IF he really is self-made wealthy at age 22, conceited behavior is perfectly natural, and practically unavoidable. Quick wealth in one's early 20's after a humble childhood/adolescence is an intoxicating stimutant, a thousand times stronger than the world's finest cocaine. Sex, drugs, love- nothing comes close to the feeling of quick self earned wealth at such a young age. The high is not permanent either, as it fades within 2 or 3 years. Trust me, I know.
R-M, Heaven knows how I acted when I was that young, so you may have something there. I'll try to keep that in mind when he opens his piehole again.
:eek: Umm... That was indeed one of the most humbling things I've read in years... Wealth sure can be intoxicating - unfortunately. Unfortunately it can also cost you a lot of friends, and create family envy. I used to have my JD business in my dad's gallery when, after some time part-time trading, I basically "walked away" from it with a few words that implied "Sorry dad, but I'm making a lot more than you now..." Imagine the look on his face. Yes, I realize I'm conceited. Not only as a result of circumstances, though, but I think more so as a means of self-protection. Trust me - Arrogance is a great way of keeping people, girls and false friends at bay. And for what I know, the few really good friends I have are kind of conceited, too. I know a lot of arrogant people and it doesn't bother me at all. I believe that people who are smart enough just see right through the "shield" that is arrogance, anyway. And those that aren't... Well... Lesson learnt, and a wise post to think about from RM. I think I'll remember this post for a while. Rearden, do we have something in common? Love to add you to my list, too - If you don't mind. Shame to know it should fade soon, though... Ah well - plenty of time left to lose it all and start from scratch again... :eek: Moving 2 my new pad on Tuesday - So I'm off to a goodbye-party now. Have a nice Sunday nite folks! S
"Lesson learnt, and a smart post to think about from RM. Rearden, do we have something in common? Love to add you to my list, too - If you don't mind." Sure we do. I suck at human psychology. The only reason I understand your current mentality is by experiencing it first hand in the late 90's. Money is freedom, and money is power. I used to have the attitude: "This is who I am. If anyone doesn't like it- fuck 'em." Ok, so I still have that attitude , but it used to be more extreme. If I wanted a better seat in an airplane or theater, I'd offer strangers $100 to get up and let me and whoever I was with have their seats. I remember this chick I had just started dating back then suddenly told me she didn't want to go out with me anymore. I found out from a mutual acquaintance that my cockiness of offering strangers money to get up and let us have their seats was the catalyst for this breakup...not that I cared really. I had already accomplished my 'hole' purpose of dating her anyways. Time to move on to the next one. A phrase I coined and often repeated back then was "It's not what you know, it's what you HAVE." I took great pride in the fact that I have zero college education, and still had so much money. I recall a very similar Richard Pryor quote, where he said pretty much the exact same thing. Now I know, It's both. What you have, AND what you know. Anyways sci, enjoy the high while it lasts. It isn't forever.
Scientist, sorry I got involved in this thread, taking a dig at you. Whether or not you are enjoying the level of success described here is no business of mine. Assuming for the moment that you are, it's interesting the way people immediately want to cut you down, isn't it? The idea that someone out there could be doing so much 'better' than us can be very difficult for humans to accept. That's why we hear the "oh, it's gotta be bullshit"s and "well, it doesn't last"s. These guys aren't talking to you, they're talking to themselves.
weak.. i'm not trying to cut anyone down just because they are successful. why aren't i bashing Don Bright or someone else? when i read Scientist's posts, all my bullsh!t detectors go off.