Smooky

Are you trying to define the work ethic of rich people using one example?

cheshirecatsmileyface

Ok... I'll get the round after that.

I think graphicaddiction just learned how to use fontsize and color commands in html..

:)

2004-08-26 02:31:43 PM The504 [TotalFark]

Smooky

Are you trying to define the work ethic of rich people using one example?

If they're defining the work ethic of rich people using one example, so can I. Just like I told EatHam

[14:32] IamColdSpaghetti: there are people that work hard to get where they're at, and there are people who are given their wealth... no one accepts the latter, everyone believes in the former

You think the poor are just lazy, fat and minority.

2004-08-26 02:32:33 PM EatHam [TotalFark]

smookyfufu is clearly jealous of the rich.

Yeah I am.. DAMN YOU AND YOUR SUVs! AND PLASMA SCREENS!

ReBurninator

Yes, some people are still able to profit from the welfare system. However, it's nothing compared to, say, how much logging companies profit from logging in our national parks.

I do find it mildly annoying that there's a small number of people out there abusing the welfare system. However, it enrages me and infuriates me that the government gives subsidies, tax breaks, and other pay-offs to corporations. That shiat makes no sense, and it's a direct result of the corporations lobbying the politicians with cold, hard cash.

We need a government less focused on pork-barrel, finding new ways to let their special interests profit, and more on education and infrastructure.

2004-08-26 02:34:54 PM EatHam [TotalFark]

I wish I had a plasma screen.

I wish you had one too, i'd invite myself to your place on Sundays.

[You think the poor are just lazy, fat and minority.]

Man you try to put words in my mouth on just about every thread we are on...

I *was* poor. And yes, my parents were pretty lazy about some things. However, they did instill alot of good things in me growing up, which led me to get better. My dad could have simply worked harder and made more money, but he was too scared to close his run-down business and relocate when the oilfields collapsed in 1983. So yeah, that's his fault. Put too many eggs in one basket.

2004-08-26 01:33:19 PM The504 [TotalFark]

Smooky,

Have YOU seen poverty? Don't be so quick to dismiss someones sob story.

What do you think? I was born and raised in the projects, and i'll leave my sob story at that.

This may be lazy8 by the time it hits the front.

[What do you think? I was born and raised in the projects, and i'll leave my sob story at that.]

And did you get out of them? Was it just luck or connections then?

2004-08-26 02:37:40 PM puffy999 [TotalFark]

I know you want to defend her (she's not responding anymore, which means she has nada left) for being a chick, but that made no sense
I'll restate (rereading my post, it was a bit off the wall). You took something she posted (about how poor people are able to afford food, albeit crappy food, which is more than people in other countries can say... this is a FACT) and then said You're essentially saying that the poor should be happy with what they have and not expect anymore. Where did that comment come from? Where'd she say that, or even hint at it? She stated a FACT, and you made up an opinion for her and called her a snob for it. That's pretty lame Smooky.
Don't worry. I'm not one of the TFers who sucks up to every TFette. That's not my thing, and I have said this multiple times. The fact is, you just ran with a comment she made, and blew it out of proportion, THEN attacked her.

She came off as a snob and so I called her on it. Not attacking anyone, just calling it like it is.

2004-08-26 02:38:21 PM The504 [TotalFark]

[You think the poor are just lazy, fat and minority.]

Man you try to put words in my mouth on just about every thread we are on...

No I don't.. what did you call me? A TERRORIST! HOW DARE YOU.

Oh, yes, Paris Hilton. Obviously, she's the posterchild for every person in this nation that has money. All rich people are just like her.

I have very wealthy parents, and I'm kinda like her (party a lot, am not very responsible, etc). In fact, most people that I went to school growing up with whose parents had 10mil+ net worth are just like that too...

2004-08-26 02:40:09 PM The504 [TotalFark]

[What do you think? I was born and raised in the projects, and i'll leave my sob story at that.]

And did you get out of them? Was it just luck or connections then?

A combination of smarts, charm, luck, and connections. I think i'm the only one from my class in grade school to go to college

But i don't want this to become a pissing contest, which is why i'd rather not give any details. I get annoyed when everyone starts to be all... THEN MY FATHER CUT OFF MY ARM AND BEAT ME WITH IT AND WE ATE 5 YEAR OLD CEREAL WITH SEWER WATER!!! Now i have a yacht! And 15 wives! I married Jessica Alba!

2004-08-26 02:40:35 PM xselectah [TotalFark]

Oh, yes, Paris Hilton. Obviously, she's the posterchild for every person in this nation that has money. All rich people are just like her.

