Money is not inherently evil. What really matters is how you make it, and where you spend it. If you make money making people better off, and spend it making people better off, there is nothing wrong at all.
Unfortunately some people make money making people worse off, which is where money might get it's bad reputation. This might happen if the people think maximising income is more important than anything else (which might or might not lead them onto a path detrimental to other people, but immoral practices are often so profitable).
The people who make a lot of money making people happy on the other hand probably care about their income, but also care strongly enough about other things for it to influence their decisions.
Is it OK to Want to Make Money?
61–70 of 146 posts
Re: Is it OK to Want to Make Money?
#62I don't trust people who start businesses and say they're not interested in money. Money is one of your best gauges of whether you're doing things right. Not being interested in money when you're working on a for-profit enterprise makes me worry you're either unserious or disingenuous. That said, hardly anybody only cares about money. We all trade off money against other things -- free time, independence, and so on. I care about money, but I'd rather make a little less working on a project that'll genuinely make the world better than a little more working on something unimportant.
Re: Is it OK to Want to Make Money?
#63Answer: yes, sure. It's far more honorable to want to be wealthy than, for example, to vie for social status or power over other people. I want to be wealthy; I wish everyone were. I feel like I'm an old (28) knight, having learned the hard way that people are not honorable. For the record, I've seen more disgusting behavior in supposedly "world-changing" startups than many people see in their lives, and far more tha…
> You should want to have money if you're smart. Why? Because money is a vote and the World's First Problem is that most decisions aren't being made my smart or competent people. So get out there, do great work, and see if you can make a mark.
Well put!
Re: Is it OK to Want to Make Money?
#64Don't strive to make money for money sake alone. There doesn't appear to be any correlation between money and happiness.
But I, like most hackers, enjoy building things of value. And people are used to paying for what they value (there are exceptions of course). I use making money, especially early on, as a validator and indicator of progress.
Re: Is it OK to Want to Make Money?
#65Earlier quoted context omitted.
The people who make money doing this will spend the money on goods and services, which in turn benefits the people involved in providing them.
Actually, the HFT people are more likely to sock their winnings away. Anyway, "I take money from people so that I can increase the national GDP by spending it" is not much of an argument for a socially valuable way of life.
Sock money away where, in their mattress? No, in the bank, money market, investments, etc. thereby increases the available funds for others to start businesses, take out loans, provide liquidity to the market. "Take money from people", you mean engage in a mutually beneficial and agreed upon transaction where you take money and give a product or service... yea not the same as theft.
Re: Is it OK to Want to Make Money?
#66yes
Re: Is it OK to Want to Make Money?
#67Perhaps it's wrong place to ask, but ... Does anyone have an idea how to get this "hunger for money"? I get no pleasure from earning money and almost no pleasure from things I can buy. I find it hard to motivate myself to get rich despite the fact that I consciously know that it could make my life bit easier.
want to travel? that requires money
want a house? you need money
Want to have kids? more money
Almost every hobby also requires money. Money buys you freedom. I have a hunger for freedom, which requires money.
I also don't want some asshole boss making decisions for me.
Re: Is it OK to Want to Make Money?
#68Relevant (and fun): F*ck You, Pay me.
http://vimeo.com/22053820
Making money is difficult enough. Don't leave all that money on the table.
Re: Is it OK to Want to Make Money?
#69Earlier quoted context omitted.
The people who make money doing this will spend the money on goods and services, which in turn benefits the people involved in providing them.
You're referring to "trickle-down economics" which is largely bunk.
No, that's not. You have no idea what you're talking about. Keynesian economics, for instance, uses a similar example to justify government spending. You seriously should stop resorting to trite talking points and buzzwords you really don't understand because you're just corroding the conversation.
Re: Is it OK to Want to Make Money?
#70It depends on what you want to make that money for. To live a stress-free, comfortable, happy life and help your community/world in return with that money? Or to just spend all of that money on yourself in expensive cars, big houses and drugs. It all depends on what you use the money for...
No it doesn't really matter. Let them buy expensive cars, big houses and what not. If they've earned it, they get to spend it. (And I'm sure the local business owners, car sales man, builders... won't disagree). Besides, they'll pay taxes on everything they spend. Would it be nice for others if they were to invest in their own community? Sure! But they're not required to do so.