What is greed??

[InletBchDweller]

I put this in the political forum b/c we were discussing it on another political thread. I have thought about it all day. So I did some research and had a little booster email help from a friend. Thanks!!

Greed was brought up b/c of this post.....

"I hope that in the next four years people will stop being motivated by greed and start being motivated by the good of the country. "

someone responded with this....

I read it as "maybe we will stop thinking quite so much 'short term me, me, me' and think more 'long term us, us, us'."

~~

I wondered what do people think greed is? I always thought of it something like the Grinch, with all the toys and not wanting to share any of it - ever. perhaps relishing in seeing others harmed b/c they do not have "it" that the greedy person possesses.

Wanting more of something, is that greed? be it money, or shoes, or cars or heck - a chicken collection??? I have caught myself sitting at a slot machine with alot of money but I do not stop, I keep playing (them lose it all ) I say to myself "I was greedy" ----- but was I? Stupid is more like it...

I would think that everyone here on the board wants more for themselves and their families. But does it always have to be in the monetary fashion. A father who spends every weekend hunting/fishing/golfing and neglets his family. Isn't he being greedy b/c he is hurting others??? greedy of time??

WIKIPEDIA states this....
Greed denotes desire to acquire wealth or possessions beyond the needs of the individual, especially when this accumulation of possession denies others legitimate needs or access to those or other resources. For example, amassing a large collection of seashells would not be considered greed, unless in doing so, the needs of others were jeopardized. Essential to the concept of greed is the awareness that the needs of others are denied, thus rivalrous goods exemplify greed while non-rivalrous goods may not. Greed also often involves using wealth to gain power over others, sometimes by denying others wealth or power.
Some desire to increase one's wealth is nearly universal and acceptable in any culture, but this simple want is not considered greed. Greed is the extreme form of this desire, especially where one desires things simply for the sake of owning them (such as the desire to have great amounts of money not to purchase objects, but possession or the money is an end in itself). Greed typically entails acquiring material possessions at the expense of other person's welfare (for example, a father buying himself a new car rather than fix the roof of his family's home) or otherwise reflect priorities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greed


Do people automatically think that greed has to do with money and tangible items?

Can a person have all these things and more and not be greedy?

Thoughts to ponder.....

 

[Mango]

Do people automatically think that greed has to do with money and tangible items?

Can a person have all these things and more and not be greedy?

Thoughts to ponder.....

I think Wiki's definition is limited. But to answer your question, there are many successful people who have material wealth whose motivations were driven by something other than that. For example: scientists whose discoveries bring innovations that positively affect the world. However, it is my opinion that when the sole motivation becomes accumulation of wealth, it leaves room for adversely affecting the population. So yes, I do feel it is possible to have wealth and not be greedy. Also, wealth is relative. Some people feel wealthier than some with money. It's a state of mind.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

I think of greed being the root of problems when it's something like the companies that got rich off the war or the executives who took the money and ran before the big sink on Wall Street. I guess I'm trying to say is I don't think of individuals who work hard and have the ability to accumulate what they want, but the people who do it off of others misfortune.

 

[Kurt]

Greed is not good.

 

[steele mama]

Money is not the root of evil but the love of it is. We must love people and God, not money. The Wall Street pilfer....definitely greed! Milking the war....dfinitely greed! Chicken collection....not so much.

 

[traderx]

I have never seen a good definition of greed. People seem to equate it with the accumulation of material things. You typically see definitions like "wanting more than their fair share" or "wanting money beyond what is necessary" but these are poor definitions.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not the desire for money that drives most business owners. It is a drive to achieve. Money is a report card. Many seem to associate greed with real world expression, that is, living life large.

I read an article about a young man who started the website, PlentyofFish.com. It is a dating site and is free to users. He runs it himself, does all the programming and design and hosts it from his apartment in Canada. In 2007, he earned one million from the site. He is projected to make $10 million this year. Is he greedy?

I have a friend who started a business two decades ago. It has been sucessful beyond his wildest dreams. He is probably worth $50 million. He lives in a non-descript condo and walks to his office. He drives a seven year old Ford Taurus. His vacations usually consist of visiting his parents in Florida and playing golf while he is there. His company is a partnership, a true partnership and he has helped make dozens of others wealthy. Is he greedy?

Another friend started a business years ago and is probably worth $10 million. She employs a number of people. She pays them and treats them poorly. Her entire life consists of accumulating money. She lives in a lower end condo and drives a ten year old Accord. The line about her is that you can find Abe Lincoln's whiskers around her because she squeezes her pennies so hard. She never takes vacations, buys all her clothes in thrift stores and never goes out to dine. She stays home and counts her money. Is she greedy?

Now to the last friend. Probably worth $10 million or so. He made some decent money and inherited the rest. Both he and his wife grew up in upper income families. He works hard and parties hard. They own a huge home in metro Atlanta and a lake home which is larger than their primary home. They own three large vehicles even though there are only two drivers. They entertain frequently and take lavish vacations. Are they greedy?

 

[Teresa]

you have your greed that comes with corruption.

you have your basic greed that is just plain poor taste and judgement.

you have your greed that comes with total selfishness and disregard for others.

you have your greed that is motivated by something missing in your soul, like there is a big hole and you can never fill it with material things and $$ no matter how hard one works to do so.

greed comes in many forms I would say. some examples?

Drill Baby Drill! I think that's greedy as hail.

Iraq War - I think the war was totally greed-motivated.

Spreading the wealth - people get all bent out of shape thinking that they are going to be giving more than their fair share. come on, most wealthy folks I know would be more than happy to pay a little extra, without a care. these folks are grateful for all they have and willing to give a little more to society - and they always seem to do this out of general good will regardless of the tax structure. the folks I hear grumbling aren't even the ones who will be effected by the extra tax - they just like the sound of their own grumble.



Money is neither my god nor my devil. It is a form of energy that tends to make us more of who we already are, whether it's greedy or loving.
Dan Millman

 

[Jdarg]

Maybe it's a good time for a Bible verse.

EZE 33:31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit
before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into
practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their
hearts are greedy for unjust gain.

 

[GoodWitch58]

and a Prayer from St Francis:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

 

[full time]

you have your greed that comes with corruption.

you have your basic greed that is just plain poor taste and judgement.

you have your greed that comes with total selfishness and disregard for others.

you have your greed that is motivated by something missing in your soul, like there is a big hole and you can never fill it with material things and $$ no matter how hard one works to do so.

greed comes in many forms I would say. some examples?

Drill Baby Drill! I think that's greedy as hail.

Iraq War - I think the war was totally greed-motivated.

Spreading the wealth - people get all bent out of shape thinking that they are going to be giving more than their fair share. come on, most wealthy folks I know would be more than happy to pay a little extra, without a care. these folks are grateful for all they have and willing to give a little more to society - and they always seem to do this out of general good will regardless of the tax structure. the folks I hear grumbling aren't even the ones who will be effected by the extra tax - they just like the sound of their own grumble.



Money is neither my god nor my devil. It is a form of energy that tends to make us more of who we already are, whether it's greedy or loving.
Dan Millman

Interesting list. Since this has caused so many problems in our area, I'm curious - where do buyers reneging on pre-construction condominium obligations to purchase fall on your greed list?