I have very wealthy parents, and I'm kinda like her (party a lot, am not very responsible, etc). In fact, most people that I went to school growing up with whose parents had 10mil+ net worth are just like that too...

At least you're honest, and have great taste in music! (Tribe Called Quest)

2004-08-26 02:40:31 PM puffy999 [TotalFark]

If they're defining the work ethic of rich people using one example, so can I.
Hopefully you aren't looking at me here. I'm one of the people saying it's pretty stupid to suggest "poor people work hard, and rich people don't". Because that's certainly NOT always the case.

It was implied by people in this thread. Didn't single anyone out.

Smooky

So hard work and trying had nothing to do with making you successful?

If people have to be lucky or have connections to get out of poverty, then we're better off funding witch doctors than welfare.

However, it enrages me and infuriates me that the government gives subsidies, tax breaks, and other pay-offs to corporations. That shiat makes no sense, and it's a direct result of the corporations lobbying the politicians with cold, hard cash.

I don't agree with corporate welfare either, my friend. Like EatHam said, it should be survival of the fittest. Like the average joe, they should have to make it on their own steam.

No, I don't want to get into a pissing contest about "who was poorest" All I wanted to say about it was "Yeah we really were farking poor by american standards"

I don't doubt that you had it any better/ worse than I did.

Half my family is poor (moms half). Dad grew up poor. They both work amazingly hard with little effort and I am stuck being a lazy bastard, much to my displeasure.

I always however wanted to go out into the wilderness (if theres any left) later in life and build a house, using wood from trees I planted, with no power tools. Then to plant a garden out back, with no fertilizers other than natural. And to keep a few cows/chickens handy.

And I don't want to be a doctor, but I want to learn a decent amount of it, so if I fall or get bitten by a bee I won't go into a panic and pay awful health insurance companies to keep on raping moneywise doctors like my dad.

Insurance companies, while good in principle, have become too large. Almost to the point where they can control the prices of several industries singlehandedly and without consequence. Why is it to expensive to see a doctor? Malpractice insurance and material/equipment cost, both of which cost way more than they should. Way more. Way way more. Possibly a little greed on their parts too.

Why can't I see certain doctors on an insurance plan? They want more money than the insurance agencies will allow. The insurance companies should pay them. Bend over backwards. Treat your client like gold.

As classes are concerned, why not just cap salaries off at so and so million a year. Who needs that much? Who needs hundreds of millions of dollars sitting in the damn bank doing nothing? For the greater good. Anything above the cap could be put into the company. Like salary increases. It could be used as bonus money. Or donated to charity. Anything that wasn't used by the end of the year could be taxed 80%.

People will say "oh but my freedoms, this is what capitalism is!". You are free to make a living, even a really really good one at that, but you aren't free to hoard millions even billions of dollars to collect interest. There is no reason besides showing off to "compensate" for other areas of your life.

Corporations generally tend to piss me off. I am done

We need a government less focused on pork-barrel, finding new ways to let their special interests profit, and more on education and infrastructure.

I fully agree with that. I think that term limits for our legislators would be a good place to start. The longer in office the more exposure to special interests you have. I would like to see every Congress full of brand new faces so that we can always have brand new perspectives. Let's face it, Ted Kennedy has been in office for so long that there's no way he could relate to the average person.

Like the average joe, they should have to make it on their own steam.

This whole concept of social darwinism is a terrible idea. To say that just because someone happened to have the correct genetic makeup that allowed them to be intelligent enough combined with the correct upbringing to instill a strong work ethic, means that one persons standard of living should be higher than another. There are no true qualitative measures that can define one man that mean he deserves anything more than anyone else.

Ambition is not something someone can create, it is instilled through a combination of nature and nurture. A person cannot grow up in an environment where creativity and ambition are crushed by their surrounding and all of a sudden change the way they view the world...

2004-08-26 02:43:03 PM The504 [TotalFark]

Smooky

So hard work and trying had nothing to do with making you successful?

If people have to be lucky or have connections to get out of poverty, then we're better off funding witch doctors than welfare.

I said it was a combination of all of those traits. I could have just gotten shot for my chains or sneakers. Who knows?

2004-08-26 02:44:41 PM puffy999 [TotalFark]

How is that coming off like a snob? Meh, maybe we just see the world differently.

Maybe you're a FASCIZO-NAZI!!111!!one! ;)

Look, she came across as pretty much saying "Let them eat cake" (poor people). She never responded after, which probably meant she meant it that way, so there you go. Marie Antoinette in modern form. She can respond and explain, i'm all ears. That way I can stop referring to her in third person and making it seem like we're gossipping about her.

