Discussing money

[*Robert* 2]

Aficionado, was any of this any help? I didn't see anyone bragging, but the perception of it is real. The taboo allows one to be resigned to having little or no money, to be judgemental and cyncial toward those who do, but doesn't allow for those who have plenty to express happiness or comfort about it. You have to wonder who this dicotomy serves.

I dont have ANY problems with someone being happy or content in having plenty of money.

I also would appreciate hearing some advise on how they pulled themselves from "just making it" to "rolling in the dough".

What I dont appreciate is someone having said they have a family trust fund telling people that they dont have money because they choose not to. Maybe you didnt mean to come across that way, but it sounded snobby.

Everyone has a choice to improve their financial situation..I agree. This could mean building a business for some and for others it could mean just saving enough for emergencies. Lisa

editted-- THIS is why people dont talk openly about money LOL

I see a contradiction in the two bolded statements. I believe that unless you have some sort of involuntary impediment, retardation, addiction, mental issues, it is very possible to gain financial freedom in this country. It is a choice, the same kind of choice that one makes about any priority they set in life. There is nothing snobby about being positive about anyone's ability to do well in life.

I think you missed my point in the next sentence. I dont think someone has to have a disability to be living paycheck to paycheck. I dont think it means that they dont have any drive either.

I agree that people can change their priorities through hard work and perseverance and become successful.

But I think advice and opinions on how to do that are best received from people who have actually accomplished it.

We are all born into our life circumstances with no choice in the matter. Some people are born into wealth and trust funds; others into poverty. The rest of us - somewhere in the middle of the road. Those of us in the middle have more chances to improve our lot than those less fortunate.

I think it's really odd that some people who were fortunate enough to have been born into the trust fund stratosphere don't realize how exactly alike they are to those who are impoverished. We read their commentary about "teet suckers" and their dismay with "entitlement programs" like nationalized medicine. I wonder if it ever occurs to them that by having been born into wealth they are living off the sweat of another's brow just as much as a welfare baby is? True, it may not be a life lived off the taxpayer dollar, but it's also not a position to come from wherein there's a whole lot of credible advice they can offer the middle-class masses about rising up and bettering themselves.

It's rather shortsighted to ASSume that a person born into money has attained nothing on their own and has nothing to offer to those who weren't and wish to gain wealth.To stereotype us provides license for you to be stereotyped, as well. neither is useful.

Sucks to be you...

Guess both you and GW just can't get any respect.

[PlatyPius 5]

Aficionado, was any of this any help? I didn't see anyone bragging, but the perception of it is real. The taboo allows one to be resigned to having little or no money, to be judgemental and cyncial toward those who do, but doesn't allow for those who have plenty to express happiness or comfort about it. You have to wonder who this dicotomy serves.

I dont have ANY problems with someone being happy or content in having plenty of money.

I also would appreciate hearing some advise on how they pulled themselves from "just making it" to "rolling in the dough".

What I dont appreciate is someone having said they have a family trust fund telling people that they dont have money because they choose not to. Maybe you didnt mean to come across that way, but it sounded snobby.

Everyone has a choice to improve their financial situation..I agree. This could mean building a business for some and for others it could mean just saving enough for emergencies. Lisa

editted-- THIS is why people dont talk openly about money LOL

I see a contradiction in the two bolded statements. I believe that unless you have some sort of involuntary impediment, retardation, addiction, mental issues, it is very possible to gain financial freedom in this country. It is a choice, the same kind of choice that one makes about any priority they set in life. There is nothing snobby about being positive about anyone's ability to do well in life.

I think you missed my point in the next sentence. I dont think someone has to have a disability to be living paycheck to paycheck. I dont think it means that they dont have any drive either.

I agree that people can change their priorities through hard work and perseverance and become successful.

But I think advice and opinions on how to do that are best received from people who have actually accomplished it.

We are all born into our life circumstances with no choice in the matter. Some people are born into wealth and trust funds; others into poverty. The rest of us - somewhere in the middle of the road. Those of us in the middle have more chances to improve our lot than those less fortunate.

I think it's really odd that some people who were fortunate enough to have been born into the trust fund stratosphere don't realize how exactly alike they are to those who are impoverished. We read their commentary about "teet suckers" and their dismay with "entitlement programs" like nationalized medicine. I wonder if it ever occurs to them that by having been born into wealth they are living off the sweat of another's brow just as much as a welfare baby is? True, it may not be a life lived off the taxpayer dollar, but it's also not a position to come from wherein there's a whole lot of credible advice they can offer the middle-class masses about rising up and bettering themselves.

It's rather shortsighted to ASSume that a person born into money has attained nothing on their own and has nothing to offer to those who weren't and wish to gain wealth.To stereotype us provides license for you to be stereotyped, as well. neither is useful.

Sucks to be you...

Guess both you and GW just can't get any respect.

What she misses from all of this is that she, as a trust fund baby, HAD THE MONEY TO INVEST. It doesn't matter if she lived off of the proceeds of her "fund", or if she invested some of it and made money off of that. It's still money that most of us don't have.

If I had the money, I'd open a bike shop here in my town. I wouldn't get rich, but if I were diverse enough in what I sold, I could probably get by. But I don't have the money to start up. Nor do I have access to enough money to start up. As I said before, it takes money to make money.

I suppose I could invest $50/month in something or other, and in 30 years I'd have enough to start that bike shop. At age 70.

[*Robert* 2]

As allways, well said brother Platy!

