Is it the evil time or what?

[roger1440]

That seems pretty expensive to me.

It is not expensive for that area and that type of establishment. Keep in mind this place is in the theater district of Manhattan. People come from miles around to see some of the best plays in the world. People get all dressed up see a Broadway play and have dinner.

 

[FearGod]

In the video the man emphasizes the price of the food. The food isn’t just expensive or very expensive. It is “very, very expensive”. He actually gives a price, “$200”. By over emphasizing the price of the food he wants to make it very clear he is spending a very, very large amount of money on this homeless person. He wants to make it known to his viewers the amount of money he is spending on a guy he doesn’t even know. Buying a meal for a homeless man wasn’t sufficient. It had to be an expensive meal. In reality he didn’t spend a lot of money at an expensive restaurant.

It's an odd indeed but i think he meant it, choosing a luxury restaurant to buy the food
for the homeless can be read as a message for those rich people who waste a lot of
money for a meal which can be much cheaper in one other restaurant, but if they met
a homeless then they won't give him even a cent.

Even we may comment as of why he bought him an expensive meal let the money be used for a better
things to the homeless, but we didn't ask why the rich can spend a lot of money but not offering any help
for the homeless who stands out there asking for help, he has no other job but begging.

 

[roger1440]

It's an odd indeed but i think he meant it, choosing a luxury restaurant to buy the food
for the homeless can be read as a message for those rich people who waste a lot of
money for a meal which can be much cheaper in one other restaurant, but if they met
a homeless then they won't give him even a cent.

Even we may comment as of why he bought him an expensive meal let the money be used for a better
things to the homeless, but we didn't ask why the rich can spend a lot of money but not offering any help
for the homeless who stands out there asking for help, he has no other job but begging.

The emphasis of the video was more about the guy with the money rather then it was about the guy without money. If he honestly wanted to help the poor sap there are much better ways he could have done it. Giving one meal to the homeless does very little to help. Many houses of worship do something for the homeless. There are also non-religious charities. Funny thing is, my roommate’s sister goes to one of those super-duper mega churches only one block away from there, Times Square Church. I think it has 5000 members.

 

[Windwalker]

material success is really the only gauge we have of true success between each other.

I absolutely reject this view. True success is getting along with others. True success is being happy, content and peaceful with yourself. True success knowing love. All this other "material success" is a total lie. You think money buys happiness? Now that is marketing at its finest, get you to chase an ideal and never find real happiness. Like Richard Rohr aptly said, you can spend your whole life climbing the ladder of success only to find it's leaning against the wrong building.

Some of us might be happy with more or less, but the numbers on the board are the numbers.

What is this supposed to mean? You have statistics that more money buys more happiness? Can you provide a link to that study for us?

Accept all of that crap about where you are from mattering or that menial jobs lead nowhere and you will have more of the same. Everything matters, every single act, and no it doesn't matter where you are from - it matters what you will do!

This is of course complete bull****. If you don't think racism and classism are in fact factors standing in the way of those who are at the least equally if not more qualified and motivated to improve their lives economically, you're living in a Disney fantasy movie written by Ayn Rand.

You can take the crappiest job, and add one of those other features they will lead to income, plenty of it. All though you probably think you know better than me, take a minute to think about it.

We do know better than you.

Now, how does any of this turns into being cruel to others? Yea, it doesn't.

Because you mistakenly assume the myth you've been indoctrinated with is true and those who fail to climb this mythic ladder, well the problem must be them! It's like religion that says if you don't have success with their program the problem is YOU, not the program itself. Of course, this is complete bull**** too. No difference between the two. Such views lead to a lack of empathy, compassion, and understanding of your fellow man. It's leads to self-righteous judgments of others.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

It is not expensive for that area and that type of establishment. Keep in mind this place is in the theater district of Manhattan. People come from miles around to see some of the best plays in the world. People get all dressed up see a Broadway play and have dinner.

Still way more expensive than cooking a meal at home.

