A simple question with a simple answer. What do you think?

P.S. Anyone know a good bookie, I have a few bets to wager on March Madness:bighead: .

Dude,for real,i love your controversial polls,no sarcasm either.I wish i had the balls to do that.Im kinda scared ever since i made that CADILLAC OWNERS: CONSERVATIVE OR LIBERAL thread,which in my opinion,could have been awesome.But whatever...

 

Money changes lots of people, my dad's sister (my aunt) married into a rich family, and turned into a snob, her husband pulling in £400k a year with ease due to a family business, they divorced and she;s humbled herself somewhat, their sons stayed with their dad, so the settlement wasn't as big as it could have been, and she's living well, but not half as well as she was. She went frombeing chauffeur driven in a Lexus LS430, to driving herself in a 2003 Audi TT, I'ts nice, just not as nice. She used to live in some £1.2m mansion in a very exclusive area, now she lives in a quayside apartment, is all nice, just not as good.

Shes much more down to earth now and my family are much more receptive of her.

On the same stretch money tends to magnify people's personality more than change, some people change, but most dont, they are just how they were magnified.

For example, if you're an a-hole, then you get money, you're likely to end up as more of an a-hole

Same way that if youre a good person, you're likely to end up to be more of a good person if you get money.

 

Money doesn't change anyone
Money gives a man more freedom and freedom brings out his true nature.

 

Money changes people.
I experienced it first hand.

Give a kid straight out of school a couple hundred thousand dollars a year and watch what happens.

That same kid will be pullin down a million bucks a few years later. I assure you, he is not the same guy he was in school.

 

Yes. Of course money changes people. Really good people might change a little, but they'll remain really good people. People who change into arseholes had it in them to begin with IMO.

ETA: I didn't vote. My answer is YES.....some in a good way, some in a bad way.

 

YES it would positively change me, I could help a lot more people. :thumbsup:

 

That's what Whittaker thought when he won the largest single lottery.
News at 11:00

 

Money doesn't change anyone
Money gives a man more freedom and freedom brings out his true nature.

I like that...good point. I definitely think there are cases though where it truly is the money that changes people. The more money you have, the more materialistic you become. The more you are surrounded by superficial people who may have other motives, or aren't as genuine....I don't personally know anyone that has changed by being rich, I guess my observations are mainly from movies/tv shows/reality tv....

 

It changed my life thats for sure. I'm not an ultra rich guy by any means but I'm a hell of a lot better off than I used to be. A few years ago I was your average guy massively in debt like most everyone else. Made a few real good investments and got out of debt completely, bought a huge house cash, a few nice but not ultra expensive cars, etc.. Thing is that when you have hit rock bottom and are in debt like I used to be (big mortgage, car payments, credit cards) and if you are lucky enought to get out of that hole, you never want to go back. In all honesty, I do less foolish spending now that I have money than I did when I was technically less than broke and just bought stuff on credit. I have it, I earned it and god damnit I want to keep it and make more.

Have I changed?. I dont know if I necessarily changed or the people around me did because of my moderate success. I mean, when with old friends if they start complaining about financial troubles they stop and look at me and say things like "you have money, you wouldn't understand" or "must be nice not to have to worry about bills". When I was in the same situation as them it seemed like we got along better, now I sometimes get treated like an out of touch snob even if I dont say a word. Thing is that now I see the mistakes I used to make loud and clear yet if I point out to someone that they are making a mistake they take it the wrong way. Refinancing a home to take vacations or buying nice cars, interest only loans, balloon loans, taking money out of IRA's, etc...., all very stupid moves in my book and I'm always trying to help old friends from making these mistakes but somehow I'm the bad guy for opening my mouth so I try to STFU now.

In the end I think money might change people, for the better or worse? Depends which people around them you ask. I think my wife and kids will definately attest its for the better and thats all that really counts to me.

