[RANT] : Are you envious of those who have it better off than you?

[Deleted member 139972]

I guess I'm going to blow off some steam here I've had my whole life.

Basically here is my sob story.. I've grown up in a good household and I'm proud to say I have the best parents I could hope to have. Through time passing events such as a tragic accidents with both of parents have left them both disabled mentally and physically respectively. I've been a hard worker, holding a steady job since I was 12, and slowly working myself up to the position I have now.

Needless to say I've never really had much handed to me. I'm currently working to put myself through school, paying rent, bills, food etc. My parents are helping me as much as they can with financing school, but a large chunk of my tuition will be left to pay. Since I'm a white-boy in Ohio, not too many scholarships really apply to me. I currently bust my ass around 20 hours a week plus at work and taking 18 credit hours of school. So, basically I really work hard for everything I've ever had.

When you watch shows like Laguna Beach, MTV Cribs, or see people in your life who have things so easy, it really gets to me. Here these people are taking things that I cherish like mom sending you home with food because you can't buy groceries. Or someone getting a brand new car and taking everything they have for granted. Have anyone of you ever had the same feelings as me, or is my strong feelings about this jaded?

 

[T2T III]

Nope. Not envious at all. I don't buy my goodies to show them off.

 

[Deleted member 139972]

I guess I should elaborate that I don't really think it's just the physical things either. I don't like to buy things just to say I have it for bragging rights. I like to get things because I need them or like them and they are good quality. I guess I don't know what I really think right now and that I guess that I'm just plain frustrated.

 

[FoBoT]

no , i am doing ok
i have earned what i have. i work/worked hard for what i have

i am thankful

 

[Mo0o]

Yes, i want their money, gimme gimme gimme

 

[amol]

well, i dont like when people have stuff HANDED to them

i remember, i had a friend, who back in july, asked his mom for a playstation 2 because there was a certain ps2-only game (he had xbox and gamecube); she came back 3 hours later with a ps2, an extra controller, memory card, and 2 games

i asked my mom for a ps2; she gave me a long list of chores to do, and gave me a certain amount of money for each

i did most of them, and finally, two weeks ago, i was able to buy my ps2

but im still mad at my friend, who just had to ask a simple question, and then got what he wanted . . . grrr

 

[chuckywang]

Also keep in mind that many more people have it much less fortunate than you. After all is said and done, you'll have a college degree and that will take you places. It's my experience that if you work hard to earn everything you have, you won't take the important things in life for granted, and in the process, earn the respect of many people.

And don't worry about those people on TV. John Fogerty said it best, "Some people born silver spoon in hand. Lord, don't they help themselves." Hope you feel better.

 

[Whisper]

I don't hold it against someone if they've been born into good fortune; it's not the fault of the kids on Laguna Beach that their parents are rich. Hell, if my mom or dad offered to give me a car, you'd better believe I'd take it; especially if I were still in high school.

However, I'm happy with how I've turned out, and I feel that a large part of my personality was formed through working for and "earning" what I've wanted.

So to answer your question--no, I'm not envious of those better off than me. We can't help the situations into which we enter this world; all we can do is make the best of what we've been given, and always aim for better.

 

[rh71]

it depends on their attitudes about it. You mention Laguna Beach... those people only know one lifestyle. It isn't their fault they grew up with "silver spoons". If they are the type to brag about it, then sure I have a reason to despise them (for not earning it)... but I leave them to their peace... I have no problems with that.

3 words about how our hands are dealt to us... such is life...

 

[aplefka]

Yeah, my dad's a lawyer and my mom's a teacher and we're hardly able to make ends meet because my dad is horrible at managing money. He may not even be able to pay for my sister to return to college next quarter and he's gonna tell her sometime during this break, if at all.

It's not as much as I'm envious of them as it is I'm disappointed in a lot of the choices my parents make. My dad refuses to let me get my license because he says then we'll have to buy a car and pay for gas, even though I have to wait an hour every day for him to pick me up from school (can't take bus cuz I live out of district). It inconveniences me a lot not being able to drive because I never get to hang out with friends and I live in a really sh1tty neighborhood too.

I dunno, it's not jealous or envy as much as I just can't wait til I get my chance and from growing up the way I have I'll be able to enjoy it so much more than those other people who will never be satisfied with everything they have.

 

[LtPage1]

Originally posted by: Amol
well, i dont like when people have stuff HANDED to them

i remember, i had a friend, who back in july, asked his mom for a playstation 2 because there was a certain ps2-only game (he had xbox and gamecube); she came back 3 hours later with a ps2, an extra controller, memory card, and 2 games

i asked my mom for a ps2; she gave me a long list of chores to do, and gave me a certain amount of money for each

i did most of them, and finally, two weeks ago, i was able to buy my ps2

but im still mad at my friend, who just had to ask a simple question, and then got what he wanted . . . grrr

youll be a better person in the long run. or at least, youll have less of life smack you across the face once you hit the real world.

