I'm sick of modern life = empty existence = waste

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[quote name='electrictroy']I can't believe that vicious & bloody insult just came from a MODERATOR. You sir don't deserve to have that job.

Ya know... you have no idea what kind of person I may be. I could be borderline suicidal & your callous hatred are the encouragement I need to actually DO kill myself.

troy[/QUOTE]
First off, it's a statement of fact, not a push to do so. You could remove your name and insert anyone else's name, such as mine, in that spot, and the statement is still valid. If anyone takes a shotgun blast to the face, they're done, passed off this mortal coil, pushing up dasies, and so on. A statement of fact, nothing more.

If you're borderline suicidal, then you need to seek some real, real-life professional help, that's not an Internet message board devoted to saving money on games. Go seek real help if you're that borderline suicidal that a random post out of the blue sends you over the edge.

If you post something here, you're going to get all manner of discussions about it, ranging from your choice of employment, choie of things you do with your life involving money, to someone saying that a shotgun blast to the face ends involvement with life. You posted here, and you're going to get all types of responses, some you think are helpful, and some that you think aren't helpful. You opened the door, and unless you want to have the thread removed, anyone can walk in.

Don't forget that.
 
When I was driving the Alaskan Highway I met a retired rancher from Montana. I asked him, "How much is land in Montana?" and he said, "Oh about $25 an acre." When I told him it costs 25 *thousand* an acre back home in Maryland, he looked like he was going to pass out.


Sometimes it's better to take a job that pays 75% as much, but standard of living only costs 25%.

troy
 
[quote name='shrike4242']First off, it's a statement of fact, not a push to do so. You could remove your name and insert anyone else's name, such as mine, in that spot, and the statement is still valid. If anyone takes a shotgun blast to the face, they're done, passed off this mortal coil, pushing up dasies, and so on. A statement of fact, nothing more. [/QUOTE]



It's still cold-hearted to tell someone, "If you don't like your life, kill yourself." Yeah it's a "fact" as you say, but it shows you to be a cold, uncaring, non-empathic person.

A computer, not a human being.

troy
 
[quote name='camoor']I find it funny that everyone is responding to your dismay with capitalism by suggesting more efficient applications of capitalism. Someone mentioned Donald Trump as a model of success, but I've never seen the man smile or looked relaxed - is that the type of happiness that you are searching for?

Sounds like you're waking up - congratulations. It doesn't happen to many people. I suggest you keep your mind open and follow this idea further - the path will appear when you are ready.[/QUOTE]

As was mentioned, it isn't capitalism, it's consumerism and that's only the fault of the OP if he feels that that is the sole culmination of life. There is also spirituality and doesn't require to be devoutly faithful to any one religion. It's about intrinsically finding out what makes oneself happy and I don't mean materially. Materialism is a necessity in this modern age as they satisfy transitory human desires. It's only a bad thing if that is the totality of one's focus. If your whole life revolves around getting that expensive house, that luxury car, that 1080i plasma widescreen, etc. then of course your life will feel meaningless and inconsequential. The cliche most appropriate here is "It's not about end of the journey but the journey itself." What you do to get to your goal is just as important as the goal itself.

I get a great amount of satisfaction helping people out. If I make money doing it, well that's most definitely a welcome bonus. Why? It allows me to get the things I need AND want. Sure, from a certain point of view, that self satisfaction is a selfish feeling to have but rare is the occasion in which ppl don't do something self serving - including things which are intrinsically good to begin with. Even the conceptualization of going to heaven/hell are basically guidelines to one's survivability both mentally/physically. It's self-serving. Don't kill. Why? Because it's intrinsically a bad thing to do. You might go to hell or someone will hurt you in return. Help others. Why? Because it's intrinsically a good thing to do. You might go to heaven or cause the ppl you help to want to help you right back. Regardless of whether a person believes in such things, ppl are usually self-serving and it's not always a bad thing.

Donald Trump was only given as a example of someone who has success in the fiscal sense. I made no mention of his spirituality. Sure, you don't need materials to be happy but it doesn't hurt to have toys to play with either.
 
[quote name='electrictroy']It's still cold-hearted to tell someone, "If you don't like your life, kill yourself." Yeah it's a "fact" as you say, but it shows you to be a cold, uncaring, non-empathic person.

