Of course not, you know how heinous that position is, but it's the direct result of what you're arguing here, that we can't make judgements like that.
instead of reading my posts as angry, read them as a complete and utter dismissal of your argument. It has no merit and it's easy to see because you won't make the proclamation that's the obvious result of your stance.
Your argument is just nihilism in a funny dress.
A poor person is _forced_ to strip down to the bare essentials. Middle class _should_ do the same but they have enough money that they can afford the delusion until they can't (lifestyle inflation) due to losing a job, unforeseen expenses (medical bills, for example). The wealthy can do whatever the hell they want because the unforeseen expenses and job loss are a blip to them rather than an existential crisis the way it is for the middle class and poor.
IOW, just because someone is not willing to forego something does not imply it's an essential, it implies they have a preference they won't compromise on. That may or may not be a good decision, but people make poor decisions all the time.
I drive a 2004 corolla, early in 2023 I decided I needed a minivan and purchased a 2007 Honda Odyssey and then paid to have it fixed up. The GPU in my gaming machine was literally more expensive than the initial purchase of that Odyssey.
I'm a tech person and a gamer, I was not willing to compromise on the GPU but at no point was I ever under the delusion that made it an essential. it's like sneaking that candy that you know you probably shouldn't eat, it's a guilty pleasure.
On the flip side, if someone tells me they can't leave NYC because of family, I absolutely get it.
Of course not, you know how heinous that position is, but it's the direct result of what you're arguing here, that we can't make judgements like that.
instead of reading my posts as angry, read them as a complete and utter dismissal of your argument. It has no merit and it's easy to see because you won't make the proclamation that's the obvious result of your stance.
Your argument is just nihilism in a funny dress.
A poor person is _forced_ to strip down to the bare essentials. Middle class _should_ do the same but they have enough money that they can afford the delusion until they can't (lifestyle inflation) due to losing a job, unforeseen expenses (medical bills, for example). The wealthy can do whatever the hell they want because the unforeseen expenses and job loss are a blip to them rather than an existential crisis the way it is for the middle class and poor.
IOW, just because someone is not willing to forego something does not imply it's an essential, it implies they have a preference they won't compromise on. That may or may not be a good decision, but people make poor decisions all the time.
I drive a 2004 corolla, early in 2023 I decided I needed a minivan and purchased a 2007 Honda Odyssey and then paid to have it fixed up. The GPU in my gaming machine was literally more expensive than the initial purchase of that Odyssey.
I'm a tech person and a gamer, I was not willing to compromise on the GPU but at no point was I ever under the delusion that made it an essential. it's like sneaking that candy that you know you probably shouldn't eat, it's a guilty pleasure.
On the flip side, if someone tells me they can't leave NYC because of family, I absolutely get it.