Our society

Pablo

As said before, The Grass is Always Greener. I like all the stuff I have. I only work as hard as I do so I can get the stuff I like. I make more than enough to live, so now I get stuff (although I do hate my cell phone, but keep it in case of emergancy). I'm a good person, help others when I can and give money to those who need. My wife no longer works and spends the day with the kids (also takes other's kids when they need). I don't let my kids get away with any of the crap mentioned here (but I know there are to many that do). And now that my youngest is starting school (I have a 13yr & 5yr old), my wife will be spending her days reading to the kids and helping those that need it most (only because she likes to). Sure there may be to much violence and sex on tv and video games, but Ill put up with that and control what my kids watch to have the option of 300 channels and 3 gaming consoles. I can see nothing from the past that I would prefer than the way the world is now (except for maybe a new '57 Nomad that I would have put in the garage for 48 years).

One of the reasons people think the world is so much worse now than ever before is because they hear about that kind of thing constantly. Between the endless 24 hour news stations, tons of news papers, an AM dial that's all talk and the internet, we are a hundred times more informed than ever before (and you can't hide bad news these days).

So give me my hot tub on a snowy winters night, with the outdoor stereo playing my favorite tune, the kids in bed and a naked wife next to me any day.

But hey, if you've had enough of now-a-days, then pack up some stuff, find a nice quite place away from it all, grow a few of the essentials and enjoy life to the fullest. (leave the cell behind if you like, but it comes in handy during an emergency).

Remember, it's America, we can do pretty much what we like.

VR3

I agree with you that it takes alot of people to make a POSITIVE change...

But, lord help we have a complaint about religion, "child abuse", child labor - it dosnt take much to get things down the crapper.

Whoever thought of making kids wait till they are 16 to work in an established business? I started working when I was 12 years old, around POWER TOOLS, operating a nail gun, standing up walls, helping crane operates control truces. I mean... why are 18 year old+ limited to doing this kind of work? I kept up, if not surpassed some of these older folks. The fact that the past generations have limited kids in responsibility, and given them a free ride until 16 only increases what some folks in this thread have complained about so far.

Not parenting your kids? Whos fault is that? I mean yeah, the parents should discipline, but it takes a lil bit of force to make kids listen, nothing is going to make me listen by someone screaming at me, or telling me to go to my room (looks around room...). It wouldnt bother me to be spanked for a reason, as I probally wouldnt want to repeat the mistake again. I believe in disciplining kids, and I can't believe some bone head made simple discipline child abuse. That is completely retarded.

I mean, it took very few people to make these changes... a few complaints, a few offended - it was all taken away. Kids are not bad because they are kids, they are bad because we were brought up to think we have choices and we don't. We are kids, we live under the thumb of our parents, we shouldnt be pushing our parents around and my kids wont do it either.

As for people not being responsible? Now... being quite itentive in my last history class, I remember alot of "Panics of xxxx" involving backruptcy, stock market, people investing their money in things and losing - it dosnt seem like a new concept. People in general are fairly irresponsible don't you think. Just look around at our world today eh...

ND13

Much better Sid.

PhantomOG

Society as a whole has become a bunch of whiners. Life is no worse than it was 100 years ago. Its only that technology and media have allowed everyone who has a problem with anything and everything to get their message out that life sucks and its everyone's fault but their own.

My personal philosophy about "happiness" is that you are only as happy as you allow yourself to be. Society today completely focuses on the negative things in life and completely blows them way out of proportion. The media promotes this image that unless you have the body of a fitness model, own 3 mansions and 20 cars that your life sucks. Well, if you are *stupid* enough to buy into that, go ahead and be misreable just like the rest of the herd.

We are a society of people who get fat on fast food and them blame McDonald's and the government for allowing it to happen. Nobody is forced to drive around in their Hummer's talking on cell phones and working 60 hours a week. People do that because they want to, and if they are unhappy its nobody's damn fault but their own. Don't blame the cell phone, don't blame the tv... go look in a mirror and you'll see the only thing separating you from happiness -- yourself.

ND13

I've given up on the pipe-dream of "happiness". I'll be fine with being "content". There's alot to be said for being "content". There's only sorrow in looking for happiness.
Very, very few are truly happy.

neomagus00

PhantomOG wrote:

Nobody is forced to drive around in their Hummer's talking on cell phones and working 60 hours a week.

how far can someone truly expect to go working only 40 hours a week, though? at work, i sit next to a woman who is quite literally old enough to be my grandmother, and she's been sitting there doing her 40 hours a week for ages... maybe you're right, if she's happy doing that, more power to her, but i suppose it's my drive to work for more than the average that makes that kind of life sound dissatisfying... and without the drive for more that our ancestors had, where would this country be? would we have this board and these computers if our ancestors had been content to live under an oppressive monarch?

and no, i'm not trying to compare today to back then, but the ideas are the same...

jdhdiggs

I don't know, my wife and I seem to be doing allright at 40-45 hrs/wk. As MM said, work smarter, not harder.