 

[Mindmaster]

I absolutely reject this view. True success is getting along with others. True success is being happy, content and peaceful with yourself. True success knowing love. All this other "material success" is a total lie. You think money buys happiness? Now that is marketing at its finest, get you to chase an ideal and never find real happiness. Like Richard Rohr aptly said, you can spend your whole life climbing the ladder of success only to find it's leaning against the wrong building.

Success and money buy plenty of happiness. Everything from a better house in a safer neighborhood to a selection of prettier women (or men) and nearly anything else your little heart desires. Anyone that thinks this doesn't affect your overall state or quality of life in a positive way is peddling complete rubbish. My views won't be popular here with the liberal idealism that infests this site, but I don't care about anyone's poor little feelings here. People either get it, or they don't. You and others like you are the ones that directly financially pay for not understanding what I said. It's that simple, the world doesn't care if you get it, and I don't either. Some people are happy being part of the precariat, and some people find that impossibly difficult to live with because they aren't deluded into thinking that is OK or ideal. I have no doubt the people who criticize me don't even own their own homes or cars for the most part, and I don't feel that makes me superior, but it sort of reinforces my point. The poor have an incorrect economic understanding that keeps them poor. I grew up poor, poorer than most, and if I hadn't I'd probably be filthy rich vs just doing well and not having too many worries. It took me years to reprogram myself to think in successful ways, and it cost me cash that I probably otherwise would have made. I would have been happier and healthier than I am now for sure if I could have managed to harness more of the energy of my youth. It gets harder to be productive as you age, you just don't have the stamina like you did.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Success and money buy plenty of happiness. Everything from a better house in a safer neighborhood to a selection of prettier women (or men) and nearly anything else your little heart desires. Anyone that thinks this doesn't affect your overall state or quality of life in a positive way is peddling complete rubbish.

There's actually plenty of studies that show money only buys happiness up to a certain point, and beyond, I think it was around $50,000 a year, there is no difference. It has nothing to do with "prettier mates," or whatever your heart desires, but things like better homes in safer neighborhoods.
And, no, many people do not define their happiness or success by money and material possessions. And, BTW, I do own my own car (bought it, a 2002 Cougar, in high school), and I even had my own home (got it in my mid-20s) until my knee got worse and my employment options became limited. And to throw it out there, growing up my first crib was a dresser drawer and we were so poor that even McDonalds was a treat.

 

[Windwalker]

Success and money buy plenty of happiness. Everything from a better house in a safer neighborhood to a selection of prettier women (or men) and nearly anything else your little heart desires.

That doesn't bring you happiness. Getting whatever you want doesn't bring you happiness. It brings you distractions that temporarily give the illusion of happiness because they occupy your attention. But at the end of the day, if you don't have happiness without "things", you don't have happiness.

Anyone that thinks this doesn't affect your overall state or quality of life in a positive way is peddling complete rubbish.

Let's be clear, yes, economics, your environment, safety and stability, all these do affect and impact your quality of life. It's pretty hard to happy if you have marauding bands of thugs led by a warlord raping and pillaging your home and family. Economic stability gives one the freedom to pursue areas of life that in fact do result in happiness, such as the betterment of your mind, your heart, your creativity, your social relationships, and so forth. But you are dead wrong to think that throwing money at things brings you internal peace and joy. Those things come from personal development, which sufficient economics gives you the liberty to pursue. But if you have the money and don't pursue those things.... well, sorry, no dice. You're just rich and unhappy, wealthy and unfulfilled.

There's a reason why the richest people keep wanting to get richer even though they have enough to live on for 7 million life times. It isn't fulfilling them. They are hoarders and gluttons, stuffing and stuffing food into their faces and never feeling full. That's not happiness. That's hell.

My views won't be popular here with the liberal idealism that infests this site, but I don't care about anyone's poor little feelings here.

It's unpopular not because of "liberal idealism", whatever that is. It's just profoundly naive and ignorant, that's all. It's out of touch with reality. Nothing more complex than that.

People either get it, or they don't. You and others like you are the ones that directly financially pay for not understanding what I said.

