4 ms·

very sorry to hear that, I presume many cases of normal person X didn't make it vs Steve did (well...). but let's make it more apples to apples, and compare ag

very sorry to hear that, I presume many cases of normal person X didn't make it vs Steve did (well...). but let's make it more apples to apples, and compare against one of most wealthy humans ever, that's a tiny category on its own. This "money can't buy happiness" is meant (or should be) somewhere along - give a man earning X dollars 2X (or 10X) instead. Short term boost of happiness will quickly fade away, and what is left? Bigger TV screen, faster car, more stupid partying or 10 bedrooms instead of 2? That's what most people do when they suddenly win/inherit large amounts of cash. Most of them end up as sad stories. If you are not happy, more cash will not change this in 99% of the cases. Long lasting happiness doesn't come from stuff you can actually buy, or if yes they cost a tiny bit (many super intense experiences can be done with little cash, ie backpacker travelling around the world which is superior to any other way including most expensive packaged vacations, outdoor adventuring, extreme sports etc.).

maxerickson 11y ago
You don't need to be Steve Jobs wealthy to adopt a domicile of convenience. (anyone able to support themselves without working could do it)
DougWebb 11y ago
But if you give a man earning 0.1X dollars X, you can make a huge and long-lasting impact on the man's happiness, because he didn't have enough money before and now he does. Money doesn't buy happiness directly; it buys security, and security enables happiness.
LeifCarrotson 11y ago
You cannot use "suddenly win/inherit large amounts of cash" to estimate what would happen if the poor in general had more money than they do. The players of the lotto and the expectations for winners are distorted. Also, we hear and remember the news stories about the flaming fall from fortune more than the person who chose the monthly payments or invested the inheritance wisely and live quietly with secure housing, adequate healthy food, and a retirement plan where they previously were behind on rent and wondering where the next meal would come from.

maxerickson 11y ago

You don't need to be Steve Jobs wealthy to adopt a domicile of convenience. (anyone able to support themselves without working could do it)

DougWebb 11y ago

But if you give a man earning 0.1X dollars X, you can make a huge and long-lasting impact on the man's happiness, because he didn't have enough money before and now he does. Money doesn't buy happiness directly; it buys security, and security enables happiness.

LeifCarrotson 11y ago

You cannot use "suddenly win/inherit large amounts of cash" to estimate what would happen if the poor in general had more money than they do. The players of the lotto and the expectations for winners are distorted. Also, we hear and remember the news stories about the flaming fall from fortune more than the person who chose the monthly payments or invested the inheritance wisely and live quietly with secure housing, adequate healthy food, and a retirement plan where they previously were behind on rent and wondering where the next meal would come from.