this post was submitted on 22 Nov 2024
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[โ€“] Maggoty@lemmy.world 14 points 2 days ago (2 children)

In a hypothetical world where billionaires cannot go outside a security perimeter for fear of their lives, how soon would we see people refusing the inheritance or donating massive portions?

[โ€“] Dyskolos@lemmy.zip 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

You just assume that everyone rich would seem rich. If i got billions noone would know. Not everyone needs gargantuan houses and excessively expensive cars and yachts. I would still live in a moderatly tiny house because i don't like housework AND don't like strangers in my house doing that. In fact i just had billions. Nothing in my life would change. I'd be safe in your world ๐Ÿ˜

Also what for? To show others i have money? So i could never ever trust a person again? Not everyone wants to be a rockstar. Only those whose personalities are so undeveloped that they need the constant ego-strokes from random strangers to even feel something. I just feel pity for jokes like elon musk.

[โ€“] Maggoty@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (2 children)

True, but you'd need to really stay under the radar in such a world. Any point of contact where someone else knows you have that money would put you at risk. And those can be generated just by getting the money in the first place.

For the record I think it would be a terrible world. Historically, mob violence often kills innocent people, all it would take would be an accusation. And one person's poverty is another person's wealth. They wouldn't exactly stop to ask about the economically defined classes. It would be more like, "Dave got a luxury car, I wonder how much money he's hiding..."

And also, I think I would be someone giving it away as fast as possible. I'm like you, after a couple creature comforts and securing the rest of my life, there's no more need for the money. It's not like I can take it with me.

Thing is, there's no way I could become a billionaire. If I were amassing money that quickly, it would be because I wasn't paying my people enough.

The difference between billionaires and the rest of us is that we see that as a problem, they see it as the system working.

[โ€“] Dyskolos@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Totally right. Would be a horrible world. But for many it already is. Guess it's reciprocal to your net worth. And it's also no wonder people yearn for a violent solution. No sensible, human solution is possible. Billionaires don't go away due to words.

Also yes. I make sure the tiny circle i call family is safe and sound and doesn't need to worry about a number in some bank, but besides... I love boats yes, admittedly. But even with a gifted yacht i wouldn't know what to do with it. A house on the water? I know people who e. G. drive fancy poser-cars. And when i ask them what makes this car so great, it usually comes down to.. "errr because it's (insert brand) ". And, of course, it's brands that EVERYONE know is expensive. That's the only reason. They wouldn't pay the same for a brand noone even knows how expensive that is. It's not the looks, not the features, not the power, not the feeling when driving, it's the fucking price-tag.

But i also know the other kind. If you'd meet them on the street you would ask if they need a dollar or some food. But they're more rare.

[โ€“] werefreeatlast@lemmy.world -1 points 2 days ago

Can he trust his cook if it's a brown person? ๐Ÿคฎ