The hell I do. I understand what you're saying and my life experience tells me it's just purely naive and "idealistic", wishful imaging you'll find a pot of happiness and the end of the gold rainbow. For what it's worth, I actually have a fairly decent salary and standard of living, definitely above average. And it's not the money that makes me happy. I can be quite miserable all on my own if I choose, despite not having worries about money, a decent home, savings, and the like.

I think maybe you have a dream you'll find happiness, "If I were a rich man, Daidle deedle daidle,Daidle daidle deedle daidle dumb" It's fun to imagine, but it's just a dream. Happiness comes from within, not from outside you. If you can't know happiness as a person, it's not going to magically happen if you get rich. Money is not going to save you from yourself.

Some people are happy being part of the precariat, and some people find that impossibly difficult to live with because they aren't deluded into thinking that is OK or ideal.

I don't think anyone wants to live in uncertainty and instability. But again, just because you do have those things, it's not going to "give" you happiness. Happiness is something inside of you, and no one, or no thing can give it to you.

I have no doubt the people who criticize me don't even own their own homes or cars for the most part

Not to brag, but I actually think I probably make more than you and have more than you. I can pretty much buy whatever I want, whenever I want, within reason of course. I'm grateful for this, but I can assure you, that's not where my happiness comes from. So, don't delude yourself to think that your critics are just poor folks who are jealous and don't want to believe you. I think they, like me, don't want believe you because what you're saying is incredibly naive and we're a ton wiser than that.

and I don't feel that makes me superior, but it sort of reinforces my point. The poor have an incorrect economic understanding that keeps them poor.

Yeah, you sound like an Ayn Rand groopie. To you, the ideal human is an Investment Banker, right?

I grew up poor, poorer than most, and if I hadn't I'd probably be filthy rich vs just doing well and not having too many worries. It took me years to reprogram myself to think in successful ways, and it cost me cash that I probably otherwise would have made. I would have been happier and healthier than I am now for sure if I could have managed to harness more of the energy of my youth. It gets harder to be productive as you age, you just don't have the stamina like you did.

Well, keep chasing that carrot. Good luck.

 

[Quagmire]

I've known LOTS and LOTS of panhandlers (I was going to say "homeless people" but the thing is, quite a few of the "homeless" panhandlers you see on any given street actually aren't). And people should bear in mind: between SSI, foodstamps, NGOs, community service centers, outreach programs, subsidized housing, free medical and dental, and all the free meal programs most towns offer, that guy you just gave $5 bucks to most likely needs it a lot less than you do. And if s/he's a professional panhandler (and almost all of them are) the topper is s/he almost certainly makes more money than you do, in a lot less time, for almost no work.

Don't believe me? Try this: some afternoon, put on your rattiest clothes, grab a backpack (a book bag is good enough) wander downtown, and pick out a panhandler to hang out with. Spend a couple of hours there and try to keep track of how much money people are giving them.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

You think having money and "real world successes" in capitalistic systems is what qualifies someone as voices of wisdom and compassion, leaders of humanity? I say that many of these most "successful" people, without their money are empty and vacuous, or worse, predators - far from anyone you should listen to. Many homeless folks have far deeper souls than the most "successful", as you call them. True humanity begins with being broken first.

BTW, having a high IQ is simply a tool. Having a soul is not based on having a high IQ, and having a high IQ when it's used only for yourself shows a lack of depth. In reality, super-smart shallow people, are at the end just shallow people. Depth is something that comes through knowing our humanity. That doesn't come just because you're "smart" and can make lots of money. I don't measure "success" with such superficial things as stacks of money. There is a wisdom that says, "Tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the kingdom before you." What is the real measure of "success"?

Thanks. You said it better than I.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Success and money buy plenty of happiness. Everything from a better house in a safer neighborhood to a selection of prettier women (or men) and nearly anything else your little heart desires.

I don't find happiness or completeness in material things. I have a spending problem. I'm poor to begin with, but when I do get some money, I'm irresponsible with it and go on shopping sprees to try to make myself feel better. I have piles of material goods. Most of which I don't even do anything with and a lot of it I don't even remember that I have it. It's just money down the drain. Doesn't make me feel happy. I'm empty and sad. It's just a band-aid masking my lonliness.