A computer, not a human being.

troy[/QUOTE]
You posted the thread. You opened it up to CAG to respond. I threw out a factual response, IMHO, that you consider cold, uncaring and non-empathic.

A difference of opinion is a wonderful thing.

Next time, you might want to pick a topic a little more carefully, since you never know what you might find posted in there.
 
Credit cards are bad for you. Stay away.

EDIT: lol, electrictroy, stop being such a pussy.

If you want to cry about your life problems, sign up at livejournal.
 
Another thing I forgot, why is it ppl always lament they don't have enough money to save for whatever they want but if they only change their mentality and habits by a lil bit it would greatly be beneficial. If I wanna buy a new car or toy, I figure a way to create a revenue stream to pay for that thing.

One of my friends is into cars and at last count has about 10 of them - a few luxury and a few sports cars. He can't afford to pay for their upkeep on his salary alone so what did he do? He started a rental company for affluent middle class guys who want to drive a Lamborghini or an M Class to show off to their girlfriends or clients. The money he gets is used to pay for maintanence as well as defer other costs associated with the cars such as warehouse rent, in-house mechanic salaries, part replacements, etc. All at the initial cost of starting up the business. The business has since paid for itself as well as the cars. So he essentially got his cars for free and he pays himself as a client as the money goes back to the company anyway so he can grow the business and make it more profitable.

If I want something small like a Xbox360, I could set up an ATM machine where there is heavy traffic such as a gas station or amusement park or mall (with consent of the owners of course). So I wait until that thing has paid for itself and ponied up $600 in profit or whatever the 360 would cost so that nothing or very little comes out of my personal pocket. I'm still shocked that ppl can't grasp such a simple concept and would still work the drudgery that is the 9-5 wage slave job.
 
I agree 100% with you. That is why I only work part time right now because I know eventually once I am out of college, it will be full time forever.
 
[quote name='shrike4242']You posted the thread. You opened it up to CAG to respond. I threw out a factual response, IMHO, that you consider cold, uncaring and non-empathic. A difference of opinion is a wonderful thing.[/QUOTE]

The idea that if you don't like something you should simply leave is somewhat of a fallacy. For example, "Washington, DC, has the highest murder rate of any U.S. city, and if you don't like it, you should get out."

That's an extremely ridiculous response. If you don't like something (abortion, crime, your financial situation, etc.), you should actively work toward changing it rather than simply cashing out your chips altogether. :D
 
Chuck Palahniuk beat you to this observation by about 10 years, and Henry Miller beat Chuck by about 50 years. That's life, there's no real way around it.

So suck it up, and make sure that you spend your freetime either trying to improve your position, or having fun.
 
[quote name='MaxBiaggi3']The idea that if you don't like something you should simply leave is somewhat of a fallacy. For example, "Washington, DC, has the highest murder rate of any U.S. city, and if you don't like it, you should get out."

That's an extremely ridiculous response. If you don't like something (abortion, crime, your financial situation, etc.), you should actively work toward changing it rather than simply cashing out your chips altogether. :D[/QUOTE]
Where is he telling him to leave if he doesn't like it? He didn't like the response he got and he complained about it when it's just differing opinions.
 
[quote name='electrictroy']It's still cold-hearted to tell someone, "If you don't like your life, kill yourself." Yeah it's a "fact" as you say, but it shows you to be a cold, uncaring, non-empathic person.

A computer, not a human being.

troy[/QUOTE]

It's interesting - I think you are really picking up on something here. Most Americans are so invested in the system that they never question the necessity or results of the Machine (be it politics, organized religion, or MTV)

Don't Panic - not everyone is going to see the fnords ;)
 
[quote name='electrictroy']When I was driving the Alaskan Highway ... [/QUOTE]

Were you looking for a love getaway? Were you driving a Chrysler that seats about 20?
 
And toiling in the fields and coming home to a hut without electricity or running water is better? Middle class Americans today have far more luxuries than the kings of centuries ago (thought they did have more free time...)
 
[quote name='camoor']

Don't Panic - not everyone is going to see the fnords ;)[/QUOTE]

:rofl: nice!


