Feeling Rich, Looking Rich And Claiming To Be Rich

[augustmoon]

What i am pointing out here is that ... for most Filipinos, its not a GOOD impression most want BUT an impression that they are RICH / AFFLUENT. Isnt it enough that the impression we make is that we are a DECENT person/s. Doesnt that count for something??? ..kelangan ba talaga na RICH ..feeling..looking like one para lang maging acceptable...this isnt meant to start a discourse on how one spends money..or how one shows that he has made it..

Edited May 14, 2008 by augustmoon

[Sgt Oinky]

i see. well, some people who want to emulate that they are what they are not most likely will want to look the part. while there are more who simply want to look decent. but i do know my fare share of people whom i do not associate with as much who have those fake feelings and attitudes.

 

just my 2 BBs worth

[revi]

I had a Philosophy teacher in college who often states the difference between "OLD and NEW" rich..

 

According to him, new rich people often flaunt what they have.. Buying luxurious cars, remodelling their houses (or even buying a new one), and buying stuff to flaunt.. jewelries, watches, signature clothes, newest phones/gadgets, etc. etc... Kasi nga daw mayroon pa silang gustong ipakita dahil hindi nila ito naranasan noon..

 

Old rich folks do not flaunt what they have because they have been affluent ever since they were born.. and they do not find anyting worthwhile in flaunting riches..

 

Interesting perception, right? But I really don't agree.. Why?

 

Because even old rich folks flaunt.. Especially when provoked.. Society (even abroad), IMO, worships the rich, and the powerful.. So in a way, if society perceives a person as a lowlife, respect is not given to him/her.. And because respect is also part of what people seek, we sometimes try not just to look decent but also to look rich (especially if one does have power and riches) so as to gain respect from society..

 

I personally don't act and look rich.. Nor do I claim to be rich.. But sometimes, I do find it necessary to flaunt.. Its not just acceptance.. Its also to gain respect from people who value riches and power above all things.. You say that you should not associate with these kinds of people? I'd say, what if its necessary to associate with them?

 

We can't change society's viewpoint.. We sometimes have to join in.. Although it sucks.. But what can we do? We are mainly specks of atoms if compared to society as a whole..

 

Just my two pesos worth..

Edited May 14, 2008 by revi

[masi]

What i am pointing out here is that ... for most Filipinos, its not a GOOD impression most want BUT an impression that they are RICH / AFFLUENT. Isnt it enough that the impression we make is that we are a DECENT person/s. Doesnt that count for something??? ..kelangan ba talaga na RICH ..feeling..looking like one para lang maging acceptable...this isnt meant to start a discourse on how one spends money..or how one shows that he has made it..

 

 

growing up among my peers, we would always joke a fil-chi adage "kung wa la ka pe la, wa la ka kwen ta!" how this got to be a discussion point among my peers, i have not the faintest of ideas.

 

whoever coined it really got his money's worth!

 

 

 

looking and feeling rich is a way to get accepted, but the sad part is that rich people don't need to lift a finger to get accepted. let me share a personal experiencs.... i was going to attend a meeting convened at a hotel in makati. i parked my car in the basement and i was just about to close the door of the elevator when someone shouted "hold it" and i did. a person, whose namesake is the same as Makati's golden mile, rode the elevator.

 

he thanked me for holding the elevator and i acknowledged it by saying "you're welcome!" when the elevator doors opened on the ground floor , i said "have a nice day" and he retorted, "you too".

 

in my quarter of a century life as a "makati-based" professional, i've met the most down-to-earth ceos and coos. as well as the most boisterous and boastful staff managers and junior executives.

 

maybe a case of "chihuahua syndrome"

Edited May 14, 2008 by masi

[redshirt]

what ive noticed with some filipino kids/teens who has rich parents is that they brag about wat they have or intentionally showing it off to others. its not bad to have those but for Gods sake its not even theirs, it was their parents who worked for it.haha

This is very true.

 

Well I think the nouveau rich want the finer things in life because they did not afford those stuff before and they're just making up for lost time. So we really can't blame them for that.

 

But being nouveau rich isn't wrong.

 

 

Becoming a conceited nouveau rich who thinks too highly of himself/herself is pathetic.

