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POLL: Can money buy happiness?

Discussion in 'Alley of Dangerous Angles' started by Jaguar, Feb 6, 2004.

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  1. Jaguar Gems: 27/31
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    Listening to the radio today and heard that the local lottery is up to $32,000,000 CDN.

    That is 19,067,825 Euros, 13,044,435 British Pounds, 23,909,145 US Dollars.

    People from all over were calling in to say what they would do if they won that money.

    So what do you think, can money really buy happiness?

    Poll Information
    This poll contains 1 question(s). 24 user(s) have voted.
    You may not view the results of this poll without voting.

    Poll Results: Can money buy happiness? (24 votes.)

    Can money buy happiness? (Choose 1)
    * Yes - 33% (8)
    * No - 25% (6)
    * It depends (EXPLAIN) - 42% (10)
     
    Jaguar, Feb 6, 2004
    #1

  2. Faragon Gems: 25/31
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    Depends on wether you do stuff with the money that makes you happy I guess :)
     
    Faragon, Feb 6, 2004
    #2
  3. Barmy Army

    Barmy Army Simple mind, simple pleasures... Adored Veteran

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    The people who say 'Money isn't everything' are usually those people with enough to not have to worry about it.

    I for one would be pretty bleedin' happy if I was a millionaire.
     
    Barmy Army, Feb 6, 2004
    #3

  4. JSBB Gems: 31/31
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    Money certainly does not guarantee happiness but if you use it wisely it can most definitely be spent on things that will help make you happy.

    With that much money I could quite easily retire and live off the interest even if I invested in low risk debt. Even if I earned only one percent interest I would have more than enough money to travel as much as I want and do all the things that I would want to do.
     
    JSBB, Feb 6, 2004
    #4
  5. Splunge

    Splunge Bhaal’s financial advisor Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    Money definitely can not buy happiness.
    Which is why, if you win, you should give it to me. :p

    @JSBB:
    What are you, an accountant? :p
    Spend it all! Live for today! Give it to SP!
    Low risk debt, indeed. :rolleyes: :p
     
    Splunge, Feb 6, 2004
    #5
  6. Death Rabbit

    Death Rabbit Straight, no chaser Adored Veteran Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    Can money buy happiness?

    I'll tell you when I'm not bucking froke.

    Until then, if the smiley says so, :money: it's good enough for me. I mean look how happy he is. I trust him.
     
    Death Rabbit, Feb 6, 2004
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  7. Tassadar Gems: 23/31
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    Money can be used to buy *lots* of games, which brings much happiness. So yes, money can buy happiness.
     
    Tassadar, Feb 6, 2004
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  8. Shura Gems: 25/31
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    [​IMG] How true, Tassadar, how true!

    I love money! :bigeyes: :bigeyes:

    It makes me happy.
     
    Shura, Feb 6, 2004
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  9. Sarevok• Gems: 23/31
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    Money does not buy happiness. It does depend on how much though; being nicely secure is great sure. Having so much money that you don’t know what to do with does not make you happy and never will.

    I know a lot of rich people and they are not happy people ^^
     
    Sarevok•, Feb 7, 2004
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  10. Aikanaro Gems: 31/31
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    Now this should be a pretty easy one ... Oh, this isn't the song quote game? :grin:

    You say that money isn't everything
    I'd like to see you live without it
     
    Aikanaro, Feb 7, 2004
    #10
  11. Master of Nuhn

    Master of Nuhn Wear it like a crown Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    Would you guys sell your best friend?

    For me, friendship is really important. Would I be happy with truckloads of money, good health and a beautiful wife who doesn't love me when I have no friends? I guess not.

    You can call me a goody2shoes, but I say money won't make you happy.

    Gotta agree, I won't live long without money, but you can't make your life any longer with it either. You live, with or without friends or money, and then you die. I don't care how long my life is. Others do care how long my life is.

    :good:
     
    Master of Nuhn, Feb 7, 2004
    #11
  12. dmc

    dmc Speak softly and carry a big briefcase Staff Member Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

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    Most people that I know with a lot of money are not happy, but there are exceptions. Throwing out my pet psych theory, I will say this:

    The people who have earned a ton of money generally are driven by inner demons that have nothing to do with wanting to be rich (money is just a counter in the game). Thus, obtaining the money neither makes them happy nor puts the demons to sleep. Only those who truly love what they are doing and, luckily, make a lot of money doing it, are content with themselves. That's why I will never be super rich but will always be well off. I am an attorney that enjoys it (I guess that makes me a little nuts right there), but am not driven to be a psycho and my tastes are not expensive. I make a good living, but, barring something like winning the lottery (which I rarely play), I will never have an obscene amount of money.

