The birth of Greed....what year do YOU think

[hnooe]

Modern greed originated with the first episode of Dynasty, sometime during the Reagan Era.

Any cyclical recession is just God's way of slapping all the greedy folks, all of us, in the face...he still loves us though.

 

[lms47]

Greed is innate!

 

[hnooe]

I have no idea what it is. I have never seen a good working definition of greed.

This is from Merriam Wester: a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money) than is needed.

So, if my monthly bills total $5,000 and I want to make $6,000 one month, is that being greedy?

Okay with that out of the way, don't mean to wreck your thread so I will guess 200,000 years ago.

I think it kind of ironic that you have particular difficulty defining greed. Not everything in life is always laid out easily for us in a "working definition" from Websters Dictionary.

 

[GoodWitch58]

Greed comes from fear: the fear that there is not enough.

A belief in scarcity rather than abundance.

All the great spiritual teachings tell us that it is in the giving that we receive; yet, there are those who feel as though they must hold "mine" close because there is not enough;

and there are those who see money and things as trophies to acquire..they are not interested in what the money or stuff can do for them or others...they just want more and no matter how much they have, it is never enough.

I think it has been around forever...as long as humans have existed. It will probably always be with us.

 

[30ashopper]

Greed is good

YouTube - Milton Friedman - Greed

 

[traderx]

I think it kind of ironic that you have particular difficulty defining greed. Not everything in life is always laid out easily for us in a "working definition" from Websters Dictionary.

Aren't you the wise philosopher? Why not share with the group why you find it ironic?

 

[30ashopper]

Greed comes from fear: the fear that there is not enough.

I’m sorry goodwitch but I think you completely misunderstand what greed is and how it manifests. Greed is an interest in bettering yourself and in improving the world around you and in doing so, benefiting personally from your work. The benefits from greed includes everything from financial riches to feeling good about who you are. In the end, everything we do voluntarily is driven by some form of personal self interest, i.e. 'greed'.

 

[SHELLY]

I’m sorry goodwitch but I think you completely misunderstand what greed is and how it manifests. Greed is an interest in bettering yourself and in improving the world around you and in doing so, benefiting personally from your work. The benefits from greed includes everything from financial riches to feeling good about who you are. In the end, everything we do voluntarily is driven by some form of personal self interest, i.e. 'greed'.

I don't agree with the "improving the world around you" statement as it applies to "Greed." Greed to me implies a person who puts "self" above all others and things--if what he does happens to improve the world around him while he's accomplishing his selfish goals, it's more along the lines of a happenstance than a chosen goal.

Many times the greedy try to convince the world that their main objective is to "improve the world, or community, or town, or client," but woe is the entity that believes this is true--for if the greedy were to reveal their TRUE motives, they wouldn't win the prize.

 

[GoodWitch58]

30AShopper:


It doesn't surprise me that you do not agree with my interpretation, but kindly do not tell me what I understand. I can do without your condescending attitude.

You've been listening to/reading too much Milton Friedman; he is responsible for much of what has our economy in the shape it is today IMO.

 

[30ashopper]

I don't agree with the "improving the world around you" statement as it applies to "Greed." Greed to me implies a person who puts "self" above all others and things--if what he does happens to improve the world around him in accomplishing his selfish goals, it's more along the lines of a happenstance than a chosen goal.

Look at it a little more closely. Does Bill Gates fund his foundation because it makes him feel sick about how his money and interest is being spent?

"Everything we do voluntarily is driven by some form of personal self interest."

What I am saying is - everyone is greedy. The results of which may be negative or positive. In the end, we accomplish nothing without greed.