A Look at the Ugly Side of Getting Rich • Hacker News Board

Re: A Look at the Ugly Side of Getting Rich

#61

Post by tsunamifury » Wed, Apr 26, 2017, 10:39 PM UTC

fulafel wrote: post #59

homulilly wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's something only the fabulously wealthy can say. For almost everyone else, even if money doesn't directly make you happier, it removes the vast majority of barriers to attaining happiness (though clearly not all of them). I know I'm much happier now that I make six figures and don't have to worry as much about medical bills, rent, food and so on and have disposable income to direct into new hobbies I couldn't have…

Most places in western countries provide citizens medical and food/shelter security without being wealthy.

Except the largest Western nation in the world...

Re: A Look at the Ugly Side of Getting Rich

#62

Post by tonyedgecombe » Thu, Apr 27, 2017, 7:55 AM UTC

dickbasedregex wrote: post #58

tonyedgecombe wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hoarding during scarcity is quite a sensible strategy, you want to get through the winter season or drought. What we don't seem able to do is turn that off in an environment of abundance. We can't seem to get past that evolutionary adaptation and it isn't doing us any good.

Yeah, replace "we" with "some." Some contingent of the population are greedy scumbags. It's not the human condition. Everyone always wants to sidestep responsibility because "it's in our nature." Complete cop-out.

They aren't greedy scumbags, just people with rather sad lives.

Re: A Look at the Ugly Side of Getting Rich

#63

Post by pseudonom- » Thu, Apr 27, 2017, 2:16 PM UTC

monster_group wrote: post #41

jondubois wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people are genetically greedier than others and greedier people are much more likely to get into positions of power. To make matters worse, people tend to like people who are like them. So greedy people help other greedy people. This means that power and money becomes concentrated in the hands of the greedy.

"Some people are genetically greedier..." That's a pretty bold claim that I am coming across for the first time. I did not know greed has its roots in genetics. Can you cite some references? I would love to read more about this.

Finding 1 here: https://www.gwern.net/docs/genetics/2016-plomin.pdf

> All psychological traits show significant and substantial genetic influence

Re: A Look at the Ugly Side of Getting Rich

#64

Post by dTal » Sat, Apr 29, 2017, 2:15 AM UTC

cryptica wrote: post #52

jondubois wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people are genetically greedier than others and greedier people are much more likely to get into positions of power. To make matters worse, people tend to like people who are like them. So greedy people help other greedy people. This means that power and money becomes concentrated in the hands of the greedy.

Well, we're made up of DNA. Scientists unanimously agree that DNA is responsible for all of our characteristics. If you search the internet, you should be able to find plenty of papers and evidence which document the effects of specific genes on personality. Recently, I watched a lecture about a specific gene nicknamed the "Warrior gene" - Scientists found that people who carried this gene were more likely to become…

>Scientists unanimously agree that DNA is responsible for all of our characteristics

Whoa there buddy. They agree no such thing. Upbringing makes a difference too, to name just one of the entire gigantic category known as "environmental factors".