[Chinelas1]

Co-sign my buddy redshirt on this!!! Its like me when I was back in elementary school. I used always admire the well to do kids with their fancy Sneakers. I still remember...lol. My mom would only buy me a pair of white Reebok runners. When they would get old I would just use washable color markers and just buy matching laces with them so it would seem like I would have a semi new pair! Now that I am older and broker! LOL... I get the sneakers that I want!

 

Co-sign my buddy redshirt on this!!! Its like me when I was back in elementary school. I used always admire the well to do kids with their fancy Sneakers. I still remember...lol. My mom would only buy me a pair of white Reebok runners. When they would get old I would just use washable color markers and just buy matching laces with them so it would seem like I would have a semi new pair! Now that I am older and broker! LOL... I get the sneakers that I want!

[SemiKalballer]

Coz girls don't like boys ...

 

Girls like money and cars ...

[storm]

Mga Pinoy lang ba?

 

Sabi ni Maslow sa kanyang Hierarchy of Needs, kapag nalagpasan mo na ang basic needs (food, clothing and shelter, etc) natural sa tao ang maghangad ng confidence, achievement, recognition, respect of and by others. Symbols of success ang material wealth kaya people try to establish and project some level of "affluence." Kapag nalampasan iyan, self-actualization needs naman (morality, lack of prejudice, creativity, understanding and acceptance of the world around one's self, etc).

 

Baka naman ang mga Pinoy, in general, ay wala pa dun sa highest level according to Maslow. :hypocritesmiley:

[compadrei]

TO ACQUIRE GOOD IMPRESSION FROM OTHERS I GUESS

Edited June 3, 2008 by compadrei

[azayco]

ego boost

 

During one JG Summit stockholders' meeting, I saw John Gokongwei take out a plastic Pepsi watch (the freebie kind) from his pocket. This guy is a billionaire and yet, he was content with having a plastic watch to tell the time. Amazing guy.

 

There is also this senior guy in our office - a very accomplished and wealthy man, founded his own firm over 30 years ago and made it one of the country's top professional service firms. He goes around in a Kia Besta (a gift from a client-friend), wears barongs which have torn collars, and sports a cheap looking watch.

[barrysaint]

basta ako none of the above!!!!!! hehehehe

[bizzboll]

ego boost

 

During one JG Summit stockholders' meeting, I saw John Gokongwei take out a plastic Pepsi watch (the freebie kind) from his pocket. This guy is a billionaire and yet, he was content with having a plastic watch to tell the time. Amazing guy.

 

There is also this senior guy in our office - a very accomplished and wealthy man, founded his own firm over 30 years ago and made it one of the country's top professional service firms. He goes around in a Kia Besta (a gift from a client-friend), wears barongs which have torn collars, and sports a cheap looking watch.

 

I'm impressed with this type of people, just like my aunt she owns 12 apartment unit in LA, she makes $12,000 a month from the apartment and her job pays her 70$ roughly around $11,000 a month yet she only drives a civic and dodge caravan and shops at walmart and ross...

[johnlove]

ego boost

 

During one JG Summit stockholders' meeting, I saw John Gokongwei take out a plastic Pepsi watch (the freebie kind) from his pocket. This guy is a billionaire and yet, he was content with having a plastic watch to tell the time. Amazing guy.

 

There is also this senior guy in our office - a very accomplished and wealthy man, founded his own firm over 30 years ago and made it one of the country's top professional service firms. He goes around in a Kia Besta (a gift from a client-friend), wears barongs which have torn collars, and sports a cheap looking watch.

 

The Gokongweis are thrifty, they would even ask the waiters to wrapped up leftovers so that they could bring it home.

They deserved to be rich.

Edited June 4, 2008 by johnlove

[storm]

That's his way of life or... maybe his way to create an impression.

 

I want to quote Ecclesiastes 6

 

1 I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: 2 God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.

 

3 A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. 4 It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. 5 Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man- 6 even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?

 

This is where I can relate and best describe my own way of life, also in Ecclesiastes 5:

 

18 Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

 

My apologies if I sound spiritual this time.

 

I'd rather go with the feeling rich than the feeling poor. Mas masaya silang kasama.

[augustmoon]

IMHO, its where one is most comfortable in.. living a life of simplicity or one of affluence.

Edited June 6, 2008 by augustmoon