 

It changed my life thats for sure. I'm not an ultra rich guy by any means but I'm a hell of a lot better off than I used to be. A few years ago I was your average guy massively in debt like most everyone else. Made a few real good investments and got out of debt completely, bought a huge house cash, a few nice but not ultra expensive cars, etc.. Thing is that when you have hit rock bottom and are in debt like I used to be (big mortgage, car payments, credit cards) and if you are lucky enought to get out of that hole, you never want to go back. In all honesty, I do less foolish spending now that I have money than I did when I was technically less than broke and just bought stuff on credit. I have it, I earned it and god damnit I want to keep it and make more.

Have I changed?. I dont know if I necessarily changed or the people around me did because of my moderate success. I mean, when with old friends if they start complaining about financial troubles they stop and look at me and say things like "you have money, you wouldn't understand" or "must be nice not to have to worry about bills". When I was in the same situation as them it seemed like we got along better, now I sometimes get treated like an out of touch snob even if I dont say a word. Thing is that now I see the mistakes I used to make loud and clear yet if I point out to someone that they are making a mistake they take it the wrong way. Refinancing a home to take vacations or buying nice cars, interest only loans, balloon loans, taking money out of IRA's, etc...., all very stupid moves in my book and I'm always trying to help old friends from making these mistakes but somehow I'm the bad guy for opening my mouth so I try to STFU now.

In the end I think money might change people, for the better or worse? Depends which people around them you ask. I think my wife and kids will definately attest its for the better and thats all that really counts to me.

Nice to hear your perspective. I've said that to a few people i know before (like "Must be nice to not have to worry about that" etc.) I think it's different when you have been at rock bottom before, or when you know what it is like to be without money. I think people tend to stay grounded when they were unfortunate earlier in their lives, which is a good thing. I can't stand watching "Sweet Sixteen" on MTV. It's about these 16 year olds that have no budget what so ever for their Sweet Sixteen parties and they are SUCH disrespectful, non appreciative little brats! LOL Anyway congrats on your success :thumbsup:

 

Technically I think the answer is no and that's what I voted.

Money is a tool. It's how we deal with it, the lack or abundance or the desire for it. Greed baby! That changes people in a bad way. Contentment, that's a good thing whether you have a lot or a little. Knowing how to use money wisely and in a positive and constructive manner is a very valuable quality.

That's my two cents on the subject.

 

Technically I think the answer is no and that's what I voted.

Money is a tool. It's how we deal with it, the lack or abundance or the desire for it. Greed baby! That changes people in a bad way. Contentment, that's a good thing whether you have a lot or a little. Knowing how to use money wisely and in a positive and constructive manner is a very valuable quality.

That's my two cents on the subject.

I like your answer as well :thumbsup:

 

I personally don't think money changes most people. I have a friend from college that has made something of himself and he is still the fun-loving and generous guy he was in college. He was brought up in a family of 7 children, so he was usually not the center of attention. His family wasn't neccesarily poor, but they had it tougher than most. He grew up with some values that helped him later in life, and I think that family values are one of those things that stick with you for the rest of your life.

He was taught to respect people and how important it was to honor your promises and vows. He has made his life and the life of his family comfortable. Lets just say he makes triple what I make a year...

I believe that the person doesn't neccesarily change, but the people around him do.

 

Technically I think the answer is no and that's what I voted.

Money is a tool. It's how we deal with it, the lack or abundance or the desire for it. Greed baby! That changes people in a bad way. Contentment, that's a good thing whether you have a lot or a little. Knowing how to use money wisely and in a positive and constructive manner is a very valuable quality.

That's my two cents on the subject.

Well put...


F

 

I hate money.

I love what you can do with it.

I wish I had more of it.

It changes people for the worse.

I hate worrying about it.

I laughed my ass off at Rolex's signature pic. I used it once.

 

Before you read further, you can interchange money and power as in a capitalist society both go hand in hand.

#1 The man who says money doesn't change you has had money his entire life and can't imagine life without it.

#2 The man who says money changes you had issues before that the new found money became the easy blame for.

