What's the point in accumulating...

[okiedokie]

reminds me of a bumper sticker in the 80s 'he who dies with the most toys, wins'. it was on a motor home pulling a boat and a couple motorcycles hanging off the motorhome.

 

[Lefty]

you should have it now for two reasons:

1. instant gratification

2. [and most i mportant] because you CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU

 

[scains]

Well so that you can have some enjoyment in this miserable world with psycho politcal leaders. Something that takes you away from all of that.

Of course that is only for small amounts of material items. If you can't afford them and have to have everything - well, I agree with MoePhoenix.

 

[Pushover]

You know...I really don't mind if people want to accumulate all the comforts. But they should know that nobody is entitled to more than they need even if they worked hard. Poor people work hard all the time and they get shit.

And a the old saying goes, they were thankful to have it.

 

[Alpha1851]

Every single material creature comfort you can possibly afford (and indeed, many that you can't) before the date of your death?

You can't take it with you.

Why exactly does it matter if you can take w/ you or not?

Some folks accumulate creature comforts b/c they enjoy having them. B/c the comforts make their lives easier and more relaxing and more fulfilling. Some folks buy comforts b/c they just want to. Isn't any of that reason enough?

 

[metta]

For me, I try to find some kind of balance. Also known as the middle path by Buddhists.

I do admit that I sometimes feel guilty at how much stuff I do have. I think that it is ridiculous that one person owns so much stuff. But at least the only big debt that I really have is my mortgage. A lot of the stuff that I do own is for my business.

Thankfully, I have never really been big on gadgets. I do like my nano (ipod). But I have not been to a mall in several years.

 

[BabiGayPimp]

Don't get me wrong. I like things just as much as the next person. I was just at the mall this afternoon and picked some new gear at Macy's. But I do wonder what would be left if it were all gone. I think that's why strength of character is so important.

 

[chatolandia]

I have been letting go of that

I'd rather have experiences


I need a few upgrades on my system, but I don't like buying stuff because in 6 months it will be outdated!

 

[Fucker29]

I can't also take my memories with me...when I die, I die...I'll take no memories nor material things. It's all part of living and material things can have emotional significance...but, as some have pointed out already, there should be, ideally, a certain balance.

 

[Jory]

Every single material creature comfort you can possibly afford (and indeed, many that you can't) before the date of your death?

You can't take it with you.

Sometimes when I think like this, the life of a Buddhist monk makes more sense to me than a brainwashed capitalist's lifestyle.

One of the problems is that because most in the gay community have disposable income the idea of materialism is usually thrust upon us Come on think about it the Gay rags showing the perfect Place to live and how it should look, the vacations one should go on, and how we we should look.All to have that perfect life style

 

[metta]

hmm.....i skipped that slut phase.


that is an interesting theory/stereotype though.


hmmm....do I lock myself up with all of my stuff? I guess I do at night. Possibly even more so than most people because I work from home so I'm always around my 'stuff'. I make sure that my alarm system is on every night. I live behind gates. That is pretty well locked up.

I only have one tv in my home and I barely watch that. I try to make sure that I get out at least once a day, normally to workout, go see friends, or do a little basic shopping (food, etc.).

But I don't feel bitter about not being a slut when I was younger or that I can't go back and be a slut. I could totally be a slut now if I wanted to. Esh.....that would be easy. It just does not interest me.

 

[Alpha1851]

I understand that people want their creature comforts, but can't we settle for a little bit less than the cutting edge and the cream of the crop and be a little bit more human towards our fellow man instead of stepping on them?

I struggle w/ this all the time and I usually end up feeling guilty and resentful. Guilty b/c I feel bad for wanting to buy something when I could donate even more of my money, and resentful b/c I work very hard for my money and I can't even enjoy it.

 

[Kulindahr]

"Stuff".

I get stressed when I have a lot, I feel powerless when I have too little.

 

[PabloZed]

The pursuit of wealth has led to a better standard of living for hundreds of millions of people. And some of the gadgets that are toys to some of us are also business tools that increase efficiency. And even if its not large percentage, some of the wealth accumulated does go to charity. There would be no Gates Foundation without Microsoft.

Because of our standard of living, we have enormous free time relative to people who must literally work from sun up to sun down. And a lot of that free time is consumed by entertainment of some sort, be it video games or sports. In a sick sense, we live and work so that we have time and money to entertain ourselves. That is our purpose. I think the ultrawealthy buy extreme toys like helicopters and yachts because any ole millionaire can have a fancy car. They have to justify their wealth to themselves.

 

[cmizer]

i wonder if you would feel this way if you had the means to accumulate every single "material creature comfort"

 

[Alpha1851]

^A bong? Oh, so you smoke pot. Okay, shouldn't you donate the money you spend on dope to the poor? They could use it to buy food ya know.

*Couldn't resist kid *

 

[Yuki Sohma]

...You can't take it with you.

Sometimes when I think like this, the life of a Buddhist monk makes more sense to me than a brainwashed capitalist's lifestyle.

I'm takin' all my stuff with me....................so there

....................

....................seriously though, asceticism (a life-style void of of certain worldly pleasures) is a rare trait to be found....................

 

[FPNY]

not being able to take it with you is the argument for spending it, whaddya gonna do, just let all this cash lay around?

 

[Huskerboy]

I see what you mean, but while I'm also talking about super-rich people who feel the need to have the latest BlackBerry, who absolutely must have that helicopter, and for whom their own private jet is an absolute necessity, I'm also talking about people who cannot afford to have an iPhone, who don't have the means to buy a $300,000 house, and who can't come up with the money for the rent for their shitty studio apartment in the bad part of town but absolutely must have the latest $1,000 graphics card for their Alienware computer with a 30" flatscreen LCD monitor.

It's all a matter of priorities. Some people have that figured out, some don't. To some the rent is a priority and so is being a responsible member of society. To others, they feel like the 'system' owes them a place to live, and they don't care if they better themselves or not... just as long as they've got their new Blackberry!

Then there's those poor souls who spend themselves into a hole so deep they have to hire someone to pump daylight to them... what a shame to think like that...

For me? I think a lot of my personal 'gotta have it' mentality has diminished as I've gotten older. I know what's important in life and what isn't - at least on a personal level. The toys and luxuries I have are from the result of working hard, being fair, and helping others along the way. I no longer HAVE to get the newest and latest and most stylish of anything... fuck! I think I AM getting older!

 

[Paws]

The thread question implies there is an afterlife, which we don't know.