View Full Version : Money really doesn't buy happiness, study finds
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/13022006/323/money-really-doesn-t-buy-happiness-study-finds.html
Glad to here it hey that's made my day :sunny:
SUBMAN1
02-13-06, 03:38 PM
I am not so sure this is true, since another study done recently in the US found that marriage is equivelent to an additional $50K in income per year as measured by their happy test. Heard that on NPR about 3 months back. Seems we may never know the real answer to this one.
-S
Skybird
02-13-06, 04:22 PM
Trust an old ex-psychologist: don't trust psychological research blindly. there is no such thing like objectivity in sociolgical and psychological research. That's why paradigms in these disciplines change faster than in any other science.
Excalibur Bane
02-13-06, 05:20 PM
Studies. Pah! Useless things. Until they do studies that include every single person on the planet, they will be forever inaccurate.
And I can very much assure you, that under my present circumstances, money would buy happiness. Quite a bit of infact. I think the person that came up with that old adage probably didn't have any.
Its not that money buys happiness, but rather it's the lack of money that tends to bring sadness.
TteFAboB
02-13-06, 06:20 PM
Extreme amounts of money can bring sadness too, or, not bring happiness.
Actually, it's really up to the person.
Extreme amounts of money can bring sadness too, or, not bring happiness.
That's a good point :up:
SUBMAN1
02-13-06, 08:11 PM
Extreme amounts of money can bring sadness too, or, not bring happiness.
Actually, it's really up to the person.
That depends - If you let that money rule your life - than yes, it will bring you sadness due to your obsession. Good thing is, not too many people got rich by going after money, but only got rich by pursuing what it is they love.
-S
gdogghenrikson
02-14-06, 01:15 AM
Its not that money buys happiness, but rather it's the lack of money that tends to bring sadness.
good point
Sailor Steve
02-14-06, 02:11 PM
Money may not buy happiness, but you can sure be miserable in a nice appartment.
kiwi_2005
02-16-06, 09:01 AM
Well put it this way if it wasn't for money i wouldn't be able to buy SH3. Therefore i would be sad....
The Avon Lady
02-16-06, 09:07 AM
Money may not buy happiness, but you can sure be miserable in a nice appartment.
I'd rather be happy in a hut than miserable in a mansion.
Money may not buy happiness, but you can sure be miserable in a nice appartment.
I'd rather be happy in a hut than miserable in a mansion.
Being miserable in a hut would be worse thanbeing miserable in a mansion.
SUBMAN1
02-16-06, 11:43 AM
Money may not buy happiness, but you can sure be miserable in a nice appartment.
I'd rather be happy in a hut than miserable in a mansion.
Being miserable in a hut would be worse thanbeing miserable in a mansion.
And if all you can afford is a hut, can you even afford to eat??? Sounds like misery to me.
-S
TteFAboB
02-16-06, 12:03 PM
It's all too relative.
It's better to live in a luxury Hut in the Bahamas than an old poorly maintained Mansion in Alaska, or Iran for that matter.
The bottom line here is that while it is true that money in of itself doesn't buy happiness, the lack of money can indeed be the source of a persons unhappiness.
JSLTIGER
02-16-06, 12:17 PM
The bottom line here is that while it is true that money in of itself doesn't buy happiness, the lack of money can indeed be the source of a persons unhappiness.
Very true.
Onkel Neal
02-17-06, 12:16 AM
I find more money equates to more happiness, especially knowing the electricity won't be shut off or I can buy a can of beans Friday. I guess there is such thing as too much money.... the breakover point for me must be in the billions.
I had the good fortune of suddenly having a hefty amount of money 10 years ago. It was a six figure number, and after paying off my Wife's debts (I didn't have any) and buying new cars, I still had 90% of that money left. Life was very good, I could live comfortably off the earning from my job and didn't spend any of the remaining money. For 5 years, I couldn't complain, and slept very well at night.
My Wife however didn't cooperate. I made the mistake of giving her too much power and trust. Among other projects, she opened a restaurant, and wasn't exactly truthful with the money being spent. To make a very long story short, all the money is gone, we don't have **** to show for it other than 2 10 year old cars. She now has tens of thousands in credit card debt, I have a large mortgage because she used our equity to borrow money for the now closed restaurant, and we fight constantly about money.
So, from my experience, life with money was a MUCH more pleasant, with far fewer arguments, and the kids were happier because they were spoiled.
And yes, I'm a little bitter.
;)
Abraham
02-17-06, 03:12 PM
In my view, money doesn't buy happiness, but opportunities. How you use them is up to you. If you use those opportunities well, you might get happy; if you use them badly, you might get more miserable then you were before.
