money buys happiness: the debate continues

[cluebyfour]

Try asking this guy if money buys happiness.  Of course it's possible he's just using his misfortunes since winning a $315 million Powerball jackpot to mask the fact that he's an irresponsible dipshit.

So does money buy happiness?  Normally I'd do a poll, but I need to renew my paid account first.  So your options are:

• Yes
  
• No
  
• The acquisition of

Comments

reposted due to mad crazy italics.

[_luaineach]

Well, given how you broke down the definitions of the answers in that last paragraph, I'm going to have to respond to all three now!

My initial answer was Yes because of one reason only: Money, in my opinion, buys the *time* for you to do the things that cause you happiness. Some comedian has a joke of "well, yeah, it doesn't buy happiness, but it sure allows you to rent some for awhile". That aspect aside (and I think it's valid, it would make me happy to rent a private plans and fly friends to a weekend in Bali, also being able to pay them for the time they are missing at work), I do think money buys freedom and in my world freedom = happiness

[deadpansev]

I would say #3, but even if it made me miserable, I would like to give it a shot, give me $300,000,000 and let me find out for my self. This dipshit keeps $100,000 in his car and takes $500,000 to a strip club and then wonders why he keeps getting robbed.

[jonathonjones]

Yes, but only in a very restricted way. More money = more happiness if you are impoverished. It's completely irrelevant if you are not.

[cluebyfour]

More money = more happiness if you are impoverished.

Does that still hold true if you blow the money at the racetrack instead of paying off bills or finding a nicer place to live?

I think it impacts choices more than anything. More choices = better potential for happiness. But you could still make a poor choice. I don't think it's nearly as direct a relationship as you've implied.

[jonathonjones]

True, your example shows that the relationship is not so straightforward as I put it. The main point is that those who are not impoverished are much happier than those who are, but that other differences in wealth don't seem to make any difference in happiness. (It is my impression that studies have shown what I am saying here)

[phaenix_ash]

from personal experience, i'll take the third option. i was pretty happy for a time when i was living in my car. i've been flush (never exactly well off but doing well) and miserable. i've lived with very rich people (VERY rich people) and seen what wrecks their lives could be and conversely how good life can be when you can throw money at problems, yours and the people you love. the happiness bit though, i think it's all internal.

[cluebyfour]

Yeah. I think it's the choices we make more than anything. Money (or the lack thereof) can influence the choices we have, but in most cases we still have a choice to make.

But I will say what probably everyone else has said (or is thinking): I'd love to have the opportunity to maximize those choices!

[smjayman]

# 3. That guy is a study in stupidity. I won't get into all the other parts, but seriously, leaving $100,000 in your fucking car????