Americans are just spoiled! - Page 12

TheKingsMistress · ‎07-01-2014

On 7/2/2014 mominohio said:
On 7/2/2014 KittyLouWhoToo said:
Is there a point to arguing semantics?

Surely people understand the difference between a need and a want.

People just seem to get so defensive around the whole issue.

I started this thread because I think that there are truly people who don't know the difference between a need and a want. Not everyone, and not even everyone who has disagreed with me on this post. But this country is so full of people who don't even begin to understand what a real need is, and I love the input from both sides. I think (so far as I've read today) that people are being respectful in their disagreements and discourse. There is some defensiveness, but there is often something to be learned when we get defensive, even if only about ourselves.

Great point and very interesting topic.

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

On 7/2/2014 MJ 12 said:
On 7/2/2014 mominohio said:
On 7/2/2014 wookie said: I didn't see the OP as a rant necessarily. It seems just about any thread started on this forum becomes fodder for arguments. It's okay is someone has a differing opinion without calling it a rant. I grew up with one bathroom for six people, and thought nothing of it at the time. I now have 3, and there have been times we had to time showers so hot water was available for each person. Now that it's just the two of us that is seldom an issue.

wookie you get it. The fact is just that we love our "luxuries". When you were growing up, you were still clean and able to use "the facilities" without going outside to do your business. Life was still good, and the sun still rose and set every day without all the bells and whistles. Much of what we have today is nothing more than distraction to keep us from really living.

IMO much of what we have today enables us to live better lives than a generation or two ago.

MJ 12 I think you make an excellent point. The real truth lies somewhere in the middle of both our statements. More advancements have us living longer and healthier and easier lives, but much distracts us from real relationships and experiences, especially the simple things. Thanks for that balance statement.

TheKingsMistress · ‎07-01-2014

On 7/2/2014 ------ said:
Sometimes threads like this seem resentful of modern life. I'm not sure why that is. Having luxuries doesn't mean one is void of happiness just as a lack of luxuries means one has a happy/ier life. I don't see one as being preferable over the other. It's finding a balance.

That's the key. Being content with what you have.

reese2 · ‎03-10-2010

When I was a kid, we didn't shop on Sundays, not necessarily because we didn't want to, but the stores weren't open. It seemed like we still had time for everything.

Now things are open 24/7 and no one has time for anything!

NoelSeven · ‎03-09-2010

On 7/2/2014 mominohio said:

MJ 12 I think you make an excellent point. The real truth lies somewhere in the middle of both our statements. More advancements have us living longer and healthier and easier lives, but much distracts us from real relationships and experiences, especially the simple things. Thanks for that balance statement.

What distracts us from our real relationships? That's not happening for me.

A Thrill Of Hope The Weary World Rejoices

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

On 7/2/2014 RedConvertibleGirl said:
So is part of it an age thing? I know the older I get (almost 56), the less I want. My values have drastically changed since I was in my 20s and just starting out.

Perhaps. It does seem many younger people "want it all and now". I can remember those feeling fresh out of college. I couldn't wait to buy my first house etc. But I see a lot of retired age people who have very much, and seem to want to keep acquiring. I guess I compare them to my grand and great grand parents and what they had after a lifetime of working. Not nearly as much, but still more than many in the world ever achieve. And again, for me it isn't about having much and whether that is wrong or right (to me it is neither), it is about people not just giving up to the fact they are wants, not needs.

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

On 7/2/2014 ------ said:
Sometimes threads like this seem resentful of modern life. I'm not sure why that is. Having luxuries doesn't mean one is void of happiness just as a lack of luxuries means one has a happy/ier life. I don't see one as being preferable over the other. It's finding a balance.

exactly right!

TheKingsMistress · ‎07-01-2014

On 7/2/2014 mominohio said:
On 7/2/2014 MJ 12 said:
On 7/2/2014 mominohio said:
On 7/2/2014 wookie said: I didn't see the OP as a rant necessarily. It seems just about any thread started on this forum becomes fodder for arguments. It's okay is someone has a differing opinion without calling it a rant. I grew up with one bathroom for six people, and thought nothing of it at the time. I now have 3, and there have been times we had to time showers so hot water was available for each person. Now that it's just the two of us that is seldom an issue.

wookie you get it. The fact is just that we love our "luxuries". When you were growing up, you were still clean and able to use "the facilities" without going outside to do your business. Life was still good, and the sun still rose and set every day without all the bells and whistles. Much of what we have today is nothing more than distraction to keep us from really living.

IMO much of what we have today enables us to live better lives than a generation or two ago.

MJ 12 I think you make an excellent point. The real truth lies somewhere in the middle of both our statements. More advancements have us living longer and healthier and easier lives, but much distracts us from real relationships and experiences, especially the simple things. Thanks for that balance statement.

Even children and young adults are less active outdoors because they'd rather play on the internet and video games.

reese2 · ‎03-10-2010

"Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have."

Rabbi Hyman Schachtel is credited with that quote in the source I found, but this is the internet so I can't be sure. I truly believe this, though.

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

On 7/2/2014 NoelSeven said:
On 7/2/2014 mominohio said:
MJ 12 I think you make an excellent point. The real truth lies somewhere in the middle of both our statements. More advancements have us living longer and healthier and easier lives, but much distracts us from real relationships and experiences, especially the simple things. Thanks for that balance statement.

What distracts us from our real relationships? That's not happening for me.

I think you really just want to provoke on most topics when you respond, but I'll bite and say that these are the things that distract "us", meaning many people, from real relationships

Small electronics like

i-pods, so kids and parents don't talk on long drives or walks or whatever, but close themselves in their own thoughts.

cell phones and texing like when you see people sitting in a restaurant and no one at the table is talking, but everyone is punching buttons on the phone.

like computers, where instead of all getting together or phoning, people post on FB or other social media and our kids especially have come to lack social skills because of it.

tv's, movies etc. time spent watching and being involved in this is time we aren't using our own imagination or learning from reading, interacting with others etc.

All those "needs" we are bantering back and forth about cause distractions. They necessitate us to work more jobs, more hours to have all these "needs" therefore less time for people, nature, thought, reflection, relaxation, play, fun. They require time to keep up, maintain, etc, that distracts us and takes us away from the more simple or enjoyable things in life.

and so on.