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Old 08-02-2009, 05:38 PM
 
Location: TX
1,096 posts, read 1,834,979 times
Reputation: 594

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Do you all notice this as a very common occurence these days? I keep seeing it mentioned with regard to different areas and suburbs around the metroplex. I really don't notice it at all and I'm not sure if I'm just clueless or too wrapped up in it to see it. Sure, I like to buy gadgets and new things, but ultimately only if I need them and/or I personally think they're cool and in both instances only when I can afford them. I don't really get/do things to 'show off.' I don't have an iPhone for example and about half the people I know do - even though I think they're cool, I don't really need all the features. Or when I see an expensive sports car, I just figure that person likes fast/nice cars. What do you think?

Last edited by tyanger; 08-02-2009 at 05:49 PM..
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Old 08-02-2009, 05:52 PM
 
2,231 posts, read 6,067,546 times
Reputation: 545
Quote:
Originally Posted by tyanger View Post
Do you all notice this as a very common occurence these days? I keep seeing it mentioned with regard to different areas and suburbs around the metroplex. I really don't notice it at all and I'm not sure if I'm just clueless or too wrapped up in it to see it. Sure, I like to buy gadgets and new things, but ultimately only if I need them and/or I personally think they're cool and in both instances only when I can afford them. I don't really get/do things to 'show off.' I don't have an iPhone for example and about half the people I know do - even though I think they're cool, I don't really need all the features. What does everyone think?
Taken literally, there is nothing that "everyone" thinks. Most people have a problem agreeing on the time of day or the color of the sky, let alone anything more weighty.

I'd imagine that people who buy an iPhone intend to use it, not just display it to others. And maybe they think they need the features, so they bought one. You don't think you need its features, so you didn't buy one.

An even better question... if people want to spend their money on what they want... why is it any of your business?
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Old 08-02-2009, 06:10 PM
 
Location: TX
1,096 posts, read 1,834,979 times
Reputation: 594
Quote:
Originally Posted by aceplace View Post
An even better question... if people want to spend their money on what they want... why is it any of your business?
I agree with you completely. I don't care what people spend money on (unless it's taxpayer money). Those were just two examples off the top of my head, I don't mean that you're showing off when you get an iPhone. What I mean is that on this forum different areas around Dallas are often characterized by the presence or absence of this mentality and frankly I haven't noticed it at all. I'm just curious what other peoples' actual experiences are with this phenomenon rather than just hearsay/assumption.

(I changed it to "what do you think", better ?)
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Old 08-02-2009, 08:04 PM
 
2,231 posts, read 6,067,546 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tyanger View Post
I agree with you completely. I don't care what people spend money on (unless it's taxpayer money). Those were just two examples off the top of my head, I don't mean that you're showing off when you get an iPhone. What I mean is that on this forum different areas around Dallas are often characterized by the presence or absence of this mentality and frankly I haven't noticed it at all. I'm just curious what other peoples' actual experiences are with this phenomenon rather than just hearsay/assumption.

(I changed it to "what do you think", better ?)
Thanks for the explanation. Actually, I'm sympathetic to your question, now that I understand it better. It's also my impression that the supposed, or alleged, "materialism" seems to be nonexistent.
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Old 08-02-2009, 11:17 PM
 
Location: southwest michigan
1,061 posts, read 3,582,878 times
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I was straight-up poor when I lived in Dallas, and I never felt uncomfortable or out of place. I bought stuff at thrift-stores. I had friends who had Dooney & Burke purses. None of us cared what everyone else liked or wore. We just bought what we wanted and all got along great. I never even heard of a Dallas conspicuous consumption syndrome until I started reading this forum .
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Old 08-03-2009, 06:17 AM
 
Location: Coppell
171 posts, read 545,825 times
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Well we're "poor" compared to others where we live....Coppell. I'm adult (and practical) enough not to care what others have compared to me. I think the problem is the kids---IMPO. Mine goes to HS and when I drop or pick him up I'm usually competing with Porsches, BMW's, Vettes, etc. for parking spaces....and those vehicles are driven by the kids. I really don't understand how a parent could give a child a brand new Porsche at 17? Especially with the way some kids/people in general drive these days!!!