Money alone doesn't do the trick. In the end, the decisive factor is wisdom (as the Good Book already said)...
I agree that I made some bad decisions. Trusting those who should not be trusted being one of those decisions. If I had it to do over, I would be a single,financially, well off, male... as long as I'm wishing, I'd like a pony... :D
Abraham
02-17-06, 11:11 PM
My remarks were a general answer to the thread question and in no way intended to criticize you Terrax (more than myself...). :D
I think I'll find it a bit easier to look for happiness if I'm not worrying about where to get the money from to fill the car with petrol, pay the bills or fill the fridge. Not that I'm unhappy - in case the wife is stalking me on here :O)
Marhkimov
02-18-06, 05:35 AM
It's simple really:
Too much money is bad.
Too little is also bad.
Having just enough is good.
Drebbel
02-18-06, 06:48 AM
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/13022006/323/money-really-doesn-t-buy-happiness-study-finds.html
Glad to here it hey that's made my day :sunny:
If you are happy -------> It is better to be rich as well
If you are unhappy ----> It is better to be rich as well
:D
It seems we can not really make are minds up on this one, money is a problem. There are tribes in the world who have know idea what money is, and they seem to be happy with their life style.
It seems we can not really make are minds up on this one, money is a problem. There are tribes in the world who have know idea what money is, and they seem to be happy with their life style.
That's because in their isolation they don't know any better.
Drebbel
02-18-06, 09:51 AM
It seems we can not really make are minds up on this one, money is a problem. There are tribes in the world who have know idea what money is, and they seem to be happy with their life style.
Maybe not money. But I am sure they use sometime else to trade. Cows, food, woman, pearls, labour, status, services, whatever.
TteFAboB
02-18-06, 11:30 AM
The most important point is the source of the richness and what you can do with it. In a free democratic country your options are wide open, but the source can still be a problem.
You can't be happy and rich in North Korea, your spending options are limited and if you are rich you must have connections with Kim. You can't actually be happy in North Korea unless you don't know or can't think any better. If you have enough money to create a reading or philosophy group for people, but you are denied such a thing by Kim because he needs the population dumb and uneducated, and you are only allowed to share what he allows, and you are only allowed to let the people think what is safe (limited, partial, biased and most likely lies, these don't develop a brain, they tame it), then you certainly can't feel good knowing there's a bunch of Zombies all around and you can't even help them jump-start their minds. However, anyone who suffers from amorality doesn't have to worry about this, but I disagree such a person can be happy, for he doesn't know what happiness is, he has no conscience of it.
Now what if you are a drug lord? You're rich alright, but did you know that richness comes from the death of many customers, dealers and some other people who may have nothing to do with it, and those who don't die can have their lives severely ruined, sometimes with very small chances of recovery? Your product requires more and more larger doses to continue to make an effect as time goes by, and only a minority of people can use it safely, avoiding the worst consequences. Only someone with a severe case of amorality can be happy with this richness, and it is a very fragile richness afterall, because not only are the police forces worldwide on your tail (if you're international), but also your own kind, the fellow you thought you could trust, are willing to knock you down and take your seat. Will the exotic and luxury cars and the nice mansion (they might not last very long) make this person happy?
So how about this:
you are happy <-------> be rich as well.
If you are unhappy <------- It isn't better to be rich as well, if you cannot use your richness wisely, or if your richness comes from, say, criminal activities.
The monetary system is far from being a problem, don't stress on it.
Amorality is a far bigger problem, how can someone think it's perfectly fine to get rich being a drug lord and that the prostitute women and sports car he will get will make him happy, at least untill he gets a well deserved bullet to his head? Such a person is not a human as his cognitive processes aren't fully functional or developed to basic standards, but an animal, and if arrested he doesn't apply to Human Rights, but to Animal Protection Rights, and he shouldn't clutter prisons for men or women, but be sent to the dog compound where he will eat dog food, but obviously, don't let him near the dogs because they don't deserve to be put close to the scum of the Earth.
(the last paragraph may contain traces of sarcasm or joke).
The real origin of your insatisfaction is not the lack of money or goods, but your unsatisfied will to get them. If you are able to desire less goods, you will be more happier since you have no unfullfilled wishes.
Once you have enough to get a roof, food and the basics, anything else you desire can be traced to your primary instincs of being fitter than the neighbour for survivor, or looking better to attract females.
In other words, your primary instincs are taking control over your intelligence.
Recommended reading for anyone who wants to be happier with less money: The work of Zeno of Citium (Stoician school)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoicism
We haven't really found anything original since the lod greek masters, I'm afraid :damn:
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