ElectricTroy-- time for a vacation, perhaps? as a person who cut themselves off from mainstream society for a while after highschool, I can tell ya that it's great to hang around the "outside" and get perspective on the world around you, even if you do end up jumping right back into the system afterwards.
There's plenty of time and though many would tell you that taking a year or longer to live for yourself and experience life in a new way is a horrible thing to do and that you're a loser for doing so, that's just the mainstream societal influence talking. Sounds like you've worked for a while and maybe you have a nice nest egg, why not take a siesta? At the very least, it'll keep you sane. ;-)
 
onetrack, would it be alright if I quoted you?

"life in a nutshell... you work your entire life just to be able to live... You finally retire and soon die because work was the only thing keeping you alive. Talk about a twist of irony."
 
[quote name='Wombat']Its one of the main reasons I'm begining to hate, NY. A 1 bedroom apt in Manhattan is around 500-800 grand. A 2bedroom 1 bathroom house on Long Island or Westchester 450-550 grand. I can't afford that, and I dont know anyone who can.

OK heres the deal anyone finds me a better paying job, I will buy them 3 brand new full price games of your choice, upon my hiring, offfer valid in the 48 continental US states[/QUOTE]You don't need to upgrade your job, you need to migrate to a lower cost of living area. I was working an hour away making 40K but gas was killing me. So I got another job that paid a trifle amount less ($500 difference), that is only a 15-20 minute commute. Not to mention now I don't pay 2 state taxes (since I live in the same state I work in now).
So now I:
- Saved 90-95 minutes off my commute.
- Spend less on gas as I only drive 26 miles (roundtrip vs 100miles prior)
- Pay income taxes in only one state now.
- Free up time from commuting to possibly get a part-time job.
The opportunities are out there. You just have to know when to walk through that door when it opens ;)
 
[quote name='Cornfedwb']... Life become much easier when you buy what you can afford, not what you want and what you feel you need to be able to show off.[/QUOTE] Don't let Greenspan hear you talk like that. The very fabric of our economy would be ruined if people followed that philophsy! ;)[font=&quot][/font]
 
[quote name='CappyCobra']Originally Posted by Cornfedwb
... Life become much easier when you buy what you can afford, not what you want and what you feel you need to be able to show off.

Don't let Greenspan hear you talk like that. The very fabric of our economy would be ruined if people followed that philophsy! ;)[font=&quot][/font][/QUOTE]

but i follow that philosophy
 
[quote name='Troopa']How did you get into ATM machines?

It's easy to do those ideas when you have a good amount of money to start with.[/QUOTE]

I haven't. It was just a suggestion but I know a few ppl who have done so. And if you can give a good enough presentation to a loan officer, then money isn't a big deal. It's all about thinking in a unique manner. The tax code, although voluminous, allows enough flexibility in it to essentially defer the costs of most commercial ventures as well as return the amount of the asset's cost or ROI.
 
EDIT - I'm not blaming anyone except my self... and indirectly our society which encourages spending money & going into debt.]
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I shudder to think what would happen to our economy should the collective consciousness of Americans suddenly wake up and question the wisdom of profligate spending and its concomitant debt trap. It used to be said that 2/3rds of our economy is consumer spending. Now it is more like 70% (thanks to China as a manufacturing powerhouse).

The savings rate is now negative. Americans are spending more than they earn. Cheap easy credit thanks to Greenspan (low short term rates), China's voracious appetite for US dollars (low long term rates) to keep imports cheap, and exotic mortgage products (IO loans, option ARM, HELOC loans) are the enablers that are responsible for this crowning "achievement." Last but not least is the widely accepted culture of debt deeply embedded into the American consumer's psyche.


Buy Buy Buy - yell the commercials on the tv, radio, billboards. And so I buy, buy, buy just like they tell me - Star Wars Trilogy on HD-DVD (to replace obsolete VHS, laserdisc, & DVD), $400 X360, $1000 widescreen tv, $30,000 Lexus, and $500,000 house.
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Resistance is... not futile. Decide on the things that truly provide a good "return on happiness", save up the money and pay for it in cash. Practice delayed gratification. It is not an easy thing to do in this microwave (got to have it now) society.