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Doesn't suck to be me

[*Robert* 2]

Doesn't suck to be me

Well isn't that nice! Everyone should be as special!

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Gee, to think that one could engage such ire for merely being positive about money and saying that it is possible to be financially secure, even if you're not now.

Boo! Hiss! We hate prosperity!

Is that more like it?

[Ban Hammer 13,575]

[kaydee457 13]

Wow. It's insane. I just hope Obama can do something about these kinds of things when he's president.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Wow. It's insane. I just hope Obama can do something about these kinds of things when he's president.

Yea, Obama opened a bike store and got rich via investments. He'll know how to "save" these poor, downtrodden folks, for sure!

Edited November 29, 2008 by Virtual wife

[sereia 0]

Gee, to think that one could engage such ire for merely being positive about money and saying that it is possible to be financially secure, even if you're not now.

Boo! Hiss! We hate prosperity!

Is that more like it?

This wholeeeeeeee thing reminds me of this video from Chris Rock (watch out for "mature" language):

Watch from 3:25-6:20 (or onward)

[PlatyPius 5]

Wow. It's insane. I just hope Obama can do something about these kinds of things when he's president.

Yea, Obama opened a bike store and got rich via investments. He'll know how to "save" these poor, downtrodden folks, for sure!

You actually ARE quite stupid, aren't you?

[rebeccajo 14]

Aficionado, was any of this any help? I didn't see anyone bragging, but the perception of it is real. The taboo allows one to be resigned to having little or no money, to be judgemental and cyncial toward those who do, but doesn't allow for those who have plenty to express happiness or comfort about it. You have to wonder who this dicotomy serves.

I dont have ANY problems with someone being happy or content in having plenty of money.

I also would appreciate hearing some advise on how they pulled themselves from "just making it" to "rolling in the dough".

What I dont appreciate is someone having said they have a family trust fund telling people that they dont have money because they choose not to. Maybe you didnt mean to come across that way, but it sounded snobby.

Everyone has a choice to improve their financial situation..I agree. This could mean building a business for some and for others it could mean just saving enough for emergencies. Lisa

editted-- THIS is why people dont talk openly about money LOL

I see a contradiction in the two bolded statements. I believe that unless you have some sort of involuntary impediment, retardation, addiction, mental issues, it is very possible to gain financial freedom in this country. It is a choice, the same kind of choice that one makes about any priority they set in life. There is nothing snobby about being positive about anyone's ability to do well in life.

I think you missed my point in the next sentence. I dont think someone has to have a disability to be living paycheck to paycheck. I dont think it means that they dont have any drive either.

I agree that people can change their priorities through hard work and perseverance and become successful.

But I think advice and opinions on how to do that are best received from people who have actually accomplished it.

We are all born into our life circumstances with no choice in the matter. Some people are born into wealth and trust funds; others into poverty. The rest of us - somewhere in the middle of the road. Those of us in the middle have more chances to improve our lot than those less fortunate.

I think it's really odd that some people who were fortunate enough to have been born into the trust fund stratosphere don't realize how exactly alike they are to those who are impoverished. We read their commentary about "teet suckers" and their dismay with "entitlement programs" like nationalized medicine. I wonder if it ever occurs to them that by having been born into wealth they are living off the sweat of another's brow just as much as a welfare baby is? True, it may not be a life lived off the taxpayer dollar, but it's also not a position to come from wherein there's a whole lot of credible advice they can offer the middle-class masses about rising up and bettering themselves.

It's rather shortsighted to ASSume that a person born into money has attained nothing on their own and has nothing to offer to those who weren't and wish to gain wealth.To stereotype us provides license for you to be stereotyped, as well. neither is useful.

Well, first of all, I think I spoke my opinion with a modicum of decency and without insult. Secondly, I wasn't stereoptyping anyone. Instead I was offering a perspective that's quite outside stereotypical norms.

It's just something to think about, VW, and not an 'accusation'. More of a different angle or a introspective bent on the subject, I guess.

One has to admit - someone who is born with nothing and boot-straps themselves to financial security has more real-life advice to offer others than a person who is born with advantages.

[Ban Hammer 13,575]

Wow. It's insane. I just hope Obama can do something about these kinds of things when he's president.

Yea, Obama opened a bike store and got rich via investments. He'll know how to "save" these poor, downtrodden folks, for sure!

You actually ARE quite stupid, aren't you?

i think she was being sarcastic.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Reading this thread makes me want to stick a plumbers snake down my mouth, pull out my intestines and eat them.

[rebeccajo 14]

We are all born into our life circumstances with no choice in the matter. Some people are born into wealth and trust funds; others into poverty. The rest of us - somewhere in the middle of the road. Those of us in the middle have more chances to improve our lot than those less fortunate.

I think it's really odd that some people who were fortunate enough to have been born into the trust fund stratosphere don't realize how exactly alike they are to those who are impoverished. We read their commentary about "teet suckers" and their dismay with "entitlement programs" like nationalized medicine. I wonder if it ever occurs to them that by having been born into wealth they are living off the sweat of another's brow just as much as a welfare baby is? True, it may not be a life lived off the taxpayer dollar, but it's also not a position to come from wherein there's a whole lot of credible advice they can offer the middle-class masses about rising up and bettering themselves.

And they are equally likely to ignore the basic rules posted above to improve their position.

Define 'they', please.

Reading this thread makes me want to stick a plumbers snake down my mouth, pull out my intestines and eat them.

Gee.

That's radical.