Tuesday, March 31, 2009

The value of a dolar...

Okay,this isn't compulsory and is completely voluntary.I'm just curious to find out how many people WILL sell their time for money and how much...

Personally,as for me,i guess it really depends;if i continue to reside within a society as materialistic as such,I'm afraid i will definitely have no choice but to conform to the materialism itself.The way i see it,our society is one that demands materialism.It is impossible to hover above the water,so what choice is there but to TRY to stay afloat within the water itself?Therefore,there really isn't much choice but to conform to the materialism.By now,perhaps many are thinking "What about moving out of the society at hand?"Well,aren't all societies trying to reach the standard of economic significance,especially in the form of physical value?How long will you keep running from GLOBALIZATION...You can run but you can't hide.Society is often unkind to those who flow upstream,like it or not,especially in our society,the social value of an individual is measured in paper.And if everyone has the standardised high value,what would the value of even a high flyer's achievements be then?Do comment people,it is either wisdom or foolishness to savour the actual realised freedom of speech,but it is indeed regrettable to regret your actions.

4 comments:

Pearlyn said...

Very good question and good point.Personally,i feel that we are the ones letting ourself be taken over by globalization and its demands.

Take a family being torn apart by money,for instance.They'll understand the meaning that money is not everything and so what if materialism is rearing its ugly head?its a choice because ultimately this money can only buy you happiness temporarily but u may lose this happiness soon and in turn change to hatred,Morever,this money is not truly yours to call because,much as we hate to admit it,money's pretty useless once we've passed on.It can't even be used as a shell of what we used to be,for the paper's dead.

Therefore,i would not sell anything for money because its ironic to let something dead control you.

Alexander said...

Hmm,i see what you mean,the sentimental value of money is totally insignificant while the physical value of money is short-lived and leaves no legacy.Kind of reminds me of leprechaun gold;said to be short lived yet hard to find.

DS said...

What Pearlyn said. The bible itself shows us of a MAN, not God, but a man who walked on water. Seriously, it is by choice that he took that step out of the boat. It is by faith, and by choice, that he listened. This resulted in him walking on water. 2 men walking on water together, how encouraging.

But you see, the point is that many of us would rather not pick the more difficult step, choosing to follow the rest of the crowd. It is often stated in many places, that the best route is not the easiest route. Giving ourselves up to materialism - it's our choice, or rather, whoever who chooses its' choice.

So then, I suppose the point that you stated: "I'm afraid i will definitely have no choice but to conform to the materialism itself." is not really true. It is not definite - it is a "choice" that you have no choice.

On the other hand, selling time for money can also be figurative. That is - what everyone's doing now. Isn't everyone using up most of their schooling life to study hard? Whatever for? It's for a better future, or a higher paying job. Therefore, it can be said that students in many schools have already sold their time - for money.

So I suppose the main point that I'm saying is that - there never is a point where there's no choice. - Even when there seems to be no choice. It's a choice to see no choice.

Alexander said...

Well firstly,i noticed a flaw in your concept on "the easier path".It need not be the path that is more influential,simply the path which has an unavoidable or at least a strong social force.

Take materialism for example,we live in a society that is materialistically demanding,do you not agree?After all,our society has been ranked among the most expensive residences.It would be just about impossible to not submit to either materialism or crime here.

And seeing a christian such as yourself,is it not a fact that ,according to the custom itself of which you chose to debate with,it is a role for us to secure factors of materialism(mainly in the more officially recognised form of trade,paper)so as to prevent external access to unhealthy uses of it?

Therefore,even to execute the given duty here in a materialistic society,isn't it required to also submit to the materialism anyway to even have access to it?And the moment you start accumulating it,regardless of purpose,are you not already accounting in the category of physical value?

There are of course those among us who will take the more common path together with peers.But that reason need not be for the purpose of indolence as you have mentioned.

Peer pressure itself influences modern youth to do things that are often harder than just walking away,therefore it is not fair to say that indolence IS the cause of the common path taken.Peer pressure itself comes with a threat;the threat of being isolated.This affects the individual greatly when he/she is unable to find the appropriate people for the purpose of socialising.

If you refer to Marlow's hierarchy of psychological needs,posted among some of the older posts,you will see that belonging is a key factor in appeasing the human mind.It is through the need for socialism,and through the peer pressure offered by society,that one takes the more common path,and not because it is more convenient.