5 ms·

"Money doesn't buy happiness" is just something we tell the poor so they don't revolt -- this also applied to communism -- the communist elites lived a much be

by raducu 6y ago

"Money doesn't buy happiness" is just something we tell the poor so they don't revolt -- this also applied to communism -- the communist elites lived a much better life materially and socially. Sure, average Ivan was "happy" because his neighbors had just as crappy flat, just as crappy car, just as crappy job, just as crappy food and so on and there was no way for him to "better" his life because money was meaningless because thats not what Ivan really lacked -- he lacked freedom to do as he pleased with his money. My point was that people are competitive, social animals and social status is very important; sure, communism castrated a lot of those impulses and some people claim they were much happier back then, but its mostly bullshit nostalgia. I was very young back then, but I remember the deprivations, my kindergarten educator slapping me for not applauding "dear leader", my parents just leaving me alone in the flat because they had to go the communist parades, being lectured in kindergarden how my parents jobs(doctors) were in fact less important than the jobs of other coleagues worker-parents jobs who "perhaps" made the syringes my parents could not do without; I remember people having to work on saturdays, night shifts and so on.

taneq 6y ago
Money may not buy happiness but poverty sure can remove it.
- visarga 6y ago
  In Romanian we say 'Money don't bring happiness but neither does their lack of'
missedthecue 6y ago
Money doesn't buy happiness. All it can do is buy distraction and remove physical discomfort like starving or sleeping in the rain or riding a bike instead of a car
cameldrv 6y ago
Having not lived through it, but having seen a glimpse of its aftermath living in Berlin a few years, it was very interesting to see the contrasts between the Ossis and Wessis (at least ones that were say, at least 18 in 1989). In general, I found the Ossis to be more friendly and open and fun loving. For example, an Ossi party would usually be louder, messier, and have worse food, but everyone would be laughing and a guitar might come out at some point. The typical Wessi party I experienced was perfectly catered, everyone was perfectly dressed, and it was in a perfect house, but people weren't necessarily having that much fun. Now this is different in other parts of Germany, but it's an interesting natural experiment, because these guys were literally in the same city.
- reducesuffering 6y ago
  It’s not exactly a novel concept. Compare your recollection of the low class Irish party scene on the Titanic. What’s your imagination of a suburban house party or block party compared to the eloquent glitzy ballroom party by the well-to-do? Not many in society are expecting the well off to have much fun in gatherings amongst themselves.
Err_Eek 6y ago
My dad was salty during communism that he didn't get more "respect" for his labor (highschool teacher) than your run of the mill factory worker. I remember during the early 90s how he was hopefully saying that once the country exits the "transition" phase, we will all have the dignified life of middle class westerners. Meanwhile the country still does the same in international rankings as it did during the time of our dear leader. However more of the egalitarianism we had disappeared, and while some enjoy some semblance of prosperity in the heart of the major cities, the bulk of the nation has no job security and no future prospect but to be a cheap labor source for the west.
- throwaway38235 6y ago
  > he didn't get more "respect" for his labor (highschool teacher) > we will all have the dignified life of middle class westerners What a sad irony. If he was a highschool teacher in the US as now he could be struggling to pay rent and medical bills and get more or less the same "respect".
  - Err_Eek 6y ago
    At the time there were two issues: - (I think) school teachers were better paid than now, relative to the average population - People in communism mostly knew the US through Hollywood films, which portray a way more glitzy version reality. Especially so in the 80s in popular sitcoms like Dallas.
Mediterraneo10 6y ago
The OP referred to Yugoslavia, its socialism was vastly different. After the first years of the Tito era, there was little pressure to praise Tito, just not to disparage him. The 1970s are fondly remembered as the decade of the vikendica and middle-class holidays in Bali. (Young Yugoslavs also made up a conspicuous portion of the travelers on the Istanbul–Kathmandu trail, because with the red Yugoslav passport one could travel visa-free all over the world.) If a person wanted especial material success, then one was free to go work in Western Europe, the borders were wide open and a huge amount of people took advantage of this opportunity. If you are from Romania, as I assume from your username, the experience of socialism there, or other Eastern Bloc countries, does not even compare.
eeZah7Ux 6y ago
It should be obvious that money prevents the sorrow of poverty. "Money doesn't buy happiness" refers to happiness, which is not simply the lack of sadness. It means that once all the typical material needs are provided, simply having more money does not make people visibly HAPPY all the time, and most people tend to focus on other goals. This has been proven again and again by scientific research.