My point is I have to keep explaining to my kid that other things are more important than what kind of car he drives...college...food on the table...paying your mortgage, etc. It's the kids of the parents that have the "I want it all" attitude where we live...........but then again, I guess they must get that from their parents?

Please don't get me wrong Coppell people! I LOVE living here....hate my house....but love Coppell. Everyone is very nice (including city employees), the city is very clean, and crime is practically non-existent.
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Old 08-03-2009, 06:41 AM
 
2,231 posts, read 6,067,546 times
Reputation: 545
Quote:
Originally Posted by blueiis View Post
Well we're "poor" compared to others where we live....Coppell. I'm adult (and practical) enough not to care what others have compared to me. I think the problem is the kids---IMPO. Mine goes to HS and when I drop or pick him up I'm usually competing with Porsches, BMW's, Vettes, etc. for parking spaces....and those vehicles are driven by the kids. I really don't understand how a parent could give a child a brand new Porsche at 17? Especially with the way some kids/people in general drive these days!!!

My point is I have to keep explaining to my kid that other things are more important than what kind of car he drives...college...food on the table...paying your mortgage, etc. It's the kids of the parents that have the "I want it all" attitude where we live...........but then again, I guess they must get that from their parents?

Please don't get me wrong Coppell people! I LOVE living here....hate my house....but love Coppell. Everyone is very nice (including city employees), the city is very clean, and crime is practically non-existent.
If someone can give their kid a BMW as a starter car, I'd say... good for them. I was only able to give my child a used Saturn... but I didn't feel the need to apologize for my poverty... infact, neither my daughter nor I were upset by the fact that some people had more disposable income, nor did we feel guilty about the existence of those who had less.

I think you have similar values, although you have expressed them differently.
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Old 08-03-2009, 07:27 AM
 
Location: Lake Highlands (Dallas)
2,394 posts, read 8,595,227 times
Reputation: 1040
Quote:
Originally Posted by tyanger View Post
Sure, I like to buy gadgets and new things, but ultimately only if I need them and/or I personally think they're cool and in both instances only when I can afford them.
Kudos on only buying them if you can afford them. Very responsible. But, for the record, no one NEEDS these gadgets. People saying they need something because they want it badly or if it could be handy does not qualify as a need is a pet peeve of mine. Hehe.

I personally don't pay attention to what everyone else has. My wife and I are very blessed in that we both have jobs that pay well. We have more than enough home. We only pay cash for things. We channel a very large portion of our income into retirement. What we have left after that is ours and no one had the right to judge how one spends it.

That said, I do have a hard time with folks that live on credit, as in the end, if they default on that credit and the expenses get absorbed by the credit company, I do have issue with that. At the end of the day, those costs do get passed on to the responsible people of the world. Other than that... who cares what people spend their money on - what's right for me isn't right for everyone. Otherwise, it'd be a boring world.

Brian
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Old 08-03-2009, 12:53 PM
 
6,819 posts, read 14,029,650 times
Reputation: 5746
In my neighborhood you would be hard pressed to find a house over 200k. I makes you wonder when you see a 70k Mercedes/BMW park out front.
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Old 08-03-2009, 01:11 PM
 
Location: southwest michigan
1,061 posts, read 3,582,878 times
Reputation: 503
Maybe a person really likes cars and would rather have a simple house and a fancy car than a fancy house and a simple car. I think that's what the OP is getting at- if some people buy nice things, it doesn't necessarily mean there's a keepin' up with the jones' mentality. It just means that some people value different things than others. If there was an expectation that everyone have a Mercedes/BMW or else be shunned or looked down upon by the community, then that would be different. But if someone just makes the choice to use their disposable income on a nice car, that's their 'druthers.
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