Is this the "great reward" of modern life? To go into debt buying stuff & then chain yourself to your job so you never see your home or your wife or your kids? I reject this "american dream" as an "american hell". This isn't happiness. This is just wasteful.
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What is the American Dream? Realtors will say it's a house, perhaps with a white picket fence. BestBuy or CircuitCity will likely say it is a 60 inch plasma TV. The idealists may say the American dream is to live better than our parents. This somehow may have gotten twisted along the way to be the greater pursuit of material prosperity. No doubt the McMansions and SUVs are the current paradigm and proof of one's attainment of the American Dream. Do we have more and nicer things than our parents? Admittedly, yes. Are we happier? Perhaps not. But therein lies the problem in associating happiness with materialism.

Since there is no one American Dream that fits all, it can be whatever you want it to be. The American Dream can be all about "he who dies with the most toys win." Or it can be about living a simple yet fulfilling life (no mention of material prosperity).

I consider the sentiments espoused in the Declaration of Independences to reveal the true nature of the American Dream - the freedom of Americans to pursue their own versions of happiness (without hurting others, of course).

While money can't buy happiness per se, having sufficient quantities of it allows one to use the time (that is otherwise spent as a wage slave) to pursue happiness - whether it be family, hobbies, spiritual quests, etc. Since most of us as wage slaves trade time for money, we'd better make sure that the small amounts of money that we traded for our valuable time is spent wisely (one of several reasons that we're all here at cheapassgamer?).

If the time spent with family is in short supply but provides a greater return on happiness than excessive consumerism, the obvious solution is to find a job with the right work-life balance and to cutback on material acquisitions.

Living way below your means confers the benefits of savings for future financial security (and ultimately independence), while providing more time with family.

"That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest." --Henry David Thoreau
 
[quote name='Troopa']One absurd thing is all these people who spend $10 every day at Starbucks. That's $300/month! $3,600/year! That by itself will pay for a decent retirement.[/QUOTE]

It's amazing how many people don't put those figures together. My girlfriend likes to watch Dr. Phil every so often and man, some of the people on that show seriously are clueless.

One episode in particular was about people living in economic hardships. Here I thought it would be like someone like me growing up in a small apartment in the valley. Instead they get a family with a beautiful house, incredible looking cars, and every bit of technology you could ask for. What was their problem? They were idiots. They never realized how much money they spent by eating out every day, by spending 10-15k on christmas presents each year, and by constantly keeping their cars new, etc. Now they found themselves in a ton of debt and are whining about it national tv. Geez. It's amazing how great they could have had things if they were just more reasonable with their money.
 
The above message reminds me of my Employer helping me find a Hotel to stay:

ME: "I found this place that's only $18 a day. What a deal."
EMPLOYER: "Yeah but you don't get anything. Look here at the Hilton you pay $50 a day, but you get a *free breakfast & supper*."
ME: "Uh huh. Right."

I was trying to be tactful, but my Employer is an idiot. A free breakfast/dinner is not worth an extra $32 a day!!! Insanity. See these are the things we should teach in school. How to save money. I stay at the cheap $18 hotel & buy cheap $1 breakfasts & $2 suppers. Only ~$21 a day. Much cheaper than $50 a day at the Hilton.



[quote name='shrike4242']You posted the thread. You opened it up to CAG to respond. I threw out a factual response, IMHO, that you consider cold, uncaring and non-empathic. A difference of opinion is a wonderful thing.[/QUOTE]

Yeah fine, but isn't there a rule about not attacking/insulting other people? "Blow your brains out" I consider an insult.

Also poor manners. Like picking your nose.

troy
 
[quote name='basketkase543']It's amazing how many people don't put those figures together. My girlfriend likes to watch Dr. Phil every so often and man, some of the people on that show seriously are clueless.

One episode in particular was about people living in economic hardships. Here I thought it would be like someone like me growing up in a small apartment in the valley. Instead they get a family with a beautiful house, incredible looking cars, and every bit of technology you could ask for. What was their problem? They were idiots. They never realized how much money they spent by eating out every day, by spending 10-15k on christmas presents each year, and by constantly keeping their cars new, etc. Now they found themselves in a ton of debt and are whining about it national tv. Geez. It's amazing how great they could have had things if they were just more reasonable with their money.[/QUOTE]

This is why smoking is mind-boggling to me. First of all, it will kill you. Second, it is freaking expensive. A friend of mine is a teacher and is always bitching about being low paid, etc. yet he smokes 2 packs of cigarettes a day and they cost around $6 each. That's like a billion dollars (give or take) over the course of a year...
 
