I realised that although i believe my upbringing was standard, mates etc, i was always so unhappy.
My mates uncle died last week, he was a bum since '82 and he told me that he will die a happy man. He never gave much to society he said but he had his garden and his 2 kids and he watched them every day turn into more than he could ever wish for.
He said that you can grow your own food, and paying for things you dont need is just what happens when you want to justify how much your life is wasted by making other people money.
With him in his deathbed, he said that one thing people dont get is, when they reach where he is, all they will think about is the kids or family or pets. If he worked, all he would see was possesions and he would be lying there not really knowing who his kids are because a 2 week trip once a year does not make a parent what they need to be.
Its bothered me, no matter what it sounds like, there is nothing there that is not true.
Thoughts?
2007-09-03 07:51:39 · 29 answers · asked by clarky 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Just with regards to him being a loser,
he was a very wise man and got a masters in Chemistry at st Andrews in his 20s. He worked to pay for his house (it was reasonable then).
He used to grow big vegetables an could catch a fish well. He also liked making things.
The thing that bothers me is the response from people? I see that whereas i dont really see anything, people who dont know hate him, go on about tax payers money this and that.
People are almost proud to the stage of denial it seems. Really bitter about bums. This is why i wondered, if im nuetral on the subject, then why do so many people instantly get offended?
If you ask what the day is like, there is a pause of thought, if you question the reasons why someone is throwing they life away working for pennies, they litterally kneejerk in scorn.
Its interesting
2007-09-03 08:09:15 · update #1
live and let live
2007-09-03 13:07:52 · answer #1 · answered by john c 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The problems are not with working, but with working long hours for peanuts. ALL unskilled or unqualified workers are exploited. They are deprived of time with their families for little financial gain, deprived of time to themselves and of the ability to buy fairly average things many take for granted. A house, paying the bills, feeding the family, these are all things a working wage should easily be able to pay for. It is not unreasonable also to expect to be able to afford a telephone, a car, a holiday now and again, maintenance and upkeep of the house, clothes. A full time manual worker struggles to do these basic things, especially if he is the only breadwinner in the house.
What really is the annoying part is that even in some smaller businesses, the staff work long hours for a pittence, and the proprietor has a £400,000 house in Suburbia, a Jag on the drive, and quaffs champagne while the staff are effectively owned by the boss. Minimum wage in the UK needs realistically to be around £10 per hour, and even then. they would not be able to afford a mortgage in most areas after tax, bills, etc.
If he screwed the system and got away with it, good luck to him.
2007-09-03 08:03:37 · answer #2 · answered by Phil McCracken 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I've seen it happen. But I don't think I can. Have you ever been alone without any friends or family? I have when I was travelling. You seek solitude all the time because everyone comes off distant and unrelatable. They're strangers. I wasn't exactly unhappy, I was content with my life and I really enjoyed surfing the internet - The introverts favourite activity. I'm back in England now with my friends and family.
2016-04-03 01:27:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When people talk about loners, they frequently don't realize that they are often talking about those who simply do not socialize well. Often these so-called loners actually make excellent steadfast friends. One on one they are unbeatable, especially in the loyalty department. There are also plenty of careers suitable for this type and gardening is certainly one of those. People ought to do what they enjoy and if being a survivalist turns one's crank, then I say "Go for it!". The same applies to globe trotters. There are plenty of tricks one can learn to facilitate this type of existence and knowing two or three languages is always a help. Cheers!
2007-09-03 11:43:43 · answer #4 · answered by canron4peace 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He's right, people only work because they have to, if you were rich by default chances are you wouldnt want to work because you could simply enjoy your life. Unfortunately in American society, whose values are all messed up, people rather work 8-5 for their entire lives and finally enjoy it a few years before they die. Your uncle is right in every aspect, most people never realize how simple life can be, they are so stuck up on material objects and being arrogant that they forget you only live once and money doesnt make people happy.
2007-09-03 08:04:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Even loners have jobs - maybe not in the usual way we think of work - to some people a tramp (bum) has the job of making them feel better about themselves and their existence - fuelling their desire for more material things, to some people a tramp has the job of fulfilling a need in themselves (the need to be a Samaritan), even a tramp can have the job of raising a family and being the person who educates the children about life etc. I could go on and on, but I doubt if you want me to. Sorry if this doesn't seem clear - it's clear in my mind but maybe not on paper.
2007-09-04 07:21:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your uncle sounded intelligent, or found his 'space' as Don Cyote would say. It's not that he was a bum, but a minimalist on other unimportant people's selfish needs. Money was not the value of his ethical currency - life was. I am as guilty as the next person about material posessions, but when it comes down to it we all need a little rememberance leaving this world as well as coming into it, which you have clearly given in your question. There's no pockets in a shroud. R.I.P. to your uncle.
2007-09-03 09:33:53 · answer #7 · answered by Raging Tranny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree that possessions don't make a life and I have no interest in them personally but for self respect and for paying your own way you need to work if you can. He could have had a job low on the ladder - just enough to support him and his wife and kids with the basics off his own back.
I think a happy medium is the way to go between those who make possessions their life and those who don't work for their basics when they are able
2007-09-03 08:10:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is some truth in what your mates uncle said. However, it is also nice to work in a field that you enjoy so that you can support the family and feed the pets and have some emergency money when it is needed. I save my money and when someone in my family needs help, I am there to support them. You can have the best in both worlds.
2007-09-03 08:00:50 · answer #9 · answered by Terry C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you should have a job if u want kids or your spouse should have a job because you dont want your kids 2 b bums. But u r right its not ALL about money. Parents should definately make time for their kids after or even before work
2007-09-03 08:00:44 · answer #10 · answered by Miss Marie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He was a very wise man and if more people were contented there would be more peace in the world.
unfortunately people have become so materialistic today that thy do not spend time with there children.
This then causes problems in the future.
2007-09-03 09:12:39 · answer #11 · answered by Dharma 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