#3 The man who says money can or may change you if you allow it to, probably started with nothing and now has some or a lot but had the moral grounding to maintain himself throughout.

I subscribe to #3 but am constantly surrounded by people in categories #1 and #2. I will not be changed by money or power. I will use both to help my family and others around me less fortunate.


Here's a great quote I love.

"Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment."

 

That's wisdom, there.

 

Just read what I posted

 

It changed me! Made me kinder, more understanding, sweeter, and alot calmer. Brought down the blood pressure and allowed me to retire at 55. Also made a few friends that I really liked, drop me because they were very jealous. That part I didn't like. Good people will stay good and bad people will stay nasty. Money makes your life easier, but rarely alters ones character or how they treat others.

 

It changed me! Made me kinder, more understanding, sweeter, and alot calmer. Brought down the blood pressure and allowed me to retire at 55. Also made a few friends that I really liked, drop me because they were very jealous. That part I didn't like. Good people will stay good and bad people will stay nasty. Money makes your life easier, but rarely alters ones character or how they treat others.

Well said. And by the way, I knew this was a thread you couldn't resist. :thumbsup:

 

I'll share a personal experience: When I was young my parents had a lot of money. We had a nice house with a nice piece of adjoining property, 6 cars, dad's closet full, mom's closet full, and my sibling and I had everything. A few years later we lost everything and my siblings(1 new addition) were forced to live with my Grandma(due to a Fed enforced vacation for parents)(age 9). while living with Granny we had nothing, I mean thrift shop clothing, stitched with other people's names on them, I wore girl knockoffs of Chuck Taylors for 2 years(the same pair), being treated like scum, the whole kit and caboodle. When the vacation for my parents was over I lived with my mom(age 12) and things picked up a little. Later on when I was 13, I went to live with my dad and he received a nice settlement. Well I turned into a brat, I mean I thought I was better than everyone just because I got dropped off at school in new Lincoln, had the newest Sega console, and etc. Within a year all of it was gone due to my father, becoming an addict. So I have been at both ends of the spectrum, and now though I'm not rich, I spend wisely(cheaply), and save as much as possible. So it's the person's perception of themselves and others that changes when money comes into play.

 

Sandy and Kev, I agree with the both of ya...excellent views, which I hadn't thought of in quite that way before. Thankee sai...

 

Well said. And by the way, I knew this was a thread you couldn't resist. :thumbsup:

Ummm? How So ??

 

That's what Whittaker thought when he won the largest single lottery.
News at 11:00

Seems like Whittaker was a boozer, womanizer, and compulsive gambler to begin with. Having the jack to finance his bad habits just made him worse.

I think money making people bad is akin to people who say drinking alcohol makes them mean. I like how CVP33 says it in his post, and I believe myself to fit in to the #3 category. My wife and I both came from small farming towns in SE Arkansas and worked our way through college and grad school. We both remember where we started and where we came from. That keeps us grateful for all that we have.

I laughed my ass off at Rolex's signature pic. I used it once.

:thumbsup:

 

So it's not the money that changes people, it's the person's perceptionof themselves and others that changes when money comes into play.

So what you're saying is that when money comes into play, it changes the person's perception of themselves and others, right?
your words, I just changed the order to illustrate that you're actually saying that money DOES change people.

I agree; money (aka: power) changes people by changing their perception of themselves and others.
I wager everyone on this forum feels very differently driving a cadillac than driving a ...... well, what shall we pick: a Pinto?? does that "date" me too much??? y'know what I mean.

I don't believe anyone who says they're still the same generous guy they were before they became "rich" (richer, whatever). Generous is giving that beggar on the street the 50 cents you were planning on spending on a Pepsi but now you can't (because you also are poor); it's not donating that five grand to charity now that you can afford it.
Ancient parables, found all over the bible, koran, etc. things haven't changed in these respects since those days. money makes it a lot easier to delude yourself, sooth your conscience.