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Our Answers To Big Questions
I have a book called The Little Book of Big Questions. It has some interesting questions for thought in it, also has the author's idea of an answer.
I'll post a question for discussion, probably not every day but once or twice a week. Lets hear your views, who knows we may come across something we need to make a new thread topic for. Question #1 1-23-11 What makes people wish for things they don't have? |
Greed, Lust, Desire, Fantasy, Fetishizing, Hunger.
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Yep I thought of those things Snowy....I also thought of need.
Then again I thought of myself who has been quite blessed but still wish for things that I don't have. Certainly there are things I will never have. Then again there are things that will make my dreams and wishes come true. I guess our wishes could be monetary, financial, emotional...could be a lot of things. But I think you are mostly right in your post. I think though we wish for things we don't have, the wishing gives us the drive to success, so that we can attain those wishes. |
There's a difference between need and want, I answered from my own POV.. You're right though if you don't have what we call basic needs, then need is something I should of addressed.
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I think its more complicated than just listing the seven deadly sins or a similar list.
if that were so, people of simplere cultures than ours would also covet things they did not have and that just isnt so across the board. At least not in the degree we Americans see. And not even across the board in all the strataspheres in our own culture. The key to coveting is in the degree of capitalism that one participates in or is subjected to. Before TV, if one was poor, people often claimed they didnt know they were poor and didnt care if the neighbors had more or less. In fact, if someone fell on hard times, they helped one another. Thus the beauty and long fascination with Its a Wonderful Life. But along comes the era where there is a tv in every home...then in every room..then in every car...on now on our computers, which every person in the family now has one of. And if thats not enough, their personal phones can now access the web which accesses the media, which accesses all the global media you could dream of. and what goes along with that? commercials. We are a better fed consumer with more to select from. And we are creating faster than our wallets can keep up. And just as we acquire, the next new thing is created and we desire... I am 54 and dirt poor. I have a very old dell laptop. I have a free cell phone that only can call and send texts. It looks like a half a candy bar. My sister just got some new fangled do dad and she is stuggling to make it stop saying whorehouse when she wants to say whitehouse. I am not coveting that. But others are. I have a threadworn couch. My niece who is on welfare took her tax check last year and bought a $2000 living room set. Because she coveted her sister's expensive leather living room set. She could have used that money to pay bills but she had to have the material thing to compensate her need to be as good as her sister. I didnt. I couldnt. I wouldnt have anyway. I like my old couch. I will probably have it until I die. It fits my personality and even if I somehow land alot of money, I could use that money to pay bills or add more seed to my bird feeders. I dont watch alot of tv. I dont read alot of magazines. When I am on the computer I really dont go to places where there are commercials. I am not a product of capitalism. I dont covet. Except of course, for a horse. So thats my answer...capitalism. |
I don't subscribe to the Christian theory of "deadly sins" it's clearly obvious humans reek of greed. I posted from my own POV, which comes from my experiences of culture, race, classism and down right being honest with myself.
I want a Vespa, do I need one? No my greed wants it though black -n- pink... |
It all depends on what one is wishing for. And if it is a want or a need. And there are different types of needs (look at Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs).
I have everything I need to meet my survival needs: food, shelter, clothing. If I had to wish for any of that, I would be wishing for it to survive. If I wished for a blu-ray dvd player (which I do a teensy bit), it's because I want it. My materialistic self wants a fancy dvd player even though I can't notice the benefits of it because of my tv. Then I'll want an HDTV....it's just keeps going and building into the snowball rolling down the hill getting bigger and bigger. I wish for a pseudo-family because my family disowned me. That meets my need for belonging. That is subjective though because not everyone needs the same things that I do in order to function on a healthy level and feel fulfilled. So, I guess, what I am trying to say is that I believe what makes people wish for things are based on wants and needs. There are basic human needs and individual needs. This makes sense to me, I don't know if it does to anyone else. :) |
Makes sense!! You made me examine myself cause like you I looked for and have my chosen family out of need, not having made the want and need for me as a pack animal.
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I agree with you both. I never had a TV in my room or a phone in my room and now days everyone in a house hold have their own personal everything. Greed desire and fantasy are also a driving force
I remember as a teen my girlfriend at the time had her own phone line she and her brother shared. In the phone book it said **** and under that it said kids line - - - . I thought that was cool and wanted my own phone...chuckling of course that didn't happen. We couldn't even get call waiting cuz you can only talk to one person at the time anyway.....or that's what my parents said. I think I have been blessed, with a good paying job and my parents had good jobs when they worked. We weren't rich but we had all we needed and much that we wanted. There were those things we wanted and were told no or when you are grown and can afford this or that you can buy your own. Thus my motor head fetishes. Really all I wish I had at this time that I don't need is a boat and a tractor. I need the tractor but I've been this long without one. Well and I wish I had the money to work on my house....it's getting to where that is a need. I do believe much of our coveting comes from seeing what others have, and peer pressure. |
Im not shure if this is the right anser to the question,but hear is my take on things.
