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I probably could have said it better, the point I attempted to make was that without the support network most of that other stuff doesn't help. I have seen many

I probably could have said it better, the point I attempted to make was that without the support network most of that other stuff doesn't help. I have seen many people get clean, get their life back on track, and then a disaster happens like they lose their job or get kicked out because of a break-up and there is no one to help them. This leads them right back to drugs and other destructive behaviors. One of the most important privileges of being wealthy is that you almost always have a built-in safety net whether that's friends or family. If I lost my job and all my wealth today, there are a dozen people that would welcome me into their home. That's something a lot of people have and take for granted.

drzaiusapelord 9y ago
As someone who grew up poor and currently has a very small social network (parents passed away, very small extended family in this country, few friends, etc), I worry about this all the time. Who will help me if the shit hits the fan? I have a good job, decent money, and all manner of insurance but its still something that haunts me. One of the things we see when we examine successful people, especially those in startups, is that they're kids who often have mommy and daddy to fall back on. This allows them to take chances, or take months off school to try some project, or spend days and nights networking, or pulling strings on connections their family provides, or a slew of other inherited advantages. Those without this kind of privilege just go to work and try not to make waves because the risk of failure is too scary to consider like losing your home or being blackballed in your career. Its a whole other world when you know very few people have your back and there's no family wealth to cushion your falls. When I deal with people with this high levels of privilege I find it very hard to relate to them. Its like talking to a space alien with endless wealth. My own experience don't remotely match up. Poverty is several steps below the situation I grew up in. I can't imagine the hopelessness here. Kudos to those who are actively doing something about it.

drzaiusapelord 9y ago

As someone who grew up poor and currently has a very small social network (parents passed away, very small extended family in this country, few friends, etc), I worry about this all the time. Who will help me if the shit hits the fan? I have a good job, decent money, and all manner of insurance but its still something that haunts me. One of the things we see when we examine successful people, especially those in startups, is that they're kids who often have mommy and daddy to fall back on. This allows them to take chances, or take months off school to try some project, or spend days and nights networking, or pulling strings on connections their family provides, or a slew of other inherited advantages. Those without this kind of privilege just go to work and try not to make waves because the risk of failure is too scary to consider like losing your home or being blackballed in your career. Its a whole other world when you know very few people have your back and there's no family wealth to cushion your falls. When I deal with people with this high levels of privilege I find it very hard to relate to them. Its like talking to a space alien with endless wealth. My own experience don't remotely match up. Poverty is several steps below the situation I grew up in. I can't imagine the hopelessness here. Kudos to those who are actively doing something about it.