Stop judging people by how much they earn

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#1
A forum letter. Views are welcome. Though I think the number of "profligate" people is rising.......

Jan 9, 2011
YOUR LETTERS
Stop judging people by how much they earn


While Mrs Marietta Koh's letter last Sunday ('Steer youth away from trap of materialism') was timely and well argued, I fail to see how our society is encouraging the kind of conspicuous consumption she describes.

Most Singaporeans have a relatively healthy attitude towards spending, which their children will learn by example.

The profligate few whom we often hear about - those who run up enormous credit card bills or buy BMWs although they cannot afford them - are just that: few.

One should spend within one's means, as Dr Lee Wei Ling cogently articulated in her column ('Caught in the trap of materialism''; Dec 19, 2010).

One can spend to benefit others via ethical consumption or eco-tourism, or for charity, for instance.

The point is to learn to be content with what one can afford, and spend enough to be content.

Many of us know people who scrimp, living meagre lives while accumulating large sums of money - and then take out their discontent on others in self-righteous diatribes.

The world has little need for more Ebenezer Scrooges. If a minor indulgence encourages one to be gracious and generous, it may well be better to indulge and be gracious, rather than to refrain and be bitter.

Also, one should avoid the habit of assessing people's worth by how much they earn.

This habit is the root of materialism's negative consequences, such as class consciousness, ruthless competition, discrimination and ungraciousness.

Although recent events have highlighted the increasing problem of conspicuous consumption and overspending, we need to plumb deeper and address the attitudes that trigger them.

Once we do, the attitude of using money and material goods as a yardstick to measure someone's worth - whether it is how much a person earns, how much he has or how much he spends - will disappear, and the problem of overspending will almost certainly resolve itself.

Ng Hsien-Ern

My Value Investing Blog: http://sgmusicwhiz.blogspot.com/
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#2
well, then singapore ministars have to stop giving themselves pay raises and pats on back by judging the GDP also..

think it's possible? :O
1) Try NOT to LOSE money!
2) Do NOT SELL in BEAR, BUY-BUY-BUY! invest in managements/companies that does the same!
3) CASH in hand is KING in BEAR! 
4) In BULL, SELL-SELL-SELL! 
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#3
Is there more meaning to life than spending money on gathering material possessions that will not last? Even one's own life will not last forever. From dust to dust one comes and goes, there is no material possessions one can bring along with.
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#4
I think it's inevitable for some people to judge others based on how much they earn.........

Just ignore them, dont be affect by them........


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#5
Honestly, it's not how much you earn which matters, it's how much you KEEP. Tongue

Sadly, very few people realize this.

Add a little leverage and loans into the cauldron, and you have a perfect brew of discontentment over material possessions as the wannabes live it up at the expense of their future.

Good or bad? You decide.
My Value Investing Blog: http://sgmusicwhiz.blogspot.com/
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#6
(10-01-2011, 06:20 PM)Musicwhiz Wrote: Honestly, it's not how much you earn which matters, it's how much you KEEP. Tongue

While I agreed 101% on importance of saving, there is also a famous phrase, "Money is not yours until you spend it."

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#7
(10-01-2011, 06:13 PM)newborn1000 Wrote: I think it's inevitable for some people to judge others based on how much they earn.........

Just ignore them, dont be affect by them........

Same can be said of those who judge others based on how much they spend....

Just ignore them, don't be affected by them.... :p
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#8
(10-01-2011, 06:20 PM)Musicwhiz Wrote: Honestly, it's not how much you earn which matters, it's how much you KEEP. Tongue

Sadly, very few people realize this.

yes, but nobody knows how much u keep. so after keeping for sometimes esp when it is quite a big amount, u want people to know. but how ? by spending ...

of course, some take short cut by spending immediately.
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#9
Materialism is in essence the product of social engineering by the government.

Remember the catch phrase "5C"? Who coined it?

Remember serial dramas showing on national TV glorifying materialism?

Remember how social status and intellect is quickly streamed into different levels since young?

Well.. the environment molds the person. The young are quickly influenced by their seniors. It takes real leadership to set a contemporary example.

LWL would probably be the only "member" of that "fraternity" that steadfastly refuses to join them yet at the same time, does not overtly oppose.
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#10
LWL may not be the head of neurology department if she is not the daughter of someone prominent.
To bring a person of that social class down to the commoners would require the person to personally gives his/her time to those disadvantaged classes.

Its only talk the talk when one doesn't walk the talk.
LWL has yet to impress me except that her commentaries are displayed prominently on national newspaper every now and then, making her larger than life.

Its just another way of subtle conscious shifting technique.

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