In another life a long time a go I had the passion for anything with horses,sepecialy rodeo's and horse shows.Over the years I acomplished many goals I set..almost.Shure I had some big winns at major events,rode and showed some fantastic horses over the years.I figured I colectively spent some where in the quarter million dollar range in bucks on horses,clothes to show them with,fancy silver mounted sadles with all the extras,the winter blankets and some that only were worn at the shows.Trucks,trailers..my last rig cost me $57,587.00.The truck was a big dully with all the bells and whistles..the trailes was a house on wheels for me and my equine buddy..no hotel for me cause the trailer had it all.I didnt think it would ever end,but it did and not like I wanted it to either..well folks it was a high fall with a crash and burn that I may not ever recover from.Oh,im not taking about money..its about what I started with,what I did along the way,the high ride for a long time...then health probs hit that just took it all away in a flash.Now dont think I havent tryed to get back in the swing of it,but cause of the health issues it hasnt worked out..im thinking it just wont happen no mater what I do.Yes,I keep pluging along and am doing ok.I live in a nice place,nice car,decent job with $$ in the bank..two fur kids that are the light of my life,my son who is the best thing I ever did in this world.But im still looking for the bits and peices of me that got lost along the way,if I dont find them I will be ok..just a little less of who I thought I was. |
so it seems most of us wish for money, so we can have the things we wish for. Yep I'd be guilty of that. Truth is I have everything I need and wanting or wishing I had hasn't hurt me yet.
on another note, I'm sure there are folks that wish for personal things they don't have. I know I had several friends growing up that wished their family was like mine....as in they were from broken homes. Another friend wished her parents weren't alcoholics, course at the time I didn't realize mine were. So maybe all the things we wish for aren't necessarily concrete things. |
Question #2
Why does money make some people proud and others humble? Hmmm I guess I've had my proud moments about money and I've had my humble moments with it as well. Lemme think on this one. |
Proud- you can do things for loved ones, give to those who have helped you
Humble- when you have nothing and then you're blessed, it alters your life and it's humbling or can be. It all depends on the individual. |
I think in the times I've been proud of my money is because I knew I earned it and I could do with it whatever I wanted to. Funny thing is I'm a simple person and when I've made/had plenty of money, I could go to the store or mall or whatever and not see a thing I couldn't live without. I don't buy name brand clothes or try to keep up with the Jones.
As a rule I'm more humbled when I have money and tend to share it. Be back in a bit have a little issue going on |
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first off, love this thread Blade, thank you! something that makes me think & dust the cobwebs off this 'ol brain of mine =) i can understand both aspects of it, money can make me proud, as well as humble.. i grew up in poverty, and lived in poverty for a duration of some years as a single mother - and am proud to have pushed myself to where i am today, because i strived for better.. i'm not rich (though i am rich in many other ways in life), but financially i still struggle here & there, but i am definitely proud when i have moments i can afford something so simple like a grocery order or maintaining my bills, and being able to save my money to purchase the things we need.. in the same sense, i am humbled by the fact i know the struggles well, and if i could take my last dollar to help another, i would & will do it in a heartbeat so long as it isn't a situation i don't feel as though i am disrespected or feel like i am being used.. i am learning to stretch my dollar as far as it will go, appreciating the smaller things in life and doing my best to help those who are where i have once been.. it's all about paying it forward.. did i stray from the question? i hope not, i know what i'm trying to say, lol.. Gabby girl at her finest right here..*smiles* |
Hmmmm, am i not thinking about this correctly? Isn't being proud of anything at the same time being humbled? I mean if you are proud then IMO there is an inner sanctioned emotion that digs deep into a place that you've "earned" or "received" or "garnished" something that you once didn't have and feel good about that.
Isn't that being humbled too? I would say if i ever had a lot of money, i would be both proud and humbled. .....At the same time. Great thread. |
OK issue over.....now I've lost my train of thought...happens when ya get my age....
Umm I'll tell you what has been real humbling for me is my financial situation the past 2 yrs. $5 is a lot of money when you need $6 for gas to go to work one more day before payday. I've been especially humbled by not having the financial resources I'm accustom to having. Though I am a relatively humble person anyway, I will still be both proud and humbled by money when I get my financial feet back under me again. Thank yall for posting and for sharing... |
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Money does a lot of things to people. If offers freedom, peace of mind, fear, insecurity, pride, greed, jealousy, hope, joy, et cetera and so on and so forth. It depends on each person's situation and their level of integrity. |
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1-25-11 Question
Is there really such a thing as "the generation gap"? Why or Why not? |
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I believe experience and life mold people into who they are and while I do believe chronological age and even years can influence a particular situation, I don't believe like most things in life it is definitive in value. I have met many people beyond my years who I have wondered what rock they are sitting under or how they have lasted this long in the world. I have also met people my age and even younger who are without a doubt wise beyond their years and who I even consider to have an "old soul" or to have been born in the wrong generation, if you will. I suppose this explains my stance. I realize it is not definitive either way but I don't like boxing ideas or questions. Black and white thinking is rarely effective in my opinion. |
It could also be cultural
Not sure about this, I think the more we evolve in technology the more a gap could exist. My kids are of the easy way to network era, writing a letter is foreign. It's just gonna happen the biblical ideals are what I see as being watered down.
