The Wandering Eye
We humans are such strange creatures. Our moods and happiness can be derived from everyone else's misery, and our misery can be obtained by everyone else's joy. For it is not good enough to be happy with one's position, but one always refers to the people around. So one is not happy if everyone gets $1000, but is happy if the $1000 is exclusively given to one (with others getting less or even nothing). In the same way, even though we should be happy about receiving $1000 in extra cash, we get depressed or unhappy if others around get more!
While this very trait helps us to improve ourselves, it also threatens to destroy the fabric of society by inject strife between people. It is the very reason for unequal distribution of wealth and resources on the planet; that some continue to go hungry and die from easily-treated diseases, others eat too much and even waste food, dying of heart disease.
I realize that I spend much less money if I spend all my time at home (with no way of seeing what others have), than when I am out on Orchard Road.
The global economy is built on consumption, but much of this nowadays is needless. Do we need the latest widescreen television, if the old one at home is still working perfectly? Or is it just because someone we know has bought one? Can we actually discern the difference in taste and flavour of a good bottle of champagne, or do we buy it simply because it is expensive and will become a status symbol if I serve it for dinner?
Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.