While I accept that the gap between rich and poor is growing, even the poor are well off in absolute (and global) terms. My father never earned more than £15 per week but we were relatively content...?
2006-12-28 03:18:10 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
The discontent is caused by the media: all those shows about redecorating, having it all and having it now, fancy holidays...this breed dissatisfaction with our humble state. Why do you think so many people are so badly in debt? Because they've swallowed the lie that they can have everything they want, right now.
2006-12-28 03:21:58 · answer #1 · answered by anna 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because of the media. Look at cheap magazines, even they have clothes that can be like £200 each, not something most people can afford to buy, and you end up thinking what is wrong with me?
We are, as a people, fed the notion that we are not worthwhile until we are successful in business terms, have money, move away from the estate or terraced house, get at least a semi in a surburban area with a mortgage and a labrador and a Volvo in the drive.
It is also the celebrity culture. They earn more, they live better lives, they are better than you - that's why so many working class girls try to be glamour models to get a shot at easy money. Happiness is now around whether people respect you for your earning power, not about simple things.
2006-12-28 11:23:19 · answer #2 · answered by Nog 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's fine when everyone about you is earning $100 a week, but when you see how richly some people live, people who aren't rock stars, or especially talented, that itch sets in. Having meat once a week is fine if everyone is just soldiering on, but when they are all eating meat once a day and you are still waiting for Sunday, you get envious. Daily we see the richest things on earth on TV and we know we will never even see it in real life and we wonder why some of these relatively worthless souls have so much luck and we don't. Why are they invited to the party and we aren't? Advertising sets up a continual flow of discontent. Have one iPod, get the newer one, have that, get the thinnest one etc. Once there were no iPods or half the other things we are now told are necessary for happiness. You can't resist the latest game system or fastest computer, and its just out of reach, but you want to grab anyway. It is not a new phenomena, think back to the Bible and you will see it goes back to Genesis and wanting the fruit even thought we were told it wasn't for us.
2006-12-28 11:28:35 · answer #3 · answered by justa 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your father earned fifteen pounds per wk in those days that was enough to buy an arm and a leg in those times and it was perhaps spent wisely and carefully that was why the children was content and of course it is not like these days when people cannot satisfied with nothing the more they have is the more they want.
2006-12-28 11:25:09 · answer #4 · answered by maria fkun 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think were happier with our lot because its what we know, the rich have a long way to fall to be in our position and they just wouldn't be able to cope, money is OK but it can't buy happiness or make you contented, that comes from within, my parents never had much wage wise but we were well loved and well fed, always had clothes on our back and had a holiday each year, we were very happy and content and that to me is more important than all the money in the world.
2006-12-28 11:25:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I grew up in a working class family and we didnt have much at all. I would now be considered as middle class due to my earnings and owning house/car, 3 holidays a year etc. However, I was more happy having hardly any money when younger. Maybe its the working class who dont actually work who are not happy and just expect more benefits.
2006-12-28 11:25:17 · answer #6 · answered by Annie M 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The working class are bored with their office jobs--that's why they are unhappy. The poor are working their buns off so they have no time to be bored and think about being lethargic. The rich are playing with their money. Your observation is correct.
2006-12-28 11:21:32 · answer #7 · answered by Jo K 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is when you see other peoples money. A banker on a £50,000,000 christmas bonus. MP's wanting more, their expenses are more than the average persons yearly wage, and they work about 3 months a year, and still they want more, and complain when the bar at the HoP runs out of whisky, thats why my friend.
2006-12-28 11:25:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because the standard of living is just so high for all classes. People can't accept for what they already have.
2006-12-28 11:21:33 · answer #9 · answered by Sarah* 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because the cost of living in the UK is not that cheap compared to other country's, i also think every class has unhappiness in its ranks, money does not bring happiness, you can run a car or even two cars, you can buy a house for less than half the price in say the US, our society sucks
2006-12-28 11:35:47 · answer #10 · answered by rusty red 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