It goes along with all the choices you make. Most people who are AT work 60+ hours a week might only WORK 30 of those.

cfrizz

I too am doing quite well on 40hrs a week. I simply use common sense & live within my means. If I want something & don't have the money for it just then, I will save for it & then get it. I will not run up my credit card & live in debt. I have $0.00 worth of debt.

I wanted a new cd player, been wanting one for over a yr, but I waited & paid cash for it using my tax refund.

It's about living smarter and having patience to get what you want.

And being content with what you finally do have, not constantly looking for more that might put you in over your head.

Ron-P

I work on average 7 to 8 hours a day but it's the damn commute that takes me over the top and into the 55-60 hour work week.

PhantomOG

neomagus00 wrote:

how far can someone truly expect to go working only 40 hours a week, though? at work, i sit next to a woman who is quite literally old enough to be my grandmother, and she's been sitting there doing her 40 hours a week for ages... maybe you're right, if she's happy doing that, more power to her, but i suppose it's my drive to work for more than the average that makes that kind of life sound dissatisfying... and without the drive for more that our ancestors had, where would this country be? would we have this board and these computers if our ancestors had been content to live under an oppressive monarch?

and no, i'm not trying to compare today to back then, but the ideas are the same...

I don't think overthrowing an oppressive monarch and the desire to "work for more than the average" are anywhere near the same.

Basic human desires are what make people strive for more in life. If you achieve your desires and goals in life and are unhappy when you get there, who is to blame? The objects of your desire? No... its yourself for either setting the wrong goals or for not allowing yourself to be happy.

Too many people go through life with blinders on and don't see the world for what it really is.

reeltrouble1

cfrizz wrote:

I will not run up my credit card & live in debt. I have $0.00 worth of debt.

Holy Crimeny!!!! I thought I remembered Frizz saying she's single. I'm old and married and fighting GG for Wendi anyway, but you single guys take note.

Well, it just seems material things mean less as I get older, maybe it is just being content, or maybe I have realized how much good luck in life I have had. I may be a bit crotchety at times but sure seem to smile alot now.

Still I do love my audio gear and my boat!!!

RT1

ND13

cfrizz wrote:

And being content with what you finally do have, not constantly looking for more that might put you in over your head.

Yep, being content is more than enough for me.

I have to work 60+ hours a week or the place will fall apart. I could work my normal hours of:
Mon-Fri-Sat= 8:30-6
Tuesday 8:30-1
Wed and Thur= 8:30-9
but it would just cost me more time and $$$ in the long run. So if I can leave work within a couple of hours of my reg schedule< I'm lucky. I don't even add in the 1 1/2 to 2 hours of commuting per day.

PhantomOG

there is almost a bad connotation with the word "content" as if the person who is content is lazy or undriven. that is completely untrue.

*Neccesity* is the mother of invention, not keeping up with the Joneses. Society and technology would still advance just fine, and probably better, if people learned to be "content".

It's not getting what you want, it's wanting what you've got.

The distinction between "want" and "need" is very important.

Early B.

ND13 wrote:

I've given up on the pipe-dream of "happiness". I'll be fine with being "content". There's alot to be said for being "content". There's only sorrow in looking for happiness.
Very, very few are truly happy.

One of the biggest problems in the world is that people are looking for happiness. Happiness cannot be found in material objects, experiences or situations. Happiness can only be cultivated from within. The key to life is to be happy in spite of whatever challenges confront you.

PhantomOG

Early B. wrote:

One of the biggest problems in the world is that people are looking for happiness. Happiness cannot be found in material objects, experiences or situations. Happiness can only be cultivated from within. The key to life is to be happy in spite of whatever challenges confront you.

my feelings exactly.

neomagus00

why are materialism and happiness mutually exclusive? i'm truly, honestly happy being where i am in life today, but that doesn't mean i couldn't enjoy it more if i had a better tv, or my car's stage-2, or a dozen other things i'd like... if i can't get them, so be it, they're just toys, but it isn't wrong to want them and to work for them...

CrBoy

materialism and happiness are NOT mutually exclusive, however when you want to buy something really bad you have to work extra hours, which causes more stress and takes away you peace of mind... obviously this doesn't apply to every scenario...

PhantomOG

neomagus00 wrote:

why are materialism and happiness mutually exclusive? i'm truly, honestly happy being where i am in life today, but that doesn't mean i couldn't enjoy it more if i had a better tv, or my car's stage-2, or a dozen other things i'd like... if i can't get them, so be it, they're just toys, but it isn't wrong to want them and to work for them...

i don't think they are exclusive. i only think it is wrong to blame directly the material goods for people's unhappiness.

being content doesn't mean not wanting more. it merely means those desires don't stand in the way of your happiness.

ND13

neomagus00 wrote:

why are materialism and happiness mutually exclusive? i'm truly, honestly happy being where i am in life today, but that doesn't mean i couldn't enjoy it more if i had a better tv, or my car's stage-2, or a dozen other things i'd like... if i can't get them, so be it, they're just toys, but it isn't wrong to want them and to work for them...

Then you are content.