Dunno if I made sense. |
I do alot of sitting and thinking in Rose Cottage. Sometimes I feel like a monk facing a wall. Just facing that wall and mulling the world and not stopping on any one thing until something snaps a synaps and I figure out something.
youth IS wasted on the young older people really DONT understand the young its SUPPOSE to be this way anything else I could say would dilute it |
Who said it was supposed to be this way?
I see older folks living life to the fullest, with that zest and hunger the "youth" are supposed to only have. I see youth going nowhere, no desire to see outside of their 50 mile radius. My parents may not get me, but some folks their age do. I'm not coming up with a concrete answer it could be it's on individual basing, dunno. |
I think it depends on the person and at varying stages I can see a gap, even in the same person that I didn't see it in maybe even only a few years ago.
I thought there was a huge gap when I was 16 or 20 between myself and Nannie. She just didn't get it. As I aged that gap got a little smaller and in the past 10 years, well I use to tell Mom, Nannie has gotten so cool in her old age. When Pa died in 02, we talked Nannie into getting a computer. She couldn't do a lot with it but she did learn to email and simple stuff like that, no she didn't surf the net. I just thought it was way cool that she even would want to learn about the computer at 81 yrs old. Mom and I have always been close, but it seems the last few years I feel a gap as she is aging. Chuckling...she's getting more like Nannie was in her 60's. I do see a gap though, in folks in general. I see a gap in the "younger" folks as well as the "older" folks, maybe that is because I'm sorta in the middle now and have friends and family on both sides and have to adjust accordingly almost daily. Maybe I'll think of more later |
Question #4 1*28*11
What's the difference between legal and right? |
ponderings
it isnt right to take the life of another person
by law, people who kill can get the death sentance its against the law to not pay your debts and you can go to jail for it buts its perfectly alright for the government to be so much in debt its immoral for a man and a woman to live in sin so they must be legally married but legally 2 men or 2 woman must remain immoral |
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The powers that be have determined the laws...so it's perfectly legal to ignore hungry people, to walk past someone who is hurt or struggling, or to not think about how the schools are failing children in poor communities. It isn't right to do those things...but it's perfectly legal. |
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The other is a choice. |
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Sometimes what is right and legal is such a fine line that the two often are blurred so close together it is not visible to the naked eye...just my opinion though. |
legal vs right..
what is 'right' for me is based on my beliefs & upbringing - and how things make me feel.. it isn't always right for the next person, however.. for me, what is right is something i choose and something i firmly believe in, rather than having to abide by what is legal.. and there are many an instance when i feel what is legal, isn't necessarily right.. i swear this made much more sense in my head, LOL |
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An example would be my ex use to get high in front of our son, that aint right. Later as a teenager they'd get high together, that aint right either. But to some it may be. Maybe I feel that way cuz I don't get high. OR maybe because I believe there is a line you draw between parenting and being your child's friend. To me teaching your child to do something illegal is not right. |
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Baby boomers, generation X, generation Y...with the increase of technological advancements, I see a loss of humanization that can be marked with each generation. |
Question # 5 1-30-11
How do colors and music change our moods? |
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Music.......now that is a whole other story. Music can lift me up, jack me up and even sometimes tear me down. There is nothing like music I like all music as long as I can understand the words and they aren't vulgar. Music can make me silly, sad, stupid, all sorts of things music can do to me. There has probably been a song written about every imaginable thing in life, I don't see how they keep coming up with new ones but I'm glad they do. As Elvis said....I learned very early in life that: 'Without a song, the day would never end; without a song, a man ain't got a friend; without a song, the road would never bend -- without a song.' So I keep singing a song. |
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I love it. |
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Music is like air for me. A song has the ability to get inside my bones if it means enough to me. Music can right a wrong, make a bad day good, and allow us to let go of small stuff and maybe even some big things too. Music moves us because it's a story folded neatly in melody. We all can relate to a good story. |
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ahhh music, now music can in so so many ways. |
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I am somewhat of a "color-freak". Color is a huge part of my life and i tend to pick up color or aura's from people so if i "feel" a dark or cloudy or a sort of liquid with sediment color, it does affect my mood especially if i know this person. I also soak in and notice the colors around me often. Even in buildings and other people's homes and they do affect my mood. Music? oh gosh yeah....let me listen to a sad song and tears drip off my chin. Give me some ACDC and i'm dancing and sliding around in my socks all over the house. Rock on!!!! |
QUESTION #6 2/8/11
Why do we eat after funerals? |
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