Why do people say, "get a life"? It just doesn't make sense?!?

Question

I find it interesting how we define a "life" in America. In America we tend to define a life as the person with the most rat races, most responsibilities, little disposable income and free time. While people who avoid unwanted responsibilities, have lots of disposable income, free-time and live life to his or her own accord we in turn tell those people to "get a life". You go to places like Canada and Europe and they define a life over there as someone who lives life to their own accord and have lots of free-time and disposable income. While once again here in America we tell those people to.....you guessed it.....get a life. I think here in America we get upset and jealous of people who avoid the status quo and still get ahead with half the effort. If so do we as Americans get upset by people who get ahead with no responsibilites (little to no kids, little debt, lots of free-time etc) and tell these people to get a life? Also, how do you define a life?

Soulfly you are AWESOME!!!!!!

Answer 1

Great question/comment. Apparently if you enjoy spending much time to yourself, doing things on you on whim and not worrying about "making an appearance" or "face time" you have no life. By American standards anyways. I hear that all the time... well not so much lately, people finally realized this is how I want to live and haven't been bothering me about it anymore. Only took a good 3 years!! People don't get the fact that not everyone wants to buy houses, cars, appliances they can't afford, thereby forcing you deeper in debt, making you have to work even harder and longer just to get by on the status quota that you have then set for yourself. I drive the worst beater truck in the world, delivering pizzas and I'm quite happy at this point. No responsiblity, no debt, no worrying about having to do something you really don't want to so people don't start to think differently of you. And it may not answer you question, but I think "You" define life. You may be laid up in a gutter somewhere strung out on who knows what, but you still have a life. Might be a slightly different lifestyle than most people can ever consider, but hey whatever makes you happy. Thats what lifes about, right?
Maybe its jealousy... People see you getting by easily and stress free and they are frustrated at the state they put themselves in by "having a life". Then they go into denial about it, convince themselves that what they are doing is right and anyone who isnt on par with them isn't worthy.
Just an opinion and some long winded ranting.

Answer 2

So...Is your question and its explanation, a paradox? Or two mallards...