I think I'll survive without such knowledge...

@MissPiggy (1748)
Indonesia
March 25, 2012 11:56am CST
I was riding home a few days ago and a car passed me. I looked at the brand of the car and then my memory suddenly traveled back to my college time. I had this conversation with a classmate about a guy they knew. One of my friend said that he didn't have a really fancy car (although he had one), so why did she (she mentioned a girl's name) like him. I asked her what kind of car did he have and she mentioned a type of a car. So I asked again what was wrong with the car, and she answered me it's not a really expensive car. Then I shut my mouth up. One of my friend at work always compares one type of cellphone with another. He will lose himself if there's someone who has a cellphone better than he does. I always ask him what is wrong with his new phone and he says that the feature is not as good as that person's, the camera is not as good as this person's, and blah blah blah. And I ask him how about my cellphone and he smiles. Well, my cellphone is an old type, you can't even connect to the internet with it. You can't take pictures as is doesn't have a camera. You can't keep songs in it. But, you can make calls and send text and as far as I know, that's all I need. This kind of knowledge make me think. Do I really need any knowledge about type of cars when I educate my children someday? Do I need any knowledge about what is the new cellphone type, or laptop type to make my family happy? I mean, a cooking book would be very useful for me. A book about how to educate children would be fine. A book about how to make a family live happily would be great. Someone has a car. So what if it is not so expensive? At least he/she has one, right? At least it has four wheels and can protect him/her from the heat, the rain, and so on. Someone has a new cellphone. So what with the features? It can't feed you. It won't help you when you're in trouble. At least you use it for calling and texting too, right? I just don't get it how these material things (by mentioning the brand or type) can measure someone's knowledge or wealth? Why in the world is it so important judging someone by the things he/she has? It just doesn't make any sense...
4 people like this
8 responses
@Rick1950 (1578)
• Lima, Peru
26 Mar 12
Because I think the world believes in values as money, beauty, pleasures. People show more tolerance with someone who has money. I don't think you need to have large knowledge about cars, cellphones and other devices in order to educate your children. It would be a waist of time, because those devices are changing every day their features and one must learn again how they work. Besides this kind of info will they get in the school. I think you should educate your children with love and with most important values for life.
@MissPiggy (1748)
• Indonesia
26 Mar 12
That's what I mean, Rick. :) I really think that gaining so much information about cars, cellphones and anything else would be a waste of time. But that's pathetic, though, knowing people show more tolerance with people who have money. :( You're right in this. This kind of point of view will only make someone always looks up and forget to look down. How shame...
1 person likes this
• Mexico
26 Mar 12
Hi Miss Piggy: I think people are too competitive and at the same time some people have this bad habit of always comparing themselves with others so they won't feel complete if they know someone has something better than them. I think that comparing yourself with someone successful could be good if it inspires us to work more and be better but if it's obsessive and just don't let us to be happy is a horrible attitude. ALVARO
1 person likes this
@MissPiggy (1748)
• Indonesia
26 Mar 12
Hi, Alvaro. :) You got my point. This is what I don't understand, when people comparing themselves with others about something that is so useless. Not many of them who want to be inspired at work because they don't want to dig their quality within themselves. It's such a shame...
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
26 Mar 12
You sound very level headed, and like you know the things in life that are really valuable. I hope you always feel this way. Status items are just things. . . people are much more important.
1 person likes this
@MissPiggy (1748)
• Indonesia
26 Mar 12
I agree with you. Material things will always change and we can get the new ones easily. But family and friends? Well, they're priceless. Nothing int he world can buy them. And thank you for having the same thought (and compliment). :)
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31367)
• Denmark
25 Mar 12
Materials things have never been important to me, and I always found it hard to understand why some people find it so important to have the lastest or the most expensive brand. My father and my brother change cellphones very often and they have both owned more than 20 different phones. They laugh at me because I only buy a few phone when the old one doesn't work anymore. I don't need the latest phone, as long as I can call and send text messages I am happy, and my father and my brother think that I am terribly oldfashioned. They know the names of all the brands and when they discuss the lastest phones I have no idea what they are talking about I feel the same way about cars. I don't care what kind of car that we have as long as it has four wheels. We need to get from one point to another and that is only thing that matters to me. I would never judge someone based on the car that he or she drives, it just doesn't matter to me. Besides I don't know much about cars, so I wouldn't know how expensive a certain car is compared to other cars
1 person likes this
@MissPiggy (1748)
• Indonesia
26 Mar 12
I believe we walk in the same path. :D I never understand when my friends are talking about the latest gadget. I just can't follow. I have a motorbike that I bought in 2006 and some people think that I need to buy a new one. I was like "why?". I bought it with my own money, it's a pride, to buy something with my own money and I can still keep it good. And it has been my "extra feet" and my life. It's still alright, so why do I have to buy the new one? I wouldn't know the price of cars or motorbikes, all I know is that I can still ride my bike. Right? Let's just be who we are now, I'm proud of it. :)
