(no subject)

[missroserose]

I have two classes all the way across town, one of which is too late for the bus and with no willing carpool participants, and I can't afford a car. I've got a job that is much easier and less stressful if I have music to listen to, but I can't find my mp3 player, and I can't afford an iPod (which I'd love to have for any number of reasons, but which I don't think I could justify buying even if I could afford it). I can't afford to go out on a date unless the other person pays for everything. I can't even afford to order myself a freaking dress pattern on eBay for $8 or so.

And yet I've got food, clothing, shelter, a couple hundred dollars worth of luxury/entertainment items, and college courses all paid for. I've got no debt. I've got a steady job. Not to mention a relatively well-off mother who's more than willing to act as a safety net should something go wrong. Which puts me ahead of a goodly portion of America, and a more-than-goodly portion of people in any number of other countries.

I really hate the entitlement mentality Americans have. I also hate the way we judge each other and ourselves by what material goods we can afford.

And I really, really, really fucking hate seeing both of these in myself.

Comments

[frogjimmy.livejournal.com]

Look, as long as you don't view the amount (dollar value or quantity) of your possessions as a measure of self-worth. As long as you don't get into a grade-4 pissing contest ("... oh yeah, well, I have all those G.I. Joes as well as the Hiss tank, the Rattler aaaaaand the hooded Cobra Commander...") over your possessions, then you have nothing to be concerned with.

So you want an iPod? If you are looking for a 20GB mp3 player, I'm sure there are cheaper ones, but if you want an iPod because you like Apple's quality products, then good for you. If you want an iPod because it's an iPod (for looks and brand) then that may be a concern. The thing is, you will probably use it and use it alot.

Sadly the possessions arguement is a social measuring stick. It's the same as looks, intelligence, attitude... you know. Blah. Pants. As long as the people you care about don't measure you by such things, then it's all good.

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

It's not that I'm worried about the people I care about measuring me by what doohickeys I can afford; I'm usually better at picking friends than that. What bothers me is the fact that I often find that I measure *myself* by these standards. Which really stinks.

I actually was looking at the iPod mini, both because I like the colors and because I don't really *need* 20 GB (my entire mp3 collection is less than 4 GB). But the major reason I was wishing I could afford one was because I've heard good things about them, plus I like the onboard computer-playlist option (my current mp3 player is pretty basic; if you want the songs to play in a particular order, you have to copy them over in that order). Plus I've been told many good things about iTunes and Apple products in general. (I'm not investing in a Mac anytime soon, though - I spent most of my elementary/middle school years wrestling with them.)

[frogjimmy.livejournal.com]

Why would you measure yourself like that? If they are your standards, then why is it important to amass such things? If they are not your standards (meaning, you feel a social pressure to amass such things), then why worry about it? Think of the last time you gushed over a particular item. How did it make you feel when you acquired it? How does it make you feel now? Do you still use said item? (if these questions sound like an attack, I apologize. I'm really tired)

BTW, speaking from experience, students are supposed to be poor. It shouldn't be (in a perfect world, however) but they are. You only start being wealthy when (1) your career is at full swing or (2) when you win the lottery and not a moment before.