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A question of values.

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Apple
Posts: 7906 - Karma: 33
I would like to share a story of events from last night involoving 2 good friends of mine. One of whom comes from a very religious background whose parents are missionarys and do the work of god in countries around the world. She has traveled the world and seen landmarks and monuments of which i am jealous, not having had the opertunity to see them myself. My other friend is very fashionable. She spends lots of her own hard earned money on what many of us would consider over priced clothing. She however lives in a small apartment and has never been on a vacation or traveling. she doesnt even eat out for special occasions. The missionary's daughter got involved in an argument with the fashionable friend over the uslessness of material goods. It was here belife that we should lose the material things in our lives and prepare for the eternal life that comes after this one passes. She expressed her belife that the money spent on clothing should go to underprivilaged and that it could do alot of good in the world. She even mentioned sponsoring a child. My fashionable friend said that she could not take care of everyone in the world and that she couldnt be thinking at all times of how to make the world a better place, but that she does select and chose issues and problems which she trys to help and reslove, Donations of food to food banks, money to charities and even gives her older clothing to underprivilaged people. This is the situation, the question i would like to pose to you about this situation is one which should never be aplied to a question of belifes. I would like to ask which of the two is right? Not so much in a spicific sence of the situation because you have no idea who these people are, or their lives background other than what i have shared with you. But the answer i am looking for should be more universal and formed from personal values and belifes. I am very intrested in what you have to say to this.
Like a virgin on promnight!

-Thom Savery
please pardon the cacography
----------->Capital.City.Rider.
--->Phunkin.Phatt.Phreerider.

'naahhmahhnahhhahhh ... i mean ... the weekend of monday'
'Go down to the bottom bunk and finish it yourself'
Mar 10 2005 5:32PM
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EastcoastAR5
Posts: 2721 - Karma: 15
fashionable friend is right, your bible humping friend is prob just trying to be like her rents. In my mind you should help others but at her age(guessing 20s) i think she should just enjoy her life and get more involved at a high age where she does not have as much going on


word

sick guy, yo guy yesterday guy, some g tried to jack me guy, cause yo i was selling him some budz, guy, and yo guy... i busted out ma nine and shit guy he was packing heat to guy, mad gun fight guy-
G-Dawg
Mar 10 2005 5:36PM
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bigdaddytmac
Posts: 1448 - Karma: 14
I'm definitely not a religous person, at least not as far as organized religion goes. I guess I wouldn't be inclined to agree with either of your friends. To each their own. I don't feel like I have an *obligation* to help other people, but sometimes you just know when its the right thing to do. Theres nothing wrong with spending a lot of money on clothes if that really makes you happy. Me, I don't value money or material item much. I'm much more intrigued by new experiences, people, and places.
Mar 10 2005 5:41PM
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Melvs
Posts: 15174 - Karma: 480
I agree that we should not focus on material things, like over priced clothing. HOWEVER, I do not think we should prepare for our eternal life. As humans, we should care for ourselves and others around us. Helping less fortunate people is far more important then having nice clothes.


But, not because of some religious beliefs. Because we are all one species and we should care for each other.
-Pat
Mar 10 2005 5:41PM
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bigdaddytmac
Posts: 1448 - Karma: 14
Yeah I forgot to comment on that, I definitely don't believe in preparing for the eternal life or whatever. My ideal life is lived in the moment. I guess my religion is more of a one with nature, karma, dust to dust kind of thing. Too many drugs mabes?
Mar 10 2005 5:45PM
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gypsy
Posts: 760 - Karma: 12
compelling story... i beleive that none of us should really ever correct another for their life choices. when giving advice, it kinda puts you in a condescending position. like the story where the guy tried to point out and remove a sliver from his friends eye, while he's got a beam in his own. you cant really correct someone when in error yourself. in the situation you mentioned, id say that both people involved have equally great but very different flaws and assets. we all have our vices and imperfections, regardless of how they manifest themselves in our lives, and i say live and let live and if you want to worry about how someone is doing in their life, make sure its yourself because we've all got a long ways to go before we're anything near perfect. uh that is a lot of rambling.