You know what? My dream is not to be rich. My dream was to help people. I've wanted to be a variety of things over the years - a doctor, a cop, join the military, a journalist, psychologist and even an astronaut. I wanted to try to make the world a better place. I wanted to just have a little house, a wife and some kids. Just a normal middle class life. Nothing extravagant. But I'm crippled by mental illness and other things out of my control. So my dreams died. I'm 26 and I didn't finish high school, don't have a GED and am unemployed. I'm actually about to be homeless and probably lose everything. But you know what I wish I had the most right now? A (human) friend who understands what I'm going through. A person who actually cares about me and would be with me when I need them, to talk and to cry together. But I don't. I have no one. All the money or formal education in the world won't solve that.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

That doesn't bring you happiness. Getting whatever you want doesn't bring you happiness. It brings you distractions that temporarily give the illusion of happiness because they occupy your attention. But at the end of the day, if you don't have happiness without "things", you don't have happiness.

Very true. Our stuff, more often than not, only brings a temporary fleeting happiness that dulls and fades in a short amount of time. And when our happiness does revolve around an object, the object is rarely the object of happiness, but rather a tool for reaching happiness, such as the fulfillment and happiness a musician receives from performing their art, in which they need an instrument to perform, but the instrument isn't the source of happiness (though often considered an extension of their being and soul). Pencils, pens, and markers don't bring me happiness, it's having the pictures I draw admired that brings happiness. TVs and books may bring an evening of entertainment, but an evening with good friends, rich or poor, is an evening happiness.

The hell I do. I understand what you're saying and my life experience tells me it's just purely naive and "idealistic", wishful imaging you'll find a pot of happiness and the end of the gold rainbow. For what it's worth, I actually have a fairly decent salary and standard of living, definitely above average. And it's not the money that makes me happy. I can be quite miserable all on my own if I choose, despite not having worries about money, a decent home, savings, and the like.

Economically, I've been very poor, comfortable middle class, down to having to eat meals that cost less than a dollar poor, back to comfortably middle class, and currently not middle class, but not poor. My happiness though has never revolved around money, but from enjoying the small things in life, enriching and bettering myself, from treasuring the few positive relationships in my life, and doing things that make me feel fulfilled and gratified. It would be totally awesome to make a living from art, but even if I don't, I'll still be happy doing it. Things that have paid the bills and made me the most money, on the other hand, have made me miserable, have worsened the bad knees I was born with and gave me ailments such as carpal tunnel syndrome, and have been so stressful that on a few occasions I've had anxiety attacks bad enough to cry. It allowed me to eat out nice restaurants and have extras like satellite TV, but dedicated over half of every waking day to working in a dark and dusty warehouse with a crappy management (verified by the very high turn over rate) is just not a happy life or even much of a life when you're exhausted from work by the middle of the week and are too tired to even enjoy the days you do have off.
And I've known some very wealthy people. Not Forbes 500 rich, but rich enough that relatively speaking there really isn't really any practical or meaningful difference between their millions and the Forbes billions. They too have their problems, some of them have been tormented by their own personal demons, and though they talk more frequently of things like vacations, 401Ks, and recreation time, there really isn't any difference between people who can afford castles or large log cabin houses with walk in showers and saunas and those who struggle to afford their electric bill and buy a dollar store grill to cook out with. My sister used to make well over $100,000 a year, but because she's a total dumb *** she lost it all. My ex's uncle easily has the highest IQ out of anyone I've ever known (way above the average IQs of the millionaires I know), and he doesn't make much money and at his late 30s/early 40s he's still living with his mom. And even though he's plagued with Tourette's syndrome and has days bad enough with his facial ticks and vocal "yelps" that he limits where he goes on those days (such as, he won't go to a theater as a consideration to others), he's still generally a happy person, and he has very few personal possessions (mostly theater books and scripts since he is a director, head of a youth theater program, and youth literacy through theater program). Very little money and possessions, yet a rich life of experiences getting to meet and know people, inspiring and motivating them, and getting to travel abroad on occasion from being invited to events to share his passion in life.

 

[Aštra’el]

"Evil time" sounds like some kind of intense session of awesome hardcore bdsm