 

[shimsham]

envious? no.
do spoiled fvcks that dont know how good they have it with mommy and daddy (or whoever) bailing them out/proppiong them up all time deserve a daily ass kicking? absolutely.

i couldnt care less what other people have. its how they act about it that bothers me sometimes. especially when they are just lazy asses and act like they worked so hard for what the have when theyve just been riding on others coat tails.

ah well.

 

[aplefka]

I agree with Shimsham a bit. I know a girl who said she paid for her $16,000 car with her own money. Sad part was her dad gave her the money 3 days before.

 

[Martin]

I sometimes feel like that too. My family immigrated here in '96 and it hasn't been easy at all, especially since we did not know anyone here. I've worked almost continuously (partime during school, full time summers) since I was 15. I do get sick of seeing all my friends driving cars which were paid for by their parents (I don't drive) or seeing them with no loans because their parents pay for their tuition, while I rack up thousands in loans.

But I try to ignore it and work towards my goal.

 

[Nebor]

The way I see it, I didn't choose to come from a well off family. It's just the way things went. I'm grateful that my parents worked hard to provide so much for us, and I know I can never repay them. They provided my brother and I with homes when we graduated college, and I know that I'll never really need to worry about money again. I don't live an extravagant lifestyle, I save and invest a lot of my money, and I give to the United Way.

And yes, I'm still envious of those who have more than me. But that's just human nature, I suppose.

 

[Deleted member 139972]

Very true. I cherish everything I've done thusfar and I feel extremely lucky I have what I have.

 

[aplefka]

Originally posted by: Nebor
The way I see it, I didn't choose to come from a well off family. It's just the way things went. I'm grateful that my parents worked hard to provide so much for us, and I know I can never repay them. They provided my brother and I with homes when we graduated college, and I know that I'll never really need to worry about money again. I don't live an extravagant lifestyle, I save and invest a lot of my money, and I give to the United Way.

And yes, I'm still envious of those who have more than me. But that's just human nature, I suppose.

:beer:

It's people like you we need more of, not the fvcking douchebags who get whatever they want whenever they want whyever they want it.

 

[Deleted member 139972]

I agree. I guess it's all relative to what you have had in the past. I could sit here and be spiteful over what other people have or opportunities they are given. Just as I write this, I'm sure people in some other place is probably griping over how nice us college students have it.

You're all right. Life is what it is. I've always had my goals in life and I've fought like hell to reach them. My work and my focus is beyond what I have ever imageined. I have to power to realize the same realities that others have with their worlds too. But whether or not I would actually want to be in the position of what I envy so much is another question.

Plain and simple. You simply have to deal with what you've got. Life is Unfair, but make the most of it.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

No. However, it is a little frustrating to see people like my ex who have parents who provide absolutely everything for them without teaching them what it's like to grow up struggling for things. People like that tend to think it easier to just replace something than to fix what they have.

 

[xSkyDrAx]

Envious? Nah. Hoping that the real world smacks them in the face harder? You bet!

 

[Amused]

Of course I have been. But more often I'm simply disgusted and/or amused at whiny little brats who have never seen true hardship.

We've all been envious. The key is, do we allow that to control our lives?

The most common manifestation of envy is class envy. And by the looks of the liberal left, it's a VERY popular emotion. They allow their envy to give them the opinion that economic freedom is a bad thing.

 

[Cougar]

About the only thing I envy is people who have good heatlh. Everything else I really don't care about. I've got friends/family that are well off and while they can have all the toys in the world, none of that stuff matters to me. The fact that everyone I know is healthy does make me jealous.

 

[desy]

Any time I've ever felt sorry for myself I remind myself of the vietnamese refugees I was freinds with in high school and where they came from. Or growing up in Ethiopia or Bahgdad.
Then realize I have more material wealth than 90% of the rest of the world and shutup about it.
Money doesn't buy happiness once your past food clothing and shelter it will buy some freedom in choices.

 

[Howard]

No, I've never felt negatively toward those better off than I (at least not when my opinion actually counted for something), but sometimes I have been envious of their possessions. Nothing too major to complain about.

 

[T2T III]

Some things to consider:

1) Most of the folks you see, have just as many loans for their *toys* as other folks do. However, their loan amounts could be higher.

2) When people proudly display their material goods a trophies, they have no idea what real life is about.

Shallow people will get little out of life from taking the time to read a book - and enjoy. Also, such folks barely take the time to get to know their children. They work hard to keep paying off their debts - and to buy more toys. Finally, such folks would get very little by spending time in taking their children to the park and getting to know them better, letting their guard down by truly playing with their children and being silly.

Lots of opportunities exist in this country. Almost anyone can achieve anything. Enjoy!