Sorry Smooky, I went to go make some lunch (ingredients cost about $2.00)

I don't know why you would think I'm a snob, you see, I am a poor college student who has to make decisions everyday on what to spend my money on. I pay for my education. I pay for my house, truck and other daily expenses. Smart financial decisions are what allow me to have some of the extras in life that I want. I have very little sympathy for those who don't try to improve their situation in life, but if that makes me a snob, so be it.

My original statement was merely a comment on the fact that our poor people are still better off than poor people in other countries, we should be thankful for that.

Ambition is not something someone can create, it is instilled through a combination of nature and nurture. A person cannot grow up in an environment where creativity and ambition are crushed by their surrounding and all of a sudden change the way they view the world...

So is having your ambition crushed by your surroundings some sort of disability that you should be compensated for? I don't get your point.

Thats like saying "Compared to the fattest man in the world, i'm in great shape."

/Kicks EatHam


People do try to improve their situation in life, thats what you don't understand. You have this belief that all you need to do is try hard and your wishes will come true. That doesn't happen in real life for everyone.

not all rich people have wealthy parents

You are absolutely right that it is not absolute, but very very few truly wealthy people don't have parents with some degree of wealth. I will happily acknowledge that many people meet the standards of upper-middle class without rich parents...but true wealth is very rarely created.

Look at the forbes top 25 and figure out who came from lower class families...there might be one, but i doubt it.

So is having your ambition crushed by your surroundings some sort of disability that you should be compensated for? I don't get your point.

No, but it would be nice if they weren't viewed as lazy second class citizens, undeserving of any aid whatsoever.

Oh and Smooky I responded to other posts after yours, I usually don't respond to people who call me names just because I disagree with them

2004-08-26 02:55:24 PM bargirl24 [TotalFark]

Oh and Smooky I responded to other posts after yours, I usually don't respond to people who call me names just because I disagree with them

I called it like I saw it. Didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Who would have thought I was supposed to be PC?

2004-08-26 02:54:09 PM Dancin_In_Anson [TotalFark]

Sorry Smooky, I went to go make some lunch (ingredients cost about $2.00)

ZING!

How is that a ZING? You regularly pick and choose points to make your feeble arguments. Did you miss how I explained being taught nutrition?

xselectah

[Ambition is not something someone can create, it is instilled through a combination of nature and nurture. A person cannot grow up in an environment where creativity and ambition are crushed by their surrounding and all of a sudden change the way they view the world...]

Well... u just basically summarized social darwinism. Those that cannot compete, will be brutally crushed by the cold uncaring hands of progress and success, leaving only the successful behind...

I don't like social darwinism either, but it's hard not to want it when you see abuses in the system.

You guys have made the $5 worth it... thanks, neat discussion so far.

No, but it would be nice if they weren't viewed as lazy second class citizens, undeserving of any aid whatsoever.

Once again I am misunderstood. I never said that the poor are undeserving. I'll say it again: At some point everyone needs a helping hand.

But that doesn't mean that it is OK to just accept your condition and live at society's expense, either. One principle I subscribe to is that once you have had enough of something you will do whatever it takes to change it. History justifies this for me. The American Revolution, the storming of the Bastille, the Afghans repelling the Russians. Either you like the way things are or you just haven't had enough yet. I think that the same thing goes for poverty. For some people all it takes is a little bit of relief to help them, others don't want to let go of it.

Smooky You didnt hurt my feelings at all, I just prefer not to get involved in name calling. Say whatever you like, It doesnt mean I'm going to respond, however I do have one question...If you were living in poverty, how could you afford gold chains?

I don't like social darwinism either, but it's hard not to want it when you see abuses in the system.

I always thought the reasons we as human beings stived towards progress was to allow an evironment where the relatively brutal nature of darwinism was somehow diluted by our abilities to control nature (a la the medicine industry, genetic research, etc.). If we are not attempting to redefine these natural methods of quality control then what are we fighting for. Should the people fighting for a cure for childhood liukemia just give up because "only the strong survive?"

I wonder what this will turn into once... normies get ahold of the thread?

I think we all know the answer to that question.

/Darwinism as demonstrated in fark?

2004-08-26 03:03:26 PM bargirl24 [TotalFark]

Smooky You didnt hurt my feelings at all, I just prefer not to get involved in name calling. Say whatever you like, It doesnt mean I'm going to respond, however I do have one question...If you were living in poverty, how could you afford gold chains?

It's not name calling.. do people in Texas have this affliction where they sort of ignore certain points and just respond? Its not name calling, you acted like one, and I called you on it. You've yet to address any of the points i've made.

Why should I answer your question? You'll just skip the answer and ask me something stupid. But here's your answer any way, it was a fake wrist chain that cost 5 bucks.

Will you keep ignoring everything else and continue zinging?