1 person likes this
• Indonesia
26 Mar 12
To be honestly I do not have a lot of branded stuff even if i really wanted it I could buy, but my parent always taught me to buy something not because of the brand but the use of it. Sometime it is nice to spoil our self by buy a thing that we really want it or a fancy branded stuff that we need as long as we dont make it as a habbit or to compete with other people who has better model or better brand. Always buy a product because the quality not because the brand name. Let me tell you my experience when I came to my brother's school to get his school's report, I met a lady who was crying and telling the teacher that her son didnt want to go to school unless his parent bought him a B cellphone...yeah you know the Blackberry cellphone. I thought to myself "oh boy, what was in your mind, what made you think you need a Blackberry cellphone because as far as I know this kind of phone is very useful to help office work, and it is useless if you only use it for BBM and facebook-ing. Im sure that this boy will only use the Blackberry just for BBM and facebook-ing" Im a university student and I dont have blackberry cellphone, I have a smartphone but it is an old model of cellphone and I dont have plan to replace it unless it is really broken and we couldnot fix it anymore. If I want to chat with a friend I can instal ebuddy or nimbuzz application, if I want to browse the internet I can instal Opera mini, so what is in blackberry we can actually find in the smartphone and ofcourse cheaper than Blackberry price. Some people doesn't know how to be grateful with what they have, they keep looking above to those people who has better brand than them instead of looking down to the people who hardly have food to eat 3times a day. It is sad to see people like to compete to each other just for the shake "who has better branded item, or to show off that they are wealthy enough to buy fancy stuff" in the end they will get nothing for this. What are they really looking for? Satisfaction? Im not sure about it, because they will want more and more, a never ending desire to buy branded stuff. And guess who get benefit from this kind of behavior? Of course the manufacturers because they can sell more and more products to these people.
1 person likes this
@MissPiggy (1748)
• Indonesia
26 Mar 12
Well, the problem is, not everybody thinks the same way. :) I have ever had this positive argument with my students about cellphones. They have so much better cellphones that I do and they wanted me to buy the new one. So I asked them, what for? And I mentioned the use of their cellphones and mine. And then they said, "damn, you're right, Miss". Lol. So they never mention anything about it anymore. :))
1 person likes this
• Philippines
25 Mar 12
During the years that I've been observing what is happening around me, I've learned something useful. A lot of times, those who have new cellphone every 6 months, have no money to show off really. They just want to be recognized as someone who has a new cellphone. With cars, I don't think that those who can afford a car every year are poor. They may be rich but their riches will soon be gone if they continue to live with that kind of lifestyle everyday. What I learn is that those who are well to do are contented with an old cellphone or car until their assets can buy them the kind of luxury they desire. I admire you for sticking to what is frugal. Save what you can today so that tomorrow, you'll have something to show off as a result of your being disciplined.
@MissPiggy (1748)
• Indonesia
26 Mar 12
Thank you for having the same thoughts. Actually my workmate is included to those who have no money to show off. He really like needs acknowledgement from others which I think is useless. Why can't people think about showing their quality better than showing their possessions? Really unbelievable.
@berting600 (3453)
• Philippines
25 Mar 12
You were trying to emphasize that values of certain things do not blind your eyes as long as you can use it the way it was built.I was also into your ways and mentality because I also posses a cellphone although more advance than yours yet has dilapidated housing,so I do not care as long as I can text and call over it.I do not wanted up to date cellphones or those high price ones.In the first place I am not a choosy person because most of my things are just bought by my siblings for me to use so why should I ask for more yet I am also open if they gave me a better one.
1 person likes this
@MissPiggy (1748)
• Indonesia
25 Mar 12
Lol. The cellphone I used belongs to my mom. :D I have another cellphone that gladly I bought myself, but I only use it as modem. But I bought it because I need the modem, and also I can stay online on facebook everywhere, lol, plus because it is cheap. Heheheh... I prefer to buy some thing because of the use not the feature or anything that comes with it. I like it when you said you're open for the better one, I think I'm open for a better one if my mom gives another for me. Lol.
1 person likes this
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
7 Apr 12
Comparative valuing, seems to be a mindset..SOOO propogated by the media! "Keeping up with the Jones'".....made so possible by CREDIT! And NOT a need...a WANT! I wish you were able to bespeak your wisdom to all! What a different world it would be. I, too..am NOT into better or best. What I attain is for functionality! My pickup truck..is 1985, that's 27 years old..it does the job for me, and it is paid for! My last Cell phone (which I HAVE to have for some work locations)...I asked for one, with NO bells and whistles! I am NOT frenzied, at all by false values, as I like to stay out of debt! Great discussion, MissPiggy...you will do GREAT here! Happy Easter!
1 person likes this