Simple lives = better lives

[jackfaire]

I have seen characters, shows, individuals gush about how a culture is so much better than ours because they are not consumers, live in huts, live only to hunt, gather, eat, breed. They are so noble and better people than us because they don't have greed, wars, imperialism.

I call bullhockey on all of that. They are not better than me because I want to buy a laptop and watch a movie. I recycle, drink water, help my fellow man, expand my conciousness, etc. I am a good noble human being.

I would not become a better person by being put in a hut and hunting with a spear. This would not make me a better quality of person.

[AdminAssistant]

Rousseau - "noble savage" It's a very very old, antiquated idea.

[BlaqueKatt]

They are so noble and better people than us because they don't have greed, wars, imperialism.

Hygiene, sanitation, medical care, longer life expectancy.....also things they don't have

[Fryk]

Anyone who really looks at North American native history can tell you that greed, war and imperialism was alive and well before European explorers came along.

[DrFaroohk]

Reminds me of my stepmom - she grew up and lived poor for a long time and got it in her head that poor people are awesome. She always brags about how poor she was and is. Even when her and my dad were making a lot of money and living well she always bragged about being poor.

Nothing wrong with being poor, hell I'm broke right now too, but I don't brag about it. It's not a virtue.

[Boozy]

Agreed. I would no sooner brag about being poor than I would about being rich. One is as crass as the other.

I'm always amazed at how quick people are these days to share details of their financial situations with others.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Kind of reminds me of the people who think that white people invented slavery.

[XCashier]

Nothing wrong with being poor, hell I'm broke right now too, but I don't brag about it. It's not a virtue.

To quote Tevye from Fiddler On The Roof, "there's no shame in being poor...but it's no great honor either."

Other cultures always look better than our own, don't they? But they have their own troubles, too. And I'm sure our culture looks pretty darned good to them, too.

[jackfaire]

Other cultures always look better than our own, don't they? But they have their own troubles, too. And I'm sure our culture looks pretty darned good to them, too.

That's it right there that is the whole thing in a nutshell. People see other cultures as nobler than ours and having tradition. Yeah well so does ours.

[Vagabond]

I'm quite happy with my culture, thank you.
There are aspects of other cultures I like, but I'm not going to go over and convert. I doubt I could pass as a native anyway, I can't even do that in the US and I'm supposedly American.

[elsporko]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3157570.stm

Nigeria tops the survey on happiest countries. It makes you wonder if they are happy due to their simple lives or if their simple lives allows them to concentrate on things that would make them happy like romance or job satisfaction. Sometimes being rich means more worries, stress, and desire to become richer then your peers which makes you less happy.

[jackfaire]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3157570.stm

Nigeria tops the survey on happiest countries. It makes you wonder if they are happy due to their simple lives or if their simple lives allows them to concentrate on things that would make them happy like romance or job satisfaction. Sometimes being rich means more worries, stress, and desire to become richer then your peers which makes you less happy.

Unless for you acquiring wealth is fun.

Me I love playing video games, watching movies, etc a life where I lived in a small house and had to farm and hunt to live and had no access to those things I would not be happy.

[elsporko]

Part of it is likely cultural, but if you have a spouse you love, a job that gives you great satisfaction, and hobbies that you wouldn't trade for anything else then you are probably happier then the millionaire with a gold digging wife, a job that's giving him an ulcer, and no time to do the things he enjoys (especially if he is going to afford a bigger Hummer then his neighbors)

I think the point of the article is that most people in Nigeria have the things they want and aren't worried about the things they don't have.

[Nyoibo]

Other cultures always look better than our own, don't they? But they have their own troubles, too. And I'm sure our culture looks pretty darned good to them, too.

The grass is always greener on the other side.

I'd need something like the Fallout world or similar to really be happy, that or 600-800's, where I can be a wanderer type. I was born in the wrong time period.

[jackfaire]

I was born in the wrong time period.

Central Standard?