Our Answers To Big Questions

[Blade]

I have a book called The Little Book of Big Questions. It has some interesting questions for thought in it, also has the author's idea of an answer.

I'll post a question for discussion, probably not every day but once or twice a week. Lets hear your views, who knows we may come across something we need to make a new thread topic for.

Question #1 1-23-11

What makes people wish for things they don't have?

[The_Lady_Snow]

Greed, Lust, Desire, Fantasy, Fetishizing, Hunger.

[Blade]

Yep I thought of those things Snowy....I also thought of need.

Then again I thought of myself who has been quite blessed but still wish for things that I don't have. Certainly there are things I will never have. Then again there are things that will make my dreams and wishes come true.

I guess our wishes could be monetary, financial, emotional...could be a lot of things. But I think you are mostly right in your post. I think though we wish for things we don't have, the wishing gives us the drive to success, so that we can attain those wishes.

[The_Lady_Snow]

There's a difference between need and want, I answered from my own POV.. You're right though if you don't have what we call basic needs, then need is something I should of addressed.

[Soft*Silver]

I think its more complicated than just listing the seven deadly sins or a similar list.

if that were so, people of simplere cultures than ours would also covet things they did not have and that just isnt so across the board. At least not in the degree we Americans see. And not even across the board in all the strataspheres in our own culture. The key to coveting is in the degree of capitalism that one participates in or is subjected to. Before TV, if one was poor, people often claimed they didnt know they were poor and didnt care if the neighbors had more or less. In fact, if someone fell on hard times, they helped one another. Thus the beauty and long fascination with Its a Wonderful Life.

But along comes the era where there is a tv in every home...then in every room..then in every car...on now on our computers, which every person in the family now has one of. And if thats not enough, their personal phones can now access the web which accesses the media, which accesses all the global media you could dream of.

and what goes along with that?

commercials. We are a better fed consumer with more to select from. And we are creating faster than our wallets can keep up. And just as we acquire, the next new thing is created and we desire...

I am 54 and dirt poor. I have a very old dell laptop. I have a free cell phone that only can call and send texts. It looks like a half a candy bar. My sister just got some new fangled do dad and she is stuggling to make it stop saying whorehouse when she wants to say whitehouse. I am not coveting that. But others are. I have a threadworn couch. My niece who is on welfare took her tax check last year and bought a $2000 living room set. Because she coveted her sister's expensive leather living room set. She could have used that money to pay bills but she had to have the material thing to compensate her need to be as good as her sister. I didnt. I couldnt. I wouldnt have anyway. I like my old couch. I will probably have it until I die. It fits my personality and even if I somehow land alot of money, I could use that money to pay bills or add more seed to my bird feeders.

I dont watch alot of tv. I dont read alot of magazines. When I am on the computer I really dont go to places where there are commercials. I am not a product of capitalism. I dont covet. Except of course, for a horse.

So thats my answer...capitalism.

[The_Lady_Snow]

I don't subscribe to the Christian theory of "deadly sins" it's clearly obvious humans reek of greed. I posted from my own POV, which comes from my experiences of culture, race, classism and down right being honest with myself.

I want a Vespa, do I need one? No my greed wants it though black -n- pink...

[moxie]

It all depends on what one is wishing for. And if it is a want or a need. And there are different types of needs (look at Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs).

I have everything I need to meet my survival needs: food, shelter, clothing. If I had to wish for any of that, I would be wishing for it to survive.

If I wished for a blu-ray dvd player (which I do a teensy bit), it's because I want it. My materialistic self wants a fancy dvd player even though I can't notice the benefits of it because of my tv. Then I'll want an HDTV....it's just keeps going and building into the snowball rolling down the hill getting bigger and bigger.

I wish for a pseudo-family because my family disowned me. That meets my need for belonging. That is subjective though because not everyone needs the same things that I do in order to function on a healthy level and feel fulfilled.

So, I guess, what I am trying to say is that I believe what makes people wish for things are based on wants and needs. There are basic human needs and individual needs.

This makes sense to me, I don't know if it does to anyone else.

[The_Lady_Snow]

Makes sense!! You made me examine myself cause like you I looked for and have my chosen family out of need, not having made the want and need for me as a pack animal.

[Rockinonahigh]

Im not shure if this is the right anser to the question,but hear is my take on things.
In another life a long time a go I had the passion for anything with horses,sepecialy rodeo's and horse shows.Over the years I acomplished many goals I set..almost.Shure I had some big winns at major events,rode and showed some fantastic horses over the years.I figured I colectively spent some where in the quarter million dollar range in bucks on horses,clothes to show them with,fancy silver mounted sadles with all the extras,the winter blankets and some that only were worn at the shows.Trucks,trailers..my last rig cost me $57,587.00.The truck was a big dully with all the bells and whistles..the trailes was a house on wheels for me and my equine buddy..no hotel for me cause the trailer had it all.I didnt think it would ever end,but it did and not like I wanted it to either..well folks it was a high fall with a crash and burn that I may not ever recover from.Oh,im not taking about money..its about what I started with,what I did along the way,the high ride for a long time...then health probs hit that just took it all away in a flash.Now dont think I havent tryed to get back in the swing of it,but cause of the health issues it hasnt worked out..im thinking it just wont happen no mater what I do.Yes,I keep pluging along and am doing ok.I live in a nice place,nice car,decent job with $$ in the bank..two fur kids that are the light of my life,my son who is the best thing I ever did in this world.But im still looking for the bits and peices of me that got lost along the way,if I dont find them I will be ok..just a little less of who I thought I was.

