I have a feeling that Bill Gates is suffering under a celebrity synadrone i.e. he does not like the attention of millions of eyes on him, following and watching his every move. Bill Gates, Donald Trump, Ellison etc. are extreme exceptions. The question of money buying happiness for average joe takes a very different turn, take a middle or even upper middle class family and give them a couple of millions and they will soon find life is much more comfortable and slightly more happy because financial worries are not as stressful as before. THREAT/FEAR OF POVERTY is the single most stress factor in average person's life. However, there was some thread on ET before, where hedge fund managers in NY were UNHAPPY because they could make ends meet with $500K a year income because their lifestyle required incurring senseless expenses which would be 'total waste' in average person's view and bring in more stress and financial demands.......a good case of money bringing in UNHAPPINESS, STRESS, ANGER, DIVORCE, DISTANCE from family, DISEASES etc.....and eventually EVILNESS because they see others with less money more happy and satisfied. In the end, LIFESTYLE is what brings happiness, IMHO.
If you look at a lot of lotto winners, they were happy at first, before their greedy friends and family ate them from the inside out till they had nothing left, and now they are more miserable than before. So I think money can make you happy, but alot of negative, unwanted attention comes with it, and that aspect of it, can make you unhappy if you dont know how to deal with it.
âLove for others and respect for their rights and dignity, no matter who or what they are: ultimately these are all we need. So long as we practise these in our daily lives, then no matter if we are learned or unlearned, whether we believe in Buddha or God, or follow some other religion or none at all, as long as we have compassion for others and conduct ourselves with restraint out of a sense of responsibility, there is no doubt we will be happyâ - Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama. You see it's simple....
See, but the fact is, they were happy at first. Money Bought Them Happiness....... it wasn't forever. But money CAN buy Happiness. The question is, how long can money sustain that happiness? That is a more proper question I think. Because a "can" or "can not" question is pointless, because even if it hasn't happened, there is always the possibility something can happen.
Good point. I just noticed that it depends on the person. It's different if you have actually been hungry and poor vs being a spoiled brat all your life. Those are the crazy pathetic rich people, those that have little concept of what life really is and what money really means. There is no happiness if there is no sadness, you have to know one to know the other. Just like in the Matrix, where it is told that the original Matrix of pure bliss & utopia was a complete failure. Honestly, I have noticed that the happiest people are those that do not have much but do not need much. Laughter is free, so is love, companionship & friendship. Sex is another story, thats mostly money related in the US, but still. True health, this is something money can never buy. It is a factor but only your own discipline & knowledge can bless you with great health, something I am very happy to have. No matter how rich you are, going to doctors nonstop, being dependent on big pharma drugs and operations just plain Sux. A good family friend said this at his daughter's wedding which really made me think. "A truly wealthy man is not one always needs more and then gets the money to get it, it is one who needs & requires less". That is really it, the happiest people on earth do not have extravagant needs and do not need riches to get what they want. I have a good friend like that, when we talk business he always tells me that it is not for the money, he is already richer than he needs to be. He does not need a lot of money at all, he is a simple man and has simple needs and is very happy. $1m or $10m makes little difference to him. And his net income for last year was better 99% of ETers, this year's will be about double. And on the other hand, I have met people that will not be happy until they have made an absurd amount of money and my question is always "Why do you need that much?". This other particular individual is 26 years old and had a minor heartache at 24 years old. He is killing himself for his half bil goal by the time he is 35years. I've told him several times that whether he reaches his goal or not, it won't matter cause at this rate he will be dead by the time he is 40 years. The kid is more than rich enough already by normal standards, let alone his family's fortune. It's like a vicious cycle cause it will NEVER be enough. On top of it, this drive has made him a greedy mofo and I do not know of one greedy person that is truly happy cause Greed is insatiable.
jmowery, All I can say is talk to me in 30 years if I am still alive and assuming you still have your health. Michael B.
OK lemme rephrase this..... Money cannot buy happiness for everybody and happiness bought by Money is like a drug - fleeing. Further, you assume drug induced vegetative state is happiness... well I don't know you and I have tried certain drugs in my day but I never got happiness from them. Happiness for me is being with my daughter. I am not poor nor rich and my training in a certain eastern philosophy teaches me that money is not the solution for my life, (and I am a better trader for it, 'cause I do not have the knot in my stocmack to become rich or fear losing money...). I cannot prove you anything nor do I want/care to. But you welcome to try and give me that billion if you can spare it.... '
"you assume drug induced vegetative state is happiness... " I don't assume anything. I never have tried drugs and never intend to. So please don't put words in my mouth. I just told you facts. Even at the end of the statement you still want the money. Like I said, life continues because of money or love. You have money to support your daughter? Alright then. End of discussion. ======== Too many people that believe in specific things to break into the truth. No one will believe it. It is to be expected. That is why I get yelled at when I get on eSignal's case. I stick my neck out to tell the truth. I shold be a reporter one day I don't sugar coat stuff, I give facts. I'm done with this thread, I'm now going back to the eSignal crowd and right a wrong with that company, which released version 8 because of me.
Come now, you could not see irony if it bit you in the ASS? I want nothing and further you got nothing to give, so let's just leave it like that?