    I have a different theory on inherited wealth which goes like this: Most of the people I know who have inherited lots of money fall into two categories -- the children of those who worked hard for it and are spoiled rotten, and the people who come from "old" money who are either jaded and spoiled by the trappings of wealth and the sterile society the grow up in or those rare individuals who either rise above that or whose parents are clear enough thinkers to understand that giving a child everything he or she wants is ultimately destructive for the child.

    You need something to strive for.
     
    dmc, Feb 7, 2004
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  13. Ahrontil Gems: 8/31
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    It's not the movie quote thread either but that never stopped me posting quotes before so;

    From My Fair Lady, the scene where Mr. Alfred P. Doolittle is tapping Dr. 'Enry 'Iggins for some cash.

    There are many reasons why people who come into the possession of a nest-egg will do everything in their power to ensure that its amount is not reduced by one copper. 'Everything in their power' normally includes eliminating form their lives all the people and pastimes that used to bring a little joy to their existance.

    Money can bring you happiness if you can watch it all dissappear without undue concern or any regret. If you are that sort of person, you probably drop your loose change into the poor box and don't waste it on lottery tickets (which are otherwise known as the special Tax on Limited Intelligence).
     
    Ahrontil, Feb 7, 2004
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  14. Lokken Gems: 26/31
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    I think money can make it easier to achieve happiness as less restrained in the world if you had a lot of them.
     
    Lokken, Feb 7, 2004
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  15. LDusan Gems: 2/31
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    I have been thinking a lot on this subject lately and I think it definitely can not buy happiness. When you have that much money, it looses it's function. I mean one million is fine but 23? Is there anything you can do with 23 that you couldn't do with 1? That much money is just unnecessary.
     
    LDusan, Feb 7, 2004
    #15

  16. The Great Snook Gems: 31/31
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    My favorite quote was from David Lee Roth of Van Halen fame. He said

    "Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy a really big boat to pull up next to it."
     
    The Great Snook, Feb 7, 2004
    #16
  17. Ragusa

    Ragusa Eternal Halfling Paladin Veteran

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    If I were really filthy rich the first legend I'd spin would be: "No, money doesn't make happy! It only causes sorrows instead! So people, don't be jealous ;) "
     
    Ragusa, Feb 7, 2004
    #17
  18. chevalier

    chevalier Knight of Everfull Chalice ★ SPS Account Holder Veteran

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    I once had more money than have now, and once had much less than have now. Can't really say it all so much affected my happiness. Oh well, being sure a date or a night out won't harm your wallet is a good thing - gives some safety and certainty and that surely contributes to overall comfort. But is that really happiness? I don't know.

    There are things money can't buy and those things are the dearest of all.

    Heh, of course if I were filthy rich, I could get a castle and a wonderful garden. Plus unlimited supply of new games and hardware to handle them. Plus several megs per second of a transfer. And could get inside the barrel for the rest of my life. Do only interesting things and/or sensible ones. No bull****. But surely I'd get a new universum of worries and troubles - everyone has its own. Besides, easy and peaceful life just doesn't seem to be made for me.

    I'll just say money is important, but not the most important.
     
    chevalier, Feb 7, 2004
    #18
  19. Baronius

    Baronius Mental harmony dispels the darkness ★ SPS Account Holder Veteran

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    Many people say that money is not important at all and happiness can be reached without it. It can be true in case of Buddhists in the East, and in other special cases, but unfortunately, generally not.
    You need money which you can satisfy your vegetative needs (food, drink, etc) at least, and remain healthy. And of course education.
    Very many people live in this region whose money is very little just before they get the next salary. Certainly, they have no saved money at all

    By the way, the lottery... what an unbelievable coincidence! The lottery in Hungary (a guy won it a few weeks ago) was more than 5 000 000 000 HUF (Hungarian Forints), which is also 20 000 000 dollars approximately!

    About the effects of sudden wealth: so much money might actually ruin your life. If you do some charity, you will not have peace, you will get tons of letters. If you do not do charity, there are still many ways to ruin yourself. You buy new house, perhaps move etc. Your friends will leave you, etc.

    And as chevalier told, there are several things which cannot be bought.The things that can make us really happy.
     
    Baronius, Feb 7, 2004
    #19
  20. Harbourboy

    Harbourboy Take thy form from off my door! Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    People are 'happy' when they have as much as they want.

    That equation has two parts, so to be happy you either need to "get more" OR to "want less".

    Therefore the easiest way to be happy is to want less than you have now.

    Conversely, because some rich people have no limit to what they want, they are never happy.
     
    Harbourboy, Feb 7, 2004
    #20
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