4 ms·

I think everything is relative. I have met and I know many indians that have a lifestyle that we (Europeans) would never follow or think about. That's probably

by mk89 7y ago

I think everything is relative. I have met and I know many indians that have a lifestyle that we (Europeans) would never follow or think about. That's probably the "luxury" that the parent comment is talking about. As usual, this is where two cultures tend to diverge. For "them" we live a stressful lifestyle, etc., etc., because we need to make money. For "us", they have a laid back lifestyle that we can't understand: how do you want to provide for your 4 kids, when you have so little money? Etc etc. Unfortunately, this sort of thinking is very persistent in people coming from such countries that tend to see us as "weak" or "luxurious" people, because such a lifestyle is light years away from where they come from. I don't say this with the "white mindset". It's just that we Western people are talking about reducing the working hours to 30 per week, because we want to spend more time with our family, want to live stress-free, etc. etc., and possibly keep a good salary. This clashes with the old traditional capitalistic way of doing business: let's hire cheap labor from abroad, so we make more money. The main parent comment is right about it. It's proven that this doesn't lead to anything than more cheap labor.

mk89 7y ago
Oh BTW, I also have met very ambitious Indians that work way harder than Europeans. So, take my precious words with a grain of salt.
inertiatic 7y ago
You are right on that, it's a difference of perspective in a lot of these cases. I personally very well could subsist on bulk prepared, cheaper food, go out or visit family very rarely, never pay for a gym membership or for a music tutor or for dance lessons or for children's activities. But from my point of view that's insane, and those are basic things that you will spend some amount of money once you can afford it on to have a life worth living. Luxury to myself means luxury goods (status symbols such as cars, phones etc. or even best-in-class functional items with increased cost compared to value-for-money alternatives), frequent travel etc. all of which I can't afford. I wonder though if this goalpost would move even further if my income ever increased, or this mindset is well, set, from our upbringing.

by mk89 7y ago

mk89 7y ago

Oh BTW, I also have met very ambitious Indians that work way harder than Europeans. So, take my precious words with a grain of salt.

inertiatic 7y ago

You are right on that, it's a difference of perspective in a lot of these cases. I personally very well could subsist on bulk prepared, cheaper food, go out or visit family very rarely, never pay for a gym membership or for a music tutor or for dance lessons or for children's activities. But from my point of view that's insane, and those are basic things that you will spend some amount of money once you can afford it on to have a life worth living. Luxury to myself means luxury goods (status symbols such as cars, phones etc. or even best-in-class functional items with increased cost compared to value-for-money alternatives), frequent travel etc. all of which I can't afford. I wonder though if this goalpost would move even further if my income ever increased, or this mindset is well, set, from our upbringing.