It is strange, being right while everyone else is wrong.

[Shaul]

I don't understand. "Right" and "Wrong" are abstractions. People aren't absolute abstracts. At any given time a person is somewhere on the spectrum of "Rightness". And how much a person is "Right" relative to another person is mostly irrelevant. I thought we were posting here to each individually move closer to the "Right" side of the spectrum by interacting to collectively find and eliminate "Wrongness". Both from within ourselves first and hopefully within others secondarily.

 

[Brickjectivity]

Sad that that is how it seems to work sometimes.

You have inspired me to think.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Ok, I'm with you fellas.

 

[Pete in Panama]

Sad that that is how it seems to work sometimes.

Let's think about this. There's something about success that seems to show how an idea is correct, and making a lot of money is a pretty good proof of success. For me truth doesn't depend on the expounder. Truth is right and error is wrong. For everyone. Sure, we got folks like...

What I am right in, is what is right for me.

No one else. Unless it is right for them.

--with the idea that truth is personal, but I don't buy it. 2+2=4 works for everyone.

 

[JustGeorge]

Let's think about this. There's something about success that seems to show how an idea is correct, and making a lot of money is a pretty good proof of success. For me truth doesn't depend on the expounder. Truth is right and error is wrong. For everyone. Sure, we got folks like...

Not everyone that's got wealth is successful, though. Many are born into it.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Let's think about this. There's something about success that seems to show how an idea is correct, and making a lot of money is a pretty good proof of success. For me truth doesn't depend on the expounder. Truth is right and error is wrong. For everyone. Sure, we got folks like...

--with the idea that truth is personal, but I don't buy it. 2+2=4 works for everyone.

Wealth can be achieved and maintained through a number of mechanisms and not all of them are just. Success as a criminal and success as an honest business person may be equal, but are they both right?

Not all those successes rely on great intelligence either.

There seem to be a number equations that result in the same answer.

 

[Pete in Panama]

Not everyone that's got wealth is successful, though. Many are born into it.

then the problem is keeping it. There've been a lot of stories of the young born to wealth and squandering it. The thing is that smart parents tend to have smart kids so the wealth stays in the family. Managing wealth is not easy, it takes a humble reality-based talent, and that talent has a market value for which others are willing to pay handsomely.

Usually you get what you pay for. Sure, it's possible to squander on garbage, and it's also possible to get a lucky purchase op. However more often than not we get what we pay for.

 

[JustGeorge]

then the problem is keeping it. There've been a lot of stories of the young born to wealth and squandering it. The thing is that smart parents tend to have smart kids so the wealth stays in the family. Managing wealth is not easy, it takes a humble reality-based talent, and that talent has a market value for which others are willing to pay handsomely.

Usually you get what you pay for. Sure, it's possible to squander on garbage, and it's also possible to get a lucky purchase op. However more often than not we get what we pay for.

I've met enough wealthy idiots to disagree. Once you get a certain amount of money, you just can't spend it all. It keeps reproducing itself. If one family member squanders their cash, another relative makes up for it. Perhaps they get scolded behind the scenes, but its not something the general public is aware of.

Besides, not all wealthy people agree on what people should do to be successful. Some say work hard. Others say invest. Some say its not what you know, its who you know.

And of course, there's the debate on what success is... (probably varies from person to person)

 

[PureX]

I'm only being partly sarcastic with this OP.

I know I am not correct in all my beliefs but at the same time I know I am. And it is strange. And I see plenty of other posters who I assume must feel they are absolutely correct. I wonder if they feel the same strange sensation that I do, a certain sense of superiority. Or perhaps pity for others.

In the end it's not about being "correct". It's about being wise.

 

[Pete in Panama]

Wealth can be achieved and maintained through a number of mechanisms and not all of them are just. Success as a criminal and success as an honest business person may be equal, but are they both right?

Not all those successes rely on great intelligence either.

There seem to be a number equations that result in the same answer.

Usually when stupid people come into money they squander it. Something else is the fact that most people are good and prefer justice and fairness. It's the purpose of the state to restrain the criminal minority. I realize that not every one has this view and to paraphrase Thomas Paine: "to argue with someone who has renounced the use of reason and who holds humanity in contempt is like giving medicine to the dead."

 

[Pete in Panama]

I've met enough wealthy idiots to disagree. Once you get a certain amount of money, you just can't spend it all. It keeps reproducing itself. If one family member squanders their cash, another relative makes up for it. Perhaps they get scolded behind the scenes, but its not something the general public is aware of.

--ah, but even when nobody else knows YOU'RE able to find out! Pretty good!

Besides, not all wealthy people agree on what people should do to be successful. Some say work hard. Others say invest. Some say its not what you know, its who you know.

And of course, there's the debate on what success is... (probably varies from person to person)

From what I'm able to see, both investing wisely and getting to know the right people is a lot of hard work. Sure, some folks have a talent for it, just like some can draw neat pictures or play super stuff on the guitar. Talent has a market value and there are many who are willing to pay top dollar for that talent.

otoh, it's not healthy to just sit back & blame one's own failures on other people. More often than not actions have consequences and it behooves us to conduct our affairs with great care.

 

[JustGeorge]

--ah, but even when nobody else knows YOU'RE able to find out! Pretty good!

I'm a clever devil, aren't I.

From what I'm able to see, both investing wisely and getting to know the right people is a lot of hard work. Sure, some folks have a talent for it, just like some can draw neat pictures or play super stuff on the guitar. Talent has a market value and there are many who are willing to pay top dollar for that talent.

Yup, those things can be hard work. Unless they're already done for you.

Sometimes talent does indeed come into play. Sometimes its just the luck of the life you were born into.

otoh, it's not healthy to just sit back & blame one's own failures on other people. More often than not actions have consequences and it behooves us to conduct our affairs with great care.

We agree. One should always do the best with what they have to work with.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Usually when stupid people come into money they squander it.

I wasn't really thinking of stupid people when I wrote that. Most wealth is in the hands of people with average or better intelligence. You don't have to be a stable genius to make lots of money. I think you just have to want to make lots of money and then find a way to do it.

Something else is the fact that most people are good and prefer justice and fairness.

Sure. I believe that most people are generally good. Or at least try to be.

But that doesn't eliminate criminal enterprise as a means to wealth and would indicate success for the persons that achieve it. Unless they are caught it would be seen as a success. Bernie Madoff comes to mind. Until he confessed, he successfully carried off a 20 plus year con job raking in billions.

It's the purpose of the state to restrain the criminal minority.

Sure. One purpose.

I realize that not every one has this view and to paraphrase Thomas Paine: "to argue with someone who has renounced the use of reason and who holds humanity in contempt is like giving medicine to the dead."

I'm not sure why you included that unless you think I'm someone that has renounced the use of reason. I don't believe I have. But I don't disagree with the general tone of the quote and it is widely applicable to a number of situations. Some that I have run into on this forum.

I think it is a legitimate point to note the scions of wealth that do nothing for it except to inherit.

Then, there are lottery winners, gamblers, investors, and speculators that make lots of money. Some of that is just good fortune of being in the right place at the right time. Perhaps a few of them recognized a good thing, but others probably just fell into it.

There are ways to get money that don't require amazing intellect or hard work, but are still counted successful I suppose. Not us though. We're just arguing about it on the internet and that isn't likely to make either of us rich. If it does, let me know. I want to cash in too.