[quote name='electrictroy']Yeah fine, but isn't there a rule about not attacking/insulting other people? "Blow your brains out" I consider an insult.

troy[/QUOTE]

he never told you to blow your brains out - he offered you a solution for your problems.
besides - the only reason you're unhappy is you choose to waste your life obtaining said material wealth instead of more meaningful things - society didn't make you do it - you made the choice to do it on your own. Lifes about balance and you choose one extreme.

joe
 
[You agree not use the Site in any way to:

[a. post, email, transmit or otherwise make available Content that you know to be false or that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, tortious, defamatory, obscene, invasive of another's privacy, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable; ]

I think the "you could blow your brains out" qualifies as abusive or hateful.



Even if that was not shrike's intent, he could at least say, "I'm sorry for not being clearer in my original post." There are too few people saying "I'm sorry" nowadays.

troy
 
[quote name='electrictroy'][You agree not use the Site in any way to:

[a. post, email, transmit or otherwise make available Content that you know to be false or that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, tortious, defamatory, obscene, invasive of another's privacy, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable; ]

I think the "you could blow your brains out" qualifies as abusive or hateful.



Even if that was not shrike's intent, he could at least say, "I'm sorry for not being clearer in my original post." There are too few people saying "I'm sorry" nowadays.

troy[/QUOTE]

You're exaggerating and rewording the quote because you're upset that we don't feel sorry for you :roll:
[quote name='shrike4242']If you're so unhappy with your life, electrictroy, a shotgun blast to the face takes care of your involvement with your life.[/QUOTE]
Thats different from:
[quote name='shrike4242']you could blow your brains out[/QUOTE]

And personally, I find that most of your threads are abusive to common sense and intelligence in general.
 
[quote name='javeryh']This is why smoking is mind-boggling to me. First of all, it will kill you. Second, it is freaking expensive. A friend of mine is a teacher and is always bitching about being low paid, etc. yet he smokes 2 packs of cigarettes a day and they cost around $6 each. That's like a billion dollars (give or take) over the course of a year...[/QUOTE]

And now we see why you didn't become a CPA :lol:
 
[quote name='javeryh']This is why smoking is mind-boggling to me. First of all, it will kill you. Second, it is freaking expensive. A friend of mine is a teacher and is always bitching about being low paid, etc. yet he smokes 2 packs of cigarettes a day and they cost around $6 each. That's like a billion dollars (give or take) over the course of a year...[/QUOTE]

Well, if you were a low-paid teacher wouldn't you want to die too? :lol:
 
[quote name='joevan']And personally, I find that most of your threads are abusive to common sense and intelligence in general.[/QUOTE]
Yeah. You're right. People insulting one another w/o end should be the normal/acceptable behavior amonst adults, and I should just allow people to insult me.

And I'll insult them back:

[quote name='shrike']If you're so unhappy with your life, electrictroy, a shotgun blast to the face takes care of your involvement with your life.[/quote]
That is a worthless piece of advice. Quitting my job, selling all my stuff, and living as a hobo, is a better idea that your idiotic suggestion. "Kill yourself". Yeah bloody brilliant.

If all your ideas are that stupid, keep them to yourself.
 
So, after bitching about life and posting on this board, do you plan on living your life any differently? Planning on selling that Lexus for a Honda? Planning on selling the house for something smaller? Planning on selling your "stuff" for some cold hard cash to pay off debt?

Or, do you plan on just living as is and remaining bitter/depressed/miserable/wasted or whatever feeling you have?

If it's the former, good show! You've learned responsibility and self control. If it's the latter, BOOO, HISSS! Why complain about something where change is within your grasp and means and NOT change it? Damn the consequences of change and make yourself happier! I know I've done that plenty of times, and I'm only a senior in college!
 
I have to say I agree with Cornfedwb on his approach to living within your means.

I am 20, trying to get through college, aside from gasoline(to get to school) and insurance, I really don't spend much (aside from some games here and there of course).

I'm hoping that in the future, my ability to save money is going to help me, as I'm not sure what career path I'll end up down.

Any home can be made into a beautful one, size doesn't really make a difference.
 
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