[Blade]

I agree with you both. I never had a TV in my room or a phone in my room and now days everyone in a house hold have their own personal everything. Greed desire and fantasy are also a driving force

I remember as a teen my girlfriend at the time had her own phone line she and her brother shared. In the phone book it said **** and under that it said kids line - - - . I thought that was cool and wanted my own phone...chuckling of course that didn't happen. We couldn't even get call waiting cuz you can only talk to one person at the time anyway.....or that's what my parents said.

I think I have been blessed, with a good paying job and my parents had good jobs when they worked. We weren't rich but we had all we needed and much that we wanted. There were those things we wanted and were told no or when you are grown and can afford this or that you can buy your own. Thus my motor head fetishes.

Really all I wish I had at this time that I don't need is a boat and a tractor. I need the tractor but I've been this long without one. Well and I wish I had the money to work on my house....it's getting to where that is a need.

I do believe much of our coveting comes from seeing what others have, and peer pressure.

[Blade]

Question #4 1*28*11


What's the difference between legal and right?

[Soft*Silver]

it isnt right to take the life of another person

by law, people who kill can get the death sentance


its against the law to not pay your debts and you can go to jail for it

buts its perfectly alright for the government to be so much in debt


its immoral for a man and a woman to live in sin so they must be legally married
but legally 2 men or 2 woman must remain immoral

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by Blade

What's the difference between legal and right?

Wonderful question...and for me it's the difference between bureaucracy and conscience.

The powers that be have determined the laws...so it's perfectly legal to ignore hungry people, to walk past someone who is hurt or struggling, or to not think about how the schools are failing children in poor communities.

It isn't right to do those things...but it's perfectly legal.

[The_Lady_Snow]

Originally Posted by Blade

Question #4 1*28*11


What's the difference between legal and right?

One's governed

The other is a choice.

[MissItalianDiva]

Originally Posted by Blade

Question #4 1*28*11


What's the difference between legal and right?

Well something that is legal doesn't necessarily make it "right" but this is going to vary based on one's values and beliefs or even culture. For instance it is legal to eat pork but for me it just is not "right"

Sometimes what is right and legal is such a fine line that the two often are blurred so close together it is not visible to the naked eye...just my opinion though.

[sylvie]

legal vs right..

what is 'right' for me is based on my beliefs & upbringing - and how things make me feel.. it isn't always right for the next person, however.. for me, what is right is something i choose and something i firmly believe in, rather than having to abide by what is legal..

and there are many an instance when i feel what is legal, isn't necessarily right..
i swear this made much more sense in my head, LOL

[Blade]

Originally Posted by Blade

Question #4 1*28*11


What's the difference between legal and right?

What is legal is governed or enforced by laws, doesn't mean it is right. What is right I think is more on a personal level. IMO it is sorta like let your conscience be your guide kind of thing.

An example would be my ex use to get high in front of our son, that aint right. Later as a teenager they'd get high together, that aint right either. But to some it may be. Maybe I feel that way cuz I don't get high. OR maybe because I believe there is a line you draw between parenting and being your child's friend. To me teaching your child to do something illegal is not right.

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by Blade

1-25-11 Question

Is there really such a thing as "the generation gap"? Why or Why not?

Absolutely. Each generation has different traits and skills and mannerisms that are specific to that generation, and of course, there are world events that occur that help to put each generation in a frame of reference.

Baby boomers, generation X, generation Y...with the increase of technological advancements, I see a loss of humanization that can be marked with each generation.

[Blade]

Question # 5 1-30-11

How do colors and music change our moods?

[Blade]

Originally Posted by Blade

Question # 5 1-30-11

How do colors and music change our moods?

Well I can tell you as I passed the orthodontist office while ago, the colors brought laughter to me. He has painted the whole building in pastel colors. The house is one color the trim is another color and each window shudder is a different color. I thought what the heck has moved in there? I think colors do have effects on our moods and sensitivities. I also think the colors we dress in point to our moods sometimes and also may have an effect on the way others perceive us and their mood or attitude toward us.

Music.......now that is a whole other story. Music can lift me up, jack me up and even sometimes tear me down. There is nothing like music I like all music as long as I can understand the words and they aren't vulgar. Music can make me silly, sad, stupid, all sorts of things music can do to me. There has probably been a song written about every imaginable thing in life, I don't see how they keep coming up with new ones but I'm glad they do.

As Elvis said....I learned very early in life that: 'Without a song, the day would never end; without a song, a man ain't got a friend; without a song, the road would never bend -- without a song.' So I keep singing a song.