting tree. This is also about footprints...an individual only needs so much, and when the utility aspects are shared it can be reduced even further, which makes the costs lower per individual.

7. Ignore society. They're wrong almost every time. This includes peer pressure, fashion, trends, social classes, political correctness, social mores, opinions...even laws quite often (though obviously not on big ticket items like murder or rape).

8. Look for, and take advantage of, opportunities. The military is an opportunity, as is job corp, peace corp, volunteer organizations, school activities, community activities, church activities, etc. I saw America in and just after the military. I saw England/Ireland/Scotland with debate in college. I saw many government operations and got to take part in them as part of a volunteer group. By making friends with all types I get invited to be a part of all types of things.


It's mostly just a mindset - you are not important (at least no more or less than any other living being), money doesn't matter, and look to act for the lowest common denominator (because everything in life is bottom up...EVERYTHING).

I realize it wouldn't work for most people, hell maybe not even many people...but it's given me and others a pretty damn good life. I've done more with the tiny amounts that I've had than most people with many times what I've amassed.