Ya know, whenever I hear someone say the phrase 'Man, I'm starving', I'll always flash back to that one Onion Point/Counterpoint article that has the starving Ethiopean child vs. the normal guy/girl whatever. That was hilarious. What makes it more hilarious is usually the person that I overhear talking about themselves starving looks like a human Lay-Z-Boy recliner...you know, the REAL puffy ones.
On an unrelated note, I pose this question to the blog: Is there such a thing as having 'enough' of something? I was specifically thinking about the things I have vs. the things other people have, and how it is interesting how what everyone else has is more attractive than what you have. For example, I have an Xbox and a Gamecube, but I want a PS2. I have a car that runs fine, but I want a new one. I have fast internet service, but I want FASTER internet service. Alot of it comes down to this: my neighbor has a PSP and Comcast internet, and tons of games, and a HDTV projector. Plenty 'o things to covet. BUT -- he also has credit card debt, which I don't. So who's the winner there? Could I actually get to a point where I amass enough crap to where I'd be happier? It's an intriguing topic. I think the answer is no. It's human nature (and ESPECIALLY American nature) to want MORE and MORE. I think if you really meditate on it though, and you picture yourself with all the worldly possesions you'd ever want, you'd get bored. Realistically, I'd never have time to enjoy all that crap. If I did choose to enjoy all that crap, I'd never leave the house. If I never left the house, I'd be Michael Bradley.
So what is my point? I have no clue. Maybe you do - and I'm envious of that.
The short answer is "yes". The long answer is "no", though the long answer has plenty of "if"s, "maybe"s and an "unless" or two.
ReplyDeleteI think the reason people always think the grass is greener on the other side is because its easier to glamorize what you don't have; in fact, that's part of not having it and then wanting it that companies count on to sell products. Since you don't have it, you're forced to visualize what it might be like if you did. Given people's predisposition towards only looking at the positive aspects of ownership (and the whole concept of instant gratification), that tends to make some things look like a lot better ideas that they really are.
The PSP is a good example of this; sure, it's a cool novelty that you can play high-quality games on a high-quality handheld, but are you REALLY a big enough game player that you'd pay upwards of $300-350 (after the unit, gear, and a game) just to play a game that's not even unique to the system? Even if I was "rich, biatch!", I still wouldn't want a PSP since 1) it's not like I'm frequently in places I can play a handheld system and 2) handhelds are easier to break, which makes me nervous (this is part of the reason why I don't have a good cell phone). I'd hate to shell out all the cash for the thing only to drop it while it had a $50 game in it. And who in their right mind would pay $25 for a copy of a DVD movie that ONLY plays on a PSP? To me, that doesn't speak to people who enjoy/collect movies, that's just a gimmick for people to blow money on. So there are certain things that can lose their luster pretty quickly under even minimal scrutiny.
Which brings me to another point - digital media, which I will tie in deftly to Ken's point about "amassing crap". As someone with a reasonably good-sized collection of CDs and DVDs (about 350 and 150, respectively), and to a lesser extent, games, I'm starting to wonder whether or not it's worth it from a financial standpoint to keep it up. Because really, how often can you really watch a film? Once a year, maybe twice? Does that justify picking them up at $20 a pop so you can play them whenever you want? I don’t know. With the money I would have saved by not buying them I could have fully furnished my living room. Ian, maybe you can help out here. *heh* I know a few of you would suggest just burning albums or movies, but I happen to like the "collection" aspect of owning the originals, though studios are rapidly taking the fun out of that by releasing myriad "special editions" of seemingly every album, film or game that comes out these days.
Wants and needs can be really tough to balance, though the very fact you're asking this question means that you're smart enough not to start digging yourself into a financial pit just to have some new toys. In addition, I don't think the examples you cited are unreasonable in any way. It's not like you just got an XBox last week and now want a PS2, or you just got a new car 4 months ago and want another one. Certain things you just have to upgrade at certain stages in life.
Also, I'd say in the comparison between you and your neighbor, a winner is you. Potential wins over obligation and limitation any day. Sure, that guy has some cool shit, but unless you just have stupid money, you can't go leading-edge on everything. He's going to run into a credit wall at some point and could either, at worst, get himself into serious trouble or, more likely, wish he'd held off on some of that stuff. At least you live debt-free and can decide what you want to start amassing first. Personally, I'd rather take time and slowly buy quality shit that you know will last instead of just buying for the sake of having something new.
Like you said, even if you had all the electronic gear in the world you wanted, you'd never be able to enjoy it all, and you and your family would eventually evolve into albino mole-people living below Bolingbrook due to lack of sun. Though by that time, it's possible that science will have progressed to the point where Sony can simply fire an entertainment-rich beam of pink link directly into our pineal glands for a low monthly fee, precluding the need for any of us to worry about this sort of thing any more. But as for how to do that today... "I can't use this yet."
Whoever said "don't let the things you own end up owning you" was on to something.
I'll take one of those ... and one of those ... and two of these.
ReplyDeleteWhat? This one is about being frugal and realistic. I'm sorry, I was too busy testing that MasterCard was for everything else.
Confuscious say...the winner is he who is not concerned with winning.
ReplyDeleteDo what makes you happy (cliche)- if that means buying a lot of stuff and running up your credit card debt go for it. If it means having not as much stuff and paying off your balance in full go for it. It's not often you'll say "man I wish I never bought that". There are only a handful of times at most throughout my whole life I could say that so I just ya know do whatever.
It's just as likely you'll get what you "want" eventually anyway. My father just retired from being a doctor for 45 years and all he ever wanted to do was learn to fly planes. He's about a year away from turning 70 and he might just now get that opporunity. Some day Ken you might just get a PS2. And that's ok with me.
The things I enjoy most in life I don't covet- like good times at Bradley, some really interesting times in St. Louis, my friends, my family and of course my wife. People may not covet that I had a fucking great time at Bradley with you guys and you guys will be my best friends for probably as long as the sun is around.
But if material things are of concern well everybody's different. My buddy Cova just got a job and the first thing he did was buy a BMW. The first thing I did was buy an HDTV. He can't believe that I don't want a great car and I can't believe he pays so much in car payments for something that depreciates quicker than that blow job I got from that hooker last week. People give my wife shit that we didn't go out of town for our honeymoon- that's apparently a big fucking deal when you get marriend but you know what? I don't envy anyone who went to Hawaii or Mars or whatever because we did what we want.
Fullus Force has it right man- I have struggles in my mind over the fucking myriad of DVD's and the cost vs. ownership of em. I like movies a lot and like "owning" series of em but then hollywood does all this re-release bs and on and on the economic supply and demand goes. Consumerism is by far the worst weapon of mass destruction.
Try not to overthink it like I do. If you can afford it (which is also a determination person to person) then buy it, if you can't call me I'll get it for your birthday.
Just be sure to drink beer with me when I'm around and tell me I'm pretty.
And for the record I own an XBOX and Gamecube too. Oh my galla twilight princess!
Good thoughts gents. Dan pretty much summed up my thoughts: the best things in life don't cost money. Although I am now envious of your HDTV and will succumb to simiple-minded homophobic tones to express my anger. homo!
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