by raducu 6y ago

taneq 6y ago

Money may not buy happiness but poverty sure can remove it.

visarga 6y ago
In Romanian we say 'Money don't bring happiness but neither does their lack of'

missedthecue 6y ago

Money doesn't buy happiness. All it can do is buy distraction and remove physical discomfort like starving or sleeping in the rain or riding a bike instead of a car

cameldrv 6y ago

Having not lived through it, but having seen a glimpse of its aftermath living in Berlin a few years, it was very interesting to see the contrasts between the Ossis and Wessis (at least ones that were say, at least 18 in 1989). In general, I found the Ossis to be more friendly and open and fun loving. For example, an Ossi party would usually be louder, messier, and have worse food, but everyone would be laughing and a guitar might come out at some point. The typical Wessi party I experienced was perfectly catered, everyone was perfectly dressed, and it was in a perfect house, but people weren't necessarily having that much fun. Now this is different in other parts of Germany, but it's an interesting natural experiment, because these guys were literally in the same city.

reducesuffering 6y ago
It’s not exactly a novel concept. Compare your recollection of the low class Irish party scene on the Titanic. What’s your imagination of a suburban house party or block party compared to the eloquent glitzy ballroom party by the well-to-do? Not many in society are expecting the well off to have much fun in gatherings amongst themselves.

Err_Eek 6y ago

My dad was salty during communism that he didn't get more "respect" for his labor (highschool teacher) than your run of the mill factory worker. I remember during the early 90s how he was hopefully saying that once the country exits the "transition" phase, we will all have the dignified life of middle class westerners. Meanwhile the country still does the same in international rankings as it did during the time of our dear leader. However more of the egalitarianism we had disappeared, and while some enjoy some semblance of prosperity in the heart of the major cities, the bulk of the nation has no job security and no future prospect but to be a cheap labor source for the west.

throwaway38235 6y ago
> he didn't get more "respect" for his labor (highschool teacher) > we will all have the dignified life of middle class westerners What a sad irony. If he was a highschool teacher in the US as now he could be struggling to pay rent and medical bills and get more or less the same "respect".
- Err_Eek 6y ago
  At the time there were two issues: - (I think) school teachers were better paid than now, relative to the average population - People in communism mostly knew the US through Hollywood films, which portray a way more glitzy version reality. Especially so in the 80s in popular sitcoms like Dallas.

Mediterraneo10 6y ago

The OP referred to Yugoslavia, its socialism was vastly different. After the first years of the Tito era, there was little pressure to praise Tito, just not to disparage him. The 1970s are fondly remembered as the decade of the vikendica and middle-class holidays in Bali. (Young Yugoslavs also made up a conspicuous portion of the travelers on the Istanbul–Kathmandu trail, because with the red Yugoslav passport one could travel visa-free all over the world.) If a person wanted especial material success, then one was free to go work in Western Europe, the borders were wide open and a huge amount of people took advantage of this opportunity. If you are from Romania, as I assume from your username, the experience of socialism there, or other Eastern Bloc countries, does not even compare.

eeZah7Ux 6y ago

It should be obvious that money prevents the sorrow of poverty. "Money doesn't buy happiness" refers to happiness, which is not simply the lack of sadness. It means that once all the typical material needs are provided, simply having more money does not make people visibly HAPPY all the time, and most people tend to focus on other goals. This has been proven again and again by scientific research.