moral of the story - live and let live.
Mar 10 2005 5:47PM
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freezed
Posts: 12973 - Karma: 500
i would tend to agree that money is better spent not on material goods like clothes. personally i spend as little as possible on clothes.


ill be super rich and own mt.hood and let everybody from ns ski for free... except freezed
-hoodratz47
Mar 10 2005 5:52PM
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Sharpy
Posts: 7596 - Karma: 19
I was making judgements until I read the post abotu we should not judge each other and try to chnage each other. I totally agree with that. It is one of the big problems in the world. As a result, I don't think either girl is right or wrong, they just have different opinions.

Like a virgin on prom night

You can go on the bottom bunk and finish it yourself

When you guys are on those rails, it's like muah

You A-hole
Mar 10 2005 5:54PM
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Apple
Posts: 7906 - Karma: 33
Freezed, what about money spent on other things in your life, like skiing?
Like a virgin on promnight!

-Thom Savery
please pardon the cacography
----------->Capital.City.Rider.
--->Phunkin.Phatt.Phreerider.

'naahhmahhnahhhahhh ... i mean ... the weekend of monday'
'Go down to the bottom bunk and finish it yourself'
Mar 10 2005 5:54PM
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Sharpy
Posts: 7596 - Karma: 19
skiing isn't necessarily a material thing, but ski stuff is. So he better not be buying new oakley gear every year, or he'd be a hypocrite.

Like a virgin on prom night

You can go on the bottom bunk and finish it yourself

When you guys are on those rails, it's like muah

You A-hole
Mar 10 2005 5:56PM
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Apple
Posts: 7906 - Karma: 33
justin, what were your origional feelings? thats what im intrested in. I would tend to judge us all as having a common value saying that judgeing somone on thier belifes and values should not be done. (could their be a more hypocritical statment?)
Like a virgin on promnight!

-Thom Savery
please pardon the cacography
----------->Capital.City.Rider.
--->Phunkin.Phatt.Phreerider.

'naahhmahhnahhhahhh ... i mean ... the weekend of monday'
'Go down to the bottom bunk and finish it yourself'
Mar 10 2005 5:57PM
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Apple
Posts: 7906 - Karma: 33
also, justin, there are lift tickets too... god knows they can be hella expencive. and in the end, what do we get out of skiing? but i digress from my origional question...
Like a virgin on promnight!

-Thom Savery
please pardon the cacography
----------->Capital.City.Rider.
--->Phunkin.Phatt.Phreerider.

'naahhmahhnahhhahhh ... i mean ... the weekend of monday'
'Go down to the bottom bunk and finish it yourself'
Mar 10 2005 5:58PM
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Sharpy
Posts: 7596 - Karma: 19
I think too much value is placed on material things. In saying that, I am a hypocrite though because I like my stuff. It's not an excuse, but society has made us like this. Sometiems I wish we were like back in the day when everything was about the tribe and everything was shared and everyone worked together to ensure survival.

Like a virgin on prom night

You can go on the bottom bunk and finish it yourself

When you guys are on those rails, it's like muah

You A-hole
Mar 10 2005 5:59PM
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Sharpy
Posts: 7596 - Karma: 19
I think lift tickets are not so much material. Its just like a recept for paying for some time to spend on the mountain. And I didn't really state my opinion of who Iagree with more up above. I agree with the basic message the religious girl is trying to make apparent, but I deffitely do not live that life or support those beliefs through actions.

Like a virgin on prom night

You can go on the bottom bunk and finish it yourself

When you guys are on those rails, it's like muah

You A-hole
Mar 10 2005 6:01PM
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ECfreeski3
Posts: 12019 - Karma: 126
'fashionable friend is right, your bible humping friend is prob just trying to be like her rents.'

hahaha

_____________________________________
prolly like 120, me and bob white (linesnowblades) hit it once and the same time and went so big out blades fell off!!!!!!! We were like shit our blades just fell off, thats not supposed to happen!!!! What a day. -blades4life
Mar 10 2005 6:02PM
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Melvs
Posts: 15174 - Karma: 480
While I feel somewhat torn about the whole 'not correcting people's lives because it is condescending' issue, I think that you should give people advice. In situations where people are clearly in the wrong, advice is not only ok to give, but you would be wrong not too. Granted, this is not as clear cut a case as that, but I think that the one who buys expensive shit is wrong. Personally, I hate buying things unless it is needed. Yes, I do have some nice things (such as a nice computer, nice skis although getting not so nice, and shti like that, all are needed in my opinion (for editing which makes me happy, skiing which is the love of my life, etc.)
-Pat
Mar 10 2005 6:34PM
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lanks
Posts: 12544 - Karma: 73
one thing that really bugs me is seeing individuals with 50 pairs of expensive shoes in their closet and such. that is materialism gone way too far, to the point of an obsession. a needless obsession at that. to contrast the situation, if someone was to spend the same sum of money travelling the world, exploring, interacting with various cultures, i would deem that ok. actually, i would encourage it. the world is there for the taking, and it is up to us to take it, and try to understand it more fully.

now to apply my thoughts to real life...personally i do not like the materialistic school of thought, so if i had to pick one side over the other, i'd go with the missionary.

my reasoning is, when we die, nothing will live on in this world except the impact we have on others. how can we maximize this? by being the girl who had all the dresses and shoes in her closet, or by being the girl who travelled the world, saw and lived in different cultures, promoted peace and helped hundreds and thousands of people out? i think the latter is more fufilling.

-Joel

~Phunkin Phatt Phreerider~
Capital City Rider, DFP
Silent Army

'Everybody calls me a zero. But I'm an internet hero.'
Mar 10 2005 9:48PM
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holyDINOSAURS
Posts: 7038 - Karma: 639
lanks has a point. i believe however that the second was right. now to the extent of 50 pairs of shoes etc but just in the fact that you cant solve the world. teh world is what it is but you can do little things to help. noone should have the weight on their shoulders of having to solve all the worlds problems...especially if that weight is put on by someone else
-----------------------------------------




Please, stop making skiing into a soap opera. This isn't the OC.
-J.D. May

JC TMC S3P
Mar 10 2005 9:53PM
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Jessbuff
Posts: 2685 - Karma: 17
MY LITTLE MISSIONARY RANT:
I'm not a big fan of missionary work, their hearts are in the right places but they go about it the wrong way. No one wants to be told what to believe. It's cool to educate until it gets to pressuring people into your beliefs. Especially with something ambiguous like religion where there is no right or wrong (To our knowledge). Anyways, spreading your beliefs to those who choose to listen is cool, making people listen to your beliefs against their will is just mean.
(This is especially aimed at Mormons, don't be so friggin' forceful.)

'I like long walks on the beach...sipping champagne by the fire...gutting dear... (Tweaks_Rock_me)
Mar 10 2005 11:00PM
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friday01
Posts: 1342 - Karma: 24
see the religous girl thinks everyone should give all there money to poor people but if we did that all kinds of companys would go out of business and we would all be worse off becasue our economy would be so bad
Mar 10 2005 11:05PM
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Sharpy
Posts: 7596 - Karma: 19
I don't think she means give ALL the money to poor people. But some people could live more humbly in roder to help others less fortunate.

Like a virgin on prom night

You can go on the bottom bunk and finish it yourself

When you guys are on those rails, it's like muah

You A-hole
Mar 10 2005 11:06PM
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Bhayter10
Posts: 942 - Karma: 8
I like to think of it this way...Lets say a guy has a 6 figure income, and he uses all the money he makes to buy himself stuff...He has more than he could ever need, and he continues to buy stuff..However, one day, he realizes that he shouldnt be hoarding everything he can possibly get his hands on, and decides he needs to make a drastic change in his life and do the world some good. So he sells everything he has, gives it to the poor, quits his job, and moves to Ethiopia to help with the starving population.
Now, although this is honorable, I don't believe this would be the most efficient way to go about things. If this man is making all sorts of money, it seems more useful that he continue to work at that job, yet instead of buying things for himself he donates large portions of it, while at the same time living comfortably instead of extravegantly. If you are talented as a salesman, use those talents to help others. If you are blessed with talents as a pro athlete, play your game and use what you make to help others. We are blessed, so that we can be a blessing unto others.

'The true measure of a man is how he treats another who can do absolutely nothing for him.'
-Samuel Johnson


'I refuse to tip-toe through life just to arrive safely at the door of death'- Unknown
Mar 10 2005 11:58PM
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skichica128
Posts: 587 - Karma: 10
i'm not against material possessions, i dont mind nice clothes. But sometimes expensive stuff gets soo out of hand, and all that money could be put to much better use. For example, a girl can by a pocket book for $20, but some people spend up to $10000 on just one bag. All that money could be donated to something that would really make a difference, like saving a starving family. I mean, you cant save the world, but if you can make just one person happier, you'll probably feel much better about yourself than if you had a really nice bag.
Mar 11 2005 12:19AM
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thejackamo
Posts: 1785 - Karma: 11
one way or another i could care less. i personally don't agree with your relgious friend strictly because she is trying to push her beliefs on someone else, and that's just something that i refuse to deal with, even if it's for a ''good'' reason such as this.
_____________________
'yeah line stuff blows, i got a pair of the new pollards and once i took the wrapper off they spontaneously combusted' - schlonginator


junkapparel... we make clothes.
Mar 11 2005 1:01AM
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C.J.
Posts: 5460 - Karma: 72
The fassion girl is right. I believe there is no god, in any form and who ever believes in a god is just ignorant, I need solid proof there is any form of higher being, and there is no proof what so ever, but believe in what you want. I do not judge people you for it, I just hate it when people force thier beliefs on other people, like missionarys do.
_______________________________________
'If only I was a video game character; I'd never fall-never.'-Peter Olenick

Keep the fight alive, decriminalize Marijuana!
Mar 11 2005 1:08AM
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Bhayter10
Posts: 942 - Karma: 8
^'Whoever believes in a god is just ignorant.'
'I will not judge you for it'



'The true measure of a man is how he treats another who can do absolutely nothing for him.'
-Samuel Johnson


'I refuse to tip-toe through life just to arrive safely at the door of death'- Unknown
Mar 11 2005 1:13AM
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C.J.
Posts: 5460 - Karma: 72
like I said its just my belief, does'nt have to be yours.
_______________________________________
'If only I was a video game character; I'd never fall-never.'-Peter Olenick

Keep the fight alive, decriminalize Marijuana!
Mar 11 2005 1:14AM
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under_achieved
Posts: 1164 - Karma: 14
telling someone that they are living their life 'wrong' and that they should spend their time preparing for the life after this one is VERY wrong and many levels... if someone ever told me that being serious I'd tell them that there is no santa or easter bunny then yell out the power of christ compells you and run away.

CTC - we dope!
Mar 11 2005 1:17AM
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Bhayter10
Posts: 942 - Karma: 8
I know, I was just simply pointing out the fact that you first said anyone who believes in religion is ignorant, but that you wont judge them, just seems like a pretty major contradiction. Maybe dig a bit deeper into the person's personality before your judge them.

'The true measure of a man is how he treats another who can do absolutely nothing for him.'
-Samuel Johnson


'I refuse to tip-toe through life just to arrive safely at the door of death'- Unknown
Mar 11 2005 12:39PM
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C.J.
Posts: 5460 - Karma: 72
I guess what im trying to say is I think the whole idea of religion is dumb. But I still have friends that are very religious, but they are still my friends, and I dont thnik less of them, i just think they are wrong.
_______________________________________
'If only I was a video game character; I'd never fall-never.'-Peter Olenick

Keep the fight alive, decriminalize Marijuana!
Mar 12 2005 1:55AM
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Bhayter10
Posts: 942 - Karma: 8
^Fair enough.

'The true measure of a man is how he treats another who can do absolutely nothing for him.'
-Samuel Johnson


'I refuse to tip-toe through life just to arrive safely at the door of death'- Unknown
